Over the weekend I was able to view the movie/documentary "It Might Get Loud". The film tells the stories of three rock musicians through their experience with the electric guitar. The movie stars Jack White (the guitarist/vocalist for the White Stripes and the Raconteurs), The Edge ( guitarist for U2) and Jimmy Page ( the guitarist for Led Zeppelin). The three men gather in a wharehouse in Los Angeles where they have all of their equipment set up, along with a great setting for discussion. Each of the men have a very unique style; Jack White with his heavily distorted, bluesy style, The Edge with his many effects pedals and guitars is very artistic with his sound, and Jimmy Page with his legendary classic rock riffs. Each of the men had something very unique to offer to this documentary. In one particular part, Jimmy Page starts playing the legendary Led Zeppelin riff from "Whole Lotta Love" and Jack White and The Egde slowly melt into their seats and just stare in awe as one of the men who inspired them to play guitar lays down the guitar part for easily, one of the best rock songs of all time. But in this instance I saw how God humbles everyone in the things they find redemption in, even the highest regarded guitarists can be humbled in their work. Even Jimmy Page was humbled when his slide guitar skills were easily proven inferior to Jack White's. This movie also showed how God can give us the skills to do something great, and he allows us two all turn out unique from everyone else.
Questions for Discussion:
1. Has the invention of the electric guitar and the emergence of Rock music (and its prevalence in society today) brough society away from God?
2. Is the music of today angled more towards Kingdom qualities or Empire qualities?
3. Do you think that non-musicians, more specifically, non-guitar players could find some redemption with this documentary and how it displays the uniqueness of the three guitar players and how they use the skills God has given them?
Ooooh, Rob really wants to see this one! There's something very satisfying to me that Page was knocked out by White's mad skills. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is towards your second question:
ReplyDeleteI think we all know what it's like to really like a song, but not necessarily for its lyrics. There are many songs that I enjoy because of the music factor, but when it comes to the words- some of them I could do without. An uncle of mine once asked me concerning a movie if it was one I would watch with Jesus; we could ask ourselves that question with music too. Would you listen to some of the music you listen to with Jesus?" I know I wouldn't; I don't even listen to some of my music with my parents! So yes, I definitely think that today's music is angled more towards Empire qualities than Kingdom qualities. Many of today's "top hits" are about sex, use bad language, and are demeaning to women or are just demoralizing in general. However, one song that comes to mind that I think focuses on Kingdom rather than Empire, is the Black Eyed Peas' song "Where is the Love?" The song brings awareness to pretty much all that's wrong with the world- from racism, to murder, to money, to the media, and the list goes on. But there's one line in the song that I think speaks volumes and that is "Can you practice what you preach; And would you turn the other cheek." The Black Eyed Peas go from bringing awareness to then asking us what we're going to do about it.
In reponse to the last question, I would like to argue that just as a countless people can have an appreciation of classical music yet not even attempt to play it, this documentary explores the great range of God’s many gifts. Even in music there are so many variables and differences in skills. Put Jack White in front of a violin he will not be able to give a classical life changing performance. Yet give him a guitar, an instrument that is more similar to a violin then say a brass horn, and he can give God all the heartfelt, rock driven, innovative glory that he deserves. And of course, all the more praise for a creator that could empower Jack White to use the violin, even just pieces of it, to come up with something many people can appreciate. (Can you tell I like Jack?)
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