Friday 7 March 2014

searching for sugar man

you may have watched this documentary. then again, you may have not. either way, rest assured about the fact that I am not going to reveal much about it. I found out from my flatmates about Searching for Sugar Man around one and a half years ago, when they told me: 'you definitely have to watch this one'. I did, I am very happy I listened to them and I pass this piece of advice on to you now, really hoping that you will as well. and I do this not only because it won the Oscar prize for the best documentary in 2012, but most importantly because Rodriguez is the hero of an unbelievable story. unbelievable, but nevertheless so very true, as it is the story of his lifetime.
Sixto Diaz Rodriguez is an american folk singer, song writer and, if I may, poet. born in Detroit in 1942, he managed, after numerous nights spent performing in obscure bars in front of really small audiences, to get a deal, being signed by a record label that would go on and produce two of his albums in 1970 and 1971.


the albums selling  extremely bad around the United States, he was dropped by the record label, and he discontinued his musical career, working as a builder, and leading a really simple life in Detroit.
but somehow, in some incomprehensible magical twist of destiny, Sixto became famous somewhere else in the world. a copy of one of his albums was taken to South Africa, and by word of mouth he turned into one of the biggest stars in the country. and so much more than that, his songs became anthems of the anti-apartheid movement, having a huge influence on several generations of people and making a significant difference in the drive to change that part of the world into a better place.
Rodriguez's music makes the world sound much better and his lyrics unveil a poetry of sheer beauty and a mind that undoubtedly transcends its time.