 I knew the documentary “It Might Get Loud” was going to feature musicians The Edge from U2, Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin fame, and Jack White of The White Stripes. I settled in to watch, what I thought was going to be profile of how each musician started their careers and a few tunes from each, turned out to be a very pleasant surprise. The opening title sequence showing Jack White (who, incidentally, I knew nothing about) taking a single stretched piece of wire nailed on a piece of wood, with an amplifier and strumming it for a guitar string, had my attention. That very basic start of sound, similar to taking a stick and striking a rock to produce sound, reminded me of the basics of music, the sound…
It Might Get Loud (L to R) Jack White, Jimmy Page, The Edge Photo taken by Eric Lee-Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
Director Davis Guggenheim presents this documentary of that one special day when musicians, representative of three generations of music, came together and talked about their motivations, how they write their unique style of music, shared their stories, and that most important factor for each of them that would drive them to be the best in each of their genres of music, the “guitar”. Visits to the various locations for each of the musicians as they talked about the musical influences they had growing up, gave us a personal attachment to the artists. The Edge to his roots in Ireland, Jimmy Page to England, and Jack White to Tennessee in the US, gives the insight for their love of music and the guitar.
A high point for me is how the musicians search out, modify, and yes, even re-design guitars to produce the sound for us to hear that they have created in their ‘minds eye’. To create a sound within our minds and go through the process of physically striving to make it audible is the depth of these musicians. My favorite guitar player of all time is Carlos Santana. His appearance and comments on the creative process in “It Might Get Loud” reminds me of why some stand apart from the others, its “their unique sound”…
Featuring The Edge, Jimmy Page, and Jack White.
Directed by Davis Guggenheim; Rated PG for mild thematic elements, brief language and smoking; Sony Pictures Classics release; Runtime: 97 minutes. |
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