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BBC Four Music Specials

Season 2006 2006

  • 2006-07-27T20:00:00Z on BBC Four
  • 1h 20m
  • 1h 20m (1 episode)
  • United Kingdom
  • Special Interest, Documentary
A legacy collection of one-off documentaries or live performance, which aired on BBC four, and were not part of the BBC Music series. Each episode examines music culture or history, an artist or band, music genre, or an aspect of a music style.

1 episode

Season Premiere

2006-07-27T20:00:00Z

2006x01 Queens of Heartache

Season Premiere

2006x01 Queens of Heartache

  • 2006-07-27T20:00:00Z1h 20m

Documentary about a group of female singers whose voices make you weep, who sang songs of heartbreak and betrayal, had lives that seemed to mirror their music and deaths that came too soon and made myths of them all. Yet their voices triumph over tragedy and they became icons of the 20th century.

Edith Piaf, the Urchin Queen, stood small but strong and became the voice of her nation and of everyone who ever made mistakes. Billie Holiday, the Jazz Queen, her voice full of pain and yearning. Judy Garland, Showbiz Queen, raised in the film studio that fed her addiction to pills and to fame. Maria Callas, Drama Queen, whose voice brought out the heartache in opera and whose life echoed the roles she played. And Janis Joplin, Wild Queen, who offered up a 'piece of her heart' and died of drug abuse at just 27.

With contributions from Mickey Rooney, Charles Aznavour, Country Joe McDonald, KT Tunstall, Katie Melua and Corinne Bailey-Rae.

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