Every week we are blessed with fresh tracks, new music videos and wholesome content on social media from our favourite pop stars, but it’s documentaries that give us a true peek behind the curtain into their everyday lives and artistic processes. Shawn Mendes is the latest star to get personal in his new Netflix documentary, In Wonder; offering an unprecedented look into his career, life on the road, and high profile romance with Camila Cabello. So we thought there was no better time to compile a list of music documentaries that will turn you from every day fan into a ride or die stan.
From a behind the scenes look at Lady Gaga’s historic Superbowl halftime performance in Five Foot Two to Taylor Swift taking a political stand in Miss Americana, grab some popcorn, dim the lights and enjoy one or all seven of the best music documentaries to binge right now.
Lady Gaga – Five Foot Two (2016) | Netflix
Five Foot Two shows Lady Gaga in her most vulnerable state. We see the superstar working on her most personal album yet – Joanne, her preparation for her electrifying Super Bowl halftime performance, and her flourishing relationship with producer, Mark Ronson. We also get an insight into Gaga’s daily excruciating battle with chronic illness fibromyalgia, and the emotional pain after her breakup with fiancé Taylor Kinney.
Five Foot Two is a definite must-watch if you haven’t seen it already, and if you have… well it’s just too good not to binge all over again, periodt.
Demi Lovato – Simply Complicated (2017) | YouTube
It’s no secret that Demi Lovato has struggled with an alcohol and drug addiction, but we’ve never had an insight quite like this as to what drove her to such a low point in her life. In Simply Complicated, we see how Demi tackled the pressures of childhood superstardom, her experience with bullying, stints in rehab, and the pain of heartbreak.
Simply Complicated is her most brutally honest documentary to date, showing unreleased interviews and behind the scenes footage of her battle for sobriety that will make you into a Lovatic, if you’re not one already.
Jonas Brothers – Chasing Happiness (2019) | Amazon Prime
Chasing Happiness is a story of brotherhood from purity ring sweethearts to wifed up gentlemen. With deeply personal interviews, previously unreleased footage and exclusive music teasers, The Jonas Brothers bond is unshakeable — until a surprising and painful breakup led the brothers down very different paths.
The documentary gives us an intimate look into how Joe, Kevin, and Nick grew their relationship from siblings to bandmates and why it was so important to them to reunite after so many years.
Taylor Swift – Miss Americana (2020) | Netflix
You might think you already know everything there is to know about Taylor Swift but Miss Americana shows an intimate and unpolished side of the 10 time Grammy award winner that we’ve never seen before. In just 86 minutes, the doco touches on heavy subject matter such as sexism in the music industry, body image, cancel culture, family struggles, sexual assault, politics, the price of fame, and more.
Director Lana Wilson captures Swift during a time where she’s finally able to let go of her need for approval from others, getting a glimpse of the international pop sensation finding power through her voice.
Justin Bieber – Seasons (2020) | YouTube
If you’re a Belieber no doubt you’ve already watched this (at least 100 times over), and if you’re not then this 10-part documentary series is bound to make you one. Seasons shows an in-depth insight into the life of Justin Bieber who talks openly about his mental health, the making of his latest album, Changes, his struggle with a chronic disease and drug addiction, and tying the knot with his beloved wife, Hailey.
Justin has also recently released a continuation of this story with the documentary special Next Chapter detailing the last eight months of his life during this unprecedented time.
BLACKPINK – LIGHT UP THE SKY (2020) | Netflix
BLACKPINK may be the biggest girl group in the world right now but how well do you really know its four members? In BLACKPINK – LIGHT UP THE SKY, Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa are incredibly open about the difficulties of making it in such a cutthroat industry, which involved entering a K-pop boot camp as teens and training 14 hours a day. Through home videos, audition tapes, concert footage, and interviews, the group details times of loneliness, homesickness, rivalry, and self-doubt.
There is also a nod to New Zealand as Rosé was born in Auckland and Jennie studied here for five years. By the end, you’ll be torn over which member is your favourite and if your Mum has enough printer ink to cover your wall in photos.
Shawn Mendes – In Wonder (2020) | Netflix
2020 has been saved once more with a hit of serotonin straight from 22-year-old pop sensation Shawn Mendes. His brand new documentary In Wonder follows Shawn via introspective voiceover and behind-the-scenes footage as he races through a world tour, battles a vocal injury, records his new album Wonder, and embraces his relationship with fellow chart topper Camila Cabello.
From being a fly on the wall in his tour bus, backstage at some of the biggest venues in the world, to his childhood bedroom, and Toronto apartment, we get a firsthand look into his desperation to grasp a sliver of normality in his rapid rise to household name.
SEE ALSO: 10 Tweets That Perfectly Reflect Our Feelings About Shawn Mendes’ Documentary ‘In Wonder’
