https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tq3i-0aZX80
Season 1 |
Episode Guide
Futura
The Licence
The Single
The Campaign
The Album
The Concert
The Movie
The Tour
The Premiere
The Debut
The Offer
The Competition
The Last Song
Inspired by real events and set in the heart of 1960’s Spain, 45 RPM depicts the journey of music producer Guillermo Rojas and pop sensation Robert. Teaming up with musically intelligent Maribel and with drama, romance and plenty of pop music to digest, 45 RPM is a melodramatic, engrossing series, one that blends all its ingredients together to deliver a stylish, musically-driven soap opera.
The first episode sets the scene, with Guillermo spotting the musical talent of rebel Robert and immediately moving Heaven and Earth to sign him to Golden. After initial rejections, he proposes setting up a sub-label Futura and promises a return investment in 3 months. As Robert dives in to the pop scene and Maribel grapples with her own romantic issues, Guillermo’s arrogance ultimately comes back to bite him later on down the line.
As the episodes tick by, Robert’s career takes off with his hit single “Let Her Go”, bringing drama, romance and scandal with it. Robert and Maribel begin to grow closer, with a possible pregnancy complicating matters between them. Late on this spills over into a love triangle with movie star Fanny while a bigger threat to the label throws question marks up around Robert’s entire career. All of this builds to a dramatic and emotional finale that gives closure to the series as a whole while allowing for some surprisingly poignant moments during the final scenes of the show.
Aesthetically, 45 RPM begins with a plethora of split-screen shots, so much so that the early episodes are actually pretty distracting because of it. It’s still a neat stylistic hook but the frequency it’s used early on really takes away from some of the story. However, as the series settles down, so too does the style into a more cohesive form of cinematography, whilst peppering just enough of the split-screen shots from before to keep this feeling wholly unique.
The neon colours, awash with yellow and red, really help sell the feel of these underground clubs and alongside some of the more straight forward use of colour during the day, really helps the series to shine through. Adding to this are a whole record case full of smooth pop tracks, some sung by Robert and others used as background for montage shots or dramatic purposes. Stylistically at least, 45 RPM goes all in across its episodes and it absolutely shows with some really pretty shots dotted throughout the 13 episodes.
Given the amount of romance, melodrama and character-driven conflict at the heart of this one, 45 RPM won’t be for everyone but for those who can take to this style, this Spanish series is certainly a bit of a guilty pleasure. Robert is rebellious enough to root for while adopting the usual soft-heart, bad boy persona seen so often in these sort of shows while Maribel and Guillermo do well to bounce off him, with some really memorable scenes and nice pockets of dialogue fleshing the series out.
If you’re not sold by the end of the third or fourth episode, 45 RPM is unlikely to sway your opinion from here on out. This Spanish series revels in its soap opera approach, with a mix of stylistic shots, pop music and dramatic twists and turns along the way to prevent the series falling into stagnation. It’s not the best music-based series out there, nor is it likely to win any awards anytime soon, but what it lacks in star power it more than makes up for with its absorbing story.
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Verdict - 7/10
7/10
I really enjoyed it. There’s nothing better than fiction that has you believing it’s s true story all the way through. I remember when all the songs were released here but assumed that those were Covers and that Robert was the original artist … until I read the comments and couldn’t find Robert on Google. Excellent. Spain’s standard of cinematography is refreshing in its lack of vulgarity and crassness. I don’t mind the obvious lipsinc – the content is so much better than most of today’s crap.
All of the foreign films I’ve watched have terrible voice-overs. They talk fast with no understanding of the material. I’m sure the actors are much better in their own language.
I thought the story was excellent. The difficulties in the music industry, compounded by the regime in Spain at that time……awful! Really gave a good feel for what it was like.
I, too, noticed the music that didn’t match the time, the excessive drinking ….very common in America…..not anything i noticed in Spain, but, I’m not a native.
None of that really affected the story they were telling. I agree that some of the music was distracting at times.
Otherwise…..kept my attention throughout. Wonderful characters.
We are enjoying it — almost finished it. It’s a true story?
My wife and I loved it, yes, the music is not from the 60,s, and he sings in english, that was weird, but who cares, don,t be so dramatic, just enjoy a lite hearted series. One thing for sure, they speek really fast,
I like it . It’s different . Some of the voice overs are funny because they are a little bit fast but I’m sure the original actors are doing their part in their original voices good . I’m still enjoying it and going to watch it though.
The music is ridiculous. It has nothing to do with the period of 1962. Maribel lists Buddy Holly etc But when Robert sings it’s a cover of The Killers or “Hey Soul Sister.” Something set in the 60s without 60s music. Nothing but anachronisms. Too early for miniskirts too
I really enjoyed the series. Think it gives an insight to what it used to be finding and producing talent back in the day. It also provides an idea of the values, culture and political issues taking place at the time.
This is a very bad acted movie, series…. there is one bad drama behind the other, everybody talks so fast that you can even understand what
they are talking about, the acting is neurotic, depressing…. and, nothing say 1960′. I have to say I like the part and acting of Robert.
This is a very bad acted movie, series…. there is one bad drama behind the other, everybody talks so fast that you can even understand what are
they talking about, but bit only that the acting is neurotic, deprimen…. and nothing say 1960′. I have to say I like the part and acting of Robert.
Bravo! Sure it follows many of the same paths others have taken. So what! 45 RPM is solid gold human drama.
Beautifully acted. Had me hooked from the start right up to the end…when yes indeed… a few tears rolled down cheeks.
Maybe tightened up to 8 episodes. Otherwise, wow…this was a great ride, a pleasure in all ways.
Personally, I really enjoyed this story. The filming was really different which I really enjoyed than other telenovelas set in the 60s. I am a teenager and I thought it was nice how they used modern songs, I think the use of them were a great way for a younger audience to relate to a story about a company trying to make music for the youth in their time.
Was there a real Maribel?
Seems like it’s only me that’s realised that all covers Robert sings are songs released in the 20th century and not 1960 when it’s suppose to be. Big fail.
And Spaniards did not swoosh back shots or drink directly out of bottle back then nor hardly today. Poorly researched or trying force relation with today’s youth.
Well, no one, I mean no one in Madrid speaks that fast and the music is super annoying. They’re trying to create this false energy. Besides that I really l like the characters and the plot. Just annoying. It’s hard to just sit back and enjoy.