Age Computer "CSNY Déjà Vu

CSNY Déjà Vu

Thursday October 2, 2008

CSNY Déjà Vu (2008)
Director: Bernard Shakey
Cast: Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, David Crosby, Steven Colbert

Neil Young published in 2006 his album "Living With War," an atypical album in the career of Canadian musician for several reasons, an album that, above all else music, was a very direct cry of protest against war Iraq and against the Bush administration had put the U.S. at the nest.
The songs on this album were composed and recorded in record time, almost a matter of urgency, for the first time in the career of Neil Young is offered for free download from the site itself www.neilyoung.com , while creating a microsite-like news page where you were uploading videos and documents about the war and that Neil was involved.
The release of this album Neil Young immediately aroused the desire to do a national tour, unlike any that he had done throughout his 40 years on the road, where the primary message of his songs.
The band chosen by Neil for the occasion were his old pals David Crosby, Graham Nash and Stephen Stills, is that these musicians and accompanied Neil in Woodstock, when another message (on that occasion against the war in Vietnam) was necessary.
The film tells us, as a documentary, the CSNY tour, although not your typical rock documentary since at any moment what we are trying to highlight is the anti-war political message, collecting testimony from those attending the concerts as well as statements by veterans of both wars (Vietnam and Iraq).
Analyzing the political aspect of the film, not surprisingly once again meet with the already known closed mind of the average American, who sees any political rally, especially if the message is markedly leftist, as a direct attack against his country and against the hackneyed "American Way Of Life." The film tries to portray that mentality but especially deeply delves into the idea hippie (Neil Young may be the last hippie authentic) that, somehow, as happened in the '60s, the music can change people's ideas and in the words of Neil Young is clearly the intention of trying to end this war through their songs.
This is precisely the magic that makes this film different, the crazy idea of four hippies sixties that country face a tired, sick and blind and, curiously, seem to get certain results. It is very curious to see how it changes the reaction of the public as the tour progresses, viewers who leave the shows aired excited statements against the war and as the press reviews are also a 180 degrees.
The film is loaded with anecdotes that were occurring throughout the tour, and interspersed are also excited statements and recollections of the musicians, very damaged physically (especially David Crosby and Stephen Stills), which makes it really worthwhile adventure.
Focusing strictly on music and we can enjoy the songs of the "Living With War" and some of the acclaimed "Déjà Vu" in the hands of these true myths of popular music in a tour that without any doubt must have been particular, led as always by Neil Young that appears here rejuvenated and truly unprecedented vitality.
Finally, I'll take a quote from David Crosby: "Neil Young is the head of all this, but not because he has demanded, but because they think this kind of thing all the time."