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Whistle Stopper - Perry Como's Christmas Concert
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List Price: $14.99
Our Price: $6.90
Your Save: $ 8.09 ( 54% )
Availability:
Manufacturer: Starz / Anchor Bay
Starring: Perry Como
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9786303215693
Format: Color
ISBN: 6303215696
Label: Starz / Anchor Bay
Manufacturer: Starz / Anchor Bay
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Starz / Anchor Bay
Release Date: 1997-10-07
Running Time: 83
Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
Theatrical Release Date: 1997-10-07
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Great At Any Age
Comment: I would have just loved being in that audience. I wasn't even aware of the concert until I saw it here on Amazon.
My joy would have been just watching him and listening to him and remembering all of that beautiful music he put out in those long years ago, still fresh in my mind. I still miss his TV shows. I remember him, and the beautiful Fontaine Sisters being on his show very well. And when he would sing a song with them, they would sound like Angels.
I'm sure if I had been in that audience I wouldn't even have heard any missed notes or off-keys. I would just have stood there in awe of such a wonderful person and singer. I can relate to his forgetfulness. It happens to me constantly and I'm only 70. Some days I can't remember my name right away if someone asks me, and forget me remembering my phone number or anything else with numbers in it. And my voice is already aged and mostly a gravelly whisper. So I can't even sing, nor hum, a lullaby to my great grandbabies. The fact that he would even agree to do this concert for his friends in Ireland says something about this wonderful human being.
I have always heard of how he loved and cherished Roselle. And he was lost after she passed away. He was a good man and she was a really fine lady. The devotion was obvious. He often mentioned her name on TV and in interviews. And there was never a breath of scandal surrounding him nor her. They met while teenagers and were married very young and stayed married for 60 some years until she passed away. Now he is singing to her and the other Angels up in Heaven. May Perry and Roselle rest in peace - united again.
I still believe in the adage, if you can't say something nice about someone, then hold your tongue.
I wish I had known him personally.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Perry Como still sounded great at 81!
Comment: Here we have a real collector's item for Perry Como fans... Perry's last Major Live Concert and Television Special.
Perry was 81 (going on 82) years old at the time. The Irish Audience were going wild and were totally crazy about Perry and there wish had finally cam true, they were getting to see their dear old friend - Mr. C, in concert in their own homeland!
The concert begins with Perry singing 'A little bit of Ireland'. Then after footage of Perry getting off the plane, walking through the Streets of Ireland and being above all swamped by camermen, the press and thousands of loving Irish Fans - we are then transported to The Point Theatre, Dublin, Ireland. Perry walks down the middle of the Theatre and the audience go wild in a frenzy of cheers, whistles, kisses, smiles, waves and any ways they could show their appreciation for this very special man who had had a major influence on their lives!
Perry begins on stage by singing 'If I could almost read your mind' - one of his own special material signature tunes, mocking his laid back and casual style - to the audiences delight and affection!
Perry was sounding great and in the concert he sings many evergreens of Christmas Time, which all of the audience have a grand time singing along to!
Perry is certainly in fine voice! Sure, he has a little trouble here and there, a few mis-sung lines, etc, but who cares?! No one in that audience cared - it was a mass love scene between Perry and them! And... Don't forget Perry was 81 at that time - not 18!
The wonderful charm and beautiful vocals were all still very apparent!
At first Perry was feeling a bit disheartened as he didn't feel he was performing to the best of his ability. Perry did have a bit of a cold. After all, that is very easy to happen for a man of his age - especially since he lived in Florida - coming to Ireland in January must have been an extreme differnece in to the Weather he was used to!
For a while, Perry went off stage into his dressing and needed some time to himself. He had a telephone conversation with his wife of 65 years Roselle and she encouraged him to go on and he did. He came back on to sing 'And I love you so' and he sung it beautifully! He then went into a great medley of some of his classic songs: 'Catch a falling star', 'Round and Round', 'Hot Diggity (Dog Ziggity Boom)' and 'Don't let the stars get in your eyes'.
If you notice, just as Perry goes to sing 'And I love you so' there is a split second camera flick and there is Perry wearing different clothes!
Perry was back on stage feeling much better thanks to his own wonderful personality and the strength and encouragement of his wife Roselle! His vocal output for the entire show was remarkably excellent - especially considering his age!
In my own opinion, this concert is a fantastic, wonderful journey with Perry! A definite 'Must' for watching every Christmas - like all of his Christmas Material.
Yes, there are a few ups and downs, but they are all handled in the usual casual relaxed manner that only Mr. C had making this show well worth the money!
I am quite suprised that a couple of reviewers said they found it painful to watch! I have to say, I always have a tear come to my eye every time I watch this concert and many shivers go down my spine. But! I think it is a bit severe to say it's painful to watch!
I think it's sad that these reviewers I now declining to watch their copies of this video again! I find it easier to watch every time. I hope they will change their minds and open their hearts a bit more!
Perry also sings some of his other classics on the show including 'Christ is Born', 'The Wind beneath my Wings', Toyland', 'I wish it could be Christmas Forever' and of course - 'Ave Maria'!
Without a shadow of a doubt, this is a superb Como performance and Perry's output is remarkable for a man of 81. His vocal technique, sense of rhythm and control are atill all very evident within his singing!
Baring in mind that the filming of this concert/special took over 4 hours and where and when it was filmed. This is a marvellous achievement!
This Perry Como Christmas Concert/Special is certainly a show to cherish and well worth the money. It shows that Perry Como had 'still got it' at 81. I think the main thing that let Perry down himself was that he developed a cold shortly before the show. I have a Como performance recorded in 1995 and he stills sounds great then and he was 83! I guess it was just a little unfortunate that Perry was feeling unwell at the time. Nevertheless, his performance was superb!
These days, many singers' voice's are 'on the way out' before they are in! With the erratic lives they live, they rely on singing lessons and digital technology to enhance their voices.
Perry Como was one of a very small handful of singers who sang because they meant it and it all came naturally. A very rare quality!
There will never be another Perry Como.
Whatever your feelings or opinions of this show - This is certainly a superb effort from an 81 year old gentleman!
SUPERB VIEWING AND LISTENING!
Matthew Long
(An enormous Perry Como Fan of a much younger generation!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Painful to watch
Comment: I purchased a used copy of this concert to give to my parents for Christmas. I decided to watch it myself (couldn't help it!) before wrapping it up! After viewing it, I am not sure that I want to give it to them. First of all, let me say that I have great respect and admiration for the talent that was Perry Como. However, this concert was extremely painful for me to watch. His singing voice was a whisper - and he frequently forgot lyrics and either hummed a little - or just stopped singing altogether! Embarrassing! I would only recommend buying this tape if you are a die-hard fan.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Heartwarming and Unforgettable
Comment: I think Mr. Cox had stated, and in a very articulate way, the feelings I had after watching Mr. Como at the age of 81 close out his career in a place where you can sense the reciprocation of Love between Mr. Como and his Audience.
The show was more of a thank you to Mr. C. for all the wonderful moments he had given all of us over the years..They didn't come for any other reason but to be in this man's presence, and his rendition of "And I Love You, So" was worth the price of admission., especially after a humbling statement regarding how age affects a singer's pipes..If you looked away, it was as if he were 40 again.
I was impressed by the whole event..The rapport that Mr. Como had with the wonderful Adele King, who helped Perry through some difficult moments and did so, with a touching and heartfelt admiration that she obviously had for this great man/entertainer..So selflessly, you had to love her, and Perry did, by his own admission.
A Great Night...A Great Entertainer..A Heartfelt thank you..The Singing Barber came through in a BIG WAY, and both he and his fans are the better for it...This video will remain in my collection and will be viewed often.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Considering everything....well worth it.
Comment: A previous reviewer speaks of the painful experience of seeing all the mistakes and struggles of a truly great performer, well past his prime. As another owner of a copy of this, and a "later generation" fan of Perry Como, let me add my thoughts.
Although it's obvious that at 81, Perry Como would not be performing as in the past, consider the following:
1) He did amazingly well for a man of his age. Who else, at that age in that situation, could have looked and performed so well? It's obvious that, though in his twilight, there was still that glimmer of greatness showing through, even if sporadic, and indicated he was capping off a remarkable career.
2) Perry Como's overall nature and personality helped ease the otherwise embarrasing moments where things didn't work as planned. It was this amiable and casual style that gave him part of his identity as an entertainer, and that seemed to make the concert all the more "him". With some time-adjusted understanding on the part of any who watch the video, it is always a joy to see each year.
3) The audience of over 4,000 had to be one of the most classy and gracious you'll ever see at any concert. I was amazed that, although most of them were "seniors", there were many young adults there (some even younger). Without exception, every shot of the audience displayed nothing other that the utmost love, respect, and admiration for someone they had obviously grown to appreciate immensely. Any miscue in the concert seemed to be graciously overlooked, and any view of the crowd demonstrated people thoroughly enjoying what they came to see.
So, for sure, this has to be viewed with some understanding of who/what/when it was...but will always be a rare treasue in our home's holiday video library.
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