Watch Pick It Up! Ska in the '90s

Pick It Up! Ska in the '90s is a documentary film from 2019 that delves into the world of ska music during its heyday in the 1990s. Directed by Taylor Morden, the film explores the impact that ska had on the music industry and on popular culture, while also examining the factors that led to its eventual decline in popularity. The film is filled with interviews with some of the most important ska musicians from the 1990s, including members of bands like Reel Big Fish, Goldfinger, and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. These interviews are interspersed with archival footage and concert footage, giving viewers a real sense of what it was like to be a ska fan during this period.

Through these interviews, the film explores the origins of ska music and its evolution from a Jamaican dance rhythm to a popular genre in the United States. The skanking, the horns, and the upbeat rhythms that define ska are all explored in depth, as are the lyrics that often deal with social and political issues.

The film also examines the role that ska played in the 1990s, a decade that was marked by the rise of grunge and alternative rock. For many ska fans, the genre represented an escape from the mainstream, and the music often had a subversive quality that attracted young people who felt alienated from the mainstream culture.

Throughout the film, there is a sense of nostalgia for this period, and for the music that defined it. The interviews with musicians are often candid and heartfelt, and the concert footage is exhilarating. There is a real sense that the filmmakers are celebrating a moment in time that was important both culturally and musically.

Overall, Pick It Up! Ska in the '90s is a must-watch for anyone who loves ska music or who is interested in the cultural history of the 1990s. The film is both informative and entertaining, and it provides a fascinating look at a genre of music that has had a lasting impact on the music industry. Whether you were a fan of ska in the 1990s or simply appreciate good music, this film is definitely worth watching.

Pick It Up! Ska in the '90s is a 2019 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 41 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.1.