Well, it might get loud. But it also might get a little slow and awkward.
If you were to bring together three of the greatest athletes on the planet, hearing them talk about their extraordinary ability would not be nearly as exciting as watching them in action. And the action is before the cheering throngs, and in the context of their teammates, and in the crucible of competition. A quiet interview, even with file footage, would capture none of that magic.
Jack White of the White Stripes, Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, and The Edge of U2, have musical talent oozing out of their very pores. And when they strap on a guitar, there is something extraordinary about the way the music pulses through their very persona. They touch on that very dynamic: how each guitarist has to find his own style, how he has to struggle with the instrument, even fight with it, and they speak in reverent, hushed tones about the great contributions of all who have gone before them, particularly in the seminal blues music.
But that’s a little bit like world-class golfers talking about how much of the game is mental. Well, sure it is, for them. But the rest of us don’t even come close to the physical capacity necessary to arrive at the place where all that separates the great from the legendary is that incredible force of will. The rest of us could will ourselves to practice notes and chords from now until the turn of the next century, and we still wouldn’t sound like these guys. They have something really extraordinary.
There is no explaining it any more than Ted Williams could explain how to hit a moving baseball. Arguably the greatest hitter who ever lived was a remarkable failure at coaching others. He just couldn’t understand why they couldn’t make themselves do what came naturally to him.
The weakest part of this documentary was trying to reconstruct the early days of their learning curves as musicians. (Yes, everybody started out in a garage band, and all three when they were very young.) For a few shining moments, when they jammed together, there was some ringing musicality evident to even the amateur rock aficionado. But these guys achieved greatness because of their interplay with bands they helped make legendary. And they are all notably absent.
“It Might Get Loud” is mildly interesting to a true student of rock music. Maybe even a “must see” for everyone who is now trying, or someday dreams of trying, to start up a rock band. (Nobody starts out great.) But aside from that specialized “niche” market, this film will likely not enjoy a wide audience. It Might Get Ignored.
RONALD P. SALFEN is pastor of Grace Church in Greenville, Texas.
