Customer Reviews

Michael W. Smith - Live in Concert: A 20 Year Celebration

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Performing before a vast audience at Ohio State University in Columbus on October 26, 2003, this concert is inspiring and entertaining, and a good introduction to the twenty years of Michael's creativity if like me, you are fairly new to his music.
The musicianship is superb, with Michael playing guitar, keyboards and a piano that is a work of art, painted in swirls of color. His band (I would have liked to name them, but the credits at the end were too small) is excellent, with special kudos to the lead guitarist.

The song list:
~ with band ~
"I Still Have the Dream"
"Signs"
"Rocketown"
"Wired for Sound"
"Secret Ambition"
"Hibernia" (a delightful instrumental)
~ solo piano ~
"Love Crusade"
"For You"
"Place in this World"
"I Will Be Here for You"
"Friends"
"There She Stands"
~ with band and guest performer Amy Grant ~
"Lead Me On"
"El Shaddai" (an exquisite solo by Amy)
"Thy Word"
~ with band ~
"Above All"
"Agnus Dei"
"Awesome God"
"You Are Holy (Prince of Peace)"
"This is Your Time".
There is a bonus music video of "Signs" at the end.
total running time 93 minutes.
As far as the sound is concerned, one has to take into consideration this is "live", and the DVD has better audio quality than the VHS.

Movie star handsome and enormously talented, Michael, who his fans call Smitty, just won his third Grammy Award, which he can place next to his 40 Dove awards; a multi-platinum selling composer, singer and musician, he is a marvelous performer, and before the final song, he shares some thoughts with us that are wise and wonderful, telling us how "worship is a lifestyle". Though the pop/contemporary genre is not what I usually listen to, I thoroughly enjoy Smitty's music, and this terrific concert.

During the fall of 2003, Michael W. Smith commemorated his twentieth anniversary of Christian music ministry with this special concert taped in Columbus, Ohio. This DVD captures a show that delivers many of Smitty's greatest songs of the last two decades. The songs from the 1980's ("Rocketown"/"Wired for Sound"/"Secret Ambition") are my overall favorites, as I began listening to MWS in 1986 with "The Big Picture." I also love the worship portion of the show ("Above All"/"Agnus Dei"/"Awesome God"/"You Are Holy"). And Amy Grant's guest appearance is another great highlight. The special features include a behind the scenes featurette, plus the conceptual video for "Signs" and a featurette on the making of that video. Altogether, this DVD is a great celebration of two decades of MWS's music and ministry while we look forward to more from Smitty in the future.

One of the best live performances to ever be captured on a DVD. "Smitty" is in top form performing an array of his hits over his 20 year career. The addition of Amy Grant on songs such as "Lead Me On', 'El Shaddai', and 'Thy Word' are wonderful and add yet another layer of depth to this concert experience. I have come to know "Smitty's" music just over the last few years. I can safely say he is the BEST Contemporary Christian artist of the 20th century! I look forward to another 20 years! God Bless you "Smitty"!

First of all, I must clearify that I am not a big fan of contemporary Christian music. But Michael Smith's music called my attention since a couple of his songs became pop hits, specially "Place in this world". So I'm not going to talk about the message or the meaning of his songs, which undeniably should be reason enough for any fan of Christian music to be attracted to this particular performance. I'd like to concentrate instead in some aspects of interest for any outsider:

THE HIGHS.
a) I've seen a good share of concerts in DVD. Michael Smith's DVD has one of the bests sounds I've ever heard. The 5.1 mix properly enhance the fullness of the sound. The bass and drums are strong but with no distortion, and the rest of the instruments are crystal clear. This quality is no surprise: from Michael's records, you can tell that the sound is never second rate, and that he, as a performer, pays good attention to that aspect.
In that regard, his voice is heard good. Wether you can argue if he has a great voice or not (I think he has a good and appropriate voice) he still sings in concert as he does in studio. So what you've heard, is what you get.

b) THE MAIN FEATURE IS WIDESCREEN ANAMORPHIC, that is, enhanced for widescreen TV's. I'm updating this information since Amazon lists wrongly the aspect ratio as 1:33:1, when actually it is 1:85:1. So we have good image, along with the great sound.

c) The inclusion of the "Signs" video. At least is something, until a collection of all his videos is released, if ever. The sound of the video is neatly mixed for 5.1, and that's something that you rarely see in an extra. The inclusion of "The Making of" this video is a little redundant, but it's still fun to see how they made it.

d) Two more videos can be seen in the special features, as alternate angles: "There she stands" and "This is your time". This is particulary special, because you can see the video that otherwise is played in the concert in the background, but with the sound of the concert, not the original studio sound. "Sings" is also included in this feature. Again, at least is something until a video compilation comes out.

e) The inclusion of Amy Grant, as a guest artist, in three songs. No duets, though.

f) No laser lights, or special effects, or dances, or fake poses. Just a pure and simple performance the old fashion way. Just to enjoy the music and the message.

THE LOWS.
a) A 20 year celebration deserves more than an hour and a half performance. There are songs that I'd have liked to hear, for instance "Give it away" or "Cry for love".
In that regard, there are a few songs that are piled up in a medley, with piano solo, as if Michael is just fulfilling a compromise to include them. Maybe I have a little prejudice here, because "Place in this world", that I wanted to hear complete and with full band and all, is one of those chopped songs. And although the raw performance of Michael and piano reminds us that in the end, it's about the songs and the voice, the medley, followed by "There she stands" become a little tedious.

b) Amy Grant's voice in Lead me on (the first song she sings) is heard a little low in the beginning.

c) The videos that can be watched as alternate angles (check "c" in the highs), can only be accessed in the special features menu, not during the concert (at least not in my DVD player). Although you can hear them with the concert audio, the mix for this feature is only stereo, not 5.1.

Overall, I must say that I was impressed with what I saw, so the highs overcome the lows, and I think a five star rate is fair.

This is the first time I've watched a live Smitty concert despite being a long-time fan. What a memorable experience it was! Every song was performed with such great emotion, from the moving tunes like Above All to the exhilirating Prince of Peace. Almost every favourite Smitty song was included, making the DVD all that much more enjoyable. Amy Grant's guest appearance definitely made the concert a little more special. Smitty fans must not miss this & should be prepared to sing along with the on-screen crowd, & to be moved by this awesome praise & worship session.

Well this DVD is quite good and Michael W. Smith is one of my favorite all-time artists, but I was a tad disappointed. First of all there are just so many many wonderful songs that were not performed. Now of course I realize he cannot put 50 songs on the DVD...but just a smattering of songs like 'hand of providence, never been unloved, pray for me, emily, cross my heart, I miss the way....there's just sooo many I would have loved to hear. And to put salt in the wound, many of his best songs were much abbreviated in this concert: For You, Place in this world and more. Also I could have done without Amy Grant. (nothing personal, I'm just not into her music as much). Also the background scenes on the big screen were a bit distracting.

Having said all that, it sounds like I hated it. But actually I really enjoy watching this show. Michael sounds wonderful. The music is great. The band is great. Michael is warm and friendly with the audience. I could watch and listen to him perform all day long. He is one of the best songwriters/artists of our time. For me it was definately worth the $15 even though it wasn't everything I hoped it would be. I will watch this many times.

"This becoming is harder than it seems." ~Michael W. Smith

In a mosaic of contemporary Christian classics, Michael W. Smith creates an atmosphere of worship. He is more than a signpost to help us find a way to worship God, his voice is a musical portal that opens the heart and encourages a full participation in the worship of our Creator. His heart is all encompassing as he sings and invites the audience to join him in his choice to make worship a lifestyle.

This concert has a variety of musical styles with global appeal. As a teenager I enjoyed a few of his first songs while living in Africa and only later realized that his music had infused the world with a love for God. "Friends" was a song I knew before I knew who Michael W. Smith was and his songs are gifts to the world that change lives and provide a place for souls to find comfort.

Surprise: Amy Grant joins Michael and sings El Shaddai and Thy Word - both unforgettable.

The Special features include: "Alternate Angle, Signs - Music Video, Making of Signs, Behind the Scenes, Photo Album and Compassion International."

I went to a concert in Seattle, WA and it was "the" most spiritual experience of my life. Once you experience a Michael W. Smith concert, your life is changed forever. There is a place that opens in your heart that can't be closed again. The powerful feeling of love and connection to God is one I've never experienced in any other concert.

Michael's voice is as beautiful as ever and his love for God has deepened and his concern for the world is very evident.

~The Rebecca Review

A very good dvd in which michael does a number of his popular songs. Add to that a special appearance by Amy Grant and the video for Signs plus the making of the video for "Signs" as well as some still photos and you have a very good dvd. Song list included "Place In This World" "I Will Be Here For You" and they were done as a medley and only with piano which was disappointing as those are two songs that so many people relate with. If you are a fan of Michael W. Smith and like the "live" atmosphere of a dvd concert then this is a dvd that is worth having.

This is a great concert, both musically and visually. I especially like the fact that it was filmed in a 16:9 aspect ratio. It looks great on my widescreen. The only problem is this: I own about 15 DVDs and have a problem with two of them. I do not have access to the menu options for this and the Second Decade DVDs. Odd that the only two DVDs I have this problem with are by the same artist. I am now a little hesitant to buy the Worship DVD.

Being a longtime listener of MWS and having seen him a number of times in concert over the years, I figured I had a pretty good idea of what to expect from this DVD. I was a little blown away upon our first view of it. The super showy style of performance which we saw for years has been replaced with an understated approach that puts the focus on the music and on Michael's incredible repetroire (not to mention musicianship) And Michael has stayed true to the source that inspired much of this music in the first place. Check it out!!