Dare to Be Different (2017)
Genre: Documentary / Music
Duration: 95 minuten
Alternative title: New Wave: Dare to be Different
Country:
United States
Directed by: Ellen Goldfarb
Stars: Debbie Harry, Joan Jett and Billy Idol
IMDb score:
7,7 (433)
Releasedate: 27 April 2017
Dare to Be Different plot
"The story of the most influential radio station in America"
In 1982, American radio changed forever. And that was thanks in significant part to a group of brave visionaries at the small radio station WLIR in Long Island, New York. They fought the conventions, the record companies and the mega stations and introduced the music of British bands such as Duran Duran, The Cure, Depeche Mode and U2 to the US. They also played an important role in the breakthrough of groups that already played in the New York club CBGB, but received little airplay, such as The Ramones, Talking Heads and Blondie. It became a great success. Program director Denis McNamara, the WLIR station crew and some of the biggest artists of the time tell the success story of the new wave in the US.
Actors and actresses
Herself - Blondie - Singer / Songwriter
Herself - The Runaways, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts - Singer / Songwriter
Himself - Singer / Songwriter
Himself - Duran Duran - singer / songwriter / keyboards
Herself - WLIR - DJ
Himself
Himself - record executive
Himself - Sam Ash Music - owner
Himself - The Thompson Twins - lead singer
Himself - Ivan Ivan - producer, manager, executive, DJ
Reviews & comments
Filmkriebel
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- 10013 messages
- 4679 votes
Super interesting documentary for the music lover. WLIR was a forward-thinking radio station on Long Island (a bit like the Studio Brussel of the 80s in Flanders). They were the sounding board for a new generation and promoted mainly new wave, alternative rock, synthpop and punk that they had imported from England. As for the term "new wave" you will be surprised how little it actually means.
WLIR's influence was felt even in the European market: they were the discoverers of U2, The Cure, Howard Jones, Depeche Mode, New Order, to name a few, and were the first to play their music in the US. And that before the craze had blown over to Europe, or returned.
The documentary features many interview segments with well-known (but sometimes very immodest) artists who acknowledge that WLIR was instrumental in their success, as well as the DJs who made the weather good for the young people of the early 80s. It is sad to hear that the station went under in 1987 after a 15-year challenge to its broadcasting rights by the FCC, the federal commission that issues the licenses.
Every new generation wants its own music, not that of its parents, and that is exactly what radio stations should play on. Innovation. Nice to have Radio Nostalgie but this is not the station that will write music history.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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