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Jill Nicholls

Mark Cooper

Queens of Heartache

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Music

Music: Classic Pop & Rock

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media: Arts

27/07/2006

BBC Two - Queens of Heartache

Film about Edith Piaf, Billie Holiday, Judy Garland, Maria Callas and Janis Joplin.

A look at iconic female singers of the 20th century who tragically died young. The singers featured include Edith Piaf, Billie Holiday, Judy Garland, Maria Callas and Janis Joplin.

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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