Gaither Gospel Series: Jerusalem Review

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(More customer reviews)Filmed in the magnificent setting of the Tower of David in David's Citadel Museum, this is a wonderful musical journey, and though the concert is at night, with the ancient stones lit up behind the singers, we also get to see this incredible place in the daylight. Bill and Gloria Gaither and their musical friends take us not only to Jerusalem, but also to some much loved vistas around Israel, and sing one song, "Peace, be Still," aboard a boat on the Sea of Galilee.
The song selections are in a variety of styles, and two of my favorites have their roots in Hebraic melodies, "The Mighty One of Israel," and "He is Jehovah."
If you appreciate Bill and Gloria Gaither's friendly manner and joyous concerts, you will find much to like in this DVD.
Total running time is 100 minutes.
The DVD Extras include 3 bonus songs: The beautiful Israeli song "Jerusalem of Gold," sung partly in Hebrew by Larry Ford, "Day Three" by Lordsong, and "Lead Me to the Rock" by Stephen Hill.
There are also interviews with Velma Vester, who tells of the tragic but inspiring history behind the hymn "It is Well With My Soul," Abir Nasee, who owns a gallery of ancient artifacts, and gives us some historical insights, as does Jan Willem Van Der Hooven.
songs:
1: "Jerusalem," The Hoppers
2: "Resurrection," Guy Penrod
3: "The Mighty One of Israel," Bekki Smith
4: "Shalom Y'all," Mark Lowry, The Isaacs
5: "Can't Stop Talkin' About Him," Gaither Vocal Band
6: "The Blood Will Never Lose its Power," Chrystal Washington, Lillie Knauls
7: "The River Keeps A-Rollin'," Booth Brothers
8: "Bethlehem, Galilee, Gethsemane," Russ Taff
9: "El Shaddai," Janet Paschal
10: "Peace, Be Still," Homecoming Friends
11: "Moses, Take Your Shoes Off," Jessy Dixon, Sonya Isaacs, Chrystal Washington
12: "It Is Well With My Soul," Guy Penrod, David Phelps
13: "He is Jehovah," Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
14: "Walkin' in Jerusalem," Buddy Greene, The Isaacs
15: "Heroes," The Isaacs
16: "I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked," Larnelle Harris
17: "Then He Bowed His Head and Died," Larry Ford
18: "These Are They," Gaither Vocal Band
19: "Next Time We Meet," Charlotte Richie
20: "Holy Ground," Joy Gardner


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Moonwalker Review

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(More customer reviews)This video was my favorite movie when I was little and i still love it as a teenager. It begins with a live performance of Man in the Mirror. And then goes into a huge MJ medly wich include I Want YOu BAck, ABC, The Love You Save, Whos Loving You, Ben, Dancing Machine, Blame It On The Boogie, Shake Your Body Down To the Ground, Can You Feel It, Rock With You, Dont Stop Till You Get Enough, Thriller, Beat It, Billie Jean, Human Nature, State of Shock, We Are the World, The Way You Make Me Feel and Dirty Diana. Then we see a little kid version BAD. The clamation Speed Demon is next and is very funny. THen its the video Leave me Alone and then goes into the actual hour long Moonwalker movie. I think the best part of this whole video is the 10 minute performance of Smooth Criminal. Michael's dance moves during this song seem to defy gravity. He ends the movie with Come Together. If you stick aroung till after the credit you get the actual Smooth Criminal music video which is pretty tame compared to the movie version.

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Doo Wop at 50 (1999) Review

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(More customer reviews)Some background on this tape, made in Pittsburgh, by a resident: It seems that some time back, the local PBS station had a Doo Wop show for its fund drive. The most return anyone had hoped for was on the order of $10,000, but Doo Wop pulled in 11 times that. The producer of the show, a remarkably young fellow named T. J. Lubinsky, must have received the green light to produce more Doo Wop stuff, and to distribute it nationally to PBS stations wishing to broaden their contributing demographic. Lubinsky did an admirable job. Whereas the first attempt had consisted of some (variably engineered) in-studio stuff, and some borrowed video, subsequent shows were staged in a grand theater (The Benedum Center), which was required to house a good portion of Pittsburgh's ample aging, Doo Wop-loving population.
Some of the voices on the tape have, of course, faded. More remarkable are the ones that have not. On this score, Johnny Maestro stands out. He delivers an impressive - nay amazing performance. Jerry Butler also delivered - but mostly as a master of ceremonies. His singing was on-key, but let's face it, he could never keep the beat very well. The Del Vikings sound just like they always did, even though they are not all there anymore. The Cleftones were wonderfully entertaining, and seemed to be having a good deal of fun. The Moonglows were excellent, even though the televised arrangements both had Harvey Fuqua as lead singer. Harvey is great as a songwriter and as a manager, but he is far from the group's strongest voice. Fuqua came through, though, and the group's signature blow harmony was intact.
There are some special moments, like a gracious speech given by Herbie Cox, the lead singer of the Cleftones, thanking the producers and expressing respect for the groups with which the Cleftones appeared. The reunion of the Chantels with their former lead singer, Arlene Smith, was moving (if perhaps a trifle overdone). This was also one of the very last appearances for the Flamingos before Jake Carey passed on, and even though they only hinted at their former celestial harmonies, the hint was the more precious as a last glimpse.
Speedo of the Cadillacs doing his steps and strut was also memorable - particularly for yours truly. Ya see, I came to Pittsburgh in 1989 to go to graduate school. My choice of cities was made, in part, because of the city's Doo Wop tradition. Years later, I watched this tape, and there, as Speedo strutted through the audience, was my old adviser - who was standing up, grinning from ear to ear, and clapping in time to the music. It's a side of him I never saw before, and now I have it on tape! (He'll never live it down!)
Less memorable were Lee Andrews, and also The Capris. Jimmy Gallagher, who really can still sing, was painfully off-key that particular night. Earl Lewis and the Channels could easily have been a high point, but Lewis was evidently more interested in showing off than he was in contributing to the collective effort. The tape transcends these things, though, and the lower points have the ironic effect of making the good stuff seem even better.
To anyone who remembers the racial tension of the 50's/60's, and the controversy about black music and white covers, it is gratifying to see black and white performers on the same stage and even in the same groups. The Del Vikings, a group out of the Air Force, were always this way. (Johnny Maestro's original group, The Crests, were too.) One of the new reorganized groups consisted of members from Vito and the Salutations, The Impalas, and The Teenagers. The equally mixed audience, now allowed to listen to music simultaneously in the same theater, approved. Everybody is finally on good terms. There! That wasn't so hard, was it?
One last note: A number of reviewers, here and elsewhere, commented on the quality of the unnamed group who backed up Jerry Butler and Gene Chandler. They are fine indeed. Some of their members were also playing in the orchestra, and if they are credited anywhere, I haven't been able to find the place. Even Jerry Butler didn't know their name, and he was on stage with them. They are from a larger local Pittsburgh group named, PURE GOLD, and if you are ever out this way, they will probably be playing somewhere. They put on quite a show. Wish I could name the graying Sax player in the tux. He looked like he should be playing classical music, but his rock 'n roll wailing was... perfect.
Taken for what it is, the tape is also perfect. Mostly it's a bunch of old guys (and some old ladies) trying to sing. If you listen to them with your ears, you will find points to criticize. If you have a heart for this music, though, you will listen with that. It's the very best way to appreciate this tape. I give it all the stars.

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Roger Whittaker in Concert: Greatest Hits Review

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(More customer reviews)An excellent concert appearance at the Tivoli Concert Hall in Copenhagen in 1989 by a great singer and entertainer. Whether as a singer or whistler, Whittaker is always good. And in this concert, he even sings well while appearing in a clown suit.

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The Jazz Channel Presents Freddie Jackson (BET on Jazz) (2001) Review

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(More customer reviews)Whether you are alone or in the company of people, this DVD does it. Many artists can perform live but only a few can sing live. Freddie Jackson`s voice lives on. He sings songs of the 80's as if they were recorded yesterday.
Technically, this DVD has excellent sound quality. The band, background artists, Freddie and the audience feel like they are in my lounge.
At this price, it's a steal.


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One of the premiere R&B balladeers of the past 20 years, Grammy-nominated Freddie Jackson rocks the night away on "Jazz Central." This rousing concert is jam-packed with wild surprises and romance as Jackson performs before a live audience at BET's Studio II in Washington, D.C. Songs: Nice 'n' Slow, Have You Ever Loved Somebody/Tasty Love, Jam Tonight, Love Me Down, Don't Let Love Slip Away, You Are My Lady, Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake)

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The Videos, Vol. 1 (2003) Review

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(More customer reviews)Being a fan of Cube's earlier work, I wanted to see the music videos for most of his hits. This DVD does give an overview of his music videos that he has made. Some of the videos included "It Was A Good Day" (his biggest hit song), "Check Yo Self (Remix)", "Jackin' For Beats", and "Bop Gun (One Nation)". A lot of these videos I've never seen before, so it was real nice to check out. The only problem that I had with this was that there was only one music video from his first (and best) album "Amerikkka's Most Wanted", which weas the song "Who's The Mack". I'm not sure if songs such as "The ***** You Love To Hate" & "Once Upon A Time In The Project" were music videos (they are on his Greatest Hits album). But if they were, those are the only songs I can think of that are missing from this DVD. Other than that, this is a very perfect addition for fans (new and old) of Ice Cube. I believe that they combined the DVD with his greatest hits CD, so you can get both at one price. Peace!

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The Best of Johnny Tillotson Review

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(More customer reviews)This excellent 'Best Of' compilation from EMI Australia is identical to Collectables 'Golden Classics', although this cd containes 2 more songs (I Fall To Pieces and Judy Judy Judy) and it's a little bit cheaper. All songs are original, the sound is really good and the cd is enjoyable all the way through. Recommendable!
Track list:
01. Poetry In Motion
02. Judy Judy Judy
03. Jimmy's Girl
04. Dreamy Eyes
05. Why Do I Love You So
06. Funny How Time Slips Away
07. True True Happiness
08. Earth Angel
09. You Can Never Stop Me Loving You
10. Out Of My Mind
11. Send Me The Pillow That You Dream On
12. Without You
13. Pledging My Love
14. Cutie Pie
15. Well, I'm Your Man
16. I Can't Help It If I'm Still In Love With You
17. It Keeps Right On A Hurtin'
18. Talk Back Trembling Lips
19. I Fall To Pieces
20. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry


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Rhinestone (1984) Review

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(More customer reviews)Ok, first of all, I have been a fan of this movie since it came out. I always liked the soundtrack and actually bought that before I was able to see the movie. Maybe that's why my opinion of the movie is what it is. The movie itself though is no great surprise. Dolly Parton is basically playing herself, Stallone is also basically playing himself. Everyone writes at how horrible Sly's singing is, no kidding, it's supposed to be bad! The premise of the movie is Dolly is an adored country singer in a club, she makes a bet that she can turn anyone into a country singer. Enter Stallone as a New York cab driver. She takes him back home to Tennessee and tries to teach him how to be "country". He struggles with the whole concept, the walk, the talk, the singing. At no point during the movie are you supposed to believe that he CAN sing, nor are you supposed to believe that he's become "country". If you like Dolly, you will love her in this movie. She pretty much just plays herself thruout. Her songs are great, she wrote all of the songs in the movie with one exception. The only song she didn't write is the wickedly funny "The Day My Baby Died" which is also a favorite of mine. Look, the movie is no "Gone With The Wind", it doesn't pretend to be. It's just Dolly doing a lot of singing and Sly trying to keep up, nothing more, nothing less.

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Bill Gaither's 20 All-Time Favorite Homecoming Songs and Performances, Vol. 2 Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this item AGAIN! Originally I bought it for myself -- the song, "I've Just Seen Jesus" is an operatic wonder. Now everyone wants
a copy after hearing my DVD and so I buy this album often to give to
friends and loved ones needing an uplifting/spiritual boost! (And I buy
through Amazon for the price advantage.)

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King Creole (1958) Review

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(More customer reviews)"King Creole" what more can be said that hasn't been said already. When this picture was first shown at the Vilma Theater on Belair Rd. in Baltimore City there wasn't an empty seat in the house(the line outside was almost as long as it was for "The Ten Commandments" that premired a short time after King Creole). To start off I'm not sure how many folks know it but this was Elvis's favorite movie that he made. "Crawfish,CCrrraaawwwfffiiissshhhh-gees I got'em",boy if that doesn't make you feel like you are right on the Gulf, sharing plates with Cajuns and of course Creoles! Everything about this movie is first class: the Stars-Presly, Jagger,Mathouw,Jones and of course Vic Marrow as always the perfect Punk.The music is about the best Elvis ever did. I have had the original LP for about 40 years now and still play it for my grandchildren. Dixieland Rock,Trouble, Crawfish, King Creole this is some really good stuff and the fact that this music is backed up by a live Brass Blues Band makes it somewhat "Outstanding" not to mention that the back up vocals are done by no other then Gordon Stoker and the Jordonaires as they are right on stage with the King himself. If you want to see some real Hollywood History with a top notch cast (keep in mind Dean Jagger did this movie a year before he stared in "White Christmas" with Bing,Danny,Rosemary and Vera Ellen)and a first class plot with some great action and the REAL feel of being down in New Orleans (even if your not a real Cajun like Jimmie C Newman)get yourself a copy of this great show!
"Enjoy"


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Danny Fisher, a teenager with a criminal record becomes a pop singer in New Orleans but is pursued by the local crime boss.Genre: MusicalsRating: PGRelease Date: 14-AUG-2007Media Type: DVD

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Meat Loaf - 3 Bats Live (2007) Review

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(More customer reviews)The mighty voice rip-roars through the songs from the Bat trilogy with all the power of a jumbo-jet tearing down a runaway and blasting into a hell-raising takeoff. Here is another Meat Loaf performance that goes far enough to make the original studio recordings sound timid (listen out for "Objects In The Rear View Mirror", "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through" and "Bat Out Of Hell").
"Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through", "You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth" and "Blind As A Bat" are amongst the songs to have segments missed out - pity that these songs are 'incomplete' when they are sounding this good. It doesn't really matter that Meat Loaf doesn't always hit the notes like he once did or that he survives the chorus of "Blind As A Bat" with the help of a backing track because what he does sing, when he really goes for it, is all there.
I saw this show when the tour arrived in London, England by which point "Paradise By The Dashboard Light" had found a few great gags and "I'd Do Anything For Love" had a franticly awesome new opening arrangement (all of which are not present for this show). John Miceli's drum beats are pure rock, delivered like an earth quake bulging through an intravenous drip. The cover songs at the end are fine, but if Meat had the energy (and he does) it would be nice to hear him perform his own classics, after all, he has plenty more of those that aren't included on here. The show is superbly filmed and includes plenty of sweeping camera angles and a feeling that you're up on the stage next to him. It's this intimacy that helps give this DVD an edge over the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra DVD.
Where the show flounders is where the lead female vocals come into play, and they come into play frequently. Sure the girl can sing, but she isn't Patti Russo who, after 13 years, Meat Loaf appears to have unforgivably replaced in favour of a 'newer model', prior to the release of Bat Out Of Hell III, and a mistake that no amount of on-stage pyrotechnics can compensate for. Maybe Patti Russo was just too good. Russo is why I'll favour the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra DVD, and her absence here is my main reason for giving this DVD four stars and not five.
The bonus DVD is a fly on the wall documentary of the few weeks leading up to the show in London, Ontario and compliments Disk One perfectly. We see Meat rehearsing, driving his car, packing his suitcase, preparing for shows and collapsing from exhaustion after them. You might be disappointed to see this towering rock legend reveal enough of himself to make us realise how 'un-star' like the man behind the Meat Loaf character is: quiet, reclusive and fragile. It is a documentary that is in essence about the road leading up to the show on Disk One, and as for Meat Loaf himself - we are left little the wiser. Even his autobiography was told in glimpses. It does leave you realising that perhaps the on-stage and off-stage personas couldn't be flung any further apart.
The king of rock crown isn't leaving Meat Loaf's head (even if the king is missing his queen). Frankenstein has no hope of ever recovering this overweening creation.

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The Mikado- Gilbert And Sullivan / Australian Opera (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is possible the least spectacular of the Opera Australia Gilbert & Sullivan DVDs, possibly due to the fact that it is over 20 years old and now rather dated. Having said that, it is still a polished and enjoyable performance and ranks well compared to productions by most other companies, as indeed do all the Opera Australia Gilbert & Sullivan DVDs.
The cast do a great job, both in their singing and acting. Anne-Maree McDonald is one of the most convincing Yum Yums I have seen, cleverly letting us see the conceit of the character that is all but hidden under the sweet frame. The highlight performance for me, however, is Heather Begg's portrayal of Katisha. Heather gives a powerful and dynamic performance that captures the essence of the character perfectly.
Some "contemporary" use of humour is used during the Pooh-Bah & Nanki-Poo exchange concerning Pooh-Bah's various roles that makes references to the Australian political scene that existed at that time (1987). Some of this humour may be lost to non-Australians or even younger Australians that were not familiar with the era. It is otherwise, fairly loyal to the original script.
On the downside, the sets are a little bit flat and unimaginative, but one can generally overlook these things when presented with such polished performances. All in all, another great performance by Opera Australia.

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Legendary Performances: Marty Robbins (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a DVD that no Marty Robbins fan should be without. Having said that, any lover of any kind of music can appreciate what a unique and gifted talent Marty was. The beauty of his voice allied to his super songwriting, combined with a charismatic appeal that makes it hard for anyone not to like him even if you are not a fan of Country and Western Music. There are 15 songs here from the mid 50's up to the late 70's taken from various shows which showcase many of his biggest hits that usually have Marty smiling his head off while he delivers the songs even if they are sad ones! The 'extras' include his induction to the Country Music Hall of Fame and a previously unseen interview by Marty which makes him come across as a thoroughly warm human being which he no doubt was. Well, what are you waiting for?! Just order it; you won't regret it.

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Rock and Roll at 50 Review

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(More customer reviews)To be honest,I really expected this music DVD to be totally lame,with most of the artists to be lifeless old farts and hags that could hardly carry themselves properly onstage.Glad to see that I was very wrong about that.As it turns out,'Rock&Roll At 50' is quite entertaining to watch.Many very good/well produced performances by the likes of Bo Diddley,playing his namesake "Bo Diddley",Jerry Lee Lewis,with "Whole Lot Of Shakin' Going On",Brian Hyland-"Sealed With A Kiss",Gerry Marsden(of Gerry&The Pacemakers)doing two of his gems,"Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying" and "Ferry Cross The Mersey",one time hit maker Paul&Paula with "Hey Paula",The Manfreds playing "Do Wah Diddy Diddy",pajama pop idol Lesley Gore giving us "Maybe I Know"(looking good at 59,Lesley)and Darlen Love(of the Crystals)with "He's A Rebel".Those are just the highlights.Total of 22 songs.Recommended for true pop fans over the age of 55.

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Eminem - The Slim Shady World Show (1959) Review

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(More customer reviews)If South Park can be a little too tame for your taste, you might want to check out The Slim Shady Show.
The characters (loosely based on various Eminem alter-egos) and humor are more sophisticated than you might expect, even though it runs on the cruder side. Tastelessness abounds, quite often to the detriment of celebrities--Kurt Cobain, Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert Downey Jr. are much abused--but always for the sake of comedy. And you don't have to be an Eminem fan to like it--his music never makes an appearance, though in the best episode, "Slimshank Redemption," Slim does some freestyling while in solitary confinement--a hilarious rant which sends up Eminem's style perfectly ("He's not even making sense anymore!" nerdy Marshall squeaks).
My personal favorite of the posse, Ken Kaniff (voiced by Eminem) is fashion-concious and man-crazy, and clearly the most fun. His act of raising Gianni Versace from the dead is by turns touching, hilarious, and results in new outfits for the gang and a great party. Anyone who accuses Em of homophobia might think twice after watching Ken in action.
This DVD loses a star for not having much in the way of extras. The "lost episode" should have stayed so and the picture gallery is pointless. The behind-the-scenes featurette is nice but basically fluff. I would like it to have been longer with more in-depth information. The D-12 video is well-conceived but musically listless. Buy this for the episodes alone, they are worth it.

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Cirque du Soleil - Fire Within (TV Series) (2002) Review

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(More customer reviews)As a huge Cirque Du Soleil fan, I was thrilled to see the Bravo documentary series on DVD since I had missed it when it aired. I watched the entire series in a matter of two days--I was hooked immediately as it is such a long and cut-throat, yet fascinating process.
My negative criticism is that I feel like the show could have been developed so much more. We only meet a fraction of the people involved in Varekai; I would love to have spent some time getting to know the clowns (in my opinion, the magician and his assistant are one of the best parts of Varekai and I was hoping to see them in this series), gotten to watch the younger ones and how they were handled through the process. They also neglected to finish some story lines. I don't want to ruin a plot line for you so I'll be vague (though it still might give it away), but no problem finding another singer after all of the frustration in the first half of the series?
Eventhough I feel like so much stuff was left out that could have been amazing to watch, I still think this one-of-a-kind glimpse into the process is phenominal, and I do recommend the purchase for anyone interested in Cirque and their behind-the-scenes struggles and processes.

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The 2003 winner of the Emmy® for Outstanding Nonfiction Program (Alternative), this 13-episode television series offers an intimate look into the dreams, trials and aspirations of a core group of performers involved in the creation and launch of Varekai™, the live production from Cirque du Soleil.

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Trevor Horn and Friends: Slaves to Rhythm (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)The name Trevor Horn didn't mean much to me - and it's probably not at the top of your pop music "names" list but , after watching this fabulous two-hour-plus concert, recorded in 2005 at Wembly Stadium in London, I now know that I've been listening to his productions for over 25 years!
Horn is a bassist and was a recording star in the 1980s. Though his name didn't appear as a the "artist" on the label, he was the co-writer and lead vocalist on the song that "launched" MTV: "Video Killed The Radio Star". He and his partner were known as The Buggles. Shortly thereafter he began producing hits for others and many - if not all - of them were at this concert to aid The Prince's Trust (Prince Charles' annual benefit concert). It was filmed in what looks like high-def and was produced by Clear Channel (now known as Live Nation). The camera work is some of the best I've seen and the sound is near perfect. Horn either sings or plays on nearly every one of the songs and, recruited the original back up singers (and many of the original studio musicians) to appear on the stage. While he could have used synthesizers to replicate the string and horn sections, he chose to have a large live string section and a top-notch horn section filling the huge stage. There's even a harpist who doubles on backing vocals!
The guest artists appear mostly in chronological order by the year the hits were released and most perform one song. There is Grace Jones, and Lisa Stansfield (performing a new song, not one of her hits) - well known in the US - along with lesser known acts like the German group Propoganda and the duo Dollar. Throughout the first 90 minutes the large crowd moves to the music in their seats, unlike many US concerts where everyone stands through the whole concert. But then come the Pet Shop Boys (for three songs) and they are out of their seats. Following that comes a super-fine performance by Seal (whose hit song is the basis for the title of this DVD) and then the reunion of most of Frankie Goes to Hollywood and the concert reaches it's peak. Oh yes, there's also a performance by most of the group YES as well as ABC and Belle & Sebastian. There is literally something here for everyone who lived through the pop music scene of the 1980s and 90. And Horn makes a wonderful MC for the evening.
The bonuses don't disappoint either. There is a short documentary on the staging of the concert and another on Frankie Goes to Hollywood's audition to find a new lead singer for the concert. And, finally, a "juke box" option to play the songs.
This is one of the highest quality DVDs to be released by MVDvisual - a division of Music Video Distributors - which usually just distributes European-produced DVDS. It's a lot of fun and highly recommended.
Steve Ramm
"Anything Phonographic"


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