January 14, 2005 @ 9:17 am

DVD Review: An Intimate Evening with Mary J. Blige

by: Patrick Taliaferro

Mary J. Blige’s road to stardom wasn’t paved with diamonds and considering her

That relatable person arrives during the intimate evening with Mary J. Blige at L.A.'s House of Blues. Armed with over a decade of hit albums, Mary opens the show with a stroll down memory lane. She spins older hits "You Gotta Believe," "Be Happy," and "Love No Limit" with a new gospel twinge that wasn't around when she recorded the tunes in the late 90's under a drug induced haze. Unfortunately that momentum slows down a bit when she is joined onstage by a tedious sounding Sting, for a slightly off key performance of "Whenever I Say Your Name." Thankfully the show lands back on track when Mary presents the later part of her catalogue. Although she is quite spectacular with her range of emotions while grinding out "It's a Wrap" and "Your Child," the true entertainment happens when the camera catches hordes of women and gay men crying and screaming the words with the gruff diva. Mary lets loose a bit too much while going into an expletive filled tirade between songs about what's wrong with the world - obviously an intimate evening with Mary wouldn't be complete without her cursing someone out. The show ends with an Elton John duet that truly showcases Mary's growth over the years. She performs Elton's classic 'I Guess That's Why They Call it the Blues,' which wouldn't have found a place on What's the 411, but could easily fit into her catalogue today. Along with excellent footage of the singer in rare form, the DVD also offers an interesting behind the scenes footage of Mary preparing for the performance. We see a stern, make-up-less Mary as she goes through the concert routine with her band, and if you look closely you'll notice a glimpse of tension with her band leader as he recounts his difficulties pulling together the impromptu show. What's really an eye opener is Mary's new found respect within the music industry. She even seems surprised when introducing some of the celebrity revelers who attend the show including Ellen Degeneres, Nick & Jessica Simpson, Jack & Kelly Osbourne, Lil' Kim, and P. Diddy. Although Mary's talent isn't flawless, her relatable demeanor transcends those flaws. To watch clips from Mary J. Blige's live performance, click below:

Article tags: DVD, Review, Intimate, Evening, Mary, J, Blige