Customer Reviews

Blondie - Live by Request

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Here is a mildly entertaining live performance by Blondie in 2004. Debbie looks the best I've seen her since 1999's "Maria" and sings well--although her voice is noticably lower and huskier and she skips all the high notes in "Dreaming" and other songs which cheats them of their climactic moments. Hence, she sounds the best when singing the new material which is more suited to her contemporary range. It is interesting to watch her and Stein answer the call-in questions. Stein is loveably dorky and Debbie is gracious as ever. Jules Asner, the MC, is wrong for the gig and provides the program with some of its more awkward moments, but it will please fans of Debbie and Blondie none the less. Debbie is particularly touching on two of the songs that are DVD extras not shown on TV--"I'm Always Touched By Your Presence Dear" and "The Dream's Lost On Me". Debbie delivers "Presence" exactly as if it is 1977 again. For those who remember the original video, Debbie is almost exactly in synch with her movements and facial expressions from it, almost as if she set out to turn back the clocks for a moment and give us all exactly what we came for.

It was interesting to see the band together again, Debbie Harry, Chris Stein and Clem Burke - backed by Paul Carbonara (guitar), Kevin Topping (keyboards), and Leigh Foxx (bass).

Even though Jimmy Destri and Frank Infante contibuted a lot to the group, this dvd is well worth having in your Blondie collection - and I ought to know because I wore out my VHS copy of "Eat to the Beat" (Which I still think should be released in dvd format).

It was interesting to see Stein react to a few of the MC's questions... He was sort of amusing, sort of nerdy. Not the sort of person you would think of as a punk even twenty years ago.

This dvd is clearly an improvement over "Blondie Live" which was first released in VHS format several years ago. Even though it's not the same as watching the original incarnation of Blondie, it'll do for now.

So Blondie is back!, this DVD is a must have for any fan. The band sounds great and the tracks and picture sound totally amazing. Blondie performs all thier hits and on this DVD you'll find some bonus tracks as well as thier latest video from the "Curse of Blondie" album. Debbie interacts with the audience answering calls for requests and she even takes a call from John Waters, who by the way requests "Rip Her To Shreds". A great concert recorded in NYC for A&E's Live By Request. If you are a new or an old fan you'll enjoy the show!

This is a MUST HAVE for all Blondie fans! If you aren't a fan, buy this and you surely will be.

Deborah Harry and Blondie look and sound better than ever. Their new variations on their original tunes are terrific and their new stuff is awesome. Still a fan!

On this DVD Blondie out-rocks almost every band 1/3 their age. The performance is great and the sound is incredibly huge and powerful. Highly reccomended. (G-Lebo, sorry, but Debbie is not singing out of key anywhere...maybe you need a hearing aid.)

She is fab-u-lous in this video. The music is great, and the song selection (picked by fans) is awesome. Totally worth any price for a Blondie Fan!

I was surprised how great the 5.1 mixes sound (if your stereo system supports 5.1). Both the 5.1 Dolby and 5.1 DTS mixes are superior to the 5.1 sound on Blondie's last live DVD. And that DVD sounded great.

Jimmi Destri the keyboardist is missing, which is a bit disappointing but his replacement is fine. Debbie Harry sounds in top form and there is no evidence she is lip-syncing, which so many performers will do in "live" performances. I suspect she had a face and body-lift recently. She looks great in any case.

DVD rocks out of the starting blocks with two songs, then bogs down with call-in requests from gushing fans, interspersed with dialogue from the self-important and lame MC. Debbie and others gracious throughout the dopey interludes but pretty obvious by the end they were thinking, "why did we agree to do this?". Check out the look on the drummer's face as he takes a call, then throws the mike out of the picture! The good news is whoever set up the DVD must have realized also, so that when you hit the fast forward button, it skips almost to the next song. Music is very good, the interludes excrutiating if you watch them more than once.

I saw Blondie live here in my home town of Melbourne in August '03 and they rocked bigger and badder than ever before. For anyone who saw this tour or who lives for Blondie like me this is a must have addition to your DVD set. Truly Atomic!!!