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Elly Roberts reviews
Wienerworld
- Cat.no: 3671709
- Released: September 2006
- Format: 2*DVD 9
- Rating: 10/10+
- Region: All, PAL
- Fullscreen: 4:3
- Subtitles: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, German, Italian.
- Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 (Solo videos)
- Classification: E (Exempt)
- Languages: English
- Retail price: £17.99
- Extras:Colour booklet with archive photos, Director’s Commentary, A View Forever,The Three Producers, The Last Interview, Interactive Photo Gallery (CD ROM)
DVD: 
CD:
Shortly after release, Freddie Mercury sat nicely at the top of the official Music DVD chart.,
Lover Of Life, Singer Of Songs is almost the visual accompaniment tothe double CD of the same title. Mercury wanted it all. Some would say he hadit all.
When you consider laughing stock Pete Doherty, this DVD will put Freddiesimmense all-round talents into perspective. The Lover Of Life: The UntoldStory is an award winning documentary about his early days in Zanzibarto his untimely death in London. What a journey it was. A montage ofreconstructions, archive footage and interviews with sister Jer Bulsara,sister Kashmira, husband Jim Hutton and a long list of others bring hisunique existence to live.
Its most moving sequence is, when long-term partner Mary Austin reveals themoment of his sexually and his fatal disease. Theres also his finalinterview.
We learn out about his roots on the island of Zanzibar through to his Indianeducation at the tender age of 8 in summer 1955, were he was good at art,music and boxing.
Early signs of his theatrical antics began when he dressed up as women inseveral plays, and he apparently sang O Sole Mio at one school concert.The die was cast.
During his Queen days he was fascinated as much about the package as muchas the product. Possessing a degree in illustration and design, he wasaesthetically very savvy. Much of the video footage here confirms thatFreddie loved to party at different levels.
Having successfully lead Queen to world domination, he embarked on an equallysuccessful solo studio career. He further lived out his various fantasiesthrough his videos, with meticulous attention to detail at every level,even costume and pre-production.
His one vision was no barriers, no restrictions. Confessing he was a manof extremes, a man of no half measures, it culminated with duets with operasoprano Montserrat Caballe. His entire solo videos take up DVD 2.
At 45 he was dead. His legacy lives on here. Amazingly, Zanzibar stillhasnt recognised his awesome talents.
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.