A Year In The Life Of Blue [DVD] [2002]

Keen at first to highlight the authenticity of Blue in comparison to other more manufactured boy bands, the feature instead unintentionally exposes how superficial their success is; owing just as much to PR and image management as talent. The visual material is also inconsistent throughout, with a glut of footage from the first few months but a severe lack of more recent material, ending with shots of the group starting work on their second album in early 2002. There is no mention of the band winning the "Best Newcomer" award at the Brits 2002.

On the DVD: the flashy menus on the disc are attractive and easy to use, with the 70-minute documentary divided into chapters. The band's first four videos are available to view separately or as part of the whole feature. Incongruously labelled as "Blue on Tour", one section of the bonus material includes behind-the-scenes footage of the band's promotional visit to Singapore. There's also the Director's Cut of "If You Come Back", which is only slightly different from the official video. Opening with Duncan slapping his girlfriend it soon becomes obvious why this version of the video was never used. Footage of the band recording the track (labelled as the "Early Studio Version") provides an interesting insight into how songs rapidly change shape in post-production. --John Galilee

BONUS MATERIAL

(1) If You Come Back (Directors Cut);

(2) Blue On Tour (Part I);

(3) Blue On Tour (Part II);

(4) Fly By II (Live Performance);

(5) If You Come Back (Early Studio Version;

Picture: Colour PAL; Aspect Ration 4:3.

Running Time: 90 mins approx.

Languages: English.

Audio: LPCM Stereo.

Disc Format: DVD-9 Double-Layer Disc.

Subtitles: None.