Beginning the show with a video of Mary at the head of a boardroom table, despairing as various industry executives and hangers-on discuss how to market their star, this DVD is a ‘thank you’ to the fans “who put me here”. It’s not about the money, or the bling-bling, she declares, but the people who buy her music.

Whilst it’s all very admirable, and I’ve no doubt she’s genuine, the sentiment becomes unbearable all too quickly. Songs blend into each other in a tiresome medley of earnest R&B slush, hitting a real low with a cover of Philip Bailey’s ‘Children Of The Ghetto’. It’s one step too far in her quest to ‘keep it real’. I’m sure she’s had a hard time and wants to sing about it, but, when almost every song is an insipid ballad, it’s hard to feel any sense of connection.

With all the pathos and panache of the Ricki Lake show, the concert doesn’t do justice to Mary’s voice. There are too many costume changes where time is filled with video clips (the visual equivalent of the ‘skit’) and songs sung by backing singers. There are too many moments when Mary J. Blige looks like bursting in to tears. There are too many scripted scenes – one with a mother and her child is particularly nauseating. By the time the superb ‘No More Drama’ comes around, I’d lost all interest. Thankfully, on this one song, she uses her vocal talent to full effect, screaming out the words, before reverting back to nondescript soul. Whilst there’s no denying she has a great voice, it would be good if she made better use of it. Fireworks and ‘guest’ appearances by Notorious B.I.G. don’t make up for this lacklustre performance.

The extras – two behind-the-scenes documentaries – are interesting, but don’t really push the DVD medium to its limit. How about some videos or an interview? They really sum up my problem with the whole package: it just doesn’t do enough. It’s too effortless.
(2/5)

Release Date: 22 November 2004

Live from Los Angeles