Directors Cut

Directors cuts are slightly controversial, I am aware of this as I embark on the IOS version of Lords of Midnight. Although not a Directors Cut per sae, the involvement of Mike makes it sit somewhere between remake and directors cut.

There are many films that have received the Directors Cut treatment, some successfully, some not so. You have to ask, why the need to revisit the film. The integrity of the new release is brought into question; if the Director did not like the version put out at the original release, then why did they allow it be released? If they had no control over that aspect, then why now, other than for additional profit, are the studio allowing the film to be changed. That said, at least most Directors can retain some integrity, as they usually don’t have the rights for the Final Cut Privilege especially early in their career.

In books, we have the Authors Revised Edition. Again I wonder how an author can not release a book that is true to their original vision. I do however know that sometimes, again especially in the early stages of an authors career, the author does not have as much control as they would like, and indeed the editor may assert more of their vision.

I use Katharine Kerr’s Darkspell as a case in point. Her editor insisted at the time that parts of the story be changed so much, that it materially altered the overall intended message of the book. Kit was all to eager to put it right as soon as she had chance.
With Stephen King’s first book in the Dark Tower series ‘The Gunslinger’ it also makes sense that he would want to revisit the book and put right issues as the series expanded.

This brings me finally to music – why would a musician release a Directors Cut album that covers songs from not one previously released albums, but two? I understand doing some form of Uncut version where songs are stripped back to just the singer and some acoustic instruments, or even dramatically different versions that are almost covers in their own tight, but to release new tinkered versions of songs that you had full artistic control over at the time?

So, I bought Kate Bush’s Directors Cut with much trepidation – and I have to say, it’s awful.
She has taken a group of songs from two albums, placed them together out of context on a single album, reworked them in some mysterious way, for no obvious reason, and ultimately destroyed them.

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On a night like this…

Kylie - Image (c) Rex Features
Victoria and I went to watch Kylie at the O2 last night with Darren and Gail.

First things first; we stayed at a little B&B not far (5 mins in a taxi) from the Puerto del Carmen and o2 called One Six Two – it was a great little place, well worth the money and in a fantastic location for the O2. So if you plan to visit the O2, I can highly recommend it, but more on that in another post.

After arriving at the B&B we went to the venue to grab something to eat. We ate at Las Iguanas, a South American style restaurant; it was very nice!

In the concert arena we had seats very similar to those for the Prince concert last year, just on the other side. I was quite relieved as I feared that we would be up in the gods. The o2 has very steep seating, and being near the top could be almost unbearable. As it was we were only 3 rows in on the top tier, which actually gives a very good view of the stage.

The show started at about 8pm. It was basically broke up into 8 acts with a stage theme to each, and a costume change between! Some of it was surreal, some of it was more than a tad camp… but all of it was pretty darned great! I enjoyed a few tracks that had much rockier tracks to them. I also enjoyed the video screens. They were actually worth watching because they would often show the whole stage from a higher angle and show what the all the dancers were doing in context.

Had a fab time – really enjoyed it – well worth it!

I think that this was pretty much the track list…

Act 1: Xlectro Static
* Speakerphone
* Boombox/Can’t Get You Out Of My Head (Greg Kurstin Remix)
* Ruffle My Feathers
* In Your Eyes

Act 2: Cheer Squad
* Heart Beat Rock
* Wow
* Shocked

Act 3: Beach Party
* Loveboat
* Copacabana
* Spinning Around

Act 4: Xposed
* Like a Drug
* Slow/Free
* 2 Hearts

Break

Act 5: Naughty Manga Girl
* Sometime Samurai (video projection)
* Come Into My World (Fischerspooner Mix)
* Nu-di-ty
* Sensitized

Act 6: Starry Nights
* Flower
* I Believe in You (ballad version)

Act 7: Black versus White
* On A Night Like This
* Your Disco Needs You
* Kids
* Step Back In Time
* In My Arms

Encore
* No More Rain
* The One (Freemasons Vocal Club Mix)
* Love At First Sight (Ruff & Jam US Radio Mix)
* I Should Be So Lucky

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Lost Highway

Lost Highway TourWent to see in concert last night at St Mary’s Stadium, Southampton.

I really enjoyed it, as I would expect to, especially with the company I was keeping on the night. If I had any complaints it would be that it felt a little short compared to 2006 in Manchester and a very similar running order. A few songs dropped out and replaced by Lost Highway tracks.

Set List:


LH   - LOST HIGHWAY
NJ   - BORN TO BE MY BABY
SWW  - YOU GIVE LOVE A BAD NAME
SWW  - RAISE YOUR HANDS
BJ   - RUNAWAY
KTF  - I'LL SLEEP WHEN I'M DEAD w/ Mercy & Start Me Up
LH   - WHOLE LOT OF LEAVIN'
KTF  - IN THESE ARMS
C    - CAPTAIN CRASH & THE BEAUTY QUEEN FROM MARS
LH   - WE GOT IT GOIN' ON
C    - IT'S MY LIFE
KTF  - KEEP THE FAITH
NJ   - I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU - RICHIE VOX
YG   - BLAZE OF GLORY
HAND - WHO SAYS YOU CAN'T GO HOME
HAND - HAVE A NICE DAY
NJ   - BAD MEDICINE w/ Shout
SWW  - LIVIN' ON A PRAYER

ENCORE:
CR   - ALWAYS
LH   - ANY OTHER DAY
SWW  - WANTED (DEAD OR ALIVE)

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