2020 | 112 minutes
Emer Reynolds
Before U2, Irish rock was Thin Lizzy. Telling the story of a Black, working-class boy who comes of age in 1960s Dublin, this feature documentary offers an affectionate, detailed portrait of one of Ireland’s greatest rock legends, Phil Lynott. As lead singer of Thin Lizzy, Lynott was a front man, composer, wild-eyed dreamer, and occasional rock-and-roll bad boy. The film explores Lynott and his music through his own words and with a stunning array of interviews with admirers, friends, and family. It is a remarkable portrait – crafted with warmth, authority, and humour – about this groundbreaking musician’s public and private life, a life that ended prematurely at age 36. In addition to lots of period music and concert footage, Songs features appearances by such fellow rock stars as Midge Ure, James Hetfield, and, arguably Lynott’s successor, U2 bassist Adam Clayton.