Concert for George
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Movie Reviews of Concert for George
Movie Review: COULDN'T BE MUCH BETTER!
Summary: 5 Stars
This should be the model for all concert DVD's. Disc two contains the theatrical version while disc one has the complete show from beginning to end. As much as I love "Back In The U.S," I wish they had packaged it in this manner. The audio and video are simply superb, couldn't have been better. The packaging is great, with the tri-fold containing the discs and booklet inside a sleeve. I can think of only one drawback to the DVD. It would have been nice to have included a biography of all the onstage performers from the concert. There are so many that I'm not familiar with. The show was taped in the 133 year old Royal Albert Hall in London on the first anniversary of George's death, November 29, 2002. The concert opens with Olivia lighting candles and then Eric Clapton walks out, speaks briefly, then introduces Ravi Shankar, who says a few words. Anoushka Shankar(Ravi's daughter and the half-sister of Norah Jones) plays an 8 minute piece on the sitar. I enjoy Indian music and she is as beautiful as she is talented. Then she and others accompany Jeff Lynne on "The Inner Light." I particularly enjoy this number. This is followed by a long piece written by Ravi, called "Arpan." He wrote this in tribute to George and both the Indian and Western orchestras play on it. Eric Clapton joins in late on the acoustic guitar. There are moments that I enjoy but overall, I didn't care for this number. I don't care for the next segment at all.I've never cared for Monty Python and their contribution to the show was boring and vulgar, as usual. BTW, although it isn't mentioned to the audience, Tom Hanks is part of their act. Next, the Pop music portion opens with ''I Want to Tell You.'' The instrumentation and vocals are great on this tune. A few highlights from this segment would be....."Here Comes The Sun"-Joe Brown"Horse To The Water''-Sam Brown(Joe's daughter)"Taxman"-Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers"Honey Don't"-Ringo"For You Blue"-Paul McCartney"Something"-It's great when the Clapper and Macca do a brief duet on this one."My Sweet Lord"-Billy Preston This track is simply awesome. Billy sings better than ever. As a Christian, I can't agree with the Hindu aspects of this tune, but I must admit the melody is beautiful."Wah Wah"-Everybody plays on this, but the primary vocal is done by Jeff Lynne, who does a great job."I'll See You In My Dreams"-Joe Brown is incredible on this old standard. It's very poignant as the confetti falls and the camera switches to a giant photo in the arena of a young George holding a guitar. Eric Clapton is great as the emcee, but I only wish that Paul and Ringo had played a bigger part in the show. It would also have been great if George Martin and Pattie could have been there and maybe said a few words. It's really eerie seeing George's son, Dhani onstage playing the guitar. He has a strong resemblance to his father. I recommend this excellent DVD to any Beatles or George fan. I guarantee, you will watch it again and again and........Movie Review: Try Some, Buy Some
Summary: 5 Stars
I am not easily given to superlatives but the Concert For George exceeded my expectations in every way (and they were pretty high). First of all, let me say that if you do purchase this DVD, do not skip ahead of the classical Indian music segment (as many were apt to do with "Concert For Bangla Desh." If this concert contained only this segment it would be a gift in itself, but fortunately there is the sublime tribute of George's music to follow. Anoushka Shankar is brilliant as performer and conductor. The juxtaposition of sitar, vocal and ensemble music for the first segment (with George's Inner Light featuring Jeff Lynn doing the vocal) is truly captivating. If you are not familiar or particularly fond of Indian music, indulge yourself, open your ears and you might really enjoy this performance.
Chris Menges camera work gives this concert film an aspect that is rare in the genre. The feeling of intimacy -- you almost feel as if you are sitting in the Royal Albert Hall. Not only are you on stage, but there are beautiful sweeping angles of the hall as well.
The performances are inspired. I was especially taken with how well Paul McCartney's voice blended with Eric Clapton. And like a previous reviewer I was not aware of Joe Brown (I am now). Gary Brooker gives a wonderful performance of "Old Brown Shoe" and some great piano work throughout. Jeff Lynne seemed a little nervous during his Inner Light performance, (who wouldn't with all those master musicians behind him -- among them Vishna Mowan Bhatt, percussionist Emil Richards, and Ravi Shankar to name a few), but seemed to settle down and gave apt tribute to his departed friend, as did Tom Petty. And we forgot (again), about Billy. Billy Preston just has a way of engaging the audience as he demonstrated 30+ years ago in the Bangla Desh concert. He does it again here.
If there is any disappointment at all, it is when musicians give tribute or cover George's songs they are only tapping a fraction of his output and only seem to focus on the "hits." It would have been nice to maybe hear such lesser known pieces "Be Here Now," "Your Love Is Forever" or even "Far East Man." But this is a minor complaint.
And I was glad that Sir Paul made a comment at the end of the concert because it haunted me throughtout the film. You are so drawn to the image of Dhani Harrison on the stage because he so looks like George circa 1965-66. If you see photos from the Beatles "Help" photo shoot, Dhana's resemblence is eerie. From the stooped manner when he strums the guitar, as well as some of his facial expressions, there is no doubt about his bloodline...
"Concert For George" is a fitting tribute to a man who gave much to the world. I wish now that I had had an opportunity to see and hear it on the big screen. If you can't think of a gift for someone who loves music, this should make your choices a little easier this holiday season...
Movie Review: Inspired and Joyous
Summary: 5 Stars
There is not a lot I can say that hasn't been said about this CD, but I'll add my voice to the chorus of hosannahs still rising from the amen corner. I have rarely seen such an outpouring of love for one man than you will see on Concert For George, nor have I heard before such an exceptionally professional heartfelt tribute to a musician from his former colleagues and fellow musicians. To say that Concert For George is one of the most musically important DVDs on the market is to understate its value. This is one item that should be in the musical library of anyone who ever liked the Beatles or any of the musicians who have come here to pay musical tribute to George Harrison.
I am a Beatles fan, but today I listen to very little Beatles music. I am also a George Harrison fan, but to this point I have listened to even less of his solo work than that he did with the Beatles. Concert for George made me see his life's work in a whole new light. I had forgotten just how many great songs he wrote and as long as this production is, they are not even all covered!
Here's what you get when you buy Concert For George: Almost five hours of music and entertainment. I enjoy the entire set, but the highlights for me are If I Needed Someone featuring Eric Clapton, Old Brown Shoe featuring the soulful voice of Procol Harum's Gary Brooker, Give Me Love featuring Jeff Lynne, Horse To The Water featuring Jools Holland and the powerfully soulful voice of Sam Brown, Taxman featuring Tom Petty (though his voice is not made for that song, the rest of the gang make up for it), Isn't It A Pity featuring Billy Preston, Photograph featuring Ringo Starr, My Sweet Lord featuring once again Billy Preston, and the tour de force of the show, While My Guitar Gently Weeps featuring Paul McCartney and dazzling guitar pyrotechnics by Eric Clapton. The show closes with a tearjerking I'll See You In My Dreams featuring Joe Brown on ukulele as thousands of rose petals shower from above.
There are lots of other musicians who played an important part in Harrison's life and in the wider world of music featured as well. Fans of Indian music may well be thrilled by the raga written in honor of Harrison by Indian sitar master Ravi Shankar and performed by his daughter Anoushka. Jim Capaldi (now dead) of Traffic is here too as is Harrison's son Dhani.
I can't believe there are actually used copies of this DVD available. Why would anyone give it up? For those of us of a certain era, this inspired and joyous tribute is a consummation of the promise of the spirit of the sixties. For those of other generations, Concert For George is a lesson in how truly transcendental music can be.
I'm not generally given to gushy superlatives, but this is not just a keeper, its an heirloom! Order today and your only regret will be that you did not buy it sooner.
Movie Review: George is in the House
Summary: 5 Stars
From the moment Olivia Harrison walked on stage to light the incense of commencement, to the final rain of yellow and orange petals over the Royal Albert Hall for the finale, you felt that George was everywhere. He was in the Hall, he was in your heart, and he was in your mind. The film this DVD holds is an inspiration, not only to Harrison/Beatles fans, but to anyone who admires the spirituality that music provides, and to the purity of friendship. The beautiful sitar artistry of Anoushka Shankar on "Your Eyes" is simply transcendent. Ravi Shankar is indeed on hand, and is very much the patriarch of this stage with a composition written for George entitled "Arpan", beautifully conducted by his daughter, who takes a different turn as the leader of his orchestra. She is truly a revelation. East meets West in a flurry of strings and tablas, and set one's spirit ready for the ride though Harrison's life. What better way to kick off an evening of George than with a raga? (I know this was all mentioned, but this music is amazing!)
Clapton holds everything together with grace and simplicity, keeping the night void of sappy, cloying sentimentality. Jeff Lynne moves through The Inner Light as if he's in awe of each chord, yet pulls through beautifully. Ringo, the Beatle each Beatle loves/loved dearly, sings Photograph, a song he composed with Harrison, taking on new meaning now that George "isn't here anymore". Python was spot on with levity - something so important to Harrison in life. Paul McCartney left the ego at the door. For once it wasn't all about him, but about his old friend. You could tell he was quite choked up. Having Dhani on stage throughout was perfection. He stood for his dad, strumming along with the legends who were part of the household while growing up. Perverbial uncles, all glancing at this young man they watched from a baby to manhood. Dhani's reverence and love for his Dad is hard not to notice.
Personally, I would have loved to have seen Bob Dylan join on stage, since his friendship with George goes back, and they were very much eye to eye with how they perceived the world, yet expressed themselves differently. It was probably impossible since he's always on tour. Yet, that bares nothing against this wonderful night caught on film.
The sound and clarity of the video is top notch, high tech, hi-def, so quality-wise, this is a good as it gets without actually being on stage. Wonderful interviews, some backstage stuff. It was a great idea having the complete concert on one DVD, and the theatrical on the other. Definitely keep the hankies close by. You might find some tears welling up, not out of sadness, but out of the realization of how a single life can touch so many. One never realizes it until that spirit slips out of this world. There's no doubt about it - you will be moved.
Movie Review: Probably the best tribute concert in pop history
Summary: 5 Stars
In addition to featuring definitive versions of several Harrison tunes, this concert also features moments that are as improbable as they are wonderful: Jeff Lynne doing Harrison's Indian-inspired "The Inner Light"; Paul McCartney singing the first half of "Something" solo, accompanied by just his ukelele; and most surreal of all, McCartney taking the lead on "All Things Must Pass", a Harrison song which he and John Lennon refused to put on a Beatles album because they claimed it wasn't good enough.In fact McCartney's presence in the show seemed needlessly awkward. Aside from receiving a hug from Clapton, everyone else onstage appeared to go out of their way to ignore Paul, which was a shame. All rumors about personality issues aside, the fact remains Paul was one of Harrison's oldest friends, as was Ringo Starr, so both should have been given much larger roles in the show, e.g. Harrison's early works from "Help!" and "Revolver" should have been performed by McCartney, Clapton, Dhani Harrison and Starr. It would have been more appropriate, and the impact would have been much greater.
If I have any overall gripe about "Concert for George", it's that far too many people were onstage most of the time. Does any band need four (or was it five) drummers? Starr and Ray Cooper would have been more than enough for this set. Gary Brooker was redundant on keyboards with McCartney, Billy Preston and Jools Holland all present. Andy Fairweather-Low, Marc Mann and others picked up many of the signature Harrison guitar riffs which Clapton should have handled. And so on. Some of the songs wound up losing some of their subtle nuances because of all the clutter onstage.
As for the comedic extras, I think parents who brought their kids to the show (there appeared to be quite a few) could have done without hearing "Sit On My Face" and "The Lumberjack Song". I know I could have lived without it. Yes, I'm aware of Harrison's connection with Monty Python, but frankly their appearance here was forced and misplaced, especially right after ten minutes of a sublimely beautiful and intricate Indian raga.
Which brings up one last complaint: where were "Within You, Without You" and "What is Life"? Particularly the former, this is the one Harrison song that literally changed the course of pop music history, and I found it inexplicable (not to mention hugely disappointing) that they assembled all the necessary backup musicians, yet did not perform the song. As good as "The Inner Light" is, it pales in comparison.
But these are all relatively minor quibbles, and I'm judging the show against absolute perfection. The fact remains this is still probably the best tribute concert ever recorded, and is a MUST SEE for any George Harrison fan, Beatles fan, Eric Clapton fan, or anyone else who enjoys wonderful music.