Product Details

• Actors: Bruce Springsteen
• Format: Color, DVD, Original recording remastered, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (PCM Stereo)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Sony
• DVD Release Date: November 18, 2003
• Run Time: 180 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (125 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00013F35I
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,689 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - LIVE IN BARCELONA - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning. Exceptional document of an exceptional performer., November 19, 2003

By 

M J Heilbron Jr. "Dr. Mo" (Long Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band Live in Barcelona (DVD)

The wide disparity between the previous reviewers may be likely due to the fact they may not have actually seen this DVD.

It's stunning. Absolutely stunning. Here we have an entire Springsteen show (the first half aired live on MTV Europe) in front of a rabid Barcelona audience. There are things on this disc that you can show to people that aren't Springsteen fans that will make them convert. In a heartbeat.

Barcelona is known for being particularly Springsteen-philic. It shows. I doubt if you will ever see a concert where the crowd is so enthusiastic and appreciative, yet considerate (they shut up when they're supposed to...) and knowledgeable. The "Rising" album hadn't been out all that long, yet they're singing along to most of the then-new tunes.

The picture is crisp and vivid, and the audio sounds terrific! My disc #2 had a little glitch where it wouldn't initially play, but it was momentary.

The performance itself goes without saying. It is obvious that the E Streeters are energized by the crowd. Reaction shots of the various members throughout the show tell the story. The first portion of the show was pretty standard "Rising Tour" stuff, but it seems that every time the band turns up their performance, the audience rises to the occasion. Seriously...the crowd even sang instrumental parts! They knew the lyrics to the new songs, and mind you, this is Spain we're talking about. English isn't even their mother tongue.

There's a two-song somber mini-set from "The Rising", "Empty Sky" and "You're Missing" that are simply haunting. The show then swells, a joyous "Waitin' On A Sunny Day" leading into "The Promised Land" and so on, until Bruce opens up "She's The One".
That song comes off absolutely ferocious...the band so tight you'll simply marvel. It's like they put their collective feet on some unseen accelerator pedal and took OFF.

Then Bruce turns a relatively non-descript (for him) party tune, "Mary's Place", into a barn-burner. It's a joy to watch...folding in several old Motown/Stax/soul songs into the mix. The Palau Sant Jordi literally lifts off.

After the MTV Broadcast ends, he does several "requests"...songs not necessarily done night after night. Watching him call out songs, seeing the band scramble to get the right guitar, etc., is part of the fun. It happens several times during the show.

Solo piano versions of "Spirit In The Night" and "Incident on 57th Street" are striking...it's hilarious when Bruce flubs a line during the latter tune.

The encore opens with a tour rarity, "Night" (another request), a rollicking "Ramrod"...heck, you can see the setlist for yourself. It's one highlight after another.

As he's bidding the audience farewell, after "Land of Hope and Dreams" (the standard second encore concert closer at the time), you can see him giving in to the crowd and calling out to the band for "one more..."Thunder Road".

The performers all seem to be having a great time...smiles are everywhere. Their interplay is something you rarely get on concert discs nowadays.

I honestly can't see the fault in this disc...I do not understand the negativity whatsoever! A 3-hour, reference quality complete concert DVD?

The add-on mini-documentary is fine, with brief tantalizing clips of tours gone by...but make sure you stay through the whole thing.
The "Night of the Living Boss" clip, hidden at the end, is a hoot. Shot at Fenway Park, it uses the opening "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" and "Diddy Wah Diddy" to underscore some amazing footage. It'll bring a smile to your face, Bruce fan or not.

Now, it's time to start putting together the footage from the past. It's time for "official" bootlegs. There's GOTTA be footage from the "Born In The USA" tours, if not earlier. Let's start releasing those, huh? Please?

80 of 88 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars First Ever Complete Springsteen Concert Released on DVD, October 7, 2003

By 

Jimmy McNulty (Long Island, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band Live in Barcelona (DVD)

This is the first time ever, in Springsteen's 30-plus-year career, that an entire show, from start to finish, has been officially released, whether audio or video ...

Setlist: The Rising/Lonesome Day/Prove It All Night/Darkness on the Edge of Town/Empty Sky/You're Missing /Waitin' on a Sunny Day/The Promised Land/Worlds Apart/Badlands/She's the One/Mary's Place/Dancing in the Dark (end of broadcast)/Countin' on a Miracle/Spirit in the Night (solo piano)/Incident on 57th Street (solo piano)/Into the Fire
First Encore: Night/Ramrod/Born to Run
Second Encore: My City of Ruins/Born in the U.S.A./Land of Hope and Dreams/Thunder Road

For [the price] how can you say no?

Awesome stuff. Don't miss it.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Setting the Record Straight! Get Your Ears Checked!, February 1, 2005

By 

Boss Fan (Take a Right at the Light, Keep Going Straight Until Night) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band - Live in Barcelona (DVD)

I don't know what all this is about the sound quality being poor on this DVD, but this is the best concert DVD I have, from Bruce or any other artist, and the reason, beyond the fact that Bruce is one of the best, if not the best, performers still showin' us how it's done, is the awesome sound quality. It is so good I burned a audio CD and listen to it all the time. For my money Bruce's songs generally sound better live than in the studio recordings - they benefit so much from having that live energy -so having a great setlist like this to listen to is like a dream come true.

It's over a year later and I still pop this in just to listen to it. And then I'll peek in at the picture and I'm trapped! Whatever I'm doing I stop and watch this thing I've seen a hundred times and still pulls me in! I love this concert!

So how can some reviewers here say the sound is great and others say its so bad that its not worth having? I have two theories: There are some lower quality prints circulating and/or some people have burned copies of this - not the real thing. The only other thing I can think of is that these people so down on this haven't actually seen this DVD. If I'm wrong about that than the only explination I can fathom is my first suspicion that there are some crap copies out there, because mine rocks! Maybe its time for a new TV and some surround sound.

My other beef with some of the reviews I'm seeing here are coments like Bruce looks old, tired, fat and sounds that way too. Again, I don't know what concert you guys are watching! As with the sound quality issue, I had the exact opposite reaction. The first time I watched this all I could think was how fit the Boss is for his age, how much energy he poured out for over 2 and a half straight hours and how I hope I look that good in 25-30 years! So again, did you people actually see this?!?!?!

People have watched this with me - even non-Bruce fans - and have been blown away; mezmerized by the performance! So this is not just me wanting to like this DVD.

I have to give props to three other critics who reviewed this DVD here at Amazon; one who says this is what it is like to be at a Bruce stadium show, and like being right there in Barcelona for this one, another calls it, "absolutly incredible," saying her 13-monh-old is addicted to it (I'm telling you, no one can tear their eyes away from this performance once they start watching it; it's great to hear Bruce can and will touch a whole new generation of fans - I hope when I have a kid they will feel the same), and lastly, the writer who calls this DVD "Simly the Best... 5 stars and more." I couldn't agree with all of you more. Interestingly, all of these reviewers testify the DVD has incredible sound and production values. Why others don't is a mystery, but it is a shame they are making posible buyers wary of this product. All I can say is make sure you buy the real thing and check the sound options on your TV and/or surround sound.

As for the highlights: "Mary's Place" is a high-energy kick. "Dancin' In the Dark's" live treatment bests the synthed-up album version, as does the throbbing, more guitar driven "Born In the USA" (I don't know how anyone can watch him blaze though this tune and say he looks anywhere near old or tired), "Ramrod" here becomes a classic because the whole band infuses a goofy energy and Bruce's piano spots work on a whole other emotional level. Also, this is the only place to see a full, uncut concert (it comes close to the performance I saw last year at Miller Park, but closer to the arena show I saw a year earlier; either way, its like being back there again), get great live performances from "The Rising," and see hits not included on the New York DVD, like "The Promised Land," She's the One," and the aforementioned "Dancin' In the Dark" and full-on-electric "U.S.A.," all of which are incredible! I can not say enough abouth this DVD!

I feel sorry for those who couldn't enjoy this because of their goofy hang-ups. Get your eyes and ears checked! Everyone else, get this DVD!