James Last - Live At The Royal Albert Hall (DVD-Video)
Picture:
B Sound: B Extras: D Concert: B+
I’m not
sure what to make of James Last’s release, Live
At The Royal Albert Hall. It reminds
me of if I had a German grandfather that conducts a big band and enjoys
contemporary pop music. The whole
concert seems a bit ridiculous to me, but at the same time, the recirculation
of songs that we’ve all come to love in our culture, mixed with some of his
“hit” arrangements from the past makes an enjoyable concert – not one I’d pay
to see live, mind you, but fun enough to watch once.
Going
into this, I’d never heard of James Last.
I don’t suppose that the American marketplace has a large spot reserved
for German big band leaders mixed into the sea of crappy pop music. Some of the songs last covers are well known,
while others seem to fall into obscurity.
Song
list:
1)
Pulstar
2)
The Way We Were
3)
Medley: Love is in the Air/
Perhaps/ Ave Maria No Morro
4)
Tequila
5)
Vertigo
6)
Greensleeves
7)
Aber Dich Gibt’s Nur Einmal Fur
Mich
8)
Hero
9)
Wake Me Up When September Ends
10) Prolog
11) Over The Rainbow
12) Orange Blossom Special
13) Hip Hop Polka Medley: Fett
Polka/ Herz Schmerz Polka/
Sportpalast Polka
14) Games
That Lovers Play
Most of
the song titles you recognize are exactly what you’d think they are, and some
turn out great, such as “Vertigo,”
while others like “Wake Me Up When
September Ends” lack the energy of their original studio release. (Who knew
that Green Day isn’t mean to be interpreted by an 80 year old German big band
leader?) The songs I didn’t recognize, I
didn’t really care for because they either didn’t draw me in, or left me
pondering their placement in the set. However, The Hip Hop Polka Medley,
while sounding ridiculous, is actually kind of fun. During some songs, his band
looks as though they’re mocking the experience, swinging around their violin
bows in the air, making stupid faces that scream “Why the hell am I here?”
Last
himself, who as I said is pushing 80, stands around and bobs his hand for the
entire show, looking like falling over doesn’t really seem like such a bad
idea. He’s not doing the job of leading his band, but rather is there
oversees that nobody screws up too badly. (Also, keep look out for the
singer that looks like a cross of Rob Halford of Judas Priest and Walt Disney;
that gave me a good laugh) The audience,
made up mostly of middle-aged folks to early seniors, is incredibly packed,
something that surprised me considering that I’d never heard of this guy
before.
The disc
offers three audio options – Dolby Digital Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1, and DTS 5.1
Surround Sound mixes, but lacks subtitles.
It also features a 17-minute interview with Last, which merely serves
the purpose of saying “I’m an old, German man.”
I suppose there’s not much in the way of special features for an act
like this, though.
Ultimately,
I have no idea whether or not to recommend this disc. If you’re a fan of old German men looking
really out of place on stage, this is a disc definitely worth picking up. Take from that what you will.
- Jordan Paley
