Behind the Music: The Making of 'Song Sung Blue

Behind the Music: The Making of 'Song Sung Blue

"Song Sung Blue" tells the story of Mike and Claire Sardina, a Milwaukee couple who gained local fame with their Neil Diamond tribute act, Lightning & Thunder. The film's music supervisor, Trygge Toven, reveals how Eddie Vedder helped secure the rights to Diamond's music for the movie. Producer John Davis also played a crucial role in obtaining the licensing rights, with assistance from his mother, who knew Neil Diamond personally. The film's executive producer/composer, Scott Bomar, worked with Nashville guitarist Steven Bennett to create fresh arrangements of Diamond's songs, inspired by his 1971 album "Hot August Nights."

Bomar supervised a crew of Memphis musicians to record the new arrangements, including a three-piece horn section. Kate Hudson, who plays Claire, recorded country hits like "Walking After Midnight" and "Sweet Dreams" at Village Recorders in Los Angeles. Michael Imperioli, who portrays Buddy Holly in the film, laid down his vocals in New Jersey. Jackman and Hudson sang live on set, with hidden microphones capturing their performances for authenticity. The actors received intensive preparation to ensure their musical performances matched seamlessly with the dialogue.

One of Bomar's favorite sequences in the film involves Jackman's acoustic performance of "Cherry, Cherry" and Hudson's piano accompaniment leading into "Play Me." The final mix of the film combines live on-set performances with studio recordings to capture the essence of each scene. While Jackman's portrayal of Neil Diamond is not an impersonation, he delivers an interpretation that resonates with the character of Mike. "Song Sung Blue" is now showing in theaters.