Customer Reviews

K.D. Lang - Live by Request

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Being a female singer does not automatically qualify one to be a "diva". All of those VH1/MTV diva shows have made the term synonymous with "run-of-the-mill". Too bad, because there is a REAL Diva out there, worthy of the accolade.

Enter k d lang. I saw her live shortly after the release of Ingenue. Her show is in the top five of my 35 years as an avid concert attendee. She is surpassed only by Springsteen. Ms.lang is the only performer I've seen that is able to hold an audience so spellbound that no one would applaud for fear that we might miss the final utterance of her voice. When we were sure she was finished with a number, only then would the house be on their feet. A truly incredible experience.

"Live by Request" does a good job of capturing what I experienced. Watch her sing "Crying" or "COnstant Craving" and you're mesmerized. CAtch her Miss Chatelaine routine and you get a glimpse at her charm and humor. SHe does everything gracefully, without pretension. And every song comes from within her soul.

If you don't see kd live atleast treat yourself to this show. You will have the word "Diva" redefined once and for all.

Jerry

In a pop world of singers who can't sing, k d lang inevitably stands out. Personally I can't think of another English-language singer whose just plain singing ability is any better. For the most part, she delivers here the kind of well thought-out, beautifully controlled performances for which she is increasingly becoming known, while at the same time leaving plenty of room to let loose and have some fun.

The selections more or less span her recording career to date. First and foremost, she gives her intense and moving trademark performance of "Crying", a song that by now I think she must be considered to have irrevocably stolen from Roy Orbison. The vocal performance is pretty much the same as the one she delivers on Harvest of Seven Years, but this time she is not hamstrung by a brainless, cheesy orchestra that just can't bend to fit the performer. On Live by Request, the band manages to accompany while fading into the background, leaving the focus where it belongs, something the earlier orchestra failed utterly to do.

Of the other songs, I thought that "Pullin' back the Reins" and "Trail of Broken Hearts" were particularly well done, and she gives a very good, if disappointingly brief, performance of "Fever", accompanied only by the double-bass player. (For some reason this highlight track is omitted from the CD of the show.) Her poke-in-the-eye at Chatelaine magazine, "Miss Chatelaine", is used for some sartorial variety and cutting up, at the slight expense of the singing; but it's worth it for variety's sake. Personally I could live without the "MacArthur Park" skit, and the frequent interruptions of the "host". A phone call from Tony Bennett is a pleasant surprise the first time around, but could get irritating on repeated listening. My main complaint about the selections is that she doesn't do "The Air That I Breathe", a number she has stolen from the Hollies (or whoever they were) as effectively as she took "Crying" from old Roy. Her performance of it on Drag is an absolute masterpiece.

Despite my verbosity, there's not a great deal to say about this show; it's just a really good performance from one of the world's top-notch pop singers. The audio and video quality is fine, the sets are nice, the crowd is pleasant, and the band is professional. This is a must-have for kathy dawn's fans, and a definite recommendation for anyone who appreciates good singing and a pleasant evening.

kd lang's voice sounds great in this concert dvd. The song selection ranges from some of her earliest to her most recent, as well as little bits of some she has not officially recorded (MacArthur Park). The band and background singers are great and seem to be having a good time, as does kd. While it's obvious from listening to kd sing that she is a great interpreter of songs, particularly sad songs, watching her sing truly reveals how "into" the lyrics she gets as she sings. I can never keep my eyes dry when I hear or see kd sing "Crying." The surround mixing is well done, and the disc offers both DTS and DD 5.1 mixes in addition to a standard stereo track. The camera-work and lighting are good. Highly recommended.

YOU MUST EXPERIENCE THIS. Undoubtedly one of the top top top voices ever! I HAVE HARDLY EVER HEARD A VOICE SO STONG, EXPRESSIVE, AND GIFTED ---- she's up there with CELINE DION, ETTA JAMES, KAREN CARPENTER, WHITNEY HOUSTON, YMA SUMAC, MARIAH CARAY, ARETHA FRANKLIN, AGNETHA FALTSKOG, and even MARIA CALLAS! The great thing is that sge has characteristics of all these voices at times. She is perhaps the most dimesional voice EVER!

This terrific concert comes across on video as lively, fun, breathtaking. It has all the vitality the dead-on-arrival audio version lacks (it sounds like an audience is barely there and there's none of the interaction with the audience that makes the video so vivid). k.d. sounds fabulous in this concert, looks fabulous and cements her reputation as the greatest pop singer of her generation. What a voice, what a personality, what originality and what an entertainer!

k d 'sings all kinds' as Tony Bennett says of her . This DVD shows a singer who revels in live performance and knows how to connect with an audience . She makes you a part of the show and having seen her live with Tony back in 2003 I look forward to the next time .

k d lang sings rock/pop , country and jazzy numbers . Other songs I could only classify as being in 'her' style . She is obviously a sensual person and that could be part of the act , but I believe it is her enjoying being herself .

Her voice affects me like Aretha Franklin's and I believe that is the main reason to listen to any singer - to get that goosebump feeling on your skin .

Take a chance on this DVD and enjoy k d 's artistry .
k d lang is an artist - fully deserving of the description .

If you love hearing K.D. sing than add this superb DVD of a live NYC performance to your collection. Sound quality and camera work are first rate!

Best video of a kd lang show I've seen. She was energetic and funny while maintaining her awesome capability to control her voice. Recorded at John Jay College in New York in Dec 2000. Outstanding show presented by A & E channel.

This was a most excellent video of some of her best songs---one way of going to a concert without actually going. She has one of the best voices of this generation and I love many of her original songs and covers of other songs. I would recommend this video for someone who wants a collection of her best work---all summed up in one great LIVE video.

I don't normally buy DVD's. I've loved K.D. Lang for years, and finally bit the bullet and bought this DVD. She's highly creative, into having fun, and then there's her great voice. I am very happy I bought it.
kck