Young @ Heart Movie
Premiere
To read
more about the Young @ Heart chorus, the movie,
or view a trailer, click on the
picture below.
On May 2, the Blueprint for
Aging hosted an opening night reception for the Michigan premiere of
“Young @ Heart,” a new documentary that beautifully illustrates “Aging
with Attitude.” The movie showcases the hard work, joy and heartbreak
of “Young @ Heart,” a nationally acclaimed senior citizen chorus from
Northampton, MA.
The group sings
covers of classic rock, punk and R&B tunes such as James Brown’s “I
Feel Good!,” the Ramones’ “I Wanna Be Sedated” and an especially moving
version of “Fix You” by Coldplay. Any group of singers can cover
popular songs. “Young @ Heart’s” performances, however, have a edge
born, not only of the incongruity of seeing seniors belt out music
usually associated with younger people, but of the different
interpretations the singers’ advanced ages bring to the lyrics.
Part of the
Blueprint’s mission is to highlight the many ways in which seniors are
a vital and crucial part of community life—giving as well as receiving
in their later years. This film shows us a group of people
putting their skills, love of music, fondness for each other and desire
to entertain into something truly inspirational and energized. As
one member says, “We got a lot of life. That’s what we have.”
The Blueprint and the
Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor worked together to provide an opening
reception for over 100 people. Community members spanning a wide
range of ages talked together while enjoying light refreshments,
including snacks donated by Zingerman’s, cookies from Great Harvest
Bread Co. and Michigan Theatre popcorn.
The event was a great
opportunity for networking among professionals and for attendees to ask
questions regarding older relatives and friends in an informal setting.
“Events such as these are a way to reach a broader segment of the
public, people who may not feel ready for lectures and workshops,”
notes Program Manager Virginia Boyce. “Some community members may feel
more comfortable addressing aging issues at an informal event,
especially a celebratory one like this reception.”
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