On June 1st, Netflix launched an exciting new film — A Beautiful Life (2023). Danish pop star Christopher showcases his musical talent as he makes his leading role debut in this emotional romantic drama about music’s healing powers. He wrote and sang all the songs for A Beautiful Life, which was directed by Mehdi Avaz and written by Stefan Jaworski.
When Elliott (Christopher), a young fisherman with a hidden talent and an extraordinary voice gets discovered at a party by Suzanne, a high-profile music producer who is willing to give him the chance of a lifetime, he must decide if he is ready to open himself up to stardom — and love.
The film’s Official Teaser shows Christopher as Elliott singing his first song, Hope This Song Is For You, followed by the Official Trailer in Danish with English subtitles. That same trailer, and the film, are now available in English on Netflix.
It doesn’t matter who you are. What really does is who you become.
One of the main messages of the film comes out when Suzanne responds to her business partner’s doubts about Elliott. She sees his raw talent, his great potential, and assures Patrick: “It doesn’t matter who you are. The important thing is who you can become.”
“Who do you sing for when you sing?”
Suzanne asks her estranged daughter Lilly, who also heard Elliott sing, to collaborate with him, to produce his music. Their personalities clash and they get off to a rocky start. One of the first things Lilly asks him is, “Who do you sing for when you sing?” Puzzled, Elliott offers no answer.
She explains what makes a song significant, how to communicate it to an audience for it to resonate with them. This insider information is new to Elliott who listens without responding, taking it all in. This is the creative core that will powerfully manifest in the final scene and song of the film. Here is that explanation.
Imagine there’s someone you’re singing to. Someone you’re singing for.
“A song doesn’t just exist. It comes to life. Between two people. One who sings and one who listens. Whether you’re here in the studio or in a big, packed stadium with thousands of fans. You’re not performing for nothing. You have to choose a person, or you have to imagine there’s someone you’re singing to. Someone you’re singing for. If you’re not singing for anyone, then it’s all the same. Then, the song doesn’t exist. Then you don’t exist.”
The song is powerful because it personalizes the universal cycle of life, love, and loss into a story, expressing feelings an audience can relate to.
This is songwriting at its best. One of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. It put a lump in my throat and moved me to tears. It is so good it deserves a Grammy award and at least an Oscar nod if not a win!
Listen to A Beautiful Life here along with the lyrics below.
A Beautiful Life "Baby, I'm pregnant" she said And I saw my whole life Flash before my eyes So much for planning ahead We gon' be all right There won't be a right time Oh, I said, "I am way too young" I'm just a kid, I can't raise one It feels like my life is over Feels like my future's crushed And I'm gonna miss the times when It was just the two of us I don't ever want to let go Of everything that I love It sure feels like dying Saying goodbye To my beautiful life "Daddy, I can't sleep," she said Can you leave the light on? And please sing me my song And I can't help but think to myself Those green eyes and brown curls Turned into my whole world She's growing up so fast If only I could make it last It feels like my life is over Feels like my future's crushed 'Cause my baby's getting older Tomorrow she'd be all grown up I don't ever want to let go Of everything that I love I turn off the light And say goodnight To my beautiful life Pack the bags and ready to go We look at each other She looks like her mother Off to chase dreams of her own She cries in the backseat As we wave at the taxi Oh, our baby's moving out Leaving this home an empty house Feels like my life is over Feels like my future's crushed And I'm gonna miss the times when It was just the three of us I don't ever want to let go Of everything that I love It sure feels like dying Saying goodbye To my beautiful life To my beautiful life "Baby, I'm pregnant" she said And I saw my whole life Flash before my eyes You can listen to the other songs in the film's Soundtrack on Spotify. Or choose your own music service at https://christopher.lnk.to/ABeautifulLife. And visit Christopher's YouTube channel for excerpts of songs from the film. A Beautiful Life Official Music Video Today, on June 8th, Christopher premiered a new Official Music Video for the film on his YouTube channel with A Beautiful Life. He also posted a short video of the making of the music video: Christopher - A Beautiful Life Music Video (Behind The Scenes). Warner Music Canada posted: Christopher - A Beautiful Life (Full Album From Netflix Film).
“The essence of the movie”
The next day I found this June 5th video on Netflix Nordic — A Beautiful Life: Get to Know Christopher & Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas. This is one of the questions they were asked, “Which scene are you most proud of?”
Christopher mentions his favorite scene with Inga to her. “It’s when you tell Elliott that a song doesn’t exist on its own. You don’t exist if you don’t have anybody to sing to. To me that’s the essence of the movie. The film is first and foremost a music movie. And you’re the one teaching Elliott to have someone to sing to. And that’s important, because if you don’t, no one can relate to it, and making music doesn’t matter. And he doesn’t have anyone. Not until the moment he looks at her and decides to write it for her. I think that’s very special. And I just sit quietly throughout the entire scene. It’s just you doing a monologue.”
Beautifully encapsulated! Christopher confirms what I mentioned under “Who do you sing for when you sing?” This is one of the most crucial and pivotal scenes in the film. It is, as he says, “the essence of the movie.”
The first time Christopher performed ‘A Beautiful Life’ at a concert
It turns out Christopher had performed ‘A Beautiful Life’ at the Seoul Jazz Festival 2023 in Korea. It was the first encore of the evening. He introduced the song, telling the audience it was the title track for an upcoming Netflix film. Seated at the piano, he confessed that he had never played it live before, then proceeded to sing it for them. Once the audience settled down, you could hear a pin drop. When the song was over they roared their approval, a welcome relief to a smiling Christopher. Everyone had a great time, especially Christopher and his band. He posted the whole May 27, 2023 concert on his channel.
Acoustic versions from ‘A Beautiful Life’ in Christopher’s tiny boat
Christopher posted three videos of him singing acoustic versions of the songs from the film with Gustav Wolter also on guitar: Led Me To You, Hope This Song Is For You, A Beautiful Life. He wrote: Busking around in the canals of beautiful Copenhagen ✨ Had to do the acoustic versions on the water in my tiny boat, as a tribute to Elliott 😉🙏🏼 Hope you enjoy ❤️🔥
Christopher later released a fourth acoustic version from his tiny boat: Honey I’m So High.
Dingo Music produce video of film’s 3 songs sung for Sound Lounge
Dingo Music produced a video of Christopher and his 2 bandmates performing the same 3 songs from the film for Sound Lounge. They played 2 songs together: ‘Hope This Song Is For You’ and ‘Led Me To You’. Then Christopher soloed on piano and sang ‘A Beautiful Life’.
Live – A Beautiful Life (AFTER PARTY)
That was followed on June 15 with Live – A Beautiful Life (AFTER PARTY) where Christopher talked about and played songs from the movie with Gustav (guitar) and Matias (keyboard) (31:10). I was lucky to see it on Replay, but it was later taken down since it was only for Premium members. YouTube had offered it as a free trial, so I guess you still have to sign up to see it. If they later release it, at 18:52 the guys leave Christopher who then shares a personal story of how he came to write ‘A Beautiful Life’ and the pivotal role it would play in the film when he sang it to Mehdi, the director. It was over 2 1/2 years ago when his wife told him she was pregnant, and his whole life flashed before him. He wrote the song that night. He performs it on the piano and then takes questions. At 27:42 he’s asked what was his favorite track from the movie and answers ‘A Beautiful Life’. But he then tells the story of how he wrote and recorded ‘Ready To Go‘ one night on the tour bus. It was too late to make it into the movie, but it’s on the soundtrack.
A New Lyric Video for ‘A Beautiful Life’
On July 6, 2023, Christopher posted the Lyric Video for A Beautiful Life from the Netflix film, which contains clips from the film, the official music video, and a live concert singing this beautiful song.
September 27, 2023: Christopher – A Beautiful Life (From the Netflix Film ‘A Beautiful Life’) Radio Edit [Lyric Video].
More inspiring musicians and movies worth watching
To see other inspiring artists featured on The Uncarved Blog, scroll through the Archive of the ‘Music’ Category. Also see this growing list of some of my favorite romantic movies.
— Written and compiled by Ken Chawkin for The Uncarved Blog.
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