If I were going to rate the three concerts I would have to put Elements first in terms of the setlist and
Black Symphony in terms of the lighting. Hydra Live was just another concert that they happened to film, and it was basically the same show I saw at the Worcester Palladium in October, with a few minor revisions. I think Sharon sounded the best in Elements, with Hydra Live second and Black Symphony third. She also looked the best in Elements, surprisingly since it was four years removed from Black Symphony (that poodle perm did nothing for me). Maybe it was because her various outfits were the most risqué, (especially that birdcage skirt she was wearing for the first few songs) but I don't think she's looked that tremendous since the Stand My Ground and Angels videos a decade ago.
A minor gripe about Hydra Live: too many of the songs required videos and prerecorded vocal tracks due to all of Hydra's collaborations (Tarja, Howard Jones, Xzibit) and the older Caputo track "What Have You Done." I realize that those collaborations are what sold Hydra, and that people probably don't mind sitting through the videos and prerecorded tracks once, but who wants to hear prerecorded vocals and watch a video screen when you plunk down money to see a band. At least Caputo and Anneke van Giersbergen were actually at Black Symphony. Maybe some of those songs should be put on ice for the next few tours unless they have some of those other performers with them or bring substitute touring vocalists on the road with them. Kamelot, for instance, plays "The Haunting" just about every tour, regardless of whether they have Simone Simons, Elize Ryd, Alissa White-Gluz, Marcela Bovio, Floor Jansen, or the blonde that is touring with them now. The Dutch R&B singer, Wudstik, for instance did as good a job with "The Whole World Is Watching" (not the best song in the world, granted) as either Dave Pirner or Piotr Rogucki did, and I'm sure that they could find an unknown soprano who works cheap that could sing Tarja's part of "Paradise." I would just hate to see a band I like become too gimmicky and rely too much on production values. Those Duets albums are for geriatrics like Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Elton John, or for second generation singers to perform with their dead fathers, like Nat King and Natalie Cole, Hank Williams Jr. and Sr., and Elvis and Lisa Marie Presley. Not for a band like WT, who should have a good decade of relevance left in their careers.
Topic: Within Temptation thread (Read 81949 times)
