Customer Reviews

America: A Tribute To Heroes

5 star:		(46)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

There may be more exciting concerts on CD, but few if any that carry the sheer weight and emotional impact of this history-making broadcast. The performances, with few exceptions, are direct and visceral, deeply emotional and quite unforgettable. The CD, shorn of the visual component that helped to making the telecast so memorably moving, fails to capture the full impact of the event but does prove that the music was indeed the as strong as it seemed on the night of the telecast. Highlights include Neil Young's heartfelt take on "Imagine", Bruce Springsteen's perfectly apt "My City of Ruins", and Wyclef Jean's interpretation of the Bob Marley classic "Redemption Song". The concert's spoken interludes/anecdotes by actors, while stirringly effective in the telecast, have been excised here, a wise decision. More than a memento of its time, this recording will undoubtedly endure as timeless.

I was just in a local Sam Goody and Springsteen's "My City of Ruin" came over the speakers. There was maybe 15-20 people in the store and everybody got totally silent, and just listened to the song. It's sounds incredible, and Bruce sings it perfectly.
U2's "Peace on Earth" into "Walk On" is extremely moving, with Bono and the Edge screaming "Ah-lay, Ah-lay, Ah-lay" at the end of the song.
Eddie Vedder's "Long Road" is another highlight.
The sound and production are excellent (with the exception of Enrique and Mariah, who use so much echo to hide the fact they do not sing all that well (Mariah has a strong voice, but not on that night)). It really captures the mood of the telethon, and those first couple of weeks after the horrible events of the 11th.

Being Americans overseas, my wife & I felt very alone in the aftermath of Sept. 11th and had to struggle with the pain without the support and patriotism of our fellow Americans around us (although the English have been very kind). Watching the telethon/tribute was therapeutic and provided some comfort; therefore this CD conjures up a lot of memories & emotions every time I play it. That alone is worth 5 stars. Reading the other reviews of this CD, one can certainly see a range of opinions on the individual performances. That's no surprise considering the diversity of styles, none-the-less, the theme overwhelmingly provides the necessary cohesiveness. Having said that, I will say that Bruce's My City of Ruin sets the stage perfectly. Billy Joel's New York State of Mind is absolutely superb with Billy hitting every powerful note with ease. Eddie Vedder's Long Road has a haunting feel and really captures the mood of the event. The lyrics and mood of Sting's Fragile and David Gilmour & Roger Waters' Wish You Were Here (as performed by Limp Bizkit & John Rzeznik) really hit you deep. Same goes for Neil Young's version of Imagine. On some of the other tracks, I had to search a bit to see the ties to the theme, but they're there, you sometimes just have to listen a little harder. I hate to admit it, but watching the closing song conjured up visions of Saturday Night Live's satire of We Are the World. That was not how I wanted it to end, so I had to try and block that out and focus instead on the lyrics. My only wish for this CD would be that they had included White Ribbon Day (by Delirious) which to me captures the entire tragedy, the questions, and provides answers unlike any other song. It was released in '98, and was probably intended for the events in Belfast, Africa, or Eastern Europe, but would have been perfectly applicable for the tragedy on Sept. 11th. If you're still searching for that 'one' song, it's worth checking out. The bottom line is the CD is worth buying for numerous reasons: the royalties go to a great cause, the performances are excellent, it may provide some comfort, and it's a means to never forgetting that tragic day.

Ever since I watched the telecast less then two weeks after the tradegy of the 11th I wondered when and if this would be put on a CD. Buy this if for no other reason then to get the chills I get listening to Dave Matthews. Every singer who performed here, whether I like or not, whether in good voice or not, makes their contribution and statement to a country and a world horrified and wounded by the acts of a few. I bought 7, one for myself and 6 for friends and family and to help the victims of that terrible day we'll all never forget.

I watched this live on the TV on September 21. From the first note of "My City of Ruin", I was glued to me seat. I think Springsteen's performance set the standard that the other artists tried to match and overall, they did very well. I consider City of Ruin, There Will Come A Day, Walk On, Imagine, I Believe In Love, Everyday and Fragile to be the high points, but also liked I Won't Back Down, Hero, New York State of Mind and Long Road.

I also picked up the DVD and it is worth considering. Seeing Bruce's face as he sings keeps the mood very sober. And the glares of Neil and Tom show how strongly they felt about the message. Plus, seeing Ali struggle to speak is very touching. Great set.

I had to work late the night this concert was originally broadcast. I was driving home when I heard Billy Joel's "New York State of Mind" and remembered that this concert was on. I wanted to get home right away so I could watch but, before I did, the Dixie Chicks came on with "I Believe in Love." I had never heard this song before but it was so simple and clean sounding I was overcome by emotion. I burst into tears and had to pull over to the side of the road. I cried like I hadn't ever cried before in my life. I let out all of the emotions that I had been holding in for two weeks. I listened to Dave Matthews incredible rendition of "Everyday" and Wyclef's remarkable "Redemption SOng" there at the side of the road and continued to weep. I pulled myself together long enough to get myself home where I watched the rest of the broadcast.

I couldn't wait for this CD to be released. I knew it would be good and was not disappointed. This CD captures the feel of that evening for me and I keep playing it over and over. My favorites remain the three songs that affected me so deeply that evening but the entire CD is special. Neil Young, Alicia Keys and Cheryl Crow's contributions are also special for me.

Music has always been a big part of my life and I can still conjure up feelings and emotions from the past when hearing certain songs. This CD will forever remind me of that night in my car when I finally was able to release some of my anquish over the events of 9/11. It was incredibly healing for me.

Most of the material covered on this CD will touch you. The sentiment and emotional flush behind this telethon is overwhelming and most of the artists chosen to perform deserve your respect and attention.
If you are buying this to remember September 11th, read no further. Just buy it. If you are interested in the CD for its outright performances, there are many haunting jems and many many unsuccessful attempts.

As for the most powerful events, Eddie Vedder's voice and barely harnessed intensity will stay with you for a long time. Dave Matthews, Sting, and U2 will take you to a different place rarely found in music today-a space inside themselves for you to keep. I was most surprised by Sheryl Crow, with her performance and mood unlike anything I have ever heard from her. Faith Hill showed a singing range I did'nt know she had, and surprised me as well. Celine Dion deserves a lot of love for what she did with "God Bless America." Mariah or Whitney would have blown your ears out for no reason. She used great judgement with her performance. Simple as that.

Sadly, some of the other contributors fall wide from the mark set by the others on this CD. Alicia Keys sounds like most high school talent show competitors I have heard, frequently off key and generally underwhelming. Her studio work comes out impeccable. This live performance though, along with others I have seen her do lead me to believe A LOT of editing and touch-up work goes on in the studio...

Wyclef seemed to think that by just simply performing a Bob Marley song, the song would evoke the same feelings and associations when Bob sang them. It doesn't, and he probably should have left a song as publicly beloved as "Redemption Song" alone. It didn't sound good or feel good.
Tom Petty was Lip Synching. I have since watched the DVD, and his lips don't match the song, especially at the end. An uninspired rendition regardless.
Mariah Carey was asleep. At the introduction of her song, she tells us how much she knows her song will mean to us. Please.
Fred Durst singing Pink Floyd. Come on now. Although he has the talent of John Rzeznik covering half of this duet, he sounds naked and out of place without howling guitars and bass to hide his voice. Paul Simon singing "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" without Art Garfunkel felt wrong when I first heard it, and it still feels wrong now.
The biggest train wreck of the whole thing is the Willie Nelson + Celebrities "America The Beautiful" thing at the end. Absolutely painful, and it goes on andonandonandon.

Buy this Disc. It has some really incredible place-and-time capturing moments. But if you honestly care about the quality of the music you listen to more than the name or prestige of the person singing it to you, be prepared to skip past about half of the 21 songs.

This is an absolutely extraordinary album. I think it is so amazing that this benefit was put together in less than two weeks. What is also amazing is that many of these songs were written (and rehearsed) in that amount of time. While some of the artists used old reliables, like Bon Jovi and Billy Joel, those songs have never sounded better than on this compilation. Bon Jovi's acoustic version of "Livin' On A Prayer" is probably one of the best songs on the 2-CD set. Richie Sambora's lead guitar and harmony vocals are chilling (and I'm not even a big Bon Jovi fan!). Even artists that I'm not particularly fans of - like Dixie Chicks, Dave Matthews, Mariah Carey, Enrique Iglesias, Celine Dion - sound good here. Springsteen's "My City of Ruin" is chilling and one of the best songs he has written since his Born In The USA days. Neil Young's version of "Imagine" is very faithful to Lennon's original, yet he does it in his own Neil Young style. Alicia Keys version of "Someday We'll All Be Free" is the best version of that song I have ever heard. What a talent she is! Sheryl Crow's "Safe and Sound" is unbelievably powerful and also, rates up there with her best work. Wyclef Jean's version of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song" comes very close to topping Marley's originial version. The Dixie Chicks' "I Believe In Love" is quite beautiful and very powerful. These are some of the highlights of this CD. There are some lowlights, too. Paul Simon's solo rendition of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" is a bit awkward. Simon could have rehearsed it a little bit more. U2's "Walk On" is OK, but their beginning tease of "Peace On Earth" (which is a better & more suitable song, in my opinion) seems a bit necessary. It seems like Tom Petty was scratching the barrel, trying to find a song in his catalog that related, in some way, to the 9/11 tragedies. Though an ignorant listener might think "I Won't Back Down" could fit that mold, but c'mon, that's more of a love song than anything else. And I'm sorry, I'm just not a Faith Hill fan, despite her obvious talent and her natural beauty. Her "There Will Come A Day" is probably my least favorite song on this compilation. In any case, "America: A Tribute to Heroes" ranks among the very best of philanthropic albums. It's for a good cause and should be considered wonderful pick-me-up after the events of 9/11.

This CD is absolutely stunning! I personally don't have any favourite piece on it cause all on it are fantastic. I think many people have found peace listening to this music. Especially "New York State of Mind" by Billy Joel is great, he puts his feelings in it so much, just as the other stars. Mariah Carey sings "Hero" also very emotional. It is a very encouraging CD in memory of all the people that died on Sept.11 and the heroes that saved many lives and died themselves. I will never forget the day it happened. I spent four years of my life near NYC so I just have a very emotional relationship to that city. I love it even more, strange as it seems I discovered a deeper love because of the attack. I feel very patriotic with America these days, a feeling I have never known before. I am 23. May God Bless America and the victims and heroes of Sept.11. May they rest in peace.

There is something about this CD that has a quiet strength.

Bruce Springsteen introduces "My City of Ruin" by calling it a "...prayer for our fallen brothers and sisters...." Or perhaps he is speaking of this entire compilation. Here we have a couple of hours of pop songs being, for the most part, transformed into prayers. Prayers for the dead of September 11. Prayers for the survivors. Prayers for the heroes. Prayers for America. Prayers for the world.

The transformation occurs not only in the context of the telethon performance, but in the pared-down arrangements, and the emotional intensity most of the performers brought to the stage that evening.

Within 20 wonderful performances, there is but one incongruous piece. I assume that "Living on a Prayer" was chosen only because it is the only Bon Jovi tune with the word "Prayer" in it. But nothing about the song itself can transform itself into a new post 9/11 context.

On the other hand, Tom Petty's transformation of "I Won't Back Down" from a "love song" (as a previous reviewer notes) to a prayer of defiance is worth a second listen. Neil Young's "Imagine," Paul Simon's "Bridge over Troubled Water," and Wyclef Jean's "Redemption Song" all are excellent examples on how familiar pop tunes, when arranged and performed in a new context, can be as moving as the moment they were first performed. Furthermore, in what is an overlooked high note on this CD, there is Cheryl Crow's absolutely haunting rendition "Safe and Sound." And, Sting's "Fragile" has never before been more relevant.

I am certain that in the future, all the songs on this CD will return to being simple pop tunes. However, if you purchase this recording, you can have a record of how even the most basic pop culture can become... a prayer.