This all-star concert was planned originally to be yet another celebration of Lennon's music less than a year after the CD, Working Class Hero: a Tribute to John Lennon, was released.  Unfortunately, on September 11th, 2001 America was attacked by a couple of handfuls of Islamic terrorists in a successful jihad.  The theme for this concert was quickly changed from John Lennon the genius, tribute to a fundraising effort for the Robin Hood Foundation, which may donate money to the victims of 09/11, but with some shady people like Jeffrey Immelt on the board of directors of this organization, you can't be too sure of the corruption that goes on there. 

The WB channel certainly drew more viewers with this new slant on the Radio City Music Hall concert than it would have if it were merely a Lennon tribute concert.  This aired on television with the 09/11 attacks still fresh in everyone's minds and on everyone's lips.  This DVD document of the event gives us what one would expect, mostly some humdrum performances with very few highlights. 

American actor Kevin Spacey was the host of the show, and he did an amazing job.  His overt admiration for the slain musician was made obvious and apparent by way of his passionate introductions of the musicians, and also his show-stopping performance of Mind Games.  John Lennon's 1973 title track was one that I originally found uninteresting, go figure that it took Kevin Spacey to point out to me the genius of the song almost 20 years later. 

For the most part, the concert is filled with some questionable performances from different artists divided up with a majority to contemporary musicians and a small percentage to a couple of classic artists from Lennon's day.  The show opens with a bluesy & very loudly sung version of Lennon's Imagine from Yolanda Adams.  The song is far from one of my favorites, and Yolanda Adams accompanied by Billy Preston on organ started off the concert on a sour note.

Kevin Spacey surprisingly gives a united and inclusive speech about the people of America and the bravery of the heroes who risked or lost their lives on 09/11.  Dave Matthews then takes the stage and gives us a faithful version of In My Life complete with the Bach-like piano break. 

In between all of the songs, there are old clips of John Lennon with Yoko Ono talking about politics and life which never fail to garner a thunderous round of applause.  Although Spacey is the official host of the concert, there is a typical line-up of Hollywood's elite offering between songs banter along with Lennon.  Among the names we have Ben Stiller, Dustin Hoffman, Leelee Sobieski, Benjamin Bratt and others.  Despite the largely and outspoken liberal list here, politics were wisely put on the wayside and the still emotional audience were reactive to this.  It's too bad Paul McCartney's Concert for New York City speakers did not follow this thought process as Richard Gere and Hilary Clinton were both booed by what they had to offer orally.

The musical highlights included Across the Universe performed by Sean Lennon, Moby and Rufus Wainwright.  I think most Beatle fans will be curious like myself to hear what Lennon spawn sound like.  I was very impressed with Lennon's guitar playing, and was surprised by his naturally higher tenor range vocal as opposed to Lennon naturally falling a bit lower closer to the baritone.  

Craig David's stripped down acoustic version of Come Together was the most creative out of all the artists here.   Continuing the acoustic set we have Sean Lennon next singing a wonderful rendition of The Beatles This Boy with Rufus Wainwright again.  Immediately after, we finally have Sean Lennon in a solo performance singing Julia, a song about his grandmother of the same name.  Sean Lennon's aped his father's intricate picking style note for note on the guitar, and it was so good you forgive his nasal delivery. 

The not-so-good performances include the Stone Temple Pilot's version of Revolution, Alanis Morrisette's version of Dear Prudence, Marc Anthony's Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, the bloody awful Mother from Shelby Lynne, Nelly Furtado & Dave Stewart's version of Instant Karma and Natalie Merchant's Nowhere Man.  The prize for crapiest crap song award goes to Lou Reed who attempted Jealous Guy.  I still haven't made up my mind on Cyndi Lauper's version of Strawberry Fields Forever while seated in Strawberry Fields, Central Park. 

So should you buy it?  Well, if you don't I don't think you're missing anything mind-blowing.  If you do decide to get the DVD, it will be an interesting concert to watch every seven years or so as long as your thumb is ready to hit that skip button every so often.  This is really just for the maniac Beatles fans out there (like myself) who need to own just about everythig Beatles. 


Come Together: A night for John Lennon's words and music
Directed by: Ron De Moraes (numerous awards shows)
Written by: David Wild (various awards shows), Ken Ehrlich (various awards shows),
Starring: Kevin Spacey (American Beauty)
Released: 12/03/2002
Rated: NR
Length:90 minutes
Rating: 2½ stars 

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day