Some people are so talented, and succesful in what they do, that it makes it difficult to imagine they might quit what they were doing. Though it might say something about ourself (isn't there a bit of jealousy in there somewhere?), it is interesting to see what reasons people might have to withdraw like that, so that you can make up your mind if that reason made it all worthwhile. My father in law Fughetti, legendary rocker from Southern Brazil, is one of those guys that decided at one time or another, to stop rocking, almost completely withdrawing from the scene. A friend told me about the documentary Still Bill, portraying Bill Withers, who, after a string of big hits in the seventies decided to stop doing what he did best. Really interesting to look why he quit doing what he knew best, though I realize I might be jumping some conclusions here.
Bill Withers was born in a small mining town in Virginia. He didn't show any musical talent or particular interest in music until much much later. He was a drawn back kind of a kid, probably caused for the larger part because of his stutter. After a career in the U.S. Army, he worked for an airliner company installing toilets in jumbo jets. A few years after being cured from his stutter, he decided to record a few songs, with no musical background what so ever, or knowing any guitar chords! His demo tape resulted in his debut album, with this amazing song called Ain't no Sunshine on it. The star Bill Withers was born. A string of great songs (Lean on me, Just the two of Us) followed, making him one of the most covered and appraised singer-songwriters of the world. The documentary doesn't aim though to show how big he was. The film makers rather choose to stay very close to the main subject. Talking to his wife, children, friends, and, of course, to Bill himself, We get a portrait of a man that appears stroppy at first, probably tired from too many questions on why he doesn't play anymore. After a while, you realize that Bill is a likeable fellow, who has got a good sense of humour, and who is at his best when he visits his old home town and meeting his childhood friend. Even though his daughter speaks with too much respect when she tries to be a musician herself and is very afraid of Bill's condescending reaction, which he doesn't give. Still, there is something there that the docu doesn't tell. As many children of music stars can explain, to them their famous father or mother is just another human being, and not someone you look up to as you might do qith other stars.
Now, getting back at the question on the why leaving the business, Bill himself explains that he got crazy with people at the record companies. They tried to make him music with intro's (Ain't no Sunshine doesn't have one), a big horn sections, and stuff like that, and he simply got fed up with that aspect. Surely, this can be reason to quit. But this way most musical carreers would have stopped (too) early. There must be more then just this. And I think Bill already laid a part of the puzzle earlier in the docu. He didn't have to be in the music business, he already had a job and he was in his thirties when he started. He knew there was more to life then being a star.
So, all through the documentary you think that we will not see Bill on stage anymore. But then, almost out of the blue, he visits a foundation that helps children with their stutter problem. He gets emotional, and it seems to come back to him how this had influenced him as a child, and after (he says in the film that he stuttered until he was 28!). Even more surpisingly, Bill gets inspired to write music, and makes a surprise appearance on stage at this festival where they play his music!
Why then, did he quit? Again that question... I mean, for sure he got irritated with the business people telling him what to do, but quitting alltogether is another thing. Looking at how he started in the first place, just after his stutter problem was solved might be a piece of the puzzle. Bill says in the film that he just thought it would be a nice thing to do: join the music business. That shows that he wasn't motivated to the bone to be successful. And that makes it easier to say that if people don't like it, fuck it! But that just doesn't make sense when you think at how successful he was, and probably got a kick out of it as well. You let a few blaxperts (dixit B. Withers) talk you down like that? At the end of the seventies Bill got married for the second time and he and his wife got two children. Bill appeared very happy as a family man. This might have very well attributed to his withdrawal from the scene. It does make sense when we see him emotionally involved with the children of the stutter foundation, and his daughter making her first moves as an artist...
Anyway, I enjoyed the documentary, though not as much as Withers' music. It leaves the key question a bit unanswered, making the viewers wonder themselves on the why, as I did. I'll give it a three star, out of five.
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