Anyone on this list own these yet? I have both and highly recommend them. The new video version of I Was Born To Love You is fantastic; it uses the version from Made In Heaven and intercuts Queen live footage with footage of Freddie from the original video. The sound and clarity of all the videos is better on this Japanese import than any commercially-released compilations (and that includes GH 1 and 2), and the Let Me Live photo gallery is unique due to the music accompanying it and the rare photos included. I think the Japanese technology in pressing DVDs is far superior to UK and US releases, and it certainly shows on Jewels. The drawback? The DVD will only play in Japanese or region-free DVD players. The CD will play on any player. Both are a bit pricey, but definitely worth considering adding to your collection!
Let Me Live is not instrumental. Just the regular song.
btw some time ago I already posted an item about this dvd and made a fragment and pics of the I Was Born To Love You clip available through my site. (your enthusiasm is welcomed though)
The Let Me Live photo gallery has the song from Made In Heaven playing while still pictures are shown for a few seconds each. There are a lot of outtake pictures (alternates of some originals that have been published) and some that have never been seen (as the advertising for the Jewels DVD stated). Another thing I left out is the main menu. It plays the Japanese "beginning" from A Day At The Races and really fits the tome of the DVD. And before each video, there's a nice picture from the Japanese 45 of each song. The booklet inside the DVD has no pictures whatsoever but features lyrics and credits in Japanese and English, and the DVD is white like the case.
I'm still impressed with it and the CD too!
Darren, do you have the Jewels DVD? The videos are much clearer on this than the UK or US release of GH1 or 2. For example: Don't Stop Me Now is so clear and doesn't have the annoying "freeze-frame" at the end, it fades out like the song. Slightly Mad looks very sharp and Fred fairly glows! WWRY is so vivid you can almost feel how cold it was in Roger's backyard! The sound on all videos (and the Let Me Live gallery) is awesome, very close to DVD-A. I feel lucky I have a player that will play it, since it was only released in Japan.
The Jewels Karaoke may not happen since they've now got a new version of Greatest Karaoke Hits plus Karaoke Flix DVD coming out in July.. that's probably what the rumors were referring to.
As for the quality, it's most likely due to the fact that the total run time is shorter plus there's no space devoted to DTS audio, so they've allowed the video to have a higher bitrate.
"It plays the Japanese "beginning" from A Day At The Races and really fits the tome of the DVD"
How does the Japanese intro differ from all other versions?
"The Jewels Karaoke may not happen since they've now got a new version of Greatest Karaoke Hits plus Karaoke Flix DVD coming out in July.. that's probably what the rumors were referring to."
Whoa -- this sounds exciting! Where did you hear about this?
HMV has listings for them: link is Greatest Karaoke Hits - remastered with the bonus track 'I Was Born To Love You'
And link is the DVD companion, also with 'I Was Born To Love You' added.
I would imagine that (except for the bonus track) the releases will still follow the pattern of the original 'Flix' sets as seen on the 1996 laserdisc version. In other words, I don't think they'll use cropped or re-edited versions as they did with GVH and Jewels.
And if they do it properly, the lyrics will be optional (they were burnt-in on the laserdisc), and the original soundtrack will be included as well as the karaoke.. that's how the laserdisc audio was.
Lisa, I have a 'copy' of the Jewels DVD. I shall check Don't Stop Me Now again but I remember on first impression that WWRY looked WORSE on this DVD! But like I say, I shall check again.
Jeffrey, thanks so much for that!! I've had the Japanese laserdiscs for several years and they still play great but I'd like to see the DVD transfer as well and compare them.
Darren, I still like the fadeout on Jewels!
BTW -- do you know if there are any "Easter eggs" on this? I'm wondering...maybe an alternate version of IWBTLY 2004?? Woohoo!!
My girlfriend bought me the Jewels DVD today on a market.
The picturequality is very good indeed, but it's recorded in PCM-stereo. My amplifier makes it dolby surround, but it should have been in DTS.
Anyway it's a nice DVD for my collection.
BTW, she paid 35 euro for it; sealed and with jap. sleeve.
Isn't it fab? :-)
Two of my Queen friends (here in the US) bought region-free DVD players so they could buy Jewels and enjoy it too. I'm very happy with it and can't wait for the next one to arrive (the one just released). Next month: Greatest Karaoke Flix 1 and 2!!
Brian and Roger are keeping Queen fans SO happy!