Upamanyu Biswas
Lifetime’s ‘Can You Feel the Beat: The Lisa Lisa Story’ follows Lisa Velez, an aspiring singer whose ambitions to make it into the music industry are challenged by a difficult family life suffering from financial burdens. When a breakthrough appears through a local club trip, Lisa finally begins to make some headway toward realizing her dreams. However, as she slowly rises up the ranks of the music scene, the protagonist must confront the brutal environment within the music business and prevalent societal issues like sexism and racism. Things get further complicated when a terrifying medical diagnosis from her doctor leaves Lisa with a choice to forge ahead with her career or take a step back and give it all up. Directed by Tailiah Breon, the drama film explores themes of resilience, perseverance, identity, and overcoming adversity.
Can You Feel the Beat is Based on the Career of a Pioneering Latina Pop Singer
‘Can You Feel the Beat: The Lisa Lisa Story’ is a biographical drama centered on the life and experiences of singer Lisa Velez, more popularly known by her stage name, Lisa Lisa. Rebecca Murga penned the script, which dives into every aspect of Lisa’s struggles as a young and upcoming artist trying to make it in a cutthroat business. The film neatly summarizes Lisa’s exploits from her beginning years to her later years, navigating the obstacles she had to circumvent while also ensuring that her music dreams ultimately came to fruition. While it is mostly accurate in its depiction, there are some discrepancies in the movie here and there, which steer the narrative away from the exact events. However, for the most part, it remains a faithful adaptation.
Lisa’s journey started in the 1980s after she auditioned for Full Force, a New York-based music group for hip-hop and R&B artists. Lisa was actually one of 10 children and was determined to make it as a recording star from early childhood. The film portrays her having a special relationship with her mother, a bond that defines her character and personality in many ways. Intriguingly, she was discovered by drummer Mike Hughes at the underage club Funhouse, where the singer would frequently visit in the hopes of making more connections and being spotted. Eventually, the opportunity presented itself, and Lisa and her new partners, Hughes and Alex Moseley, formed the band Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam. She was the perfect catalyst and energetic lead Hughes was searching for at the time.
Can You Feel the Boat Showcases Lisa’s Struggles in an Authentic Manner
Following the formation of Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam, Lisa and her fellow bandmates were signed by the record label company Columbia Records. Under its stewardship, they released their first album ‘Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam with Full Force’ in 1985. It contained two hit songs, ‘I Wonder If I Take You Home’ and ‘Can You Feel the Beat.’ Both managed to soar high in the pop charts, helping them garner attention and acclaim from the excited public. Around 1987, while she was 21, Lisa faced the biggest hurdle of her life when she was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma, a form of breast cancer. She reportedly kept its existence a secret from both her family and her fellow band members. These parts are portrayed with a high degree of precision in the Lifetime film.
In the aftermath of the diagnosis, Lisa went through chemotherapy while still touring and going about her life in as normal a manner as possible. In the May 16 episode of the ‘Tamron Hall’ show,’ Lisa stated that the carcinoma was “hard to talk about back then.” She did not even reveal the truth to her mother and continued juggling her professional duties as a touring singer with the complications of her health scare. Meanwhile, her band, Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam, released three more albums in the subsequent years. However, they disbanded in 1991 following their fourth and final album, ‘Straight Outta Hell’s Kitchen,’ which was also their least popular according to the charts. Although dramatized in certain places, the movie touches upon a variety of these subject matters in a wholly nuanced and comprehensive manner, showcasing Lisa’s life from a closer perspective.
Lisa Lisa is Still Passionate About Her Music Today
Lisa eventually recovered from her breast cancer, which is essayed in the ending scrawl of the film. After the disbandment of Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam, Lisa Velez pursued a solo career in music, which began with her first album, LL77. The album was released by the record company Pendulum in 1994 and had moderate success, with two of its songs, ‘Skip to My Lu’ and ‘When I Fell in Love,’ performing quite well. In 2001, the singer made a brief foray into the acting business, playing Gloria Elena Morales in the teen sitcom ‘Taina.’ She also starred as Lucy Mireles in one episode of ‘Law & Order.’ A few years later, Lisa resurfaced once more in the public eye following the release of her album ‘Life ‘n Love’ by Mass Appeal Entertainment. Around 2020, she stepped back into an acting role, this time playing Ester in the crime drama film ‘5th Borough.’
Today, Lisa is still producing new music. She also remains active through her social media accounts, sharing tidbits from her past and shining a light on the people who were pivotal in her journey through the years. She has a lifelong friendship with Toni Menage, the former backup singer of Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam. Lisa regularly shares posts about their sisterhood and the close camaraderie they have maintained in their professional and personal lives. In August 2024, the artist wished her bestie a happy birthday and commemorated 40 years of supporting one another. Lisa went on a tour around the country in the latter half of the year, stopping by notable locations like Florida, Texas, California, New York, and New Jersey, among others.
Around September, the Lifetime biopic of her life was announced, with her serving as an executive producer. The following month, the singer went on a press tour in Puerto Rico to promote her latest single ‘No Llorare Mas.’ She currently lives with her husband Antonimar Mello, whom she married in 2005, and is a mother of two children. In January 2025, Lisa celebrated her 58th birthday. She has ambitious plans for the upcoming year, with a memoir and music in the works and a massive 40-city tour.
Read More: Can You Feel the Beat: Is Toni Menage Gay or Bisexual?
