Gloria Estefan: Singing Through Struggles - THE THREAD (2024)

-Written by Kyle Bain. 

Gloria Estefan sits down with David Bender to discuss both the highs and lows of her life and career in Gloria Estefan: Singing Through Struggles, the first episode of the YouTube documentary series THE THREAD. She talks about the Cuban revolution, her beautiful marriage, and a life-altering injury. No stone is left unturned, as Gloria reveals all. 

Gloria Estefan: Singing Through Struggles is a simple question-answer segment in which Gloria is asked to tell the story of her life. On the surface this is an incredibly basic interview, one similar to thousands of others that we’ve seen before. Using two distinct camera angles, capturing Gloria in two specific ways, the world is brought up close and personal, able to see and hear all that she tells us. She’s captured crisply and cleanly–and viewers have the potential to feel closer to her than they ever have before. 

What the team behind Gloria Estefan: Singing Through Struggles is able to accomplish through some seemingly minor decisions is quite impressive, however. Gloria sits before a backdrop of bright, clean visuals–where nearly everything in the background is white. This team allows her to pop, to come into focus with ease, as she wears an all-black outfit throughout the duration of the interview. Gloria Estefan: Singing Through Struggles is the title of the premier episode of this docuseries–and it does a wonderful job of ensuring that Gloria, the titular figure of the episode, is the primary focus. Our eyes are never drawn away from her, we are never able to lose focus–and all that she is willing to share with the world is received with grace. 

Gloria Estefan was a name with which I was familiar, however, I knew very little about her. I knew nothing of her upbringing, nothing of her time with Miami Sound Machine–and I couldn’t have even told you whether or not she had been married. I was new to all of the information provided throughout the course of this short interview, but Gloria’s ability to convey information invites viewers into her life. She tells a very linear, cohesive story–one that tugs at our heartstrings, that allows us to see the full scope of who and what Gloria Estefan is. She’s a wonderful storyteller, recounting information from decades ago using effective pacing–and nearly every second of Gloria Estefan: Singing Through Struggles had me dialed in. 

What really is a simple interview, Gloria Estefan: Singing Through Struggles takes steps to become something bigger. The use of light and color to allow Gloria to shine, to remain prominent throughout, Gloria’s ability to recount the most important moments of her life, and the way in which the camera takes viewers up close and personal all play together to create something incredibly satisfying. 

Starring Gloria Estefan & David Bender. 

7.5/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING