“It is ridiculous. It is as silly and absurd as it sounds. In fact, that’s why I wanted to start being an air guitarist to begin with, because I saw that this thing existed and I’m like, ‘That is the stupidest thing ever. I want to be the best in the world at that.'” So says, Justin “Nordic Thunder” Howard, the World Champion Air Guitarist in 2012.
Nordic Thunder was a judge at this year’s competition which was held in Oulu, Finland, this last weekend. (August 26, 2022.) You can view the live stream here, if you like. Air Guitar World Championships in Oulu, Finland
The competition started in 1996. As stated on the group’s website, “The purpose of the Air Guitar World Championships is to promote world peace. According to the ideology of the competition, wars would end, climate change stop and all bad things disappear, if all the people in the world played the Air Guitar. This is why the whole universe is invited to play the Air Guitar for world peace at the end of the competition.” Story – Air Guitar World Championships
The group’s belief is you can’t hold a gun if you are holding an air guitar. The group also states that air guitars are accessible to all without regard to gender, age, race, economic status or sexual orientation.
If you watch any of the live stream, what you will find is joy and ridiculousness. It is marvelous. It made me smile and raised my vibration. The playfulness and the joy of the alter ego inducing atmosphere is hard to deny.
If you ever need to get yourself out of a funk and allow the energy of fun into your life, consider the benefits of putting on some 80’s hard rock, big hair band song and really allow your inner Eddie Van Halen to soar. What song will inspire you to aim for new heights and new joy?