Customer Reviews

Peter Cetera - Live!

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

 

 

This DVD, filmed during a Salt lake City concert as part of Peter Cetera's "symphony tour" in 2003 highlights this all-time great pop tenor with an excellent performance and the selection of songs, while backed by a small orchestra. Peter's voice is in fine form, and the adaptation of his songs (both Chicago hits and solo compositions)to an orchestral format works exceptionally well. The only problem lies with the visual presentation. Although the camerawork and video editing is very good, with only bright white lights illuminating the stage (with it's bare wood floor, looks like a high school auditorium stage) and no colored lights used for effect or any type of backdrop, visually, this is not a stimulating offering. But this does not detract much from the DVD because, as mentioned, Peter is in good voice and the mix of songs still makes this DVD a worthwhile purchase. The opening song, "No Explanation" (from the "Pretty Woman" film), is an excellent tune, and somewhat of a rarity, so it's inclusion is a treat. Other highlights include, "Remember the Feeling", a beautiful ballad from the mega hit album, "Chicago 17", and "Feels Like Heaven", a hit Peter had with Chaka Khan, whose part is quite adequately covered by back up singer Kim Keyes. Peter presents most of his hits with Chicago and as a solo artist and, again, the adaptation to orchestral presentation works exceptionally well. The highlight here is Peter Cetera as an artist: a very unique and gifted vocalist with a vast catalogue of excellent songs that make this DVD a worthwhile purchase.

As noted by the reviewer above, the DVD that is already floating around is from Brazil and IS NOT and has not ever been authorized for release by Peter Cetera. I had purchased my copy through a Seller on eBay and he guaranteed that this was a licensed product, though Mr. Cetera has just posted that this is not true. You may read the following at his website www.petercetera.com under PC Speaks:

"09.06.04
Another thing!....People keep asking about what is an authorized CD or DVD.....ON the DVD thing, the only one that's authorized is the PBS one...Iv'e never authorized the final SLC one ,so as far as IM concerned it isn't.....As far as CD's,the ones on the site are real... I've seen certain ones around that aren't, including a certain greatest hits that used to be on the old site... Other than a few single songs on soundtrack CD's here and abroad I can't vouch for anything else...See Ya...pC"

I bought the Brazilian edition of the DVD (i assume is the same as the USA version with minor differences)

Song selection: I find a great song selection, very similar to the "You're The Inspiration: A Collection" late 90's Cetera's album. He indeed remakes a lost song from the Chicago era.

Production: This is the weakest point of the DVD. It looks like a home-made video (low budget???). You can see the film recorder guy running all over the place when camera's change. Light over the stage are depressing...plain simple home yellow light over the performers, no changes at all during the whole show. Volume of some instruments is too low on many songs, precisely where they should outstand or showoff (chords??).

Symphonic Arrangements: They could've worked much much better songs like GLORY OF LOVE and YOU'RE THE INSPIRATION. Particularly the GOL arrangement losses all the feeling of the original version. Great arrangement to "Restless Heart".

Cetera's Voice and Performances: Great though the years. Kim Keyes, outstanding duet performances. No need for Chaka Khan, Amy Grant and Cher. I never got to see any Cetera live performance until this DVD. I don't know if the symphonic format freezes a bit his touch with the audience, but being my first approach to Cetera Live i found him way too cold with his public. His relation with the audience is really freezing, 0 contact.

Great for a Cetera fan but i may be dissapointing as a first approach because of the production.

Maybe its because this is the 1st time ive ever heard Peter live but I thought the Orchestra did an amazing job!! Sure the stage didnt look good but I bought it to hear Peter's voice!!

This is a Must Buy DVD!!

All in all, most Cetera fans will be very pleased. Yes, he is in his 60's. Still, he looks great and sounds great. After all, true fans just want to see him up close, singing live. Strangely, I found his personality to be not as sensitive as much of his music. There's something about his demeanor that belies his songs. I can't put my finger on it.
I've been a fan since Chicago began and was disappointed when he left. Chicago's replacement singer is a mess. However, I could listen to Peter sing the phone book. What a sound!

this video is amzing ' i love the songs' i love the set up and the vol. its a relaxation

I personally think the unsung hero(ine) of this show is one of Cetera's backing musicians, Kim Keyes. She is PHENOMENAL. One of the most powerful female singers I've ever heard ( in addition to being the percussionist; not sure I'd want to know what she can do behind a set of drums ). She upstages him during the duets. It's not that Peter doesn't hold his own; he does a good job ( although, as is the case with most aging singers, the original key is lowered on a lot of the Chicago staples; sometimes dramatically ). Kim just outclasses the guy, and looks as if she's having an impishly good time doing it...there's definitely a twinkle in her eye throughout the performance.
Keyes' contribution aside, I found Cetera somewhat condescending to the audience a few times; specifically, early on when, during a spontaneous eruption of applause, Peter says, "Okay, Salt Lake...get it out of your system..." He's probably on at least a nodding acquaintance with Don Henley ( Eagles ). They definitely both have the same stage demeanor.
Bottom line, though: this is a good performance, even if the camera work/stage lighting is somewhat uninspired. The orchestrated version of "25 or 6 to 4" is sheer class.

Peter Cetera was one of the most well known popular music icons in the 1980's. If he'd only made amends with Chicago after his solo album, who knows what more of a legend Chicago would have grown to become. Peter recorded a few really good solo tracks: "Feels Like Heaven", "Glory of Love" and "Next Time I Fall" all are great songs. The problem is that Peter was not a young man when he joined Chicago, and his solo adventures have caught up to him. I saw Chicago play live in Las Vegas in 2004, and the atmosphere and overall effect was not the same without Peter. In his latter years, Peter does not have the same vocal and stage presence as he did with Chicago. This live DVD recorded in Salt Lake City in 2004 does Peter no justice. He recorded it with a 44 piece orchestra. I thought his songs along with an orchestra would be simply amazing, but they only hid the troubles Peter has keeping up with the man that recorded such great hits twenty years ago. Peter shows his 60 years of age by not being able to hold any of the notes he could during his glory years. He cuts off many of the lengthy vocal notes/harmonies abruptly due to lack of breath (probably due to age). What a shame! This is understandable, considering his age. This is not the Peter Cetera we used to know, and one that should still think about re-joining Chicago. That would be a tour and reconcilliation that would be very popular with the fans.

peter cetera one of the best singers of our time this dvd is awesome if your a peter cetera fan like me you will love this dvd you wont regret buying it.