Lucino Pavarotti with Barry White, James Brown, Sting, Eric Clapton, etc etc etc

[On the Road]

In the 90s and early 00s, Lucino Pavarotti did a series of benefit concerts for places like Guatemala and Kosovo to which popular singers were invited on stage, most of whom performed their own songs as a kind of duet with Pavarotti.

Have been watching a lot of these on Youtube, and wanted to share with DU. Some general impressions:

- Barry White's "My First, My Last, My Everything" really taps into the florid, over-the-top quality of opera, which is maybe why it works so well.
- The http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Febr_t_qa9U">James Brown selection is interesting, but deeply weird and more than a little sexist.
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei1Sl7RAmzw">Grace Jones has a great voice and does an amazing number -- had no idea.
- Pavarotti really seems to be grooving on BB King's guitar on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xE_NEO2UfBQ">"The Thrill is Gone".
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXgbN81zNG8">Lou Reed is completely out of place, can't hold a note, and looks a little intimidated.
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H15PR9LDoQs&playnext=1&list=PLB7C7FB74D9B8607C&index=3">Ricky Martin does a surprisingly passable version of an operatic number, "Mamma."
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7FGPIRJx6I">Brian May from Queen was an interesting choice. Wonder whether it was due to a sense that "Bohemian Rhapsody" helped popularize opera.
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V83afsreo84&NR=1&feature=fvwp">"Boyzone" acquits themselves surprisingly well for teenage pop group.

Some of the others on Youtube include Eric Clapton, Sting, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Jon Bon Jovi, Tracy Chapman, Deep Purple, and Bono.

A lot of odd collaborations don't work (Dylan had several), but these concerts are fascinating. In addition to seeing familiar performers out of their element, the arrangements put the original songs in a fresh and different light. It was very cool of Pavarotti to do these, and he looks like he was enjoying himself. I guess he had done all the traditional operas multiple times and appreciated the new material. I'm still looking more of these buried in the Youtube search results.

[WinkyDink]

1. I have that "Kosovo" CD. Ricky is AWESOME! "Per tutti Mama!" And Boyzone's "No Matter What"

is a great song (lead singer was gay, died tragically a year or so ago), except when Pavarotti butts in, hee! And BB King (not "The Thrill is Gone," but "Let the Good Times Roll")! Gloria Estefan!
http://www.amazon.com/Pavarotti-Friends-Guatemala-Kosovo-Luciano/dp/B00001QGKO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1294789298&sr=8-1

[On the Road]

2. Hey, Glad You Like It!

(I was hoping somebody would respond.) You're obviously much more familiar with those concerts than me. I think I'll get one of those recordings as a gift for a family member this year.

[WinkyDink]

5. Get the DVD. When the Children of Kosovo and Guatemala Chorus comes in on "Mamma", tears, I tell ya!

[mia]

3. Pavarotti with Tracy Chapman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zslKYY6wECs

[On the Road]

4. I Love That One

and I keep finding others:

- Pavarotti singing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT4TgPjFjyQ&feature=related">"New York, New York", in English, no less, with Liza Minelli.

- Pavarotti and (OMG) the http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBH0Q7aE0KU&feature=related">Spice Girls. I wasn't even sure I wanted to listen to that one, but his tenor adds a whole new dimension to that song.