LOS ANGELES HUGH JACKMAN & KATE HUDSON
Hugh, you delighted audiences with your singing on Broadway, while Kate released a studio album last year. What really moved you both the most about Mike and Claire — given that you have your own real- life musical stories? HUGH: What I love about this film is that it feels like a love letter to mu- sicians. And I say that with great re- spect. There are so many brilliant art- ists out there barely making a living — or not making a living at all — but they keep going because they have to. Because they love it. They’ll sing any- where: a Thai restaurant or as an opener for Pearl Jam. The impulse is the same. What I love in particular about Mike is his perseverance. He never want- ed to give up. Even now, 30 years later, here we are. The story and his music are spreading. And what resonated with me most about the two of them is the way they save each other. They go through so much, yet their belief in one another never falters. KATE: I would also add to that the love story. Anyone who carries music in- side them also carries a deeply person- al love story with it. I think Mike and Claire and the two of us have that simi- lar thing that touches you so much that you can connect without the need to say a word, but you can sing it. Neil Diamond’s music is truly timeless. How did nostalgically immersing yourselves in his world influence you?
We wrote a love letter to musicians When you watch the film Song Sung Blue, you will ask yourself what you should do if not exactly what you want and what makes you feel good, happy and connected ~ say these famous actors S ong Sung Blue, a biographical musical drama about married couple Mike and Claire Sardi- na, touched the hearts of au- diences worldwide, as a tragic, but somehow optimistic love story that recounts an epic constant struggle. Based on Greg Cox’s 2008 documentary, the film stars Hugh Jackman and Kate Hud- son as Mike and Claire, who form a Neil Diamond tribute act. We met up with the two leads in a charming restaurant in West Hollywood, and despite being limit- ed in terms of time, we still had a very in- teresting conversation about music, Neil Diamond, film and even life itself.
You make incredibly beautiful music together in this film. When did you first realise you’d manage to create that for the audience? HUGH: I remember Kate turning to me right after our table read. It was one of those rare readings where people were actually crying — I had never seen anything like it. After- ward, we grabbed some Jersey Mike’s sandwiches, and Kate looked at me and said, “You know this film only works if we do this together.” And she was absolutely right. Then Craig [Brew- er] made a brilliant directorial move: he took us straight into the record- ing studio. In the film, much of the singing is live, but we recorded everything first… I’ll never forget re- cording Holly Holy. We were sitting casually on a couch, a microphone placed in front of us, and when we started to sing, I got chills. That’s when I knew we were going to blend perfectly. KATE: Yes — exactly that. Holly Ho- ly was one of those defining mo- ments. We were still getting to know each other, and suddenly we were singing side-by-side in the most vulnerable environment.
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