SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)

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michael f music lovers of all colors and genders should enjoy Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/25/25 Full Review Jim S This is an excellent movie. Well made with absolutely fantastic footage from the 60's and 70's. The movie really conveys the genius of Sly. Highly recommended! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/22/25 Full Review Claire M Having seen Sly and the Family Stone live in Berkeley in the early 1970s when I was a teenager, I knew exactly what Suzanne de Passe was describing with regard to how their music made her feel. Sly Stone's musical genius was second only to Jimi Hendrix in importance in my youth. I'm so thankful Questlove gave us a documentary of such depth and also expressed his unabashed appreciation for Sly being one of the survivors of the notorious music industry. One of my favorite parts was the interviews especially D'Angelo and Andre 3000. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/09/25 Full Review Jonetta A I could hear the magic from the first chord when I heard Sly for the first time and have raved about him since. I can still recall sitting on my front porch when the radio played Hot Fun in the Summertime for the first time. And, I continue to play his greatest hits album today. This was the documentary I’ve waited for always. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/22/25 Full Review Tom F Summer of Soul is a tough act to follow. The Sly Stone story is fascinating, but a tough documentary subject. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 04/04/25 Full Review Kevin L Questlove has been doing impressive work for a great many years now as a musician and band leader, but now he's showing himself to be a tremendous documentarian as well. "SLY LIVES!" is excellent. All the video clips, photographs, and clippings tell so much about the history of the man and the band he fronted that was such a driving force for the future of popular music. Then there's all the interviews with prominent musical figures, social analysts, Clive Davis, and his peers talking on Stone and the band's art. This leave no doubt about the breadth and significance of the work, and it's lasting impact. I've loved the music of Sly & the Family Stone for decades. It's music of remarkable depth and range. This was some of the very finest dance music of its time, but also pop music with a real electiric charge to it to go along with some lovely ballad type pieces, and the socio-political works that spurred others (Gaye, Wonder, Scott-Heron, Simone) in their own work. I'll leave it to each viewer to make up their own mind about Stone/Stewart's ultimate legacy, but for me he'll first and foremost be a brilliant musical mind and a fierce spirit for joy on stage and the wonders of the recording studio. 4 stars Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/27/25 Full Review Read all reviews

SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)

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