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The best music documentaries to watch on Netflix

The best music documentaries are wonderful to watch. Not only do they offer insight into the highs and lows of stardom, but they also allow you to see the creativity and expression that goes into creating music at the highest level.

Contents1. Miss Americana2. What happened, Miss Simone?3. Gaga:five foot two4. Oasis:supersonic5. Homecoming:A Beyoncé Film6. Quincy7. Rolling Thunder Review:A Bob Dylan Story8. 20 feet from fame9. Amydix. Fyre:The Greatest Party That Never Happened11. Rapture12. Miles Davis:The Birth of Cool13. Rush:Beyond the Lit Stage14. Keith Richards:Under the InfluenceHow to watch more documentaries for free

We've put together a list of the best music documentaries available to watch on Netflix. Whether it's Taylor Swift, Oasis, or Bob Dylan, these Netflix music documentaries are all interesting and enjoyable character studies.

1. Miss Americana

Miss Americana explores the life of one of the greatest musicians on the planet:Taylor Swift. Usually cautious when discussing her private life, this documentary delves into Swift's battles with the media, her body dysmorphia, her mother's cancer diagnosis and her political views.

It's an interesting watch even if you're not a fan, although Swifties will especially love the magic moments of music in the studio.

If this documentary inspires you, here's how to make music at home with Audacity.

2. What happened, Miss Simone?

“Miss Simone, you are idolized, even loved, by millions now. But what happened, Miss Simone? This quote opens this fantastic documentary about music legend Nina Simone.

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The documentary tells his powerful life story; a woman not only known for her songs, but also for her contributions to civil rights. Combining rare archival footage and interviews, it's a must-see.

3. Gaga:five foot two

Early in Lady Gaga's career, she adopted an almost mythical status, often making headlines for her eye-catching outfits. This documentary strips that down, covering a year of his life while working on his fifth album, producing a Super Bowl halftime show and performing on television.

Gaga is clearly a determined and driven artist and it's great to get this raw, unfiltered insight into her world.

4. Oasis:supersonic

We all know brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher are bitter rivals. Oasis:Supersonic addresses this, but it also examines the formation of the Britpop group, their wild success and the electric power of their music. Using a wealth of archival photos and video compared to current interviews, this documentary offers a surprisingly moving look at Oasis.

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5. Homecoming:A Beyoncé Film

If you want a balanced or candid look at Queen Bey, then Homecoming isn't the watch for you – the subtitle 'a Beyoncé movie' should tell you all you need to know. What it is, however, is a wonderful insight into the production and performance of her stunning 2018 performance at the Coachella festival.

Both documentary and concert film, Homecoming highlights a performer at the top of her game.

6. Quincy

No one can accuse Quincy Jones of slacking off. During his lifetime, he crafted over 300 albums, won 28 Grammys, and worked with Michael Jackson and Frank Sinatra. As you'd expect, this documentary is packed with stories of his illustrious career and is co-directed by his daughter, Rashida Jones.

7. Rolling Thunder Review:A Bob Dylan Story

Rolling Thunder Revue, named after Bob Dylan's 1975 tour of the same name, isn't Martin Scorsese's first film about the American singer, but it's his weirdest.

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Mainly composed of excerpts from Dylan's own 1978 film, this documentary mixes reality and fiction without ever distinguishing between the two; some interviews are with real musicians involved in the tour, others with actors. It's an interesting and fun meta movie.

8. 20 feet from fame

20 Feet from Stardom shifts the light away from the lead vocalist and highlights supporting vocalists who often receive no public acknowledgment or acknowledgment, despite being an important part of the overall performance. Some backup singers want more; others are satisfied with their role. It is a pleasant, warm and sincere documentary.

9. Amy

Amy Winehouse was a huge talent. With her distinctive voice and appearance, the sky was her limit. Until she died sadly at the age of 27 after succumbing to her addictions.

This documentary uses personal footage to show Winehouse's life and career. It delves into her family and her fame issues, but above all shows what an exceptional musician she was.

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ten. Fyre:The Greatest Party That Never Happened

The Fyre Festival was supposed to be the biggest festival ever. Located in the Bahamas and promoted online by influencers like Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid, tickets cost up to $1,500 each. Except it all turned out to be a fraud, leaving hundreds of people stranded.

This documentary captures the whole bizarre story, which is so crazy you have to see it to believe it.

11. Rapture

Whether you listen to hip-hop or not, the genre has had a huge influence on every corner of popular culture. This documentary series examines a different artist each episode, like 2 Chainz, Nas, and G-Eazy, as they share their life stories and talk about their upbringing, inspirations, and art.

To broaden your musical horizons, check out these websites to discover new musical genres.

12. Miles Davis:The Birth of Cool

Miles Davis is known as one of the most important jazz trumpeters of all time. He played by his own rules, constantly innovating and changing his style. Davis is slick, cool, but mostly human - which means he could be complicated and difficult. This documentary explores all its facets through unearthed archival footage and modern interviews.

13. Rush:beyond the lit stage

Rush were an award-winning Canadian rock band and this 2010 documentary details their origins and sonic shift. Many celebrities pop up to profess their love for the band, but it's really the interviews with the Rush members themselves that make it interesting, as they reflect on their time making music together.

14. Keith Richards:under the influence

After Keith Richards released his album Main Offender in 1992, it took him until 2015 to follow up with Crosseyed Heart. In this documentary, we get a glorious look at Richards as he crafts this album, while reflecting on his life and everything that got him to where he is now. Rolling Stones fans will especially appreciate this for obvious reasons.

How to watch more documentaries for free

No matter what genre of music you like to listen to, each of these Netflix music documentaries offers something different. And who knows, you might end up discovering a new favorite singer or band after watching a few.

If you're in the mood for more documentaries, here's a list of the best places to watch free documentaries online.