Five Good Covers presents five cross-genre reinterpretations of an oft-covered song.

The original 1980 movie Fame was a gritty affair. British director Alan Parker wanted to produce a piece which warned against the folly of seeking validation for yourself from others alone, and how that impulse could be exploited. Having taken control of the project, he hardened up the script and themes, to the extent that New York’s High School for the Performing Arts withdrew co-operation.  The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) rating for the film is currently a “15” (equivalent to “R”) noting the use of strong language, nudity and drug use. Exploitative pornography, abortion, and repressed homosexuality are also themes. It is a warning as much as a celebration of Fame as a lifestyle choice.
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