Product: Hot Summer Night [VHS] (1983)
Rating: 4.0
How could I have doubted Donna?
The first exposure I had to this concert was on the 'Endless Summer: Greatest Hits' video which featured three of the tracks from this tape and I wasn't too impressed by them. Donna seemed quite bored at times singing 'MacArthur Park', although she did seem a bit more involved when performing 'Last Dance' and 'On the Radio' but still Donna didn't seem to be at her magical best so I wasn't expecting much from this (but I still bought it anyway 'cause i'm such a fan) but boy was I wrong! 'MacArthur' was the first track and it was probarbly a bit daunting for Donna at the start of a performance so that's maybe why she didn't seem as involved. It's when performing her new tracks (new as of 1983 that is) that she really shines. 'Unconditional Love' and 'She works hard for the money' Donna performs with all her usual brightness and verve. For 'Romeo' Donna runs up into the audience and she takes on an Evita like persona for her rendition of 'Don't cry for me Argentina' and the grammy winning 'Forgive Me' is a definate highlight. The band are good to and Donna introduces them all at one stage. The show is almost stolen by the backing singers Mary and Dara (who happen to be Donna's sisters) who are a delight as they sing and joke about with each other. Donna makes a few jokes about being black which nowadays may be considered un-PC and the dance at the beggining does seem very dated. Other than that this is a great show from the Queen of divas and I look forward to someday seeing the 'Live and more ENCORE!' VIDEO (which is unavailable in the UK format).