Search - Nena :: Nena Live Nena

Review By a Philippine Nena Fan Who Understands German

Glenn Garfield Ang | San Juan, Metropolitan Manila Philippines | 04/15/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the third Nena live album and her most outstanding one to date. First of all, here is the tracklist:1. Teardrops
2. Ganz oben
3. Satellitenstadt
4. Tanz auf dem Vulkan
5. Carpe diem
6. Immer weiter
7. Es regnet
8. Rette mich
9. Leuchtturm
10. Du kennst die Liebe nicht
11. ?( Fragezeichen )
12. Nur geträumt
13. 99 Luftballons - New Version
14. 99 Luftballons - Old Version
15. Irgendwie, irgendwo, irgendwann
16. Das ist der Anfang
+ Enhanced VideoThis live album offers three new songs: "Teardrops", "Immer weiter", and "Das ist der Anfang". Aside from these new songs, this album is based on her Christmas live concert on 19 December 2003 in the Köln( Cologne ) Arena. It is her best live concert performance to date and that, despite the fact that she fell from the stage during her performance of "?( Fragezeichen )". What is even more special about this live album is that there is a code contained in the album which will allow those who purchase this album to access and/or download two other tracks performed in this 19 December 2003 live performance in the Köln Arena: "Hejo" and "Wunder gescheh'n". "Hejo" is a completely new song, so that is certainly an added bonus. Aside from this, the code allows one to access Nena's responses to 30 questions in a live interview, a short Nena "flash film", several Nena live photos, and all five Nena music videos linked to the 20 JAHRE NENA: NENA FEAT. NENA( 2003 edition ) cd album( i.e. "99 Luftballons 2002", "Leuchtturm 2002", "Wunder geschehen 2003", "Anyplace, Anywhere, Anytime 2003", and "Nur geträumt 2003" ). The enhanced video found in the NENA LIVE NENA cd album involves the making of the music video "Anyplace, Anywhere, Anytime 2003" and includes interviews with Nena, Kim Wilde, parts of the music video itself, and parts of the live performance of Nena and Kim Wilde in the October 2002 20th anniversary Nena and Friends live concert at the Jahrhunderthalle in Frankfurt-am-Main. There are also a lot of photos included within the accompanying booklet, together with the individual dedications of Nena, her band members, and the conductor of the new philharmonic orchestra of Frankfurt-am-Main. Last, but not the least, is Nena's own special personal message to all her fans. Naturally, the credits are also included. Undoubtedly, this is Nena's best live album to date and any succeeding one will have its work cut out for it to do much better. Hence, I very earnestly and whole-heartedly recommend this cd album to all Nena fans and to those who can appreciate genuinely wonderful music and live performances."

Not fresh, vivid or exuberant

Alan E. | 11/01/2007

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Nena Kerner on this disc doesn't always make the songs fresh, vivid, exuberant--words that easily describe the original recordings even if some of the tunes lean toward bubble-gum kitsch. The original band seemed to understand each other and there was a certain "crispness," not so much on this live venture.



Nena seems to prefer harder-edged sounds in concert, and there is a certain drive to these performances (especially on the bass instrumentation). But sometimes I don't feel too much angst underneath the adrenaline.



The closest I came to being moved was when hearing "Carpe Diem" ("nur die Liebe kann uns retten"--"only love can save us") and the new harmony she has added to the self-composed "Du kennst die Liebe nicht." When she sings, "Liebe kommt und Liebe geht/Und was uebrig bleibt ist was weitergeht," it is indicative of how someone's perspective can change with time. That is, "Love comes and love goes/And what remains is what continues on." NENA LIVE NENA could have used more of this sort of reflection and renovation to give the material pathos and centering.



You can also read my review of the original 99 Luftballons entitled "'99 Luftballons' is a Great Song BUT...""