Search - Melba Moore: Live in Concert on DVD

Saddening

Peace Brotha | Ohio, United States | 10/15/2007

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Has anyone heard or seen Melba in concert lately? I'm curious as to what she REALLY sounds like now. I'm hoping and praying this DVD does not represent what our legendary lady is like now.



I saw Melba back in 2003 and had a front row seat. Melba was very good, better than I would have expected from a 55 year old diva who set the bar so high when she was young she could never hope to keep reaching it as she got older. She was borderline amazing, in fact. Even the set list then was close to what's on this DVD. But this latest concert release does not find her in good form at all, even given the natural aging process.



Melba's soft, mellow tones are better and more beautiful than ever. When singing softly and in lower ranges she sounds like an angel. But when she goes for the belting chest voice it sounds like an old brown-liquor drunk screaming for "Pookie" down the street. I am not trying to be funny. That's exactly what she sounds like. And she repeats those tones over and over again as if they sound good and she's gettin' down. And the high siren-like notes are weak and barely audible at times when she hits them. Being "The Siren" is what she's known for -- but if that's what those notes sound like all the time now, it's just best to leave the alarm turned off.



I applaud the Soul Concerts series for keeping our R&B legends in the public consciousness. But this is far from a legendary performance. There are maybe 3 decent songs out of the whole mix. The rest almost put you in the mind of an amateurish karaoke singer thinking she can sing and no one can tell her different. I'm sure Melba was probably embarrassed to see it, but the way she acts after she's missed notes, went flat or off key and so on, maybe she doesn't think anything was wrong. This bizarre behavior actually has to be seen to be believed. But I give her credit for "playing it off," if you want to call it that.



I am not one to quickly criticize. Nor do I have unrealistic standards for our veteran divas and divos. On the contrary, I'm one of the billions of witnesses that can personally testify that time affects each and every one of us. And I know that musical artists, like everyone else, have their off days. But as a dedicated Melba Moore fan I can tell you that this was like watching a horrific train wreck -- you can't turn away while the calamity occurs before your eyes. Was it mandatory that THIS performance was chosen to be issued worldwide? You mean to tell me there wasn't any other concert they could have chosen? Whew.



Whatever. If you must have this DVD, buy it to support Melba and/or for nostalgia. Well, for those reasons and the bonus interview. Melba is a-okay and gives us some good info. She's a smart lady and it's good to hear what she has to say about a variety of things. (But the interviewer, hoo boy. He's almost like the Brian Fellows character from Saturday Night Live. Again, don't they proof these things before unleashing them on the world??)



Melba's Night In St. Lucia set was not great, but it was at least solid and a much better representation of her talent. Go for that one to hear a recent example of Melba's true gifts. I give this set 2 stars only because of the decent interview, the fact that Melba is still here and her sheer chutzpah in parading around like she took care of business -- which is in a weird way an ironic triumph for her acting ability.



Before Melba ends her recording career I hope she can release one more good concert so this isn't her final statement. I'm confident to the nth degree that she still has much to offer that isn't represented here. (And she still can hold those notes longer than most people, lol.)



Until then, fans: you've been warned. Go for the Night In St. Lucia set."

MELBA MOORE still Rocks!

Leandro Reggiani | jamaica, ny United States | 08/22/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I simply adore this singer,what a range...



And she is back with this wonderful live concert.



Run & get it."