Damn, does this MF kick some ass! Just got it tonight on the recommendation of some friends, and it gave me a new appreciation for Ms. Lauper. She actually sounds better live than she does on her studio recordings. That voice has barely aged in 25 years. She plays with an incredible band (violin, piano, keys, electric guitar, drums, brass, bongos (!)), and actually fronts the guitar herself for several tracks, as well as a dulcimer for an acoustic version of Time After Time. None of that Madonna shit, either - she actually plays more than 1 chord. She and her band have a really good, spontaneous relationship, and the musicianship is top notch. The violinist, especially, has some wonderful solos. Many of the hits are reworked, including a Latin version of Girls Just Want To Have Fun and a French cabaret-influenced She Bop. There's a really nice pace and intensity to the show, and some really hilarious audience interaction, too. Definitely the best concert DVD I've purchased in a long time. If I have the chance, I'm definitely seeing her live.

Setlist:

1. At Last
2. Stay (best performance of the night)
3. I Drove All Night
4. If You Go Away
5. All Through The Night (love the high notes at the end)
6. Walk On By (incredible)
7. Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood (incredible)
8. She Bop
9. Sisters Of Avalon
10. Change Of Heart
11. True Colors
12. Shine
13. It's Hard To Be Me
14. Money Changes Everything
15. Unchained Melody
16. Time After Time
17. Girls Just Want To Have Fun
[Edited 6/29/05 21:08pm]

I love your taste.

I got this DVD when it was originally released and couldn't wait to pop it in my DVD player since I've seen Cyndi in concert and know what a dynamo she is on stage.

Although I would have preferred she stuck with her catalog and ditched some of the standards, it's a great concert overall.

Her rendition of "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" is top notch.

"Shine" is always a crowd pleaser (funny considering it wasn't even released by a major label) and "Money Changes Everything" sounds and looks even better on this DVD than in her 1984 live video for the song.

My only complaint? I wish the venue was a tad larger in order to accomodate that amazing voice.

For more info on what Ms. Cyndi's upto: www.cyndilauper.com
[Edited 6/29/05 20:31pm]

I've had the pleasure of seeing Cyndi live both solo and as an opener for Cher. She's fantastic, and this dvd is nothing compared to that experience.

I wouldn't say she's completely down to earth following Rod Stewart's musical direction with her last album.

jayaredee said:

Cyndi has tried many styles over the years. I'm not surprised she would try standards. She can sing just about anything, and she chose songs that she grew up with, some of them atypical.

Love the home movies she put on the DVD, where she does a mini tour of her NYC borough. "This area used to be a dump, but now they've turned it into a wildlife refuge. They needed some place to put the rats. No, I'm just kidding..."
[Edited 6/30/05 4:19am]

It was really fun when she came through the audience and was singing "Money Changes Everything"

I wish more artists had the guts to walk through the audience of screaming fans.

I should check this out! I would love to see her live again. The only time I've seen her was opening for Cher. She was WAY better than Cher

endorphin74 said:

As a singer she's superior to Cher, but she can never own the stage like Ms. Cher

jayaredee said:

Cyndi knows how to put on a show like no one else. She doesn't need lights and elephants and 50 dancers to do it. That's real showmanship, as opposed to glitter and gloss. The funny thing is, she always trumped Cher as opening act.

VoicesCarry said:

nevermind edit
[Edited 6/30/05 9:55am]

jayaredee said:

Cher doesnt own a stage...the woman might as well not have been there...she stood in one place the bulk of the time while her ferries paraded about....TOTALLY DISSAPOINTED IN HER LACK OF STAGE PRESENCE!!!!

Cyndi is a true rock star.....sowwy.....i respectfully disagree with you on this..

and this is a great dvd...do check it out folks!!


and i love cyndi's "at least"....she doesnt go rod stewart..she actually intepretes the songs in new ways..creating life out of some oft-covered tracks..

and hey, sheila e plays on a couple tracks...hence me playing this all over girlbros. radio last year..

sosgemini said:

All Cher has to do is stand and the stage is hers, imo at least.
But i prefer Cher over Cyndi anyways so my opinion is biased.

jayaredee said:

maybe if i'd seen her pre-face lifts i would agree..but without her able to emote i was bored with it...just look at the face cyndi is making on that cover....you can feel her passion.....cher's face is always like this:

i felt nothing.....

sosgemini said:

lol

yes but i think Cher is oddly more attractive as Barbie than she was in her past.

But it ruined her potential acting career

I think Cyndi is a great underrated artist for her post SSU efforts. It's sad the media overlooks her. I'd like to see more of her earlier concerts which i don't believe have been made available.

jayaredee said:

I think she had a Live In Paris show from 1987 that was released on VHS in some territories. And there are some live tracks on the remaster of She's So Unusual. It would be nice to have a copy of the She's So Unusual Tour on DVD, but I don't think they filmed it. I know there are clips from that period, though.
[Edited 6/30/05 10:15am]