Diane Warren: Relentless Review – A Celebration of Songwriting Mastery

The Story of a Driven Artist's Triumphs

By Naser Nahandian
2 months Ago

For over four decades, Diane Warren’s songs have graced our movie screens and soundtracks with memorable melodies. Known the world over for anthemic hits like “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” and “Because You Loved Me,” Warren’s prowess with a pen has led to an astounding fifteen Academy Award nominations, more than any other songwriter in history. Despite this huge success, one small gold man has eluded her grasp time and again.

Bess Kargman’s documentary Diane Warren: Relentless pulls back the curtain on the private personality behind the public persona. Through intimate interviews and behind-the-scenes glimpses, we learn what drives Warren’s relentless work ethic and what fuels her competitive fire to take home that Oscar. Big-name singers like Cher, Lady Gaga, and LeAnn Rimes offer insight into collaborating with the revered hitmaker. We also meet Warren’s family and friends, gaining perspectives beyond her career achievements.

While tight-lipped about her songcraft, Warren opens up about personal hurdles like a troubled relationship with her mother. She discusses how past trauma inspired an Oscar-nominated ballad. We even share tender moments with Warren’s beloved pet companions. Through it all, her self-deprecating humor and rebellious spirit shine through. Kargman’s documentary presents a nuanced portrait of one of music’s most successful creatives, proving that determination and raw talent can achieve legendary status against any odds.

Movie Magic: Diane Warren’s Timeless Tunes

Diane Warren got her big break in the 1980s, penning hits like “Rhythm of the Night” for the band DeBarge. This caught the attention of music giants, leading to legendary collaborations down the line. Warren has the rare talent of writing emotive lyrics that also just feel good to sing along to. Even early in her career, her songs had that magic.

Cher still remembers when Warren first sent over a demo of “If I Could Turn Back Time,” from the 1989 film Chicas. “I told her I hated it,” Cher laughs. But producer Peter Asher saw the song’s potential and envisioned Cher belting it out powerhouse-style. Glad she gave it a second chance, Cher turned it into an iconic anthem. Their work on Burlesque decades later proved they make a great songwriting team too.

Another artist who gained fame with a Diane Warren song is LeAnn Rimes. Her rendition of “How Do I Live” for the 1997 blockbuster Con Air launched the then-14-year-old country star into the mainstream. LeAnn still gets chills performing it live. “The words just cut right to your soul,” she says. Warren perfectly captured the emotion of the movie’s big love story between Nicolas Cage and John Cusack’s characters.

Hitmaker after hitmaker bears Warren’s unmistakeable stamp. From Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” for Armageddon to Toni Braxton’s “Un-Break My Heart” to even the Flamin’ Hot theme song, her songs stick in your head and your heart long after the end credits roll. Now with over 400 songs written and 16 Academy Award nominations to her name, Diane Warren is truly the queen of movie magic. Here’s to many more epic soundtrack collaborations from one of the greats.

Capturing Creativity: Diane Warren Opens Up

Songwriting is a deeply personal act, but for decades Diane Warren had kept her process largely shrouded in mystery. In Diane Warren: Relentless we get some rare glimpses behind the curtain. Warren makes no secrets about her distaste for questions about “pro-cess.” As she puts on a hilarious mock-pretentious voice, it’s clear she has no interest in dissecting or analyzing the magic.

Still, a few revealing moments stand out. In her cluttered home studio piled high with papers, CDs and inspiration, we see where the magic starts. “I love Mondays,” Warren smiles, finding peace in the routine of the work week after chaotic weekends pass. Focus and order seem key. A meeting with singer-songwriter Guy Roche, one of Warren’s rare romantic partners, provides another view. Sorting through old tapes together in a cozy recording space, their easy banter hints at the importance of connection.

Warren’s adaptability also arises. She recalls delivering demos so awful artists dreaded working with her. Cher admits flat-out hating the original “If I Could Turn Back Time” cut. But Warren understands an song can transform with the right artist and arrangement behind it. She worked closely with Lady Gaga to craft the searing #MeToo anthem “Til It Happens to You,” finding in Gaga a kindred spirit to handle heavy material.

Warren’s gift is adapting to any voice. From powerhouse belts to intimate whispers, her songs plug seamlessly into any style. Artists cite feeling completely themselves even in Warren’s words. The film presents duelling hit versions of “How Do I Live” to show how Warren gave both LeAnn Rimes and Trisha Yearwood ownership of the same soulful tune.

In Relentless, Warren opens a bit more about feeding her songs her own lived experiences. But ultimately, like her elusive 15th Oscar, the heart of her creativity stays frustratingly out of reach. As Randy Jackson says, Warren “gives zero fucks” about explaining or justifying her process. Some magic is meant to remain magic.

Diane’s Journey

Diane Warren came from humble beginnings in Van Nuys, California. While her father encouraged her musical talents from a young age, playing songs on the guitar he gifted her, her mother never believed songwriting could be a stable career. “That’s really a beautiful song, Diane, now go to Ralph’s to see if they’ll give you groceries for it,” were words that stuck with Diane as she pursued her dreams.

The disapproval ate at her confidence through her teenage years. Her mother’s jokes that “she must have brought home the wrong baby” added pain to a rebellious streak Diane struggled to control. Family tensions ran high as she practiced her craft, finding solace only in music. Despite good grades earned to receive that fateful guitar, her unconventional path diverted from the expectations of others.

Still, Diane carried on, driven to prove doubters wrong. Her father’s encouragement that “you can do this” gave her wings when the world seemed against her. In her lowest moments, she clung to his belief like a lifeline. Even now, success and accolades sweeten the memory, as she thanks him for supporting her gift in a world not yet ready for a female songwriting pioneer.

Though their relationship improved later in life, no Oscar could erase a mother’s rejection that shaped Diane into the resilient artist she is today. Her journey shows how the support of just one believer can embolden the spirit to change souls through song.

Diane Warren’s Way

There are some things Diane Warren usually keeps close to the vest. But in Bess Kargman’s documentary, she opens up in ways that feel authentic. Warren makes rare public comments about her sexuality and lack of interest in relationships. “I’m straight,” she states plainly, “but everyone thinks I’m gay. I don’t care what I am.” What’s clear is her work has always come before anything else.

Warren also acknowledges having received an Asperger’s diagnosis at some point. This offers meaningful context about some of her tendencies. She thrives on routine, describing how much she loves knowing the rhythm of her Mondays starting fresh after the weekend bustle ends.

Fellow songwriter Guy Roche jokes that on tour, she packs three shirts—one for each day. While some might find such predictability stifling, for Warren it’s the backbone of her remarkable productivity.

Routine allows her to laser-focus on the work, whether collaborating with artists or crafting songs solo in her immaculately organized yet cluttered workspace. Despite the disorder, she knows where every idea and melody is stored. Friends say this meticulous system stems from not fully trusting others, a byproduct perhaps of past rejections.

Yet they also see it as what fuels her famous work ethic and protects her creative spirit. In Warren, audiences glimpse an artist wholly unique yet wonderfully human in her pursuits and needs. Her way may not be for all, but it’s undeniably her authentic path to great success on her own terms.

Diane Warren’s Relentless Pursuit

Diane Warren has poured her heart and soul into her songwriting for decades, crafting hits beloved by millions. Yet one prize has eluded her for over three decades in the business – that little golden statue.

Warren holds the record with 15 Academy Award nominations for Best Original Song, yet is still waiting for her first win. The documentary captures her intense drive to succeed and unwillingness to give up, even in the face of repeated losses. From her first nomination for “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” to her latest for “Somehow You Do,” Warren throws everything she has into each new song, convinced she’s written her best work yet.

We see the raw emotion of devastating losses over the years. The film revisits her grief after falling to Adele’s “Skyfall,” sure that hers was the superior song. And in one of the most moving scenes, Warren opens up about collaborating with Lady Gaga on “Til It Happens to You,” a song addressing Warren’s own experience with sexual assault. The vulnerability she and Gaga shared only added to the sting of their loss that year.

Through it all, Warren’s drive to prove herself remains as strong as ever. She maintains her pre-Oscars slumber parties, too on-edge to sleep as she awaits the results. Her friends jokingly refer to her as the “Susan Lucci of the Oscars,” but for Warren it’s no laughing matter. This is her life’s work and winning that elusive Oscar would mean everything.

As long as she continues writing, you get the sense Warren will be back again trying to claim that statue, unwilling to accept defeat no matter how many times she’s been denied. Her unrelenting passion and refusal to give up offer an inspirational lesson for all creative types.

A Songwriter’s Legacy

For over four decades, Diane Warren has poured her heart and soul into crafting hits that have touched millions. Beyond her staggering catalog of chart-topping singles, Warren stands as a pioneering figure – a woman who refused to take no for an answer in a field long dominated by men.

This film shines a light on Warren’s unwavering determination to follow her musical vision, despite facing rejection from skeptics and setbacks denying her Oscar glory. Through it all, she persisted in writing the songs burning inside her. Her talent opened doors for generations of female artists to come. Warriors like Lady Gaga and Jennifer Hudson found empowerment in sharing Warren’s voice.

While awards bring fulfillment, Warren’s legacy is not defined by trophies. It lives on through “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing,” “Because You Loved Me,” and all the other masterworks that will continue serenading lovers for years to come. Her gift uplifted countless souls in their happiest and most sorrowful moments alike. That is an artist’s true reward.

Bess Kargman’s documentary pays moving tribute to this singular figure. With humor and empathy, it captures Warren’s bighearted spirit and relentless work ethic. While her private side remains elusive, the film brings her passion and perseverance into focus. After watching, one can’t help but feel grateful that Diane Warren followed her muse, and that through her music, we all reap the rewards. Her story is one of following your dreams against all odds – a message to inspire creators everywhere.

The Review