#stillbill

Black Film of the Week: STILL BILL (2009)

Directed by Damani Baker & Alex Vlack 

Why: A favorite film of the staff, we had the documentary “Still Bill” on our list, but with the passing of its subject, legendary soul singer Bill Withers, we had to move this up.  

“Still Bill” is easily one of the best music documentaries you’ll ever see.  

Covering the history of this passionate man, who before he broke into music served in the Navy and then made toilets for airplanes, the film charts his rise in the business and his decisions to leave it, to his life as an aged musician working to maintain a good relationship with his wife and children, specifically his daughter Kori, who is a burgeoning singer/songwriter like her pops.

What Baker, who you may also know from his personal docu “The House on Coco Road”, and Vlack are able to do here is connect the audience with a man we think we know through his songs, but because he was never as mainstream as a Marvin Gaye nor stayed in the music business too long, we don’t truly know - but by midway through the film will fall further in love with.  Don’t get it twisted though, the music does make this film rise to the top, entrancing audiences into Bill’s life.  

For many of us that didn’t grow up in the early 70’s, through interviews with Bill, if you watched this film in its first run it was probably the first time you saw footage from the PBS show “Soul” and its host/producer Ellis Haizlip, whose own dynamic life, as well as the show’s, was recently covered in the documentary “Mr. Soul”. There are also cameos from Cornel West, Sting, Corey Glover, and “The Black Godfather” Clarence Avant.

Artista: Bill Withers (Estados Unidos)

Álbum: Still Bill

Año: 1972

Compositores: Bill Withers

Género: Soul

Sello: Sussex

Letra

Hmm... hmm-hmm-hmm-hmm Hmm-hmm-hmm-hmm Hmm-hmm-hmm-hmm-hmm Sometimes in our lives We all have pain We all have sorrow

But if we are wise We know that there's always tomorrow

Lean on me When you're not strong And I'll be your friend I'll help you carry on...

For it won't be long Till I'm gonna need somebody to lean on

Please swallow your pride If I have things you need to borrow

For no one can fill Those of your needs that you won't let show

You just call on me brother when you need a hand We all need somebody to lean on

I just might have a problem that you'll understand We all need somebody to lean on

Lean on me When you're not strong And I'll be your friend I'll help you carry on...

For it won't be long Till I'm gonna need somebody to lean on

You just call on me brother When you need a hand We all need somebody to lean on

I just might have a problem that you'll understand We all need somebody to lean on

If there is a load you have to bear That you can't carryI'm right up the road I'll share your load If you just call me

Call me If you need a friend (Call me) Call me (call me) If you need a friend (Call me) If you ever need a friend (Call me) Call me (Call me) Call me (Call me) Call me (Call me) Call me (Call me)