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Divas on DVD

Video visits with Janet, Tina and other angelic voices

by GERARD DEE

A diverse slate of female artists have a variety of DVDs ready to go for the biggest shopping season of the year. No doubt Janet Jackson—Ms. Jackson to you—had a rough year, but her video collection From Janet. to Damita Jo is a satisfying reminder of better times. The collection picks up where her last video set Design of a Decade left off, covering hit material from the four albums Janet., The Velvet Rope, All for You and this year’s Damita Jo. An interview and live performances from MuchMoreMusic and On-Air with Ryan Seacrest are some of the bonus features that round out this excellent retrospective.

Live performances are the subject of two Mary J. Blige releases. An Intimate Evening With Mary J. Blige finds the expressive singer sharing the stage with Sting and Elton John, and generally giving the crowd a solid but relatively subdued performance of songs from her seven albums. Both this release and her Live From Los Angeles set were filmed at the House of Blues, and while there is some song overlap, the Los Angeles show offers more (22 songs versus 17) and showcases a more exuberant performance from the queen of hip hop/soul. Bolstering the appeal of An Intimate Evening With… is a day-in-the-life documentary.

Conversely, documentary is the central focus of the Alicia Keys DVD The Diary of Alicia Keys: A Documentary Film. No videos or concert performances here, but rather commentary from Alicia on the road, in different parts of the world (Africa, the Middle East), backstage before a show, in studio, on location at a photo shoot and so on.

Fans of Tina Turner also get a chance to see her up close and personal on two releases that cover very different parts of her career. The Legends Live in ’71 captures her with then-husband Ike Turner performing in Europe at the peak of their popularity. Ike may have been calling the shots, but it’s Turner’s vocal prowess and dizzying dance moves with the Ikettes that steal the show. A bonus CD includes many of the same songs featured in this hour-long concert. Amazingly, Tina Turner Live in Amsterdam captures the versatile singer still kicking up her heels with just as much vigour 25 years later. That concert includes virtually every Turner hit since “What’s Love Got to Do With It” and some vintage Ike & Tina staples. An interview with Turner is one of the bonus features on this excellent release.

Fans of Sarah Brightman will be equally entertained with the set selection on her Live From Los Angeles release. This beautifully shot two-hour concert from the grandiose MGM Grand Arena is enhanced by special bonus features on a second disc, like multiple camera angel shots of select songs. Equally impressive is Mozambique-born, Portuguese-bred singer Mariza’s Live in London set, filmed at the Union Chapel. Exploring fado, the Portuguese folk-music style that has won her fans worldwide, the singer gives over an hour and half to her appreciative audience on this exotic and highly enjoyable release.