Ode of Joy

I never end up seeing as many movies as I intend to, but Friday I was motivated enough and went to see Shine a Light, the Martin Scorcese film about the Rolling Stones. I have read most books and seen most films or programs about the group and saw them live during the Voodoo Lounge tour. A few years ago there was an interesting film called Being Mick Jagger, which in essence showed what it was like to be Mick Jagger, which seemed like a pretty good thing; clearly, a "Being Keith Richards" film would also be fairly engrossing but sadly has yet to be made. Sidenote: I love to while away boring periods of time by posing dilemmas to myself, and one of the longest enduring has been: who would be better to have quality time with: Keith or Mick. I have never definitively answered that one. (Another example is : who would be better to be with: Han Solo or Indiana Jones? I think I have settled that one, but that's another blog)

One thing I have felt for a long time was that there was not really a decent live recording or concert video of the Stones, so I had what one might call medium expectations, and the fact that Martin Scorcese directed it upped the probable artsy factor. I've liked some of his movies so I felt it could work out. Ultimately, I have in the past wasted two hours of my life in many less positive ways (thank you, Robin Hood, Men in Tights and thank you, Phantom of the Opera).

One thing which started the experience out well was that no previews were shown before the actual film. I liked that. It let you cleanse your palate and get excited without distractions. It starts out in black and white, detailing the travails of Scorcese as he tries to get a set list from the group, get the set constructed, and deal with logistics. There is a moment that I found really funny when he is talking with the lighting designer about a light which, if it stays on Jagger (or, presumably anyone else) for 18 seconds or longer, will harm him. "Do you mean 'catch on fire' burn him?" Scorcese asks. The lighting guy repeats, "It will burn him," in a very serious manner. Scorcese deadpans, "We can't burn Mick Jagger. It is not an option." The way that he says that makes one wonder if maybe someone suggested it was, if it would make the shot. I really cannot do justice to the moment.

We see this all in black in white as Scorcese is king of his kingdom, arranging things to his whim except that he himself is being controlled by the Stones. The dealings with the group and director are shown in such a way to make one feel like they are barely tolerating the bother of doing the movie and you are supposed to pull back, aghast, and wonder if they really are treating Marty Scorcese, famed cineaste, like this. Oh yes, they are. But soon enough--the universe realigns itself and you have your answer. They can do this because A) they are the Rolling Stones and B) it is worth pretty much any amount of stress to get this group captured on film.

The concert was over two nights to benefit former President Bill Clinton's Foundation. He, Hillary, mother in law and various others are introduced to the band. In the midst so many bigger than life personalties meeting, Keith Richards shares with Ron Wood a joke he thinks is hilarious- saying to Clinton that he's bushed. You have to love a guy who can laugh at his own joke and share it with his bandmate because it's so great.

Clinton introduces the group to the audience and you cannot help but think that here is the closest thing the United States has had to a rock star as a politician. How apropos. Tales of Bill Clinton's charisma are almost to the point of urban legend. I actually had a customer two weeks ago tell me about when she and her husband, a retired military chaplain, met Clinton in the course of some honor or ceremony and how both of them were blown away by him.

It also got me thinking a few other things. Maybe it is superficial, but I like a guy or gal who can appreciate the Rolling Stones and who is on good enough terms with them for them to do a benefit for one of his causes. I cannot picture other political figures unbending enough to even be seen at a Rolling Stones concert, let alone hosting one.

Once the concert started you forgot about it being a movie. Between some of the songs were vintage news clips of the band from the early 1960s, used ironically (I felt): Mick saying how their second US tour was doing better than the first and how there just seemed to be a "chemical reaction" which accounted for their sudden success. To see the juxtaposition of smooth, unlined faces from 40 years ago with faces marked by life and age will cause much comment, but in my opinion it is an enormous mark of confidence to be able to put it out there. Most people can agree that it is pretty amazing that all of the Stones are still alive, let alone kicking. I have read criticisms that the segments distract, bit I disagree. The segments let you rest for a moment. If you had song after song, you would get worn out from the sheer intensity of the music and the work they put into it.

The first set is "Jumping Jack Flash," which admittedly is not one of my favorites, especially because they let Whoopi Goldberg use it for the title of a movie. The second song, "Shattered," is also not one of my favorites but I was totally won over by Jagger's performance. It was stunning. I kept thinking, there's no way he is is this good and this old. But he was! I realized, maybe he's that good because of his age. But ultimately- it I found myself enjoying it.

There are three guests, which is just the right amount. I cannot stand it when I watch concerts which are the musical equivalent to The Love Boat. The first guest was Jack White. I am not real good with modern music so I have to assume he is someone important. He did a duet with Mick on the song "Loving Cup." I could have done without him. His voice wasn't that great and he was kind of unkempt looking. The song was good, though.

The second guest was Buddy Guy, who did a Muddy Waters song with them called "Champagne and Reefer." There is a great long close up of Guy that kind of gives you the chills. I really enjoyed that one, liking bluesy music and he had a great voice. Plus, he had a cool black and white polka dotted guitar with matching strap that looked cool. Keith gives him his own guitar at the end. I noticed Keith gives a lot of stuff away and spends a lot of time near the audience. Also, he can bend and contort himself in ways I certainly cannot despite being many years younger. Whatever he's doing, it's working for him.

The third guest was Christina Aguilera, who did "Live with Me." I could listen to her sing the stock market earnings so that was an easy sell, but I think a better (i.e. more interesting) song could have been picked. I swear I remember Sheryl Crow doing that song with them a few years ago... Stop for a second and think about it. Why in the world would you ask Christina Aguilera to sing any song that Sheryl Crow can sing? There are two wildly different sets of vocal cords/talents there. For some reason we saw multiple shots of Aguilera's high heeled boots. Yes, it was pretty impressive that she could dance and jump up in down in heels like that, but if you are filming Christina Aguilera, surely there are other things to look at?

I really appreciated that they did "As Tears Go By," and especially "The Girl with the Faraway Eyes." It was the latter song which got me into country music. Everytime I heard someone mention Bakersfield, CA I think of that song.

Watching not only Jagger but the rest of them work for hours on that stage made me embarrassed to admit that I wouldn't be able to keep that pace for twenty minutes. Jagger's feet literally move so fast that you cannot see them. His voice sounds better than it has in years. If you leave with one and only one certainty, it is that he and the others are true performers. There is not a bit of artificiality in the entire performance.

Even if one is not a Stones fan, I don't think you can miss or deny the most obvious thing: the joy that they take in what they are doing. There is no other word for it. It is the sheer bliss an artist feels when creating; it reminded me strongly to the point of aching of the ecstasy I felt when I was writing and I knew, could feel it was good. To be able to do what brings you that much joy- and bring happiness to so many others-- must really be a state of grace few people ever attain. It made me want to just quit my job and go do something which makes me happier. And I realized that I have not felt so happy as I did when watching that movie in a long, long time. Even seeing the Voodoo Lounge concert live with good seats was not this thrilling.

I have to say that even if Scorcese had never done any other movie than Shine A Light, he should still be highly honored and allowed into whatever his version of heaven is. He truly captured an amazing group of artists performing at the highest level. I could not believe how true and vibrant the music was, thanks to the engineering and sound people. It really did justice to the performances which created it, and it takes the movie to a whole other level. Whoever mixed it should be named King of the Mixing Board for life.


It is really amazing how being exposed to art rearranges your priorities. I'm an average working woman, and when I first got my ticket and bought a soda I was a little annoyed about how much everything cost (Ticket: $6.75, soda, $3.70). Actually, I still a little annoyed about the soda. But when I was leaving the theatre and even now, I would have paid ten times the ticket price.