As said many times, David Attenborough is a national treasure. He may apparently dislike the term, but it is hard to not say that about such a great presenter who has contributed significantly to some of the best programmes (of the documentary genre and overall) the BBC has ever aired/produced.
It is really hard picking favourites, let alone a definite favourite, among what Attenborough has done because he has done so many gems, it is the equivalent of trying to choose your favourite ice cream flavour or your favourite operatic role (for examples) and finding you can't pick. 'The Song of the Earth' is one of the one-off specials featured on the "Attenborough in Paradise and Other Personal Voyages" DVD and, while not one of the best on the DVD or one of Attenborough's very finest it's truly beautiful and in terms of how it explores the music and animal sounds it's pretty unique.
Visually, 'The Song of the Earth' as always with Attenborough's work looks great. It is beautifully filmed, done in a completely fluid and natural, sometimes intimate, way and never looking static. The editing is always succinct and smooth and the scenery is spectacular. Very nice music too as always.
Regarding the content, 'The Song of the Earth' does a great job entertaining and educating, it provokes a lot of thought and fascinates even it's familiar information in a few cases. The origins of human music, the connection and tracing of the musical sounds made by animals and why the sounds are made are incredibly well done and very much illuminating. This is including wolf howls, bat cries, rumbling elephant signals and the sounds of dolphins, birds and whales.
The presenting by Attenborough helps significantly. He clearly knows his stuff and knows what to say and how to say it. He delivers it with his usual richness, soft-spoken enthusiasm and sincerity, never talking down to the viewer and keeping them riveted and wanting to know more. Nothing is episodic, and if there is an ever so minor complaint it is that it did feel to me a little too short.
Altogether, wonderful and a treasure more than well worth singing about. 10/10 Bethany Cox
