Customer Reviews

Andrea Bocelli - Under the Desert Sky [CD Included]

5 star:		(87)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

A voice like Andrea Bocelli's only comes along every generation or so, (if that) Caruso, Lanza, Pavarotti and Now Bocelli; They are my big 4. Not only does Bocelli have wonderful opera skills, but also tremendous pop singing skills, as well. As for classical singing; Bocelli's breath control is amazing; no one holds high, mid, and low notes (sang either intensely or softly) as long as Bocelli does. His diction is excellent; His tone is wonderful; His color is right in sink to the song being performed, dark or light, and all shads around those as needed. He has that tenor ring that can rise up over an orchestra, he sings just beautifully. As for his pop singing again it's spectacular; Bocelli can sing a pop song either in a classical way, or a bluesy way or almost anyway. He has tremendous versatility, I would rank him right at the top of pop singing for all time. Bocelli can sing big, bold, intense and beautiful, or can show us a soft side it seems like he is singing in one's ear, very sweetly and beautiful.

Under The Desert Sky: Is a wonderful DVD/CD Set, . Bocelli's singing hear is Romantic, Passionate, filled with Emotion and his voice will go right into your soul and provide you with delight. Bocelli has a certain vulnerability (for lake of a better word) in his voice (when he sings pop) that can fill you with peace. He is just amazing. the DVD is wonderfully done in a beautiful setting of Lake Las Vegas in Henderson, Nevada. You will watch it over and over again. The CD is a nice bonus, it gives you songs not on the Amore cd.

hear is my song by song review.

Disc 1 DVD
1. Amapola - soft. sweet and romantic (well every song is romantic).
2. Besame Mucho (Latin American) Spanish guitar in Besame Mucho is fantastic, best version of Besame Mucho ever.
3. Somos Novios (Spanish) (It's Impossible)
4. Canzoni Stonate nice harmonica work, sounds great, a fun Italian song.
5. Pero Te Extrano- Just a beautiful spanish song, wonderful.
6. L'Appuntamento a sweet song.
7. Estate - Summer, just a hauntingly beautiful song.
8. September Morn - Nice short version of the Neil Diamond Song.
9. Can't Help Falling In Love _ wonderful romantic version of the Elvis standard.
10. Mi Manchi - A Fantastically beautiful Italian song.
11. Jurame - a fun upbeat number, wonderful spanish Guitar.
12. Solamente Una Vez (You Belong To My Heart-Latin American) nice guitar work, really every song is musically excellent. Like the harmony.
13. Les Feuilles Mortes (Autumn Leaves-French) WOW, beautiful, I may not like the french, sometimes, but there language is beautiful.
14. Porque Tu Me Acostumbraste -This is not on the Amore album but on the spanish all Spanish version Amor it is a wonderful song.
15. Cuando do Me Enamoro (A Man who needs Love) cool version.
16. The Prayer with Heather Handley a very nice version.
17. Momentos Another song from the all spanish version Amore, a beautiful song.
18. Because We Believe - A hit of this album a wonderful David Foster/Andrea Bocelli song.

Disc 2 CD
1. Besame Mucho - live same as above.
2. Cuando Me Ennamoro - live same as above.
3. Estate with Chris Botti - studio version A extra track from the Amore sessions, I can't believe they left this one off, its a great song.
4. September Morn - live same as above.
5. Can't Help Falling in Love - studio duet with Katharine McPhee very nice version with that Cutie KAT.
6. Canzoni Stonate - new studio edit with Stevie Wonder
7. Momentos - live same as above.
8. Somos Novios - live same as above.
9. The Prayer - live duet with Heather Headley same as above.



A wonderful MUST HAVE DVD/CD Set.

Doesn't surpass the Night in Tuscany concert dvd, but there's a lot of good here. The ever-bubbling debate about Bocelli as classical singer or not goes on. Truth is, he not only sings operatic arias beautifully (if not always traditionally), but his voice opens into new vistas with classical music. Some people dont know that before he hit the American music scene, Bocelli's big success in Italy came as a singer of Italian/European pop music, not opera. Bocelli has princely taste in musical selections, and in this concert manages to overcome Foster's fountains-of-lasagna musical arrangements with sensational singing, and an invigorating personality. He includes 'The Prayer' - this time with Heather Headley. No classical arias are included. Fan or not, there's little here to disappoint. A Night in Tuscany offers more variety, and more muscular singing by Bocelli, but this concert's designed for romance and it delivers the goods.

WONDERFUL CONCERT, GOOD QUALITY VIDEO AND SOUND.VERY RELAXING SONGS SANG FROM THE WORLD'S GREATEST VOICE. IF ANGELS CAN SING....THIS IS HOW THEY WOULD SOUND!!

There is no question about it - Andrea Bocelli not only has a superb voice, but he comes across as a warm and friendly and down to earth entertainer too. The performances are beautiful, the songs and melodies are of course wonderful. Excellent value.

Upon my word, this DVD is one of the best buys I have made to date, and I am proud to have it in my collection. But this is not due to the fact that I am a big Bocelli fan, but rather because in "Under the Desert Sky," Andrea Bocelli has perfectly pulled it off once again. And, what a night it had been, as two of the greatest artists of our time collaborated to give us a romantic evening of serenading beside Lake Las Vegas. Kudos to David Foster and Andrea Bocelli!! The ironic thing about it all is the lack of a big stage and a huge audience: everything was done modestly. It was as if Mr Bocelli suddenly appeared in that place and gave a concert on the spot. It is my hunch that the stage was probably set-up three days beforehand but that nobody knew who was coming.

And yet, even with all the simplicity of this outdoor venue, one cannot help but fall in love with the backdrop where the concert was held. Behind the stage is Lake Las Vegas with a bridge that looks like the Ponte Vecchio in Florence. Speaking of Florence, isn't that in Tuscany where Andrea Bocelli hails from? David Foster could not have picked a better place to hold Mr. Bocelli's first-ever pop concert.

As we all know, Mr. Bocelli is no stranger to concerts. But when it comes to concerts entirely his own, this is his first ever departure from the classical arena into pop, something of which, in my opinion, inevitably will happen sooner or later. And happen it did, what a glorious night. Everything is perfect, from the cheery and romantic evening atmosphere, to the orchestra and the selected songs, and right up to the chemistry between Mr. Foster and Mr. Bocelli.

As for the songs, these are mostly Spanish, Italian and French standards mixed in with a surprise piece of Elvis' "Can't Help Falling in Love" and Neil Diamond's "September Morn." Most of the foreign songs will sound very familiar to you, and I guess this gives the evening some of its magic. The somewhat familiar melodies that you just can't recall when you first heard them give a nostalgic feeling of something that we lost along the way. It almost gives us a feeling of being transported back home. Coupled with this the warm and vintaged voice of Mr. Bocelli, plus a very good orchestral accompaniment (with David Foster mostly on the piano,) and you have the perfect recipe for a romantic evening.

What I like best about Andrea Bocelli is his warm and homely voice. It brims with this provincial Tuscan flavor that is not too hard and cultured to the ear. There's also something fatherly about his voice that drives the rainy day away, methinks, but it could be just my imagination. He is good-looking, that's for sure, and this adds to his charisma (I have a female friend who goes crazy whenever she sees Andrea Bocelli with a beard!! GASP!!!) Many people have criticized him for his lack of operatic talent, but I think it's unfair. In my opinion, if ever there were a term "casual opera," then Mr. Bocelli's voice would fit perfectly in it. And, as has been proven all over the world, there is such a market for this. Even when he sings heavy classical music, as was the case in his millennial concert "Sacred Arias," he still comes out as very good because there's something layman about his performance that speaks to the simple person. Not everyone can enjoy hearing heavy classical pieces, I certainly don't. But with Bocelli doing it, all become acceptable, everything goes back to the basics, as our forefathers have sung their songs even before opera existed.

Anyway, sit back and enjoy this DVD at home, preferably with the whole family or a loved one, and in a weekend evening. Let Andrea Bocelli serenade you with Latin hits such as "Amapola," "Besame Mucho," and "Somos Novios." Also, enjoy the humor David Foster and Andrea Bocelli share together, it's all good-natured. The duet with Tony award-winning Heather Headley for the song "The Prayer" was very nice, if not a little bit perfectly done. However, I would like to recommend that you also see Josh Groban's 2002 concert where he had a duet of the same song with Angie Stone. This I think is the best rendition out there yet.

Lastly, dear Mr. Bocelli: Please eat less pasta (^_^)

Turn off the evening news and CSI and refresh your soul. Some things are simple, beautiful, cleansing, cathartic and humanity renewing. This music, this voice, this CD is one of those beautiful things. Watch it with a glass of Shiraz and someone you love and rebraid your nerves and spirit.

This was on Public television. It was so good, I actually listened to the endless commercials to send them money. Don't buy this if you are afraid to have people see you cry. I'll bet it will bring tears to your eyes.
Absolutely beautiful.

I OWN ALL THE DVD'S OF ANDREA BOCELLI! BY FAR THIS IS HIS BEST! THE AUDIO AND VIDEO RATE 5/5. I WAS SO IMPRESSED I BOUGHT ANOTHER COPY FOR POSTERITY!

Great, it was great to see Andrea in less formal settings. We loved the interview parts, it's pasta time, very funny. Easy to listen to and to watch.

The DVD is fabulous. Andrea is so at ease, the setting dreamlike and the voice and music are magical. I will watch this over and over again. A delight!

My only negative comment is the duet with Katherine McPhee on the CD - she is not in the same league as Andrea and merely does MANY riffs throughout the song. Please...what a disappointment!