Paul McCartney - Live in Red Square
by Mark Haefeli
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DVD details
Actor: Paul McCartneyDirector: Mark Haefeli
Brand: A&E
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo; English (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Format: Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 160 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-06-14
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: A&E HOME VIDEO
Product features:
- 1. Getting Better All the Time 2. Band on the Run 3. Can't Buy Me Love 4. Two of Us 5. Saw Her Standing There 6. We Can Work it Out 7. I've Just Seen a Face 8. Live and Let Die 9. Someone's Knocking on the Door 10. Fool on the Hill 11. Lucky Guy 12. Birthday 13. Baby I'm Amazed 14. Back in the U.S.S.R. 15. Hey Jude 16. She's Leaving Home 17. Yesterday 18. Let I
DVD Reviews of Paul McCartney - Live in Red Square
DVD Review: Outstanding, but rearranged the order of the Red Square Concert Hurts
Summary: 4 Stars
There certainly is no shortage of live material available from Paul McCartney. Anyone who has listened to McCartney's live performances in recent years have usually not been disappointed. In 2003, McCartney took his act to Moscow to play a live concert in Red Square. The performance of former member of the Beatles in Red Square is considered an amazing feat, because as recently as two decades ago, this wouldn't have even been a thought. The former Soviet government had banned the Beatles because they were considered to be representative of what was wrong with Western Culture. However the Beatles had still managed to build up a major "underground" during the time they were banned. This DVD, "Paul McCartney - In Red Square" chronicles both the concert and McCartney's reflections of Russia. The DVD collection consists of McCartney's concert and visit to Moscow. It also includes part of the concert that McCartney would deliver in St. Petersburg, Russia on a subsequent trip to Russia. The only disappointment with the material lies that the concert experience is a bit incomplete.
The real issue lies with the way the Red Square material is laid out. There are twenty tracks that show performances of the material from Red Square. As discussed later in this review, the material is top-notch. Woven between the material is some of the documentary information about trip to Russia, I don't have an issue with the documentary material. However the songs from the Red Square concert were rearranged to fit the "story" of the documentary. When I purchase a concert DVD, I usually prefer the concert material to be from a single night, complete (no edits, no omissions), and in order of performance. These concepts allow for a complete feel for the concert. Unfortunately by mixing up the performance, this does take away from the effect. I also think that some of the performances were not shown. I think it would have been a blast if we saw the whole Red Square performance from start to finish in its entirety - even if the documentary material was woven in. It is worth noting that the St. Petersburg material has its "documentary" piece at the beginning - and appears to follow more of a chronological ordering. However, the St. Petersburg material is definitely a subset of that performance.
Here are ten things to look for:
1-When combining the Red Square and St. Petersburg performances, there is no overlap. The only song that is repeated in both segments is "Back in the USSR" - and this is for obvious reasons. There are twenty tracks from Red Square and ten tracks from the St. Petersburg.
2-Both concerts are going to give you a great feel for the talent of McCartney's band. No doubt the highlight of the band is Abe Laboriel Jr. - who has to be considered one of the greatest drummers in the world. His drumming is ferocious throughout both performances. On the St. Petersburg performance, Laboriel delivers an incredible drum solo on "The End".
3-While I feel the Red Square performance would have been better served by having the full-concert in its entirety, the individual content is still incredible. You will definitely get a feeling for the passion the Russian people have for Paul McCartney and the Beatles. All in all, the crowds in Red Square and St. Petersburg were lively ones and clearly help to enhance the whole live experience.
4-I actually feel the start of the Red Square material was a bit "slow" on the first five tracks (with the exception of "Band on the Run"). From Track 6 on - I wasn't disappointed.. Keep in mind this doesn't translate to a slow start to the concert as the material is mixed up. The abbreviated version of "Getting Better" should have been done in its entirety.
5-The documentary material is very interesting. There are comments by former President Mikhail Gorbachev on his feelings on the positive influence of the Beatles music on the youth. Perhaps one of the most interesting points is when current President Vladimir Putin admits that he used to listen to Beatles records during the period in which they were banned. We also hear similar comments from the Russian Defense Minister who also used to listen to Beatles records.
6-McCartney himself provides much of the commentary during the "documentary" portions of the Red Square material. I found this documentary material to be the strongest. I would have also have liked to hear some commentary by the band members though.
7-The scene during "Calico Skies" when Vladimir Putin makes a surprise appearance at the concert has got to be considered one of the great moments in concert history during the Rock era.
8-While there is a lot made of the emotion of performing "Back in the USSR" in Russia (and it lives up to expectations), there are plenty of other "Hall of Fame" performances. Namely from Red Square: "Band on the Run" "Fool on the Hill", "Calico Skies", "Live and Let Die", "Maybe I'm Amazed", and "Hey Jude". From St. Petersburg: "Drive My Car", "Helter Skelter", "Let Me Roll It", and "Jet" really stand out.
9-In recent years, McCartney's performances of "Hey Jude" have been incredible. In particular, it is the way McCartney gets the audience to participate. The scene of this occurring in Red Square is breathtaking and might be the strongest of all the Hey Jude performances. Watch as one of the men who flank Vladimir Putin is heavily into the concert and sings along. McCartney even calls out "Mr Putin" by name during the song.
10-There are two good "extras"- 1) "Memories from Red Square" - more reflections by McCartney on the performances; 2) "Russia and the Beatles: A Brief Journey" - a short feature that parallels the Beatles and Russian history.
Overall, if the Red Square concert was shown in its entirety, this would be a grand slam homerun. However this is still a very solid DVD - highly recommended.
Description of Paul McCartney - Live in Red Square
Though the beatles were banned from russia in the 1960s paul maccartney finally satisfied decades of anticipation with his first-ever concert in russia in 2003. Studio: A&e Home Video Release Date: 08/19/2008 Run time: 160 minutesPop Music CDs
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