Can You Feel the Beat: The Lisa Lisa Story True Story? It is a biographical drama that wonderfully highlights the inspiring journey of Lisa Velez, who is well-known as Lisa Lisa. The film highlights her journey from humble beginnings to becoming a trailblazer in the music industry. Directed by Tailiah Breon and written by Rebecca Murga, the movie showcases Lisa’s determination, talent, and challenges as she navigates the competitive and occasionally demanding music industry.
The film showcases a fantastic cast and touches on Lisa’s challenges, including financial difficulties, discrimination, and health issues. How much of the movie is inspired by actual events? Let’s dive into the real story of Lisa Lisa’s journey and explore how well the film portrays her life and career.
True Story Behind Can You Feel the Beat: The Lisa Lisa Story
Is the Movie Based on a True Story?
Yes! Can You Feel the Beat: The Lisa Lisa Story shares the inspiring journey of Lisa Lisa, the talented lead singer of Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam. The movie tells her story, beginning as a young girl in New York City and blossoming into a successful Latina pop artist. It showcases the challenges she encountered while finding her way in the music industry, which men mostly led.
Lisa Lisa’s Early Life and Breakthrough
Lisa Velez grew up in New York City as one of ten siblings in a loving Puerto Rican family. From a young age, she has had a passion for music and has always dreamed of becoming a singer. Her big moment came when she visited the Funhouse, a beloved club for young people in New York, where she caught the attention of drummer Mike Hughes. Recognizing her talent, Hughes and Alex Moseley teamed up to form the group Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam, which found terrific success.
The Path to Fame
In the 1980s, Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam teamed up with Columbia Records and brought out their first album, Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam with Full Force. The album featured hit songs such as “I Wonder If I Take You Home” and “Can You Feel the Beat,” which soon became cherished classics in the freestyle music scene. The film wonderfully showcases the thrill of that era, emphasizing Lisa’s unique voice and lively performances that enchanted audiences.
Struggles in the Music Industry
Despite her success, Lisa faced a few challenges along the way. The film highlights the challenges faced by a Latina artist as she navigates a music industry influenced mainly by men, dealing with both sexism and racism along the way. Sometimes, record executives had doubts about her talents, but Lisa put in a lot of hard work to show what she could do and create her own opportunities. Her perseverance and strength were essential in breaking down barriers and opening doors for future Latina artists in pop music.
Lisa’s Health Scare
One of the most heartfelt aspects of the movie is Lisa Lisa’s journey with ductal carcinoma, a type of breast cancer. Diagnosed in her early 20s, she decided to keep it a secret from her family and bandmates as she continued to tour and create music. The film wonderfully shows this difficult period in her life, emphasizing her excellent strength when encountering challenges. She navigated chemotherapy while balancing her career, demonstrating her dedication to her passion for music.
The Band’s Disbandment and Lisa’s Solo Career
Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam parted ways 1991 after sharing four albums with us. The film highlights this moment as a crucial turning point in Lisa’s life, where she had to decide whether to pursue her music career independently. She released a solo album, LL77, in 1994, marking the beginning of a thrilling new chapter. The movie beautifully showcases this part of her journey, emphasizing her challenges and triumphs as she stepped into her role as a solo artist.
Where is Lisa Lisa Now?
Lisa Lisa, also known as Lisa Velez, continues to be a lively presence in the music scene. Even decades after her rise to fame, she still inspires fans with her love for music and her amazing journey of resilience. Today, she is still joyfully engaged in entertainment, creating music, performing live, and making occasional television appearances.
Continuing Her Music Career
Even though Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam went their separate ways in 1991, Lisa continued to create music seamlessly. She started her solo career with her debut album, LL77, in 1994, featuring popular tracks such as Skip to My Lu and When I Fell in Love. Throughout the years, she has put out several albums, including Life ‘n Love in 2009, showcasing collaborations with well-known artists. In recent years, Lisa has kept performing, showing her love for music as lively as ever.
Acting and Television Appearances
Along with music, Lisa has also given acting a go. In the early 2000s, she was part of the Nickelodeon show Taina, where she played the role of Gloria Elena Morales. She also made guest appearances on Law & Order and took on a role in the crime drama film 5th Borough in 2020! Her ability to adapt and explore different facets of the entertainment industry truly showcases her talent and versatility.
Social Media Presence and Public Engagements
Lisa Lisa loves connecting with her fans on social media, where she frequently shares memories from her career and pays tribute to those who have supported her. She often talks about her extraordinary friendship with Toni Menage, her former backup singer, highlighting their strong bond.
Personal Life and Family
Hi Lisa! Lisa has been happily married to Antonimar Mello since 2005, and together, they have two exceptional children. Despite her fame, she has always maintained a charming sense of privacy regarding her personal life, focusing on balancing her career and family.
Recent Projects and Future Plans
The Lifetime movie Can You Feel the Beat: The Lisa Lisa Story, which tells the story of Lisa’s journey to fame, was filmed in 2024 and features Lisa. As the film’s executive producer, she made sure that it showed her experiences, problems, and successes. Lisa is writing a memoir and new songs, which are both very exciting.
Lisa Lisa is on the road and singing all over the U.S., playing her old hits for both old fans and new ones. She was a pioneering Latina pop artist, and her story of perseverance and gifts to music continues to inspire many.
Must Read: Can You Feel the Beat: The Lisa Lisa Story Review and Ending Explained
