Review of 46664 Nelson Mandela Concert (Various Artists)

Introduction

46664 was Nelson Mandela`s prison number when he was held at Robben Island, Cape Town for eighteen years. Since his release, Mandela has launched his 46664 campaign, designed to raise awareness of the impact of AIDS in Africa, and to raise the issue globally.

To that end there was a concert held on Saturday Novemeber 29th 2003 at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town, with a vast array of artistes from around the world. This was captured for TV broadcast, webcast and now this 2 disc DVD set.

The set list breaks down like this:-

Disc 1 (2 1/2 hours)

Crazy In Love - Beyoncé
Speech - Bob Geldof
Redemption Song - Bob Geldof
Say It`s Not True - Queen/David A Stewart
Starry Eyed Surprise - Paul Oakenfold/Shifty Shellshock/TC
Ready Steady Go - Paul Oakenfold/Shifty Shellshock/TC/Amampondo Drummers
Baayo - Baaba Maal
Njilou - Baaba Maal
Africa Dream Again - Youssou N`Dour
Wild World - Yusuf Islam/Peter Gabriel
In Your Eyes - Peter Gabriel/Youssou N`Dour/Angelique Kidjo
Biko - Peter Gabriel/Youssou N`Dour
American Prayer - Bono/The Edge/ Beyoncé /David A Stewart
46664 (Long Walk To Freedom) - Bono/The Edge/David A Stewart/Abdel Wright/Youssou N`Dour
Speech - Nelson Mandela
Invincible Hope - Queen featuring Nelson Mandela
46664 The Call/The Show Must Go On - Queen/Treana Morris/Zoe Nicholas/Chris Thompson
Afrika - Angelique Kidjo
Umqombothi - Yvonne Chaka Chaka
The Way - Bongo Maffin
Asimbonanga - Johnny Clegg and Guests
People - Johnny Clegg/Jimmy Cliff
Many Rivers To Cross - Jimmy Cliff
I Can See Clearly Now - Jimmy Cliff

Disc 2 (2 hours)

Breathless - The Corrs
Toss The Feathers - The Corrs/Roger Taylor
Leliungelo Elakho - Ladysmith Black Mambazo/The Corrs
Homeless - Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Is This The World We Created? - Andrea Corr/Brian May
Loose We Now - Abdel Wright
Hurts So Bad - Danny K
Indigo Girl - Watershed
The Great Song Of Indifference - Bob Geldof
(What`s so funny `bout) Peace, Love and Understanding - Bob Geldof
Everybody`s Got To Learn Sometime - Zucchero/Queen/Sharon Corr
Here Comes The Rain - Eurythmics
7 Seconds - Eurythmics/Youssou N`Dour
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) - Eurythmics
Don`t Throw Your Life Away - Ms Dynamite
One/Unchained Melody - Bono/ The Edge
Amandla - Queen/Bono/Anastacia/David A Stewart /Andrews Bonsu
Bohemian Rhapsody/I Want It All/I Want To Break Free/Radio Ga Ga - Queen/Zucchero/Thandiswa Mazwai
We Will Rock You - Queen/Anastacia / Amampondo Drummers
We Are The Champions - Queen/Anastacia/The Cast
46664 Chant - Soweto Gospel Choir/The Cast

Surprisingly (since this usually happens to a greater degree with concert releases), there are just 3 omissions from the setlist on the day. Tracks not featured:-

Beyonce - Baby Boy
Beyonce - Dangerously In Love
Ms Dynamite - Don`t Throw Your Life Away

For the record I`m reviewing disc 2, as that`s the only disc that I was sent!

Video

A 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer greets us, as it was filmed for TV broadcast (and webcast too). It`s a fine transfer, colours are excellent and everything is pin sharp.

Visually this is a concert DVD so you know what to expect, a very big stage with a load of stuff going on, lots of instruments, a big group of backing singers and screens filled with various images.

Audio

A choice of stereo and DD5.1 soundtracks. DD5.1 is the choice you should make if you are able, as it all sounds rather good (best played loud of course). A very good live mix, lots of bass, and some good instrument and crowd placement going on. The DD2.0 stereo soundtrack also sounds very good, but DD5.1 is the one to go for if you can.

A shame there`s no dts as many dts concert mixes seem to be superior to my ears, but the DD5.1 on offer here is certainly very good.

Features

There are a few extras spread across both discs. On disc 1 there`s a behind the scenes documentary, which focuses on the week leading up to the concert and lasts for about half an hour. There`s also footage from the press conference in London where Nelson Mandela launched the event.

On disc 2 there are 20 minutes of interviews with various performers, a gallery and also `A Minute For AIDS` which features 12 one minute films by contemporary visual artists, representing their vision of HIV/AIDS.

Both discs also feature a "jukebox 5 track selection" system, which allows you to pick 5 tracks from the menu and play them. Many DVD players offer similar functionality out of the box anyway, but there`s no harm in having the option from the disc menu.

Conclusion

On paper I`d say that disc 2 is the better of the 2, and it was certainly good to listen to most of the tracks. The standout track for me was "Is This The World We Created?" performed by Andrea Corr and Brian May. This is praise indeed given that I can`t stand The Corrs. This much neglected track from Queen`s "The Works" album seemed to fit in very well with the central message of the day, and the lyrics are as relevant now as they ever were. Haunting and brilliant.

Nice also to see Annie & Dave performing again, with Here Comes the Rain and Sweet Dreams still sounding fresh today. A live version of 7 Seconds with Youssou N`Dour was also a good addition to the setlist.

And then we come to the surviving members of Queen. They are still content to continue as a 3 piece with guest vocalists. However, some of their choices of guest seem rather odd (Anastacia & Zucchero). And if I was asked to be guest vocalist at a Queen performance then I`d make damn sure that I knew the bloody words! Those niggles aside, it`s nice to see that they still have the passion for playing.

If you like some of the music on offer here then this is a nice little package. I`ll certainly be playing most of disc 2 again soon. As usual with music DVDs, it`s one to buy if you like the people playing, otherwise it`s not for you. The DVD is nicely put together with good sound, visuals and some reasonable extras. And all in a good cause of course.