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Daisy Jones and The Six (The Movie): Reviewed

By on August 31, 2023

Daisy Jones and the Six is a movie series based on the bestselling novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid, which tells the story of a fictional rock band in the 1970s and their rise and fall. The series consists of seven episodes, each focusing on a different member of the band and their relationships with each other and with Daisy Jones, the charismatic singer who joins them halfway through their career. But, you’ll probably binge watch all seven in a weekend.

The series is a captivating and realistic portrayal of the music industry, the creative process, and the personal struggles of the characters, who are all inspired by real-life musicians. The movie is available on Amazon

The most obvious influence for Daisy Jones is Stevie Nicks, the lead singer of Fleetwood Mac, who also had a tumultuous relationship with her bandmate and lover Lindsey Buckingham. Daisy shares many traits with Nicks, such as her distinctive voice, her bohemian style, her drug addiction, and her involvement in a love triangle with two members of the band. However, Daisy is not a direct copy of Nicks, as she also has elements of other female rock stars of the era, such as Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon, and Janis Joplin.

The Six are also based on various musicians and bands from the 70s. Billy Dunne, the leader and songwriter of the band, is reminiscent of Mick Jagger, the frontman of The Rolling Stones, who also struggled with drug abuse and infidelity, although at first take, he seems more like Jim Morrison of The Doors. Graham Dunne, Billy’s brother and guitarist, is similar to Keith Richards, Jagger’s partner in crime and musical genius. Eddie Loving, the bassist, is based on John Entwistle, the quiet but talented member of The Who. Warren Rhodes, the drummer, is influenced by John Bonham, the hard-hitting and hard-living drummer of Led Zeppelin, (but looks a lot like John Oates), . Karen Karen, the keyboardist and only female member of the band before Daisy, is modeled after Christine McVie, the keyboardist and singer of Fleetwood Mac, who also had a failed marriage with another band member. Pete Loving, Eddie’s brother and rhythm guitarist, is the only character who does not have a clear real-life counterpart, but he could be seen as a composite of various musicians who left their bands for personal reasons. There’s even a queen of Disco, so watch for her.

The movie series does a great job of adapting the novel, which is written as an oral history of the band, with interviews from the characters and other people who knew them. The series uses a similar format, with scenes from the past interspersed with present-day testimonies from the characters, who often contradict each other or reveal new information. The series also adds some scenes that are not in the book, such as flashbacks to the characters’ childhoods or moments that show their interactions with other famous musicians or celebrities. The series also features original songs that were written for the novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid and her husband Alex Reid, who are both musicians themselves. The songs are performed by the actors who play the characters, and they sound authentic and catchy.

The series features an impressive cast of actors who bring the characters to life. Daisy Jones is played by Riley Keough, the granddaughter of Elvis Presley, who has appeared in movies such as Mad Max: Fury Road and American Honey. Billy Dunne is played by Sam Claflin, who is known for his roles in The Hunger Games and Me Before You. Graham Dunne is played by Joe Alwyn, who is/was one of Taylor Swift’s boyfriends and has starred in movies such as The Favourite and Harriet. Eddie Loving is played by Riz Ahmed, who won an Oscar for his performance in Sound of Metal. Warren Rhodes is played by Jonathan Majors, who was praised for his role in Lovecraft Country and The Last Black Man in San Francisco. Karen Karen is played by Suki Waterhouse, who is a model and actress who has been in movies such as The Bad Batch and Assassination Nation. Pete Loving is played by Ben Hardy, who played Roger Taylor in Bohemian Rhapsody and Angel in X-Men: Apocalypse.

The series also features original songs that were written for the novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid and her husband Alex Reid, who are both musicians themselves. The songs are performed by the actors who play the characters, and they sound authentic and catchy. The songs capture the mood and style of the 70s rock music, and they also reflect the emotions and conflicts of the characters. Some of the songs are duets between Daisy and Billy, such as “Honeycomb” and “I Think I Love You”, which show their chemistry and tension. Some of the songs are solo performances by Daisy, such as “Aurora” and “Impossible Woman”, which show her talent and independence. Some of the songs are group performances by The Six, such as “Turn It Up” and “Regret Me”, which show their cohesion and diversity.

The movie series of Daisy Jones and the Six is a must-watch for fans of the novel or fans of rock music in general. It is a compelling and emotional story that explores themes such as art, love, fame, addiction, and identity. It is also a tribute to the music and culture of the 70s, which was a golden age for rock and roll.

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Backstory: You might be wondering who wrote the songs for the fictional band that rocked the ’70s. The answer is Blake Mills, a Grammy-winning producer, songwriter and musician who has worked with artists such as Fiona Apple, Alabama Shakes, Phoebe Bridgers and The Rolling Stones. Mills was hired by Amazon Prime Video to create the original soundtrack for the series, which consists of 14 songs performed by the actors in their roles as Daisy Jones, Billy Dunne, Graham Dunne, Eddie Loving, Warren Rhodes, Pete Loving and Karen Sirko. The songs were released as an album titled Aurora on March 3, 2023, by Atlantic Records. The album also features two covers: “Susie Q” by The Dunne Brothers and “A Song For You” by Simone Jackson.

Mills wrote the songs in collaboration with the showrunners Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, who gave him some guidelines based on the novel and the script. He also consulted with Reid, who had some input on the lyrics and the melodies. Mills said that he wanted to capture the spirit of the ’70s rock scene without imitating any specific band or genre. He said that he was inspired by artists such as Fleetwood Mac, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, The Band, Led Zeppelin and The Eagles. He also said that he tried to make the songs sound authentic and organic, using vintage instruments and recording techniques.

The songs have received critical acclaim from both fans and critics, who praised Mills’ ability to create catchy and memorable tunes that fit the characters and the story. Some of the songs have also become popular on streaming platforms and social media, especially “Regret Me”, “Look at Us Now (Honeycomb)”, “Aurora” and “Nobody Needs”. The soundtrack has been nominated for several awards, including a Golden Globe for Best Original Song for “Regret Me” and a Grammy for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media.

Sources:
: https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/a43170873/daisy-jones-and-the-six-soundtrack-songs/
: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/daisy-jones-the-six-official-soundtrack-playlist/pl.01f556149ec84cebb366a47469a53217
: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daisy_Jones_%26_the_Six
: https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/daisy-jones-and-the-six-soundtrack-prime-video/

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