Patricia C. from JACKSONVILLE, NC Reviewed on 4/8/2010...
The best!This is a must for all JD fans-His voice is amazing and the songs are a mix of new and old. Personal commentaries were a bonus. I'm never swapping sorry.
Movie Reviews
John Denver lives on in this concert!
Michael Fletcher | Murrieta, CA USA | 07/07/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"John Denver will be sorely missed by my wife and I. We both have loved his memorable songs for many years. Regretfully, we never had the priviledge of attending one of his concerts. This DVD is the closest we'll ever come to a live John Denver concert. But thankfully, this is a wonderful concert and DVD indeed.John puts on such a wonderful performance. The video and audio quality is wonderful. On-screen lyrics are included.I love the accompanying strings in this performance. They give his songs an especially melodic quality. This is a trend I've noticed lately in live performances that I hope continues."For You" is a wonderful love song that pulls on my heart strings every time I hear it. It's one of the loveliest love songs I've ever heard. And what a moving rendition is included on this DVD. If there is a romantic bone in your body, you'll love this song. I'm moved every time I play it!This is John Denver at his best!"
Superb Recollection Of An Outstanding Human Being!
Barron Laycock | Temple, New Hampshire United States | 09/02/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"For those of us who grew up with him, watching John Denver so suddenly emerge onto the national stage as the huge talent he was is a memory savored and protected in these harsher times. I remember driving to graduate classes and hearing "Annie's Song" for the first time. it was quite an experience. I remember listening to "Rocky Mountain High" and how it affected me in terms of my growing appreciation for wild nature and the need for conservation. More than anything else, for me John still symbolizes that better part of our common human nature that those of us ragged,and hopefully "gracefully aging" counterculturists still associate with what personal enlightment and true education can do to transform this into a finer and more sustainable planet. Thus, this wonderful set of DVD (and also available CD recordings) that comprise the entire "Wildlife Concert" offering is a wonderous gift that reminds of of the immense range of talents and sensitivities he shared with us in his brief time on earth.
Of course, you can rest assured that all of his famous songs are here, as well as a number of newer and less well known works, which are included as well. In the end, one is simply amazed at the freshness and novelty he is able to bring to bear in his presentation of many of the offerings here, in the wonderful way in which he performs some of these songs, singing lyrics he had sung thousands of times but seeming just as fresh and new as the first times he performed them. Like many artists, he doesn't necessarily stick to the familiar sound of the recorded version, and while that might annoy a few patrons who prefer the overly-familiar stamped-out record version, for me it is an indication of his great artistic prowess to able to do so this convincingly after all this time, and to do so with such aplomb, enthusiasm, and flavor. The comforting thing to understand is that at the time he had the concert, close to the time he died in the tragic airplane accident that abruptly ended his life, he seemed at the top of his form, regaining lost popularity, and ready to record new works in progress. This is a wonderful DVD, and one I recommend to all John Denver fans. Enjoy!
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A Fitting Final Tribute
R. Spell | Memphis, TN USA | 05/07/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you are a John Denver fan or a fan of acoustic singer/songwriters, then you will love this DVD. I know many people consider John Denver ?cheesy? but I've always loved his music. To me, he is able to bring emotion to his written words better than any other singer/songwriter. Most performers really struggle after the heat of their career flames out. Having read Denver's biography, he did have those problems that may have led to some of his DUI charges. But when John Denver hit the stage, he always gave a great performance because he really connected with the audience and it showed. And since this concert was for the Wildlife charity, his performance was close to his heart with personal testimony between some of the songs that drew John to tears.The stage presence and set-up was excellent and the DVD includes the audience participation by the mostly middle-aged fans. For novice guitar players like myself there is plenty of film of John and the lead guitarist to help discover the magic of how he gets beautiful sound from his instrument. While all his old standards are here, there is plenty of off-the-beaten path material if you haven't watched Denver in concert. My particular favorite is the song written about the Alaska couple that dance after her husband's death. Denver had a unique ability to project great imagery.Most of his songs that deal with wilderness and the west are here which leaves out two of my favorites, his ode to the astronauts of the Columbia tragedy and his anti-war song with the Russian singer. With that aside, this DVD will always be a great memory of John Denver's career and his passion for the outdoors. I strongly recommend this DVD if you like singer/songwriters of the 70s era."
The definitive John Denver concert
Rod Ashcroft | NSW Australia | 11/29/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This concert was everything I had hoped it to be, and more. It was sensational. Beautifully filmed, a small and intimate venue, great sound and picture quality, a fantastic and lengthy selection of songs, and Denver giving a wonderful and meaningful performance. They don't get any better than this. JD sung all the old favourites plus a stack of new ones. It is a long concert, but one that you will enjoy all the way through. Even if you are not a JD fan, you will enjoy this exceptional concert. This concert, which was filmed with the DVD medium in mind, was far better than when I saw Denver live in concert in the late '70s in Australia. This is one of the two best DVD music concerts I have seen (the other is "Down from the Mountain"). Thank God they did this concert with DVD in mind because think of how many great artists have died, and how future generations will never be able to see their best performances. That's not the case with John Denver. With this one DVD, the "boy from the mountains" lives on!"
An Intimate and Magical Celebration
Robert Morris | Dallas, Texas | 08/25/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Over the years, I have purchased most of John Denver's LPs and then CDs, and also observed several of his performances on television. (Regrettably, I was never in the audience at one of his concerts.) Recently I saw the PBS program during which the program on this DVD was recorded over a two-day period. Denver has never sounded better nor seemed happier than he does during The WILDLife Concert, totally comfortable playing a rich and diverse selection of older and newer songs. How rare and commendable that he makes each of the 25 seem so fresh. He is joined by immensely talented associates, notably James Burton, Jim Horn, and Pete Huttinger. FYI, this DVD and its companion two-disc CD include the previously unreleased "For You" which is not available elsewhere. I lack the talent to express how much I admire and will miss this talented and good man.