In 2019, women are still trying to find their voice in Hollywood and beyond. Yet, pop music sensation Linda Ronstadt was a trailblazer nearly 60 years before the term was even mentioned at the Oscars. Yes, 60 years ago. Linda marched on stage with a group called The Stone Poneys, sang with a voice so pure it could clear any stench of pot and unwashed hippies from the crowd and made the song “Different Drum” iconic. She’s been marching to the beat of her own drum ever since. And in “Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice,” directors Rob Epstein and Jeffery Friedman have crafted an in-depth documentary that chronicles the rise of one of the best vocalists ever.
We are told early on that “Linda could sing anything.” That’s high praise to back up. It’s also high praise that doesn’t reach high enough. This is a singer who spent so much time walking up to the podium to accept Grammy’s that she never had to worry about getting her steps in. A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a sex symbol, and the poster child for selflessness, it’s hard to imagine this documentary uncovering anything new. Except, this one does.
The beauty of “Lina Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice” is the sound of other voices. Music documentaries are about remembering a person and the musical sensibilities of their time period. This one not only reveals the persona of Linda, but it also captures the L.A. music scene in full throttle. Rock fans will drool over interviews with Don Henley, Peter Asher, Jackson Browne, Dolly Parton, and Cameron Crowe, as they discuss the good ol’ Troubador days. For those who don’t know, every notable musician of the ’60s would come and play at the Troubador, including Linda, of course. The voiceover describing the time period lets the subject do some drooling of her own. It’s hard not to smile as she passionately describes the impact of hearing The Byrds, The Rolling Stones, and Neil Young for the first time. “It was life-changing” she giggles.
For those unfamiliar with songs like “You’re No Good,” “Desperado” and “It’s So Easy,” this documentary may prove life-changing in its own right. Those who have, though, will notice a tone in harmony with its subject. It isn’t breaking news to report that Linda was a mysterious public figure. Offstage, she was a wallflower. She was–and remains– humble to a fault. And many of the talking heads bring up a self-consciousness despite her success. That said, ‘Sound of My Voice’ keeps the drama to a minimum.
“I would consider her a real auteur” Jackson Browne tells the camera. No kidding. Under those shaggy bangs and pressed lips was a voice that could do it all and a woman that did what she wanted. Fittingly, Epstein and Friedman have also been proclaimed auteurs thanks to the “The Celluloid Closet.” That one was a doc about the way LGBTQ folks were misportrayed in early cinema. In contrast, ‘Sound of My Voice’ is more upbeat, to be sure. The restored footage and head-bobbing music drive this into feel-good territory. But it ends on a note of dismay. Reminding viewers of her Parkinsons disease, Linda sings Mexican songs with her family, her voice barely heard. After all of these years, she still nurses the delusion that she isn’t good enough. This fitting tribute is proof that she’s more than enough. The sound of her voice may soon be gone, but it will never be forgotten. [B]