Paramount + Music Docs Wishlist

 

Paramount Plus has recently released a documentary about Boy Bands and the chokehold they have had on pop culture throughout the years. It's a very interesting documentary that I really enjoyed. Paramount Plus can be a frustrating streaming service, but one thing it has going for it is the amazing music focused docs they have been produced. 

The latest one joins a growing list of Paramount Plus produced docs such as the Milli Vanilli doc which helped people realize how great they were and how wronged they were. Cyndi Lauper, 80's hair metal genre, and how napster and downloading music blew up. After watching the doc, I did my usual and started thinking about subjects I would like to see Paramount Plus do documentaries on.

10.Ashlee Simpson Lip-Sync Scandal

Ashlee Simpson has never been considered a strong vocalist. Yet on October 26th, 2004 during an appearance on Saturday Night Live, she became the subject of mass scrutiny when a recording track played before she took the microphone.

It led to wide confusion before she did an awkward dance and left the stage. Accusations of lip syncing spread out and it took her some time to recover. It'd be nice to hear the whole story behind this mishap and the ensuing issues it caused.

9.B2K

One group that wasnt mentioned in the Paramount doc was B2K. In the early 2000's the popularity of B2K rivaled that of a Backstreet Boys and Nsync, especially in the Black community. Debuting in the fall of 2001, the group released their self-titled debut album in March of 2002 and the train known as B2K went full speed ahead from there. From that point on they headlined scream tours, made music videos for what seemed like every song they had. And stole the stage when they performed.

In early 2004 just as their debut film You Got Served was about to be released, the group broke up. With three members separating from Omarion and more importantly their manager Chris Stokes. Allegations and finger pointing presumed from there. Omarion went on to have a successful solo career, and the group reunited in 2019 to go on tour. They just can't seem to get out of their own way as a unit, and are holding back their legacy. Time for everyone to express the reasons why.

8. Latin Pop Craze of the 90's

During the late 90's while the pop Craze led by Boy Bands and teen sensations was taking the world by storm. There was another genre ruling the airwaves, the Latin Pop music scene exploded. Led by Ricky Martin, Enrique Iglesias, and Christina Aguilera pulling double duty. Other stars such as Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez who released her debut album in 1999, helped the genre gain crossover appeal. 

The Latin Pop Craze story has never been told fully from its fruition to the flame out. It's time it is given it's due.

7. Dixie Chick's exiled 

This moment in music history was covered in the 2006 film Dixie Chicks: Shut up and Sing, but it's been over 20 years since the whole ordeal happened and needs to be revisited. In 2003 the Dixie Chicks were one of the most popular music acts in country and music overall. That was until they publicly denounced President George Bush and the Iraqi war.

It seemed like they lost just about everything when that occurred. And they had to wade through death threats and such. They were able to eventually move past that controversy and the journey needs to be shared.

6. Regional Music

This topic would need to be a docu-series more than a documentary so that each subject would get their proper due. That is region based genre's of music, sounds that are unique to certain areas and usually only natives to that area appreciate it for what it is. Baltimore club music, D.C. go-go music, Chicago House Music, New Jersey Club, Miami Bass, crunk music the list goes on and on. These sounds are unique and speak to people in different ways, time to really spotlight these various genres.

5. Emancipation of MiMi

2025 marks the 20 year release of Mariah Carey's album The Emancipation of Mimi. This was her comeback album that bought Mariah back to her chart topping ways, after the much publicized mental health breakdown she had during the release of her Glitter album and film. During the production of this album Mariah enlisted the aid of producers such as Babyface, Jermaine Dupri, Pharrell Williams, and Kanye West among others. It paid off big time.

The album's top single We Belong Together you could not escape that year. It went 7 x platinum and was nominated for 10 Grammy's, winning two. It was even rereleased with additional songs and the public still ate it up. The Emancipation of Mimi reminded people that Mariah is a legend, and it's time the backstory of that album is shared to celebrate it's greatness.

4. M.C. Hammer

I wrote a blog about M.C. Hammer and his rockstar status earlier this year. Hammer's story has been covered in a VH1 Behind The Music episode and a 2001 TV movie on VH1. And then the story kind of stopped there, he went from the highest of the highs to the lowest of the low's after he squandered his money and the rap industry turned against him. He eventually found happiness and Christ, became a tech investor and even had a reality show in 2009 on A&E dubbed Hammertime. He's also starred in several commercials in the 2000's and 2010's starting a second career as a endorser.

There have been reports the hip hop industry has been trying to give Hammer his flowers every chance they can in the last few years, yet he constantly turns them down. A documentary for him to explain his reasonings and how he feels about the newfound appreciation for him would be amazing TV.

3. One-Hit Wonders

One-hit wonders are probably the most consistent thing in music. All genres have them, and all eras have them. There's also no rhyme or reason or "science" to what makes a one hit wonders. Here today, gone tomorrow is often the story of one-hit wonders. A fun introspective documentary covering some of the biggest acts that had one hit and was gone in a blink of a eye, would probably help some of these acts get introduced to a new generation. 

2. Spice Girls

Formed in 1994 and hailing from London, England five young ladies burst onto the U.S. music charts in 1996 with their hit single Wannabe. From there Sporty, Scary, Ginger, Baby, and Posh Spice took over pop culture screaming Girl Power. For the next year and a half, the Spice Girls released their debut album Spice and a follow up Spice World. They starred in a film carrying the same name, had dolls and young girls aspired to be them.

Then suddenly in May of 1998, member Ginger Spice left the group and things spiraled from there. The group's popularity tail spined, and just like that it was over. They released one more album as a quartet in 2000, Forever. Since then the group has gotten back together and broken up more times than one can count. Yet their legacy is still as strong as ever, as the 90's nostalgia cycle is still running. It's time all 5 women tell their side of the experience and bring fan's in on the wild ride...which hopefully leads to a reunion tour. 

1. New Jack Swing

To me New Jack Swing is the one of the greatest genre's of music ever, that still does not receive the full credit it deserves. Merging the styles and sounds of hip-hop and r&b, the sound of New Jack Swing still influences both genres as well as pop music to this very day. Founded by producer Teddy Riley in 2018, New Jack Swing became more than music. It became clothing, lingo, and a way of life it was a certain style.

Record labels such as Uptown Records headed by Andre Harrell were built off of the new jack swing era. Television series like New York Undercover were birthed from the culture of new jack swing. As tastes changed in the mid-90's the sound kind of faded away, but it's legacy lives on and it's time the entire story of that era is told.