Details from IMDB:
Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind
The iconic Canadian musician, Gordon Lightfoot, reflects on his life and career.
- Directors
- Writers
- Stars
Initial Thoughts:
My journey of Canadian documentaries continues! I want to make the most of my subscription to CBC Gem, and I’ve got to say, so far I’m enjoying the content. I was never a huge fan of Gordon Lightfoot’s music; I’ve never been big on folk, but I was happy to see a documentary about him and explore how brilliant a songwriter he was.
Main Points:
I was lucky enough to see Gordon twice in concert, though his voice had noticeably faded by then. Like Bob Dylan, he didn’t have the best singing voice, but he was an amazing songwriter with a fascinating life. I didn’t realize he started in a barbershop quartet or that he sang a lot of country-western music before moving on to folk. There is lots of wonderful trivia here, excellent interviews with other singers and celebrities, but most importantly, the interviews with Gordon. At times, he gets this look in his eye, and you can see him travelling back in time, thinking about the choices he made and the regrets he has.
Like many songwriters, he was destined to have his songs recorded by other artists, including Elvis Presley, Anne Murray, and Sarah McClaughan. He was a classically trained artist, and it was wonderful to see him write not only the lyrics but also the sheet music (with the notes) to go along with it. He was a perfectionist, and while I’m sure that made for frustrating studio sessions, it also produced some truly amazing music. He was truly one of the great Canadian artists, and like many artists, he suffered for his art and nearly drank himself to death.
Final Thoughts:
I can’t end on a downer like that. What’s wonderful about someone like Gordon is that they use their life experiences, emotions, and thoughts as fuel for their art; whether it’s happiness/sadness or something in between, they work it out in their songs. Do yourself a favour and watch this brilliant and fascinating man’s journey. He freely admits to his mistakes, his flaws and his regrets; that’s what makes him even more interesting and relatable. I wish this documentary had been longer and had interviewed more people in his life, delved deeper into his songwriting process, but still what we have here is wonderful entertainment and education. A very solid 8.5 out of 10 and a huge recommendation. There is talk of alcohol abuse, so I would say ages 16+.