A very disappointing DVD.
Rating:
Summary: Capitivating!
Review: Finally, a DVD containing not only a live concert but a substantial documentary and several bonus videos as well!! The picture and sound quality are great, and there are plenty of close-ups. I'm not sure the camera could have gotten any closer to the singer. The live concert in Dublin makes you feel like you are actually in the audience. Distractions and camera pans of the audience are kept to a minimum . After watching Sinead's older VHS tapes such as "The Year of the Horse," and "The Value of Ignorance," I have a deep appreciation for digital technology! I'm glad to see that there are no fancy special visual effects on this DVD like there were on "The Value of Ignorance." In fact, there's a genuine maturity and rock solid feel of Sinead's performance. Her confidence shines through and she sings each song with gutsy emotion. You can sense how important it was for her to make a CD like "Sea- Nos Nua." The 30 minute documentary expounds on the eight minute video montage that was included on her CD, "Sean-Nos Nua." It provides insight into Sinead's desire to update some of her favorite traditional Irish folk songs without stripping away their historical and/or emotional essence.
The bonus video of "Peggy Gordon" is very intense and poignant as is the "The Singing Bird." She makes many of the songs appear as though they were her very own, but it's because she has the uncanny ability to get inside the mind, body and soul of the person who originally penned the tune.
This is a 2 1/2 hour DVD and it's a must have for any Sinead O'Connor fan, especially since this may indeed be the end of her musical journey. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: great voice, great music
Review: great concert, amazing voice, and an interesting documentary as an extra.
Rating:
Summary: Is this the last day of our acquaintence?
Review: I don't think so. It strikes me that whether she's ripping up photos or ripping through powerful and emotional songs, Sinead O'Connor seems at herself most in front of an audience. Maybe that's what scares her. All the same, this is a terrific Dublin performance in support of the SEAN NOS NUA CD, the Sinead disc you could play for your granny. Striking a demure pose, while Machiavellingly controlling the off-stage sound and lighting and tech crews with killer stares and clipped directions, O'Connor works her way through material from her across her career. It is an effective reading. It is also considerably more under control than the I DO NOT WANT tour performances that catapulted her from Temple Bar to the forefront of avant rock. Mor 's trua. The edge that's gone or sedated was what took a remarkable artist into the stratosphere. Ever the colleen, although one with an obsession for creating a headlong collision out of Catholicism-Judaism-Rastafarianism-New Age crystals, Sinead nearly blushe sher way through a number of Gaelic standards while facing the audience, then turning toward crew and band with a Gollum like intensity that parries and slays anyone not in lock step with her own sense of direction.
In any case, although she has stated that this would be it as far as her performance and rock career were concerned (well, what is hse going to do? day care? I don't think so), she has stated lotsa stuff to the press. This is what she does well. I can not imagine her sticking to it. It is one thing to proclaim yourself a priestess-pope-natty dread whatever, but sooner or later, that is just another wardrobe change. Even Yusef has returned to song, not "Moonshadow," but song nonetheless because it is a central part of the dna.
Anyway, the extra bits on this DVD are a howl. The videos for the Irish tunes are so amateurly produced they are out and out laughable. The mouth is either way ahead, and I mean WAY AHEAD, of the song or WAY BEHIND. The photography is inept. The special effects are straight out of Dick Clark American Bandstand. There is a bit of discussion about all this carry on that is almost as inane as Spinal Tap. You would swear Eric Idle scripted this, if Sinead and comapny did not look so earnest. But, you can't ask for more pure entertainment. What a deal. So, is this the last day of our acquaintence? Not so fast, Kowalski....
Rating:
Summary: Goodnight!
Review: I have to say this was a disappointment. The sound quality on the DVD had some bumps/imperfections, and she seemed to be focusing more on her "hits" for the older songs, which are not her best songs (i.e. Nothing Compares, Fire on Babylon).
The documentary is worth seeing, but the "video" extras should not have been included, as they make this DVD worse. Why were they even created? They seem to have been filmed in one take each, and the music is clearly dubbed over the band in spite of the fact that they are made to look as if they are actually performing. Sinead's words do not go with her mouth. And in one part she is outside and a bee actually flies into her while she is singing.
However, this DVD has its moments. I recommend it if for nothing more than that Sinead is unfairly overlooked these days.
One more thing--I applaud Sinead for quitting the music business to focus on her spiritual pursuits. She has one of the best voices ever...but there are things more important in this world than making records.
Rating:
Summary: Goodnight!
Review: I have to say this was a disappointment. The sound quality on the DVD had some bumps/imperfections, and she seemed to be focusing more on her "hits" for the older songs, which are not her best songs (i.e. Nothing Compares, Fire on Babylon).
The documentary is worth seeing, but the "video" extras should not have been included, as they make this DVD worse. Why were they even created? They seem to have been filmed in one take each, and the music is clearly dubbed over the band in spite of the fact that they are made to look as if they are actually performing. Sinead's words do not go with her mouth. And in one part she is outside and a bee actually flies into her while she is singing.
However, this DVD has its moments. I recommend it if for nothing more than that Sinead is unfairly overlooked these days.
One more thing--I applaud Sinead for quitting the music business to focus on her spiritual pursuits. She has one of the best voices ever...but there are things more important in this world than making records.
Rating:
Summary: Superb performance
Review: I love this DVD. Not only do you see a 68-minute live concert given by Sinead O'Connor in Dublin in 2002, but you also have a 60-minute documentary Song Of Heart's Desire made at around the same time. This program describes the inspiration behind the great singer's recent album of traditional Irish folk songs Sean-nos Nua, and it was screened on TV last year. This prompted me to buy this disc. Very few singers I have seen on TV or in concert can convey such emotional intensity as Sinead O'Connor. My favourite track here is You Made Me The Thief Of Your Heart, which is excellent, and she also gives a stunning performance of Fire On Babylon. The folk numbers are also very strong, and I like them a lot. I highly recommend this DVD to people who like great singing and who have any interest at all in traditional Gaelic folk music.
Rating:
Summary: perfect!!
Review: Sinead is brilliant. treat yourself by listening to someone who sings what she believes in. A perfect DVD
Rating:
Summary: a must have!!
Review: Sinead is Brilliant. Treat yourself to someone who actually sings what she believes in. A perfect DVD
Rating:
Summary: Sinead in her purest form
Review: Sinead is one of the most amazing live performers I have ever seen. She really puts her heart and soul into her final performance.
I only gave it four stars because I was hoping to hear more of her older stuff. It is mostly traditional Irish folk songs. She does give them new life by adding a new reggae like rhythm. Honestly anything she does is done well...Plus, she sings them in her home town of Dublin. So much passion!!! Buy it just to hear "Fire On Babylon"!!! and her amazing vocal range.Its very moving and she will be missed.