Customer Reviews

Donna Summer - VH1 Presents: Live & More Encore!

5 star:		(75)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Like so many others, I believed that Donna Summer was merely a studio creation whose voice was mixed and enhanced by top producers. BOY WAS I WRONG! As showcased in the recent VH1 special, Donna's vocals are astounding, and have only improved with age.

From the opening notes of the CD's first song "MacArthur Park," I knew I was hearing something special. But then she manages to bring "I Feel Love" to life, which had previously been a heavily produced studio recording. And who would have thought that Australian chanteuse Tina Arena could fill in for Barbra Streisand on "No More Tears (Enough is Enough)," and not suffer in the comparison?

Donna's warmth and intimacy with the audience really makes "Dim All the Lights" special as she tells the story of how she originally wrote the song for Rod Stewart. She then launches into a DEAD-ON impersonation of Rod before transitioning into the tune's original dance structure.

The disc's 2 new studio tracks sound as fresh and contemporary as any of today's current crop of club tracks, especially "Love is the Healer."

Being a long time Donna Summer fan I was skeptical of a live album until I read the reviews here, so I decided to give it a try. I just received it and I have to say it's absolutely fantastic.... Donna's voice sounds incredible and the orchestra is right on. The dynamics are SO good, it doesn't sound like what I think of with a live album. It's a refreshing take on our many favorites and I think any Donna fan will be more than happy to have this album in their collection.

I am a big Donna Summer fan. That fact notwithstanding, this is one of the all-time best live recordings I've ever heard. The lady still has the chops. But, it's her band that makes this such an outstanding concert recording...they are incredible, particularly the drummer. Turn this CD way up and listen on earphones.

Yes, I have all these songs!! B U T, for those of us who do not own any Donna Summer music will be in totally amazement as to how these songs still sound contemporary!! Donna Summer LIVE is truly an event. Anyone who has even seen her shows will attest that she is an artist with immeasurable talent! At age 50, Donna Summer still discos, rocks and can be the perpetual songbird. No DIVA today can outmatch Donna Summer. Take a chance on this CD and know that SUMMER IS COMING!! This is a prelude to her up and coming Musical-Ordinary Girl. The new tunes are tremendous!! I Will Go With You is the Andrea Bocelli tune Con Te Partiro set to a dance track. This is reminescent of Donna's remake of MAcArthur Park. This tune is already spinning in clubs and radio and is sure to be the biggest hit of Donna's career. Be on the lookout!! Summer Is here!!

I have never been much of a fan of "live concert" recordings, but this one is certainly the exception. I definitely like it much better than the original "Live and More" album. I have been a longtime fan of The Queen Diva herself since "Love to Love You Baby" (I was 8 years old! ) and this live recording showcases the best of what Donna offered her fans throughout the years. The new tracks "I Will Go On With You" and "Love Is The Healer" brings Donna's voice back to today's music trends, with the former catapulting her to the forefront of the club scene (where she belongs!) A must-have for all Donna and dance music fans everywhere.

Nothing wrong with this CD, but did you know you can get a DVD of the same performance for about the same price?

I prefer the live versions on this CD to the studio versions of the same songs, but that's just me.

I thought her imitation of Rod Stewart was excellent. She does a good Streisand, too. But not so good a Bocelli.

.that being a great LIVE concert.

To me the most important part of a concert is the LIVE SINGING!, I do not care about the costumes, the dance steps, and for that matter how many people appear onstage. IF you are a truly talented singer, all you have to do is sing your songs and in turn carry a show. Needless to say this is something that many other "Pop Stars" (Madonna, Janet Jackson) and Pop Tarts (Britney, Ashley) simply can't do as they can't not hold a candle to Donna's vocals, let alone her personable persona.

Donna has held on to a huge legion of fans simply due to her one of a kind voice and her down to earth personality that makes every show something special. This concert taped for VH1 features any of her mega-hits that were released after her first live album (the classic, Live & More), and these tracks remain fresh and vibrant today. From "Mac Arthur Park" to "On The Radio" to the over the top reading of "Bad Girls" and "Hot Stuff", to the pasionate take of "Last Dance", this concert captures Donna at what she does best.

You either get it, or you don't. For those who don't, relax, there are plenty of second rate entertainers, who use all the trickery in the world to hide their "second rate" vocals.

As Donna Summer is preparing to release her first studio CD in 17 years (yes) in a few months time, I decided to review this, the recording of her VH-1 concert from 1999. Her first live album, "Live and more" released in 1978 went double platinum and hit #1 in the US.

It comprises 11 songs performed live, 10 of them US top 10 hits; "MacArthur park" (#1), "This time I know it's for real" (#7), a lovely trance version of "I feel love" (#6), "On the radio" (#5), "No more tears (enough is enough)" (#1)with Australian songstress Tina Arena doing the Barbra Streisand part, a raspy Rod Stewart-like rendition of "Dim all the lights" (#2) which segues into her disco version (she explained here that she'd written this song for Rod but chickened out and did it herself), "She works hard for the money" (#3), "Bad girls" (#1), an energetic performance of her Grammy winning rock song "Hot stuff" (#1), "My life" (a catchy new song in her classic ballad/disco style), and the Grammy and Oscar winning "Last dance" (#3).

Sounding in excellent form with none of her vocal power diminished at age 50 (then), this showcased her dazzling talent and showed that Summer still has "it" in spades. (I saw her live in 2004 and she was amazing). Performed in that concert additionally were 5 songs not available here on the CD but available on the accompanying DVD.

Also included are 2 new studio tracks, "Love is the healer" (a killer dance anthem with Gregorian chants and one of Donna's famous extended notes), and "I will go with you (con te partiro)", a Hex Hector produced dance remake of the Andrea Boccelli song "Con te partiro" (with an astonishing high killer note at the end). Both songs hit #1 on Billboard's dance charts with the latter earning Donna yet another Grammy nomination for best dance song (she lost to Cher's "Believe").

The album sold a little under half a million copies in the US, with the concert the highest ever rated VH-1 concert by a solo artist. She's released the odd single since then; "The power of one", "You're so beautiful", "I got your love", "Power of love" (from the Luther tribute CD), and appeared on numerous soundtracks and compilations, but her fans have been waiting (im)patiently for that new studio release that will mark the return of Summer.

In 1999, Donna Summer had decided it was time to release another live album. That live album is entitled, VH1 PRESENTS DONNA SUMMER: LIVE AND MORE: ENCORE!. Yes, this live album is a follow up to Donna Summer's 1978 live album entitled, LIVE AND MORE. The concert featured on this album was recorded from Donna Summer's live concert that was aired on VH1. When Donna Summer released her first live album back in 1978, her voice sounded very strong during a live performance. When I hear this 1999 live album, I hear that her voice has gotten so much stronger over the years. I always loved Donna Summer's voice, but I began to love her voice even more when it became even stronger than before. She has got such a powerful voice that only becomes more powerful as the years go on. This live album really lives up to the 1978 original LIVE AND MORE.

MacARTHUR PARK
Original version from the single MacARTHUR PARK (1978). YEAH! She opened up with one of her ultimate disco-dance songs. Love this performance.

THIS TIME I KNOW IT'S FOR REAL
Origjnal version from the album ANOTHER PLACE AND TIME (1989). WOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She performed one of my all-time favorite songs of hers. I love this song, and she performes it amazing right here.

I FEEL LOVE
Original version from the album I REMEMBER YESTERDAY (1977). An awesome performance.

ON THE RADIO
Original version from the album ON THE RADIO: GREATEST HITS VOLUMES I & II (1979). I love how she performs this song. Her voice sounds to powerful. Amazing performance. If I ever get the chance to see her in concert, where she performs this song, you know I'll be on my feet, dancing my fricking a** off, until I'm drowning in my own sweat.

NO MORE TEARS (ENOUGH IS ENOUGH) (performed by Donna Summer & Tina Arena)
Original version from Barbra Streisand's album WET (1979). Seems that Barbra Streisand was not available to sing her parts for this classic Diva Duet. But Donna Summer recruited Tina Arena, a sexy Australian singer who has been very popular all over the place. Tina sings very well. Donna, if you're reading this, you still can those notes. Keep it up.

DIM ALL THE LIGHTS
Original version from the album BAD GIRLS (1979). I literally had no idea that Donna Summer had originally written this for Rod Stewart, but decided to keep it for herself. What I thought was brilliant was how she started the song off to make it sound like the way Rod Stewart would have performed it. Donna, if you are reading this, you did an amazing impression Rod Stewart. If Rod was watching you perform this song, I know for a fact, he watched with a huge smile on his face, and then saluted you. Great job here.

SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY
Original version from the album SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY (1983). I have always loved this song, but Donna performs this one brilliantly. She sings this one with so much aggression and energy. I don't know how this woman does it.

BAD GIRLS
Original version from the album BAD GIRLS (1979). Awesome performance. And I always like it when girls are...bad...and naughty.

HOT STUFF
Original version from the album BAD GIRLS (1979). Jesus Chriminese! She performs this song with so much *censored* energy. Awesome performance. Love it.

MY LIFE
Original version from the original play ORDINARY GIRL. Great.

LAST DANCE
Original version from the original motion picture & motion picture soundtrack THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY (1978). She picked the best song to end this concert. Great song. Always a classic.

LOVE IS THE HEALER (Studio Recorded Track)
New song. Previously unreleased. Great.

I WILL GO WITH YOU (CON TE PARTIRO) (Studio Recorded Track)
New song. Previously unreleased. Great song.

This is an album that all Donna Summer fans should already have. No excuses. If you don't have it, get it. Awesome live album.

Whatever you remember about the "Disco Queen" is brought back on this performance.....her voice is much richer now and that only adds to the enjoyment of the music.