Customer Reviews

John Denver - The Wildlife Concert

5 star:		(98)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

John Denver will be sorely missed by my wife and I. We both have loved his memorable songs for many years. Regretfully, we never had the priviledge of attending one of his concerts. This DVD is the closest we'll ever come to a live John Denver concert. But thankfully, this is a wonderful concert and DVD indeed.

John puts on such a wonderful performance. The video and audio quality is wonderful. On-screen lyrics are included.

I love the accompanying strings in this performance. They give his songs an especially melodic quality. This is a trend I've noticed lately in live performances that I hope continues.

"For You" is a wonderful love song that pulls on my heart strings every time I hear it. It's one of the loveliest love songs I've ever heard. And what a moving rendition is included on this DVD. If there is a romantic bone in your body, you'll love this song. I'm moved every time I play it!

This is John Denver at his best!

For those of us who grew up with him, watching John Denver so suddenly emerge onto the national stage as the huge talent he was is a memory savored and protected in these harsher times. I remember driving to graduate classes and hearing "Annie's Song" for the first time. it was quite an experience. I remember listening to "Rocky Mountain High" and how it affected me in terms of my growing appreciation for wild nature and the need for conservation. More than anything else, for me John still symbolizes that better part of our common human nature that those of us ragged,and hopefully "gracefully aging" counterculturists still associate with what personal enlightment and true education can do to transform this into a finer and more sustainable planet. Thus, this wonderful set of DVD (and also available CD recordings) that comprise the entire "Wildlife Concert" offering is a wonderous gift that reminds of of the immense range of talents and sensitivities he shared with us in his brief time on earth.

Of course, you can rest assured that all of his famous songs are here, as well as a number of newer and less well known works, which are included as well. In the end, one is simply amazed at the freshness and novelty he is able to bring to bear in his presentation of many of the offerings here, in the wonderful way in which he performs some of these songs, singing lyrics he had sung thousands of times but seeming just as fresh and new as the first times he performed them. Like many artists, he doesn't necessarily stick to the familiar sound of the recorded version, and while that might annoy a few patrons who prefer the overly-familiar stamped-out record version, for me it is an indication of his great artistic prowess to able to do so this convincingly after all this time, and to do so with such aplomb, enthusiasm, and flavor. The comforting thing to understand is that at the time he had the concert, close to the time he died in the tragic airplane accident that abruptly ended his life, he seemed at the top of his form, regaining lost popularity, and ready to record new works in progress. This is a wonderful DVD, and one I recommend to all John Denver fans. Enjoy!

If you are a John Denver fan or a fan of acoustic singer/songwriters, then you will love this DVD. I know many people consider John Denver cheesy but I've always loved his music. To me, he is able to bring emotion to his written words better than any other singer/songwriter. Most performers really struggle after the heat of their career flames out. Having read Denver's biography, he did have those problems that may have led to some of his DUI charges.

But when John Denver hit the stage, he always gave a great performance because he really connected with the audience and it showed. And since this concert was for the Wildlife charity, his performance was close to his heart with personal testimony between some of the songs that drew John to tears.

The stage presence and set-up was excellent and the DVD includes the audience participation by the mostly middle-aged fans. For novice guitar players like myself there is plenty of film of John and the lead guitarist to help discover the magic of how he gets beautiful sound from his instrument. While all his old standards are here, there is plenty of off-the-beaten path material if you haven't watched Denver in concert. My particular favorite is the song written about the Alaska couple that dance after her husband's death. Denver had a unique ability to project great imagery.

Most of his songs that deal with wilderness and the west are here which leaves out two of my favorites, his ode to the astronauts of the Columbia tragedy and his anti-war song with the Russian singer. With that aside, this DVD will always be a great memory of John Denver's career and his passion for the outdoors. I strongly recommend this DVD if you like singer/songwriters of the 70s era.

Over the years, I have purchased most of John Denver's LPs and then CDs, and also observed several of his performances on television. (Regrettably, I was never in the audience at one of his concerts.) Recently I saw the PBS program during which the program on this DVD was recorded over a two-day period. Denver has never sounded better nor seemed happier than he does during The WILDLife Concert, totally comfortable playing a rich and diverse selection of older and newer songs. How rare and commendable that he makes each of the 25 seem so fresh. He is joined by immensely talented associates, notably James Burton, Jim Horn, and Pete Huttinger. FYI, this DVD and its companion two-disc CD include the previously unreleased "For You" which is not available elsewhere. I lack the talent to express how much I admire and will miss this talented and good man.

This concert was everything I had hoped it to be, and more. It was sensational. Beautifully filmed, a small and intimate venue, great sound and picture quality, a fantastic and lengthy selection of songs, and Denver giving a wonderful and meaningful performance. They don't get any better than this. JD sung all the old favourites plus a stack of new ones. It is a long concert, but one that you will enjoy all the way through. Even if you are not a JD fan, you will enjoy this exceptional concert. This concert, which was filmed with the DVD medium in mind, was far better than when I saw Denver live in concert in the late '70s in Australia. This is one of the two best DVD music concerts I have seen (the other is "Down from the Mountain"). Thank God they did this concert with DVD in mind because think of how many great artists have died, and how future generations will never be able to see their best performances. That's not the case with John Denver. With this one DVD, the "boy from the mountains" lives on!

I just received JOHN DENVER - THE WILDLIFE CONCERT (DVD) from AMAZON.COM. My wife and I turned the lights down, cranked up the Bose surround speakers, and were enraptured for the entire duration of that outstanding performance. This was John at his very best. The concert was performed in front of a small audience in a cozy setting, and we felt every bit a part of that audience. If you're a John Denver fan, I don't believe you can go wrong with this excellent DVD. As it says on the package: the video is crystal-clear, as is the CD quality sound. My only regret is that he is no longer with us.

Originally shown on the A&E cable network to raise money for various environmental groups, this program transcends its time.

Recorded over two dates in early 1995, John Denver is at his very best. His voice is seasoned and richer than in his earlier - though very popular - recordings. He looks great and he and the band are in top form.

The production is well done without drawing attention to itself. The direction and pacing help the entertainer, his message and his music come through in grand style. The performances are energetic and heartfelt and the man seems humbled and grateful to be so well loved.

Sadly, two years after this show was taped, Denver was gone but this wonderful performance and his beautiful music - which I have watched about 10 times now - lives on in this memorable video.

What can I say about this or John that has not been said? Well, I have lived in the same area in Aspen as John and knew him, so I know him better than most. This video, in my opinion was sent to us by the invisible man in the sky. Like one of his songs, this video is "almost heaven". John talks in this concert, you see wildlife, and hear his voice, which will never be heard again. He sings with his heart in this, tells stories, and when we really miss him like I do, all we have to do is listen to the "Wildlife Concert" and John is with us again! John belongs to us all, and with the eagles, hawks, elephants and every other animal and ego system in the world. He says in the vedio, that he wants to be remembered for what he has done, and this is it, working almost full time to save the rain forest, animal habtat, the rivers of the U.S. N/W as well as others....This is a vedio that can be shared with others, especially your kids. Yes, John is part of all of us, get the vedio and enjoy like we all that loved him. He was a real friend of mine, but you too can realize the joy of his songs which comes from the heart, his soul and all that he puts into all the things he does. SINCE HIS DEATH, WE NEED TO PICK UP WHERE HE LEFT OFF, LIKE HE SAYS IN THE VEDIO, WE ALL CAN DO OUR PART, NO MATTER HOW SMALL. So John has gone to a better world now, and we will be with him soon, but for now we have this vedio. Believe me this is the best vedio I have in my collection, money well spent. Part of the money of this vedio goes to the wildlife society, and carries on his wonderful work. God gave us John, lets all honor his work and get this vedio and carry on his work, UNTIL WE MEET HIM AGAIN.....God be with all of us!

This DVD is simply a treasure! I find it difficult to express in words what I feel about this "journey through emotions". It is close to a religious experience. Anyone who has a heart for this planet and its fate should lend an ear to John Denver's message. It cannot be expressed with more eloquence, beauty, sincerity, and poignancy. A true gem!

I have never enjoyed watching a concert as much as I did this Wildlife Concert. Several of John's songs brought tears to my eyes, as if John was singing them for the first time feeling all the feelings he experienced when he first recorded them. The only thing that should have been left in were more of his comments during the actual concert. It is just impossible to get enough John Denver, but this DVD gets as close as any. Whether he is with full backup or simply by himself either at the piano or playing his guitar, John puts on an emotional, heartfelt, lasting performance.