Letters to the Editor
-
Re-runs of the Lawrence Welk Show
I always worried that our generations music would come to that. Perhaps Scorcese can save us from ourselves, but I doubt it. Thank goodness the current rock stars are so immediately forgettable. Not that it helps. A one and a two.
-
uncharted territory and relevancy.
Since rock and roll was only invented roughly 50 years ago, we don't really have a template to follow. The Stones look at their bluesmen heroes and in that art form it's normal for artists to keep performing into their golden years. But Rock has always been about youth. Not solely about it, but it is a big theme. That's not a problem with the Blues. So the trick in rock is how to remain relevant musically and have something new to say lyrically as artists stick around year after year. But the Stones haven't released a relevant album since Tattoo You 27 years ago! And Clapton hasn't been relevant for even longer. At least Dylan and especially Neil Young have found ways to differently express themselves and release great albums in their sixties. The Stones need to hang it up.
-
Can't say that I had high hopes for this one, but...
...I'm a huge fan of both Scorcese and the Stones. The combination of the two are THEE only reason I'll actually go out and see this film. I'm just a tad surprised that Scorcese chose to do this project: Old band/live performance/bittersweet archival footage/old band performs with younger 'relevant' musicians ie. 'passing the baton' (I mean Christine Aguilera? Well...who is good these days anyway?). Even the trailer is a bit unexciting. Overall sounds like a bit of a snoozer.
The Stones, as great as they are/were have been, on most levels, a parody of themselves for at least the last 20 years. I won't take anything away from them for still keeping at it. In some ways it seems silly that they do. In some other ways I totally respect them for it. As for their relevance, at least as a recorded band they lost it after 'Tatoo You'. That was arguably the last really good Stones album. Not 100%, but it did have a nice handful of hits. 'Emotional Rescue' gets honorable mention only for the fact that it had some nice tracks as well. After that, their music just became dullsville. Unfortunately I was a child when they were in their live perfomance prime so the one and only time I ever saw them live was at Shea Stadium in 1989 during the 'Steal Wheels' tour. Even then I knew it was more or less over for them, but I wanted the chance to say 'I saw the Stones live.' Not a great show, but I wasn't sorry for it and if someone handed me tickets to see them now I would. But I'd approach it the same way I'm going to when I see this movie....not expecting much but just there as a loyal fan.
-
I loved the Stones in 1970
I'm 51. They were a bit before my time. I learned to play listening to Allman, Clapton, Page and Beck. I finally got to see them in Dallas in '06. Energetic? check. Tight? check. Loud? check. Satisfaction? No way. Go back and listen to the original. Go back and listen to "Under My Thumb". After seeing the "Shine a Light" trailer, it was exactly like the show. Volume overcoming finesse. They are too rich and too complacent to pull it off anymore. Without Keith and Charlie, I would have asked for a refund. Keith is like Jack Daniels, mellow and smooth, without the bite of his early playing. Listen to Get yer Ya Ya's. That's the Stones. Best Rock band in the world... in 1969. Woody was busy playing power chords with his pick hand in the air doing poor Pete Townsend inpersonations. Now the Who concert the year before... that rocked. ok ok backto the film. I'll wait for syndication. They got my $$$ once. When Jagger left the band and tried a solo carreer he learned that Jagger is not the Stones; Keith is. Scorcese missed the point.
-
Current rock stars?
Is there any such animal?
-
"immediately forgettable?"
Thank goodness the current rock stars are so immediately forgettable.
And thank goodness for consistent sentiments of each elder generation!
Oddly enough my father never cared for rock music of his time (though he appreciates some of the indie bands I like), but even he would never make such a presumptuous statement.
-
@ postnoodz
"And thank goodness for consistent sentiments of each elder generation!
Oddly enough my father never cared for rock music of his time (though he appreciates some of the indie bands I like), but even he would never make such a presumptuous statement."
Am I reading you right? Are you saying that being of the elder generation disqualifies you from 'understanding' the current generation's 'rock stars', if such a thing exists? If that's the case there's nothing 'presumptuous' about it. The theory that the older people don't understand the young just because they're older is weak in today's cultural climate. The Generation Gap of the 60s for example, was a different thing. The older folks of that era were confounded by what was going on with their offspring. Now those offspring ARE the older generation. They've seen more cool shit than your generation ever will see. They're not confused about the young. They're just older. The 'rock stars' of your(?) generation are forgettable and will be forgotten. Are you telling me any of the bands that produce music today will have a career in 40 years? Ain't gonna happen. They're lucky if they can squeeze 5 years out of it. The era of the so-called 'classic' band is coming to a close. Maybe if there is anything substantial going on in 'Shine A Light' it's the premise that after these guys and others like them (Townshend, Plant, Page, Waters, Dylan, Neil Young, etc.) are gone, that's it...Other than U2 and REM you're on your own!!
-
Have you SEEN a Stones show?
They're interminable and exhausting, but, like this film, full of quintessential, archetypal Rock Moments. The intro (hell, each of Keith's trademark guitar intros) to "All Down The Line," the awestruck humility of Jack White guesting on "Loving Cup," the elegant cool of Keith's too-soulful-for-words rendition of "You Got The Silver," precious moments, all.
Yeah, by "Brown Sugar" and "Satisfaction" I wanted to check my watch (I didn't) just like at their actual concerts, but I still wouldn't have cut a second out of the film if it meant missing Christina Aguilera kick the shit out of "Live With Me."
Now, Martin Scorcese out-preening Mick Jagger - that was another story, but I guess when your filmography reads like, well, a list of Stones hits, you're entitled to a little self-indulgence.
It was certainly no "Last Waltz," (unlike The Band, the Stones are too ubiquitous a brand to be as sweetly celebrated) but I, a veteran many Stones shows (and Scorcese Film Studies classes), found the film endlessly compelling. And, yes, over-elocuted or not, even "As Tears Go By," which actually brought a tear to my own eye and lump to my throat.