It All Begins with a Song, now streaming on Amazon Prime, provides music lovers with a behind the scenes glance at the Nashville songwriting industry. Check out our review below.

Between shots of living room studios, the legendary Bluebird Cafe, and publishing houses across Nashville, the intro of, ‘It All Begins With a Song’ starts in a way that will make any music lover swoon; with writers listing the famous songs they’ve penned despite that fact that you likely don’t know any of their names. From country hits like “Live Like You Were Dying”, “Whiskey Lullaby”, “Mama’s Broken Heart”, and “Jesus Take the Wheel” to pop and rock anthems including “Don’t Stop Believing” and, “You Give Love a Bad Name”, the new Amazon Prime documentary brings songwriters typically in the shadows into the well-deserved spotlight.

There is no shortage of familiar faces throughout the project (Garth Brooks, Kelsea Ballerini, Brad Paisley, Luke Bryan, Kacey Musgraves, and Brandy Clark just to name a few), but it’s the unfamiliar ones who steal the 90-minute show. Music city hitmakers featured in commentary and performance clips include Jimmy Robbins, the late, great, busbee, Andrew Combs, Jessi Alexander, Brett James, Caitlyn Smith, Jeffrey Steele, and Shane McAnally, along with dozens more.

In the 1950’s American songwriter Harlen Howard said all you need to write a country song is, “three chords and the truth”. Today, ninety-five years after the Grand Ole Opry first hit the airways, that’s still the case, and it’s those stories that continue to make listeners fall in love with music.

Songs touch people, and sometimes our experiences with their songs can touch the writer too. Bill Anderson shared an emotional memory of a time his song, “Five Little Fingers” gave a suicidal man something to live for, but it’s the final segment that’s the most powerful. After hearing a story on NPR about a father desperate to feel close to the son he lost in Afghanistan, Connie Harrington and Jessi Alexander wrote, “I Drive Your Truck”. The record, which would later become a number one song for Lee Brice, is to this day one of the best depictions of grief in the country genre.

Music can heal. Music can inspire. Music can bring us together. And it all beings with a song.

‘It All Begins with a Song’ is now streaming on Amazon Prime.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more.

—————

SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.