Billy Joel / Madison Square Garden August 2023 /1DVDR

Billy Joel / Madison Square Garden August 2023 /1DVDR / Uxbridge

Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, USA 29th August 2023

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久しぶりの来日が遂に決まったビリー・ジョエルの最新MSGショーを収録した極上オーディエンスショットが登場！
長年に渡って続けられてきたマディソン・スクエア・ガーデンでの日々に終止符が打たれることが発表されただけに、この最新MSG公演においても会場の熱気が凄まじい。そんな状況の中で敢行してくれたのが今回の映像。
今年のMSG映像に関しては約半年前の『MADISON SQUARE GARDEN JANUARY 2023』が文字通りのベストセラーとなっていますが、ラッキーなことに今回の映像は前回とはちょうど反対側からのポジション。
映像として見比べてみてもMSG終了発表前の1月との盛り上がりの違いがはっきり伝わってきます。いや1月だって相当な盛り上がりだったのですが、先のような発表の後だけあって今回の盛り上がりは壮絶。
それ故に撮影は困難を伴ったのでしょう、オープニング「Miami 2017」の途中からの収録となっているのですが、そうした中で見事なクローズアップが連発される撮影状態は掛け値なしに見応え十分。（★オリジナルで欠落していた「Miami 2017」の前半部は、イントロから当日の別アングル映像を挿入することで完全収録を実現。）

それに演奏内容がまた実に面白くて見どころの連続。ビリーがピアノから離れてマイクスタンドで歌う「An Innocent Man」の前ではローリング・ストーンズ「Start Me Up」のさわりを演奏する定番芸が始まるのですが、そこでミック・ジャガーの物真似込みで歌うビリーの傑作な姿を見事なアングルで捉えてくれている。
この日はさらに悪乗りして「Jumping Jack Flash」のさわりまでバンドが弾き始めるという場面もばっちり。
それが「The Longest Time」の前になると今度は観客も巻き込んでビーチ・ボーイズの「Barbara Ann」のさわりを歌う展開もレアで、そこもまた素晴らしいアングルで捉えてくれているのです。
そして「Don’t Ask Me Why」の前ではエルトン・ジョンの「Your Song」（これまた物真似込みで笑）のさわりまで歌うという大ハッスル。

また5月のMSGでは本当に久しぶりに「Los Angelenos」マニアをアッと言わせた訳ですが、今回はまたマニア泣かせの「Half a Mile Away」。名盤『52nd STREET』収録曲の中にあってライブ演奏の回数が極端に少ないレパートリーだけに、その演奏シーンを迫力のアングルで見られるのだからたまりません。
そしてこの日は「The Entertainer」で俳優のケビン・ベーコンが飛び入りという極めつけのサプライズ。名俳優の飛び入りというだけあって、会場が総立ちとなって画面が遮られてしまう場面がむしろ生々しいほど。
そうした混乱から立ち直って撮影はベーコンが精悍なマスクでビリーと楽しそうにデュエットする姿もしっかりキャッチ。
彼はライブ終盤「You May Be Right」で再び登場すると撮影者の周辺がもみくちゃになってしまい（笑）一瞬のブラックアウト、果ては画が飛んでしまうアクシデントまで見舞われてしまうのですが、それでもなお立ち直ってベーコンやビリーたちの撮影を続けてくれたのがお見事。
この日ならではのサプライズを満載したゴキゲンなMSGショーを見事なアングルで捉えてくれたオーディエンスショット。来年の日本公演まで待ちきれない方にも自信を持って推したい見応え抜群の最新映像！

Introducing the best audience shots of Billy Joel’s latest MSG show, which has finally been decided to come to Japan after a long time!
As it was announced that the long-running days at Madison Square Garden would come to an end, the enthusiasm in the venue was tremendous at this latest MSG performance. This video was created under such circumstances.
Regarding this year’s MSG video, “MADISON SQUARE GARDEN JANUARY 2023” from about half a year ago is literally a bestseller, but luckily this video is from the exact opposite position from the previous one.
Even if you compare the video, you can clearly see the difference in the excitement compared to January, before the announcement of the end of MSG. Well, there was a lot of excitement in January, but the excitement this time was especially strong after the announcement like the one before.
Therefore, the filming must have been difficult, as it was recorded from the middle of the opening “Miami 2017”, but the shooting conditions with a series of stunning close-ups are definitely worth watching. (★The first half of “Miami 2017″, which was missing in the original, has been completely recorded by inserting footage from different angles from that day from the intro.)

Moreover, the performance content is really interesting and there are many highlights. Before Billy sings “An Innocent Man” away from the piano and with a microphone stand, the standard performance of playing a touch of the Rolling Stones “Start Me Up” begins, but at that point Billy sings with an imitation of Mick Jagger. The masterpiece is captured from a wonderful angle.
On this day, there was a perfect scene where the band got even worse and started playing to the touch of “Jumping Jack Flash.”
When it comes to “The Longest Time”, the audience is also involved and sings the touch of “Barbara Ann” by the Beach Boys, which is rare, and it is also captured from a wonderful angle.
And in front of “Don’t Ask Me Why,” he made a huge effort to sing even the slightest bit of Elton John’s “Your Song” (again with imitation lol).

Also, at MSG in May, it’s been a long time since “Los Angelenos” made maniacs go crazy, and this time it was “Half a Mile Away” that made maniacs cry again. Among the songs on the masterpiece album “52nd STREET”, this repertoire has only been performed live very few times, so being able to see the performance scene from a powerful angle is irresistible.
And on this day, actor Kevin Bacon jumped in on “The Entertainer” for the ultimate surprise. As a famous actor suddenly jumps in, the scene where the entire audience stands up and blocks the screen is rather graphic.
After recovering from the confusion, Bacon was photographed wearing a fearless mask and happily performing a duet with Billy.
When he reappeared at the end of the live performance, “You May Be Right,” the area around the photographer became a mess (lol), resulting in a momentary blackout and even an accident where the image flew out, but still. It was great that he got back on his feet and continued filming Bacon and Billy.
An audience shot that captures the exciting MSG show from a wonderful angle, full of surprises unique to this day. We recommend this latest video with confidence to those who can’t wait until next year’s performance in Japan!

1. Intro
2. Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)★マスター欠損の最初の2分50秒は別アングルを使用。
3. My Life
4. Vienna
5. The Downeaster Alexa
6. Start Me Up
7. Jumpin’ Jack Flash
8. An Innocent Man
9. Barbara Ann
10. The Longest Time
11. Your Song
12. Don’t Ask Me Why
13. Allentown
14. Half A Mile Away
15. Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)
16. She’s Always A Woman
17. The Entertainer(with Kevin Bacon)
18. New York State Of Mind
19. Zanzibar
20. Sometimes A Fantasy
21. Only The Good Die Young
22. The River Of Dreams
23. Nessun Dorma
24. Scenes From An Italian Restaurant
25. Piano Man
26. We Didn’t Start The Fire
27. Uptown Girl
28. It’s Still Rock And Roll To Me
29. Big Shot
30. You May Be Right(with Kevin Bacon)

Billy Joel – Lead Vocals, Piano, Guitar, Harmonica
Dave Rosenthal – Keyboards
Mark Rivera – Saxophones, Percussion, Vocals
Crystal Taliefero – Percussion, Saxophone, Vocals
Tommy Byrnes – Guitars, Vocals
Andy Cichon – Bass, Vocals
Chuck Burgi – Drums
Carl Fischer – Trumpet, Trombone, Saxophone
Mike Delguidice – Guitar, Vocals

COLOUR NTSC Approx.138min.