As a boy, I would often spend long afternoons down in the basement, lip-syncing along to my favorite New Wave songs, imagining myself the lead singers of these bands. I'm happy to add, that's as far as this fantasy of mine ever went, as this juvenile wanting to pretend quickly faded with the passing of childhood.
AIR GUITAR NATION is about a worldwide subculture comprised of adults who've never really grown up in a sense and who are like little boys in their bedrooms, still pretending to be Rock stars. Not content with playing their imaginary guitars in private, they also like to show off for others because, as one dude explains, it makes them feel empowered and glorified, if only for a few minutes.
I should mention that I'm not a big fan of the electric guitar, at least not how it's played by headbangers, yet nevertheless somewhat enjoyed the film. This is one where you can leave your brain at the door but then not every doc has to be serious-minded and educational for it to be viewable. Why can't some just be pure mindless fun, as this one is? So what if this isn't my scene nor these people my crowd, it held my interest from beginning to end, much in the same way a novelty act manages to capture and hold a spectator's attention.
Now, if you're wondering whether it requires of one to know how to play a real electric guitar in order to be an air guitarist, the answer is no, as David 'C-Diddy' Jung himself admits, a well-known virtuoso within said subculture and about the only likable human subject profiled in the film. Here's a guy whose father wanted him to grow up to be a doctor or a lawyer but lo and behold if grown-up David didn't opt for a flamboyant costume and an invisible noisemaker, instead. Still, he makes his parents proud, doing what he does, the cool and supportive folks that they are.
Another question that came to mind as I watched this was, are these guys for real or are they merely air guitar mimics? All joking aside, as much as we may find these performers amusing, they themselves happen to regard what they do very seriously, and even go so far as to call it an 'art form,' which to me is greatly debatable.
Apparently, according to the 'experts,' playing air guitar is not as easy as it looks and involves quite a lot of practice and rehearsing. One guy is even shown tuning his invisible guitar prior to a performance. Incidentally, another male performer is shown on stage completely nude but for his trusty, hand-held instrument.
Perhaps the only thing that impresses me about these pretend musicians is their ability to perform in front of audiences totally unabashedly. Here's a hobby clearly not for those who're (healthily) self-conscious when under the spotlight. So how do these guys and gals manage to keep from feeling embarrassed and utterly ashamed, you ask? As one performer tells it, when on stage he's 'in character,' that is, it's not really him up there making a complete fool of himself, but rather his alter ego. Got it.
We're told that anyone can be an air guitarist if they want to and yet how can this be when it's said to be an 'art form'? Whatever the case, I suspect there are a lot more air guitarists in the world than actual ones, and all self-taught, no doubt. Basically, it seems all you need in order to be a performing air guitarist is a wig, a costume, a stage name, and if you're smart a body double if you care anything at all for personal dignity and self-respect.
In my opinion, I wouldn't go so far as to say that air guitarists are talented. Entertaining, yes, but I don't think it takes any or much skill to do what they do. Still, the crowds who attend these concerts go wild, as if seeing something in this that I don't...or maybe they're simply seeing things. One thing's for certain, you'll never find me in one of those mosh pits, make-believe or otherwise.
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