Reviewed by Tony Cummings

One or two folk have already called this the greatest CCM video ever made. Alternative rock radicals and those who can't abide pop music will no doubt disagree but for this reviewer 'Change Your World Live' is a triumph. The format is not ground breaking - a live concert containing 13 of the star's greatest hits (not merely from 'Change Your World' but also taking in some of his old classics like "Secret Ambition") interspersed with fragments of interviews with Michael himself, musicians and fans. But the concert, at the HUGE Coliseum, is an awesome affair, with the kind of ambitious staging, choreography and musicianship normally associated with mainstream stars with millions of bucks to pitch in. The massive musical ensemble gathered to back up Michael are the creme of CCM's finest, in the main the same musicians who played on his records and there is breathtaking playing from the sassy horn section to the two hot drummers. But it's not all effect provided by other talents, Michael's solo piano spots where he soulfully sings "I Will Be Here For You" and "Place In This World" are truly moving. The huge crowd, which are frequently panned across, clearly had a ball, the material taken as it is from such a great set of albums is brilliant and the singer's stature as CCM's most popular male vocalist is, on the strength of this video, richly deserved.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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