AA.VV.
The Very Best Of Mtv Unplugged vol 1

Best of and MTV Unplugged: as if to say, "ending up at the bottom of all preference lists and making the snobby purists frown".

This review of mine, as if to say: "sell out in the name of the most commercial things the human mind has come up with in the last twenty years". MTV started in the '80s and immediately became the symbol of the global, of those who have the same face and are dressed the same way in both Johannesburg and Connecticut. In a few years, it takes over everyone's tastes and nothing produced in the form of notes seems to escape it.

It organizes mega events and small concerts, sit-coms and container programs, influences tastes and creates trends. At the same time, a new way of enjoying music is born, namely "Unplugged": a term that entered common usage to indicate those acoustic sets in which the singer performs only with their voice, accompanied by a few essential instruments (preferably not strictly electric) in close contact with their audience (almost always a few selected lucky ones).
Among all the trashy messes produced by MTV, perhaps "Unplugged" is the program that was saved, offering performances that often remained unique in which the practice required, in addition to the classics of the artist in question, also tasty reinterpretations of other more or less famous tracks. It was also a practice for the said set to later be released in video or audio support, with a few exceptions (the Cranberries or REM for example... grrrrr what anger).

Impossible to mention all those who contributed to making "Unplugged" the good program it was (or is it? Do they still do it?), this CD nonetheless has a good representation. Nothing spectacular, let's be clear, overall a pleasant and peaceful collection, great for relaxing backgrounds, where on my part, I applaud the cohesion with which the various pieces were put together. In short, a classic compilation that one would make by themselves spending a few hours downloading on a good p2p program.
Eric Clapton opens with the sweet "Tears in heaven", followed by the sweet version of "Ironic" by Alanis Morissette and the masterpiece by REM "Losing my religion", where the acoustic arrangement further highlights the initial mandolin that makes this piece one of those with perhaps the most famous opening. Through Lenny Kravitz and Page&Plant, we touch on Bryan Adams (upbeat "Summer of 69") and move on to the classic "Mrs. Robinson" by Paul Simon.

There is also space for Annie Lennox ("Here comes the rain again"... but I would have included "Why"), you can safely bypass Paul McCartney and Rod Stewart (no offense) and land on the Cranberries (delicate and ethereal "Linger") and Seal ("Kiss from a rose").
There's a stunning "rough" version of "Constant craving" by kd lang and "Don't look back in anger" sung by Noel Gallagher (Liam was getting drunk in who knows what pub). Closing with Sting ("Walking on the moon").

I reiterate, no one here is inventing anything, simply basking in self-celebration without ambition, but after listening to the somewhat overly standardized arrangements, it's nice to imagine this CD as a single concert where all these artists took turns without interruption (that's the impression). Who knows if Page&Plant would have really played with the Corrs on the same stage!

4 stars because it saved me a lot of effort in finding all the songs and burning them together!!!!