I didn’t deliberately set out to make a Top 20 of the Decade list that looks a lot different than all the ones I’ve read across the web. But only a handful of my titles are showing up on those “professional” lists.

John Carney’s Sing Street wasn’t properly appreciated when it came out three years ago and it’s certainly not getting its due now, but for my money it’s one of the greatest coming-of-age tales and one of the greatest music movies ever made.

The 80s-set film follows Irish teen Conor Lawlor as he invents a band to impress a girl then discovers music is his true calling. It’s a love story on many different levels, from Conor’s relationships with his bandmates, girlfriend and brother, to his passion for the songwriting craft.

The movie is so alive with the sense of discovery and creativity, it’s like watching a flower bud bloom into a kaleidoscope.

Check out the scene in which today’s SOTD appears. Carney starts with Conor and his songwriting partner figuring out the tune on guitar and piano, then circles the room, gradually introducing new band members until arriving at the finished product.

It’s a metaphor for Conor himself, who starts out tentative and shy but grows in confidence and swagger throughout the film.

Crucially for a movie about a band, Sing Street‘s songs are excellent. In addition to a host of great tracks from 80s New Wave bands, the original songs blend those period influences in fabulous ways. At least one song, ‘Drive It Like You Stole It,’ has become a permanent staple in my family’s musical rotation.

While Sing Street enjoyed critical praise on a level with Carney’s 2007 film Once, it did not match that movie’s box office, let alone spawn a Tony-winning Broadway musical. I hope it’s not too late for this gem to find an audience.