Sing Street#Soundtrack

In 1985, 15-year-old Conor Lalor lives in inner-city South Dublin with his parents, Robert and Penny, and two older siblings, Brendan and Ann. Since his parents constantly argue, Conor writes music as a way to cope with his troubled home life. Due to recent financial difficulties, Robert and Penny announce that Conor will be transferred from his private school to Synge Street, a public Christian Brothers school.

On his first day at Synge Street, Conor is reprimanded by Brother Baxter, the stern school principal, for not wearing the mandatory black shoes, despite Conor's pleas that he cannot afford new shoes. After Baxter orders him to remove his brown shoes, Conor paints the shoes black. An encounter with school bully Barry introduces Conor to Darren, a budding entrepreneur. Conor then meets and becomes smitten with Raphina, a 16-year-old aspiring model who lives across the street from the school. In an effort to impress Raphina, he decides to form a band and recruits her for a music video. Darren agrees to manage his band and introduces him to multi-instrumentalist Eamon.

They are soon joined by keyboardist Ngig, drummer Larry and bassist Garry, naming their band Sing Street. The band practises in Eamon's living room, playing covers until Brendan, a music enthusiast, encourages Conor to develop the band's own style. Conor writes original songs with Eamon, describing themselves as "futurists". Sing Street films their first music video wearing outlandish costumes; Raphina acts as ingénue and makeup artist. Conor wears makeup to school the next day, and Baxter forcibly removes it.

Raphina gives Conor the nickname "Cosmo", which she says is more in keeping with his new band's image. She tells him about her plans to leave for London soon with her older boyfriend, Evan, with whom she has an on-and-off relationship. After spending the day filming a music video for a new song, Conor and Raphina kiss. At school, he stands up to Barry.

As Conor and Raphina grow closer, he takes her out to Dalkey Island in his grandfather's motor cruiser. There, they view the car ferry leaving Dún Laoghaire for the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, Robert and Penny inform the family that they are getting legally separated and selling the house, as Penny has fallen in love with her boss and plans to move in with him, while Robert intends to get himself an apartment.

Sing Street prepares to film a Back to the Future-inspired music video for their new song in the school gym, but Conor is disheartened when Raphina fails to show up, only to find that she has left for London without telling him. A few days later, Raphina returns to Dublin, explaining to Conor that Evan abandoned her in London after they had a fight. When Raphina laments that her life now involves "hanging out with a 15-year-old schoolboy", Conor distances himself from her.

An opportunity arises for the band to play at an end-of-term dance at school. Conor offers Barry the chance to be the band's roadie and escape his abusive family. For their encore at the school dance, Sing Street performs a new song mocking bullies like Baxter while distributing homemade masks of Baxter's face to the audience. Raphina arrives as the band is playing to an excited crowd. After the dance, Conor and Raphina reconcile.

Later that night, Conor and Raphina persuade Brendan to drive them to Dalkey, so the pair can escape in the motor cruiser and head to London, bringing with them Raphina's headshots and Conor's demo tapes and videos. Before leaving, Conor says goodbye to his sleeping mother. As the three arrive at the harbour at dawn, Conor and Brendan embrace. Conor and Raphina sail out to sea, following the ferry across the rough Irish Sea to a new life in London. Brendan watches them disappear into the distance and cheers, overjoyed that his younger brother has moved on to greater things.

{{Cast listing|

• Lucy Boynton as Raphina
• Maria Doyle Kennedy as Penny
• Aidan Gillen as Robert
• Jack Reynor as Brendan
• Kelly Thornton as Ann
• Ferdia Walsh-Peelo as Conor

• Ian Kenny as Barry
• Ben Carolan as Darren
• Percy Chamburuka as Ngig
• Mark McKenna as Eamon
• Don Wycherley as Brother Baxter
• Conor Hamilton as Larry
• Karl Rice as Garry
• Lydia McGuinness as Miss Dunne

}}

In February 2014, it was announced that John Carney would be directing the film, from a screenplay he wrote about a boy starting a band in order to impress a girl. Carney would produce through his Distressed Films banner, along with Anthony Bregman through his Likely Story Banner, Kevin Frakes for PalmStar Media, and Raj Brinder Singh for Merced Media Partners, with Paul Trijbits and Christian Grass for FilmWave.{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/berlin-bono-the-edge-on-board-for-john-carneys-sing-street-1201089781/|title=Berlin: Bono, The Edge on Board for John Carney's 'Sing Street'|magazine=Variety|first=Dave|last=McNary|date=6 February 2014|access-date=19 January 2016}} The film is a semi-autobiographical depiction of Carney's upbringing in Dublin.{{cite web|last=Lewis|first=Dave|url=http://www.hitfix.com/news/once-director-reteaming-with-u2-on-new-movie/|title='Once' director reteaming with U2 on new movie|website=HitFix|date=6 February 2014|access-date=19 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125103645/http://www.hitfix.com/news/once-director-reteaming-with-u2-on-new-movie/|archive-date=25 January 2016}}

File:Sing Street cast at Dublin International Film Festival.jpg. Left to right: Percy Chamburuka, Mark McKenna, Kelly Thornton, Ben Carolan, Ian Kenny, Conor Hamilton.]]

In a July 2014 interview, Carney announced he would be casting unknown actors in the film.{{cite web|url=http://www.iftn.ie/news/?act1=record&only=1&aid=73&rid=4287324&tpl=archnews&force=1|title=John Carney Will Cast Unknown Actors in 'Sing Street'|publisher=IFTN|first=Deirdre|last=Molumby|date=1 July 2014|access-date=19 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126093234/http://www.iftn.ie/news/?act1=record&only=1&aid=73&rid=4287324&tpl=archnews&force=1|archive-date=26 January 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/features/120042-interview-once-director-john-carney-begins-again|title=Interview: Once Director John Carney Begins Again|website=ComingSoon.net|first=Edward|last=Douglas|date=1 July 2014|access-date=19 January 2016}} The unknown actors turned out to be Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Ben Carolan, Mark McKenna, Percy Chamburuka, Conor Hamilton, Karl Rice and Ian Kenny.{{cite web|url=http://www.lgukpublicity.co.uk/uk/images/Prodnotes/SING_STREET_PRODUCTION_NOTES_UK_FINAL.pdf|title=Sing Street Production Notes|publisher=Lionsgate UK|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160615195355/http://www.lgukpublicity.co.uk/uk/images/Prodnotes/SING_STREET_PRODUCTION_NOTES_UK_FINAL.pdf|archive-date=15 June 2016}} In September 2014, it was announced that Aidan Gillen, Maria Doyle Kennedy and Jack Reynor had joined the cast of the film, portraying the role of Conor's father, mother and brother respectively.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/movie-news/lovehates-aiden-gillen-will-join-jack-reynor-for-john-carneys-new-film-sing-street-30587576.html|title=Love/Hate's Aiden Gillen will join Jack Reynor for John Carney's new film Sing Street|newspaper=Irish Independent|first=Laura|last=Butler|date=17 September 2014|access-date=19 January 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.iftn.ie/news/?act1=record&only=1&aid=73&rid=4287539&tpl=archnews&force=1|title=Aiden Gillen Joins Maria Doyle Kennedy and Jack Reynor in John Carney's Sing Street'.|publisher=IFTN|first=Sean|last=Brosnan|date=17 September 2014|access-date=19 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120005733/http://www.iftn.ie/news/?act1=record&only=1&aid=73&rid=4287539&tpl=archnews&force=1|archive-date=20 January 2015}}

Principal photography began in September 2014 in Dublin and concluded on 25 October 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.ssninsider.com/on-the-set-for-102714-russell-crowe-ryan-gosling-start-shooting-the-nice-guys-kate-beckinsale-wraps-the-disappointments-room/|title=On the Set for 10/27/14: Russell Crowe & Ryan Gosling Start Shooting 'The Nice Guys', Kate Beckinsale Wraps 'The Disappointments Room'|website=SSN Insider|date=27 October 2014|access-date=19 January 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126182645/http://www.ssninsider.com/on-the-set-for-102714-russell-crowe-ryan-gosling-start-shooting-the-nice-guys-kate-beckinsale-wraps-the-disappointments-room/|archive-date=26 January 2016}} Its namesake school, Synge Street CBS, was among the shooting locations for the film.{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/ten/news/2014/1023/654426-sing-street/|title=Look! Photos from Sing Street set in Dublin|website=RTÉ TEN|date=23 October 2014|access-date=19 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126102719/http://www.rte.ie/ten/news/2014/1023/654426-sing-street/|archive-date=26 January 2016}}

Much of the original music by the band "Sing Street" was composed by Danny Wilson frontman Gary Clark,{{cite magazine |last=Rooney |first=David |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/sing-street-sundance-review-859188|title='Sing Street': Film Review {{!}} Sundance 2016

|magazine=The Hollywood Reporter |date=25 January 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://filmmusicreporter.com/2016/03/17/sing-street-soundtrack-details/|title='Sing Street' Soundtrack Details|website=Film Music Reporter|date=17 March 2016}} with Carney, Ken and Carl Papenfus of the band Relish,{{cite web|last=Grace|first=Ryan|url=https://www.headstuff.org/2016/04/sing-street-review/|title=How the 80s Pop Sound of Sing Street Continues John Carney's Musical Voyage|website=HeadStuff |date=13 April 2016}} Graham Henderson and Zamo Riffman also receiving writing credits.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/sing-street-mn0003506582|title=Sing Street|website=AllMusic|access-date=31 May 2016}} Adam Levine co-wrote (with Carney and Glen Hansard) and sings on the track "Go Now".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.ew.com/article/2016/04/08/adam-levine-go-now-sing-street|title=Hear new Adam Levine song 'Go Now' from Sing Street|last=Nolfi|first=Joey|date=8 April 2016|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=12 May 2016}}

The film also features music of the period from the Cure, a-ha, Duran Duran, the Clash, Hall & Oates, Spandau Ballet, the Blades and the Jam.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYk2Vx1z6lk|title=Sing Street Official Trailer #1 (2016) – Aidan Gillen, Maria Doyle Kennedy Movie HD|date=16 January 2016 |publisher=Rotten Tomatoes Trailers|access-date=16 January 2016|via=YouTube}}

{{Main|Sing Street (soundtrack)}}

The soundtrack album was released by Decca Records on 11 March 2016.

In February 2014, it was announced that FilmNation Entertainment had been selected to sell international rights to the film.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2014/02/berlin-john-carneys-sing-street-with-u2s-bono-and-the-edge-to-be-sold-offshore-by-filmnation-678261/|title=Berlin: John Carney's 'Sing Street' With U2's Bono And The Edge To Be Sold Offshore By FilmNation|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Mike Jr.|last=Fleming|date=6 February 2014|access-date=19 January 2016}} In May 2014, it was announced The Weinstein Company had acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film, for $3 million.{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/festivals/cannes-weinstein-co-picks-up-john-carneys-sing-street-1201184314/|title=CANNES: Weinstein Co. Picks Up John Carney's 'Sing Street'|magazine=Variety|first=Ramin|last=Seetoodeh|date=17 May 2014|access-date=19 January 2016}}

Sing Street had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on 24 January 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.sundance.org/projects/sing-street|title=Sing Street|publisher=Sundance Institute|access-date=19 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190731212235/https://www.sundance.org/projects/sing-street|archive-date=31 July 2019}} The film screened at the Dublin Film Festival on 18 February 2016,{{cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/sing-street-to-open-dublin-film-festival/5098160.article|title='Sing Street' to open Dublin film festival|website=Screen Daily|first=Adam|last=Chapman|date=17 December 2015|access-date=19 January 2016|url-access=limited|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250222220714/https://www.screendaily.com/news/sing-street-to-open-dublin-film-festival/5098160.article|archive-date=22 February 2025|url-status=live}} and at South by Southwest on 11 March 2016.{{cite web|url=https://schedule.sxsw.com/2016/events/event_FS19884|title=Sing Street|publisher=South by Southwest|access-date=6 May 2016}} The film was released by Lionsgate in Ireland on 17 March{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/ten/news/2016/0125/762879-rave-reviews-for-john-sing-street/|title=Rave reviews for Carney's Sing Street at Sundance|website=RTÉ TEN|date=25 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160213035640/http://www.rte.ie/ten/news/2016/0125/762879-rave-reviews-for-john-sing-street/|archive-date=13 February 2016}} and in the United Kingdom on 20 May 2016.{{cite web|last=Sandwell|first=Ian|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/kung-fu-panda-3-retains-uk-lead/5101746.article|title='Kung Ku Panda 3' retains top spot at UK box office|website=Screen Daily|date=21 March 2016|access-date=15 June 2025|url-access=limited|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204195305/https://www.screendaily.com/news/kung-fu-panda-3-retains-uk-lead/5101746.article|archive-date=4 February 2023|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.launchingfilms.com/release-schedule|title=UK Film release schedule – past, present and future|publisher=Film Distributors' Association|access-date=19 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160515105917/http://www.launchingfilms.com/release-schedule|archive-date=15 May 2016}} It was released in the United States on 15 April 2016.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/02/sing-street-hands-of-stone-release-dates-weinstein-co-1201707992/|title=Weinstein Co. Dates 'Sing Street' & Roberto Duran Boxing Title 'Hands of Stone'|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|date=23 February 2016|access-date=23 February 2016}}

The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray in the United Kingdom on 8 August 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sing-Street-DVD-Ferdia-Walsh-Peelo/dp/B01EJZHMNO|title=Sing Street [DVD] [2016]|website=Amazon|location=United Kingdom|access-date=1 August 2016}}

Sing Street grossed $13.6 million worldwide.

In the United States, the film made $63,573 from five theatres on its opening weekend, an average of $13,796 per venue.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2014/02/berlin-john-carneys-sing-street-with-u2s-bono-and-the-edge-to-be-sold-offshore-by-filmnation-678261/|title=A24's 'Green Room' Thrills; Tribeca Opener 'First Monday In May' Bows Slow: Specialty Box Office|website=Deadline Hollywood|last=Brooks|first=Brian Jr.|date=17 April 2016|access-date=1 February 2018}}

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 95% based on 214 reviews, with an average rating of 8/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Sing Street is a feel-good musical with huge heart and irresistible optimism, and its charming cast and hummable tunes help to elevate its familiar plotting."{{cite web | url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/sing_street/ | title=Sing Street | website=Rotten Tomatoes | access-date=23 April 2021}} On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 79 out of 100 based on 38 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.{{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/sing-street | title=Sing Street | website=Metacritic | access-date=1 February 2018}} Audiences polled by PostTrak gave the film a 96% overall positive score and an 85% "definite recommend".

Guy Lodge of Variety gave the film a positive review, writing, "Perched on a tricky precipice between chippy kitchen-sink realism and lush wish-fulfilment fantasy, this mini-Commitments gets away with even its cutesiest indulgences thanks to a wholly lovable ensemble of young Irish talent and the tightest pop tunes—riffing on Duran Duran and the Cure with equal abandon and affection—any gaggle of Catholic schoolboys could hope to write themselves. Given the right marketing and word of mouth, this Weinstein Co. release could Sing a song of far more than sixpence."{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/reviews/sing-street-review-1201687683/|title=Sundance Film Review: 'Sing Street'|magazine=Variety|first=Guy|last=Lodge|date=25 January 2016|access-date=31 January 2016}}

In The Observer, Mark Kermode gave the film four out of five stars, writing: "When it comes to capturing the strange, romantic magic of making music, few modern film-makers are more on the money than John Carney." He added, "The bittersweet, 'happy sad' drama that follows has drawn inevitable, if misguided, comparisons with The Commitments, yet tonally this is closer to the teen spirit of Todd Graff's 2009 film Bandslam...or even Richard Linklater’s sublime School of Rock. As Carney has proved previously, he knows how to straddle the line between the sound in the room and the sound in your head – a sequence that segues from bedroom composition to living room rehearsal (with tea and biscuits) to full studio production perfectly negotiates the space between kitchen-sink realism and musical fantasy in which this lovely, lyrical movie casts its spell". Kermode concluded by saying, "Happy sad indeed. I laughed, I cried, I bought the soundtrack album."{{cite news |last= Kermode |first= Mark | author-link= Mark Kermode |title= Sing Street review – pop goes the playground |url= https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/may/22/sing-street-review-schoolboys-pop-band| date= 22 May 2016|newspaper= The Observer | access-date=18 December 2016}}

{{Main|Sing Street (musical)}}

Sing Street, like Carney's film Once, was adapted for stage as a musical, also called Sing Street. The screenplay was adapted by Enda Walsh (who also wrote the book for the musical Once) and the production was directed by Rebecca Taichman. The show premiered at New York Theatre Workshop on 16 December 2019 after extensive workshops.{{cite magazine |last=Clement |first=Olivia |title=World Premiere of Sing Street Extends at New York Theatre Workshop |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/world-premiere-of-sing-street-extends-at-new-york-theatre-workshop |magazine=Playbill |date=13 November 2019 |access-date=21 December 2019}} The musical was set to premiere at the Lyceum Theatre in previews on 26 March 2020 and officially on 19 April.{{cite magazine|last=Lenker|first=Maureen Lee|title=Sing Street to transfer to Broadway this spring|url=https://ew.com/theater/2020/01/08/sing-street-musical-transfering-to-broadway/|date=8 January 2020|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=9 January 2020}} but it suspended its production due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, a cast recording featuring the original Broadway cast was released on 22 April 2020.{{cite web|title=New Musical Sing Street Postpones Broadway Run|url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/198794/new-musical-sing-street-postpones-broadway-run|website=Broadway.com|date=4 August 2020|access-date=12 September 2020}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{IMDb title}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20170517024849/http://twcguilds.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/SING_STREET_Script_wCover_R1.pdf Official screenplay]

{{John Carney}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sing Street}}

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