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Paul Simon - Graceland (The African Concert)

Paul Simon - Graceland (The African Concert)

List Price: $24.99
Your Price: $19.99
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A State of Grace
Review: An excellent concert!

This video is well worth owning. I watch it often, and enjoy it every time. I have noticed comments regarding poor sound quality in other reviews. Personally, I did not find that to be a problem in the overall quality of this film; after all, this concert took place in South Africa, not Central Park.

Watching Paul's performance during this concert, it was hard to believe that he was at a very low point in his career at the time. Performances by all other artists involved were equally good, and the obvious respect between Paul Simon and the South African artists--particularly Joseph Shabalala of Ladysmith Black Mambazo--was moving.

I also enjoyed seeing footage of South Africa at various points in the film. I felt it added to the "being there" feeling of the film itself. The singing of the National Anthem of South Africa at the end of the concert was a perfect ending.

I would recommend this to all world music fans, not just Paul Simon fans.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: great music under adverse conditions
Review: First of all, the songs and musicianship are all excellent, as one would expect, and that's the most important thing. Yes, the bass needs a little boosting which can be done through any stereo...this seems to be a common DVD problem, not just this video. But let's remember the situation. In 1987, Apartheid was brutally oppressing South African blacks, as it had for many many years, with no sign of how long it would continue. Nelson Mandela was in prison where he had been for over 20 years. There was an international embargo, which Paul Simon had braved and taken some heat for daring to work with South African musicians. This concert featured exiled South Africans Hugh Masekala and Miriam Makeba performing in Zimbabwae on the border of South Africa. The situation was charged and tense, and it took strong moral courage and talent for Paul Simon to bring it all together, put himself under pressure and under criticism and perform these moving and brilliant songs for the people and for the world. If video filmed in 1987 under the blazing sun doesn't meet high tech 2000 MTV soundstage standards, so be it. To a normal person, it's just fine. This is one of the few concert videos I like to watch over and over.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Beautiful Spirit!
Review: Having played this concert over and over,I am still moved by the freedom and presence of LadySmith Black Mambazo enhanced by the awesome Paul Simon! I was honored to have seen Lady Smith Black Mambazo in an amphitheatre in Santa Fe,NM (USA) during a heavy mountain rainstorm! They continued to play and everyone I saw STAYED, putting up umbrellas and hats ,etc. MESMERIZING music and spiritual honesty in song!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: AWESOME!!!!
Review: I absolutely love this DVD.. I've long been a fan of Hugh Masekela, Miriam Mekeba, and Paul Simon.. If you are a jazz fan, or just a music lover, this is a must have!!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Good concert, good sound, below average picture quality
Review: I already own the CD with interactive computer animations. I like this dvd, the sound is good for a live concert. Unfortunately the picture quality is not better than a cheap video tape.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: This is neither a concert nor music
Review: I consider Paul Simon the musical genius of my generation. The Graceland DVD is a series of interviews with Mr. Simon and various Graceland performers. It is very differant from the Graceland : African Tour VHS. Songs are constantly interrupted for interviews. This would be an interesting format for professional study of creativity, interpretations, editing and composition but it is NOT musical entertainment. When will they do the Simon and Garfunkel "Central Park Reunion" on DVD ? I thought I was buying the DVD version of "Graceland -- African Tour". If someone wants my Graceland DVD for free just let me know.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Very weak
Review: I found the concert(DVD) was very poor in regards to sound and video quality. Show has a tendency to drag. DVD's with exceptional sound and video are VH1 Divas Live and Yani(Live at the Acropolis). If you can't deliver quality sound and video why buy in DVD format

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: excellent
Review: i found this concert an excellent and one of its kind, it was done in daytime where no effects of lights or smokes added but only pure music and rhythm and and i've seen the essence of music in paul simon and also to jazz masters hugh masekela, meriam makeba and the strong voices and blending of ladysmith black mambazo.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Disappointment
Review: I had seen, and reviewed, Graceland: The African Concert in VHS format sometime ago. If there is anyone out there who hasn't seen this in DVD yet, get out there and buy it! It is an incredible experience. Paul Simon put on one of the best shows I have seen (and I've been lucky enough to see him in person more than once)...more than anything else, I think it was the "feel" of this concert that made it so special. He showed tremendous respect for the other performers, and they obviously returned the sentiment. The band, particularly Ray Phiri, could NOT have performed any better. Wonderful show.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Wow!
Review: I had seen, and reviewed, Graceland: The African Concert in VHS format sometime ago. If there is anyone out there who hasn't seen this in DVD yet, get out there and buy it! It is an incredible experience. Paul Simon put on one of the best shows I have seen (and I've been lucky enough to see him in person more than once)...more than anything else, I think it was the "feel" of this concert that made it so special. He showed tremendous respect for the other performers, and they obviously returned the sentiment. The band, particularly Ray Phiri, could NOT have performed any better. Wonderful show.


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