SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 74:00 Min.
Released by Epic Records in October 1998, this album is a highlight package from the televised VH1 Diva Live: An Honors Concert for the VH1 Save the Music Foundation. Recorded on April 14, 1998, at New York City’s Beacon Theatre, the roster of female celebrities consist of: Mariah Carey; Celine Dion; Gloria Estefan; Aretha Franklin; Carole King; & Shania Twain. Most of the singers supplied her own band. For multiple tracks concluding the concert, the six ‘Divas’ team up.
The fourteen tracks included are:
Running Time:
- Mariah Carey – “My All” 5:44
- Mariah Carey – “Make It Happen” 5:28
- Gloria Estefan – “Turn the Beat Around” 5:06
- Gloria Estefan – “Heaven’s What I Feel” 4:53
- Gloria Estefan – Mega Mix 3:32
“Dr. Beat/Conga/Rhythm is Gonna Get You/1-2-3/Get On Your Feet”
- Shania Twain – “Man! I Feel Like a Woman” 4:33
- Shania Twain – “You’re Still the One” 3:37
- Aretha Franklin & Mariah Carey – “Chain of Fools” 4:23
- Celine Dion – “River Deep, Mountain High” 5:48
- Celine Dion & Carole King – “The Reason” 5:58
- Celine Dion – “My Heart Will Go On” 5:12
- The ‘Divas’ – “You’ve Got a Friend” 5:28
- The ‘Divas’ – “A Natural Woman” 5:14
- The ‘Divas’ – “Testimony” 9:45
REVIEW:
Unlike watching the actual concert (there’s some moments of a predictable ego-fest where two octave-blasting stars try upstaging each other), this highlight CD is a treat for fans. Hearing snippets of banter from the performers to the audience between songs is a nice supplement, too. Instead of a typical Grammys team-up, hearing these performers in succession, as well as together, the vocal chemistry is readily there.
If anything, VH1 Dives Live delivers a welcome blast of female-powered Late 90’s nostalgia.
PACKAGING:
Epic Records does a solid job providing the CD’s necessary details without going overboard.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8 Stars
Note: As enjoyable as this album is, it’s a shame that one wasn’t produced for 1996’s original VH1 Honors concert (featuring Gloria Estefan, Natalie Merchant, Bryan Adams, & Sheryl Crow, among others). Among the highlights is Peter Gabriel unifying the other talent as back-up singers on an all-star rendition on “In Your Eyes.”
