Product Description

Studio: Sony Music Release Date: 02/24/2004 Run time: 80 minutes Rating: Nr

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15386 in DVD
• Brand: Sony
• Released on: 1998-11-24
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, Compilation, Dolby, DVD, Live, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, Spanish, French
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 80 minutes

Amazon.com
Once an appellation reserved for high-flying operatic stars, the diva has gone mainstream in recent decades, mirroring pop music's post-rock recovery of glitz, glamour, and theatrical hyperbole. Where once there was but a handful of pop divas, fans can now find a growing legion of contenders, a trend underscored by this 1998 cable special originally produced for VH1. The show's producers start with the title's high concept (five divas, one stage!), add an admirable if shrewd charity hook (the better to recruit platinum stars without prohibitive fees), and provide fans with an otherwise straightforward revue, interspersed with introductory cameos from film and television actresses.

For the starring quintet's fans, VH1 Divas Live is hard to disparage: Celine Dion, Gloria Estefan, Shania Twain, and Mariah Carey provide the requisite combination of beauty, high-ticket sartorial glamour, and stage drama, and their brief sets hew to their biggest hits. Beyond that common formula, these four do diverge somewhat, Dion and Carey most closely following the mannered tradition of the prima donna, Estefan (who, between songs, admits her bemusement at inclusion) offering an earthier and less calculated variant, and the nominally country-oriented Twain rounding out the headliners as a diva-in-the-making, perfectly packaged if vocally more modest.

Still, it's the show's "old timers" who remind us of what's too often missing from today's diva--the emotional largesse that fans crave, and an underlying sense of true worldliness. The fifth featured diva, Aretha Franklin, has never achieved conventional glamour, but what she offers in vocal power and career prestige enables Lady Soul to cast a long shadow across the entire show, even when her actual performances are duets or ensembles. And Carole King, also along for duets and ensemble spots, is even less to the diva manor born, a quintessential singer-songwriter even when draped in an elegant black suit, but her longstanding credibility likewise translates to pole position here. --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews

VH1 Divas Live '98
VH1 had decided to put together a benefit concert that was to help raise the money for the Save The Music Foundation. In 1998, they had their first charity concert entitled, "VH1 Divas Live '98". They have chosen five female solo acts to perform in this concert. Those five women are: Celine Dion, Gloria Estefan, Aretha Franklin, Shania Twain, & Mariah Carey. Carole King was also invited to this concert, but only as a guest diva. These five women helped redefine the meaning of listening to music and it is all defined right here.

Mariah Carey is the first two perform. She comes out, wearing a beautiful white sparkling gown, and performs, "My All". Just as the song nears the end, the song goes into a dance remix, where Mariah closes out the song. After "My All", Mariah then sings, "Make it Happen", a song that she had written about how she made it to where she is now.

Gloria Estefan then takes the stage, wearing a longer silver gown. Gloria sings "Heaven's What I Feel", the first single off her 1998 dance-fused album, "Gloria". After "Heaven's What I Feel", Gloria then sings, "Turn The Beat Around". After those two brilliant songs, Gloria performs an awesome Megamix Medley. The medley consists of, "Dr. Beat", "Conga", "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You", "1-2-3", & "Get On Your Feet".

Shania Twain then takes the stage, wearing a black sparkling half-top and black pants. First, Shania sings, "Man! I Feel Like A Woman". After that, she sits on a stool and, while playing an acoustic guitar, sings, "You're Still The One".

Aretha Franklin then takes the stage to perform, wearing a black party gown. Only, Aretha is not alone. Mariah Carey is with her. The two perform Aretha's hit song, "Chain Of Fools" and they sing it brilliantly.

Celine Dion comes out to the stage, wearing a black suit and black coat. She is joined by Carole King, where they sing Celine Dion's song, "The Reason". Carole King leaves the stage after, "The Reason", where Celine performs, "River Deep, Mountain High", followed by, "My Heart Will Go On".

A piano is wheeled out. Playing the piano is Carole King. Leaning on the side of the piano is Celine Dion, Gloria Estefan, & Shania Twain. The three sing, "You've Got A Friend". Carole not only plays the piano, but sings with Celine, Gloria, & Shania. For the finale, Celine, Gloria, Aretha, Shania, Mariah, & Carole take center stage to perform, "(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman" and "Testimony".

These women gave one hell of a concert, proving that they are Divas. I just hope that for the divas of 2005, they'll choose: Madonna, Roberta Flack, Toni Braxton, Taylor Dayne, Melissa Etheridge, & Annie Lennox. The whole selist for VH1 Divas Live '98 and the Divas of '98 line-up are listed below:

The Divas of '98
Celine Dion
Gloria Estefan
Aretha Franklin
Shania Twain
Mariah Carey
Carole King (guest diva)

VH1 Divas Live '98 setlist:

MARIAH CAREY
-My All
-Make It Happen

GLORIA ESTEFAN
-Heaven's What I Feel
-Turn The Beat Around
-(Megamix Medley) Dr. Beat/Conga/Rhythm Is Gonna Get You/1-2-3/Get On Your Feet

SHANIA TWAIN
-Man! I Feel Like A Woman
-You're Still The One

ARETHA FRANKLIN & MARIAH CAREY
-Chain Of Fools

CELINE DION & CAROLE KING
-The Reason

CELINE DION
-River Deep, Mountain High
-My Heart Will Go On

CELINE DION, GLORIA ESTEFAN, SHANIA TWAIN, & CAROLE KING
-You've Got A Friend

CELINE DION, GLORIA ESTEFAN, ARETHA FRANKLIN, SHANIA TWAIN, MARIAH CAREY, & CAROLE KING
-(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman
-Testimony

Anythin with a duet by Mariah and Aretha is worth it! 1
I love this video. It was fantastic. Good performances given by Celine Dion , Shania Twain, Gloria Estefen BUT my hat goes off to Mariah and Aretha. Seeing the two do a duet was breath-taking. Mariah the greatest voice of today ( and ever) and Aretha the Queen of Soul was perfect. Mariah Carey is one reason alone to buy the video. If you aren't the biggest fansof these ladies you will be after watching this video. I luv you Mariah!

Hey there a compilation of five of the best singers.
I first watched the VH1 Divas Live special on VH1 when it came out on cable tv about a year ago. I have to admit that I was pretty pleased because Celine Dion,Shania Twain, Gloria Estefan, Mariah Carey, and Aretha Franklin(the queen of soul) were on it. Celine is my most favorite singer because she has a magnificent voice. I love listening to her sing and on this video you can catch her singing the World-famous song "My heart will go on."