Mike and Claire Sardina never ride off into the sunset in “Song Sung Blue,” but their real-life love story, on which the new film is based, still quietly tugs at your heartstrings.
Both musicians chasing their big break, Mike and Claire’s meet-cute happens backstage during a “Legends” gig at the Wisconsin State Fair, where they are slated to perform impersonations of legendary singers. Claire is dressed as Patty Cline, and Mike is dressed as his own alter ego, Lightning.
Minutes before Mike is set to appear on stage, he gets into a squabble with the show’s promoter and backs out. Before heading home, Mike briefly flirts with Claire, who suggests he start doing a Neil Diamond impersonation.
Together, as the duo Lightning and Thunder, they ignite an ambitious goal of becoming something much bigger — a successful Neil Diamond impersonation group.
The bona fide tearjerker — which stars Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman as Claire and Mike — may feel emotionally familiar to young adult audiences, echoing the enduring, working-class relationships many grew up watching between their own parents, Hudson shared, adding that she found the couple’s true love story “so inspiring.”
“(Mike and Claire) weren’t afraid to sort of get wrapped up — even though they were wrapped up almost in each other’s identities. It’s like they believed in each other so much they could get through anything. And there’s something about that,” Hudson told the Deseret News.
She added, “When you have someone in your life who loves you, and you feel that and you feel safe in that, and you trust it, there’s nothing more powerful. It feels like you can take on the world. And I just think everybody longs for that kind of love and connection.”
Mike and Claire are both down-on-their-luck middle-aged dreamers, each carrying heavy loads of baggage. Mike is a divorced, 20-years-sober alcoholic and Vietnam vet who works odd jobs as a mechanic with a desperate hope to make it as a musician. Claire is a hairdresser and single mom, who struggles with severe bouts of depression.
Together, they chased their Neil Diamond impersonation dream to great heights, apexing as the Milwaukee openers for Pearl Jam — which Mike believed was a name for fruit preserves, before his teenage stepdaughter educated him on the ‘90s grunge movement.
In spite of the highs, chasing the dream was fraught with challenges. With each setback, including a life-altering accident, Mike maintains an optimistic attitude. He is fueled by more than putting on successful shows as his relationship with Claire gives the dream new meaning.
“I find Mike to be incredibly inspiring, and I hope audiences do too, because I don’t know if I would have hung on as Mike did, but he had his eyes on the prize,” Jackman told the Deseret News.
“Then shortly into it, from meeting Claire, it becomes about the two of them. Then it becomes about their children. It becomes about their community, more than just himself, and I think that’s ultimately what makes it all so uplifting.”
While centered on Mike and Claire’s romantic relationship, “Song Sung Blue” steers clear of rom-com territory. It pulls off a few tasteful clichés, but remains rooted in the genuine, real-life romance of a middle-aged couple navigating several of the harsh realities of life.
“These are people in their midlife, and as real life happens, there is love, there is song, there is music, there’s romance, there’s heartache, there’s tragedy,” Jackman said. “There’s all these things that make up a real relationship and a real life.”
For passionate fans seeking a Neil Diamond tribute-style movie, that is not what “Song Sung Blue” is about. It will make you laugh. It will make you cry. It might introduce you to a few Neil Diamond deep cuts and reignite an appreciation for his songwriting — but the focal point is on Mike and Claire’s true redemption story.
Hudson, Jackman and director Craig Brewer all shared a deep respect for that story, and honored it in their retelling.
“A couple like Mike and Claire, it could have been very easy to go into a caricature version of them, or make fun of this couple that was devoted to this world,” Hudson said. “We didn’t in any way ever dishonor this family. Their love story, and what they did and their devotion to each other, is so pure it lacks any kind of cynicism.
“The purity of love is something that is one of the hardest things for people to live in — just that sort of selfless love of somebody — and I think that’s the thing that inspired me the most about the script. ... The hardest thing for people to do in this world is to realize that love is actually, really is the answer to everything."
Stepping into Neil Diamond’s music
As Lightning and Thunder, Hudson and Jackman both felt a responsibility to do justice to Neil Diamond’s music.
But for Hudson, stepping into the world of Neil Diamond’s music was “the fun and easy part.”
“I love being in the studio. I love to sing. You don’t have to twist my arm to sing anymore,” Hudson said, adding that it took her years to find confidence in her own voice, which she now loves to share.
“I’ve never seen myself as a technical singer. ... I was never a classically trained singer. I just sing from instinct and feeling, so I was always very timid about using the power that is in my voice,” she continued. “With this movie ... it’s a different kind of voice, too, because you use different voices with different characters.”
Finding harmonies in Diamond’s music was part of the fun, she said, because most of his music features some background vocals, but Hudson and Jackman were singing duets.
“It was fun to find out what our voices sounded like together,” Hudson said. “And created our vibe and blend.”
The film reaches deep into Diamond’s catalog and far beyond “Sweet Caroline” — though the hit still gets special attention — with renditions of “Cherry, Cherry,” “Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show,” “Cracklin’ Rosie,” “Soolaimon,” “Holly Holy” and, of course, “Song Sung Blue.”
Together, Hudson and Jackman breathe new meaning into Diamond’s music, which bonded the real Milwaukee couple, Claire and Mike, and provided some much-needed healing and redemption.
Jackman “loved” immersing himself in Diamond’s music.
“We have a very similar range, which makes it easy,” Jackman said. “I’ve done a lot of things where I have to work really hard, because it may be stretched for me, but this just felt — I feel so good, and I love the music.”
His appreciation for the music and songwriting expanded as he filled the role. He felt a responsibility to perform the music well. And, fortunately, Diamond gave “Song Sung Blue” his stamp of approval.
“I just have so much respect for him as a songwriter,” Jackman said. “I met Neil and thankfully, he really dug it. I’m not just talking about me. He dug the whole movie.”