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I know there’s something wrong with my fondness for Riverdance and it probably kills what little cool cred I might have ever had.
Still, I’m considering a fan edit and I wanted to describe it in the event that someone else might be remotely interested or have suggestions.
The DVD release that was called either Best of Riverdance, Riverdance 10th Anniversary or Jubilee Edition was a real disappointment to many people. Rather than deciding which performances were best, they chose to chop up performances and cut back and forth between them.
It has some pluses though including the first DVD transfer of numbers from the original Dublin show, and Geneva in an anamorphic format (R1 was letterboxed, but other countries got 16x9).
This is my current notes and ideas.
Chapter - Name (Performance Location): Notes
0 - Introduction (Dublin): Various background info on Riverdance includes a clip of the Eurovision performance. I have a very good quality VHS2DVDrip that I’d like to use to insert the entire performance. I don’t know of any other way to see it.
1 - Reel Around The Sun (Dublin): Untouched
2 - Hearts Cry (NY): Untouched
3 - Countess Cathleen (Mixed): I’m thinking the NY performance since I just like the NY show better than Geneva… and of course Jean Butler.
4 - Caoineadh Chu Chulainn (Dublin): Untouched
5 - Thunderstorm (NY): Untouched
6 - Shivna (Geneva): The introduction is cut so I’d add that back.
7 - Firedance (Dublin): Untouched
8 - Slip Into Spring (NY): Untouched
9 - Riverdance (Mixed): While I actually like Flatley, Colin Dunne is absolutely short changed on this release. Also, using the NY performance means not having to use a VHSRip
10 - American Wake (Geneva): Untouched
11 - Lift The Wings (Mixed): Confusing how this switches between a soloist and then 2 different duets. I’ll probably replace it with the NY version which is nice. It is sort of a shame to lose Aine Ui Cheallaigh though.
12 - Heal Their Hearts (Geneva) / Freedom (Dublin): The ending of HtH is cut as is the beginning of Freedom. I’d use the full performance of both.
13 - Trading Taps (NY): Untouched (the final bit is slightly cut. I’ll look again to see if it needs fixing).
13 1/2 - Morning In Macedonia (Missing): This number was in both the original Dublin and the Geneva performances. The Geneva version seems to be extended and is visually more interesting… probably use that one.
14 - Russian Dervish (Mixed): Same as Countess Cathleen. I should probably go with the Geneva release but probably use NY. Have to compare.
14 1/2 - Andalucia (Missing): Another number not in the NY show and absent from the DVD. For Dublin this would actually be around #13 1/4, but this is where the Geneva performance has it. Maria Pages is again amazing in the Dublin show. Her performance was only available on the European PAL VHS release though. I have a soft but clean quality DivX of it, but the Geneva dancer would be a better decision for video quality reasons.
15 - Ri Ra (Oscail an Doras) (Geneva): They cut a piece out of the middle. That needs to be fixed.
15 1/2 - Hearbeat of the World (Missing): AFAIK only in the New York show. Maria Pages dancing again.
16 - Slow Airs and Tunes (Geneva/NY): Not really a mix since SA&T starts with a solo performance not in any other show and then turns into the Homecoming number. I’d leave this alone.
17 - Home and the Heartland (NY): Untouched
18 - Finale/Riverdance International (Dublin): Untouched
19 - Bows/Medley (Mixed): I think this should be left alone since it’s not really a performance, but everyone from each of the shows getting credit for their work. It kind of works.
From the Dublin Euro VHS-- missing and possibly won’t be added:
Harlem to Hollywood: This was an early (and much duller) version of trading taps. I don’t see a reason to use it.
Hope To The Suffering: More from the gospel choir… ok maybe I’ll use it. Still it’s a VHS2DivX source.
Flute Solo with Michael Flately: It doesn’t suck but I always have the feeling this number was put in for his ego. VHS2DivX source and I suppose a possibility.
The last 2 would go somewhere between #'s 14 and 17 if used.
Feel free to mock this thread. 😃
Dr. M