news | messageboard | discography

VH1 DIVAS LIVE

Tracklisting
Mariah Carey
01. My all
02. Make it happen
Gloria Estefan
03. Turn the beat around
04. Heaven's what I feel
05. Megamix: Dr. Beat/Conga/Rhythm is
gonna get you/1-2-3/Get on your feet
Shania Twain
06. Man! I feel like a woman
07. You're still the one
Aretha Franklin and Mariah Carey
08. Chain of fools
Celine Dion
09. River deep, mountain high
Celine Dion and Carole King
10. The reason
Celine Dion
11. My heart will go on
Celine Dion, Gloria Estefan, Shania
Twain, Carole King

12. You've got a friend
The divas
13. A natural woman
14. Testimony
On October 6, 1998, Epic Records and VH1 released "VH1 Divas Live" on CD and video. The concert, starring Celine Dion, Aretha Franklin, Gloria Estefan, Shania Twain and Mariah Carey, was broadcast live on VH1 from New York's Beacon Theater on April 14, 1998.

The "VH1 Divas Live" concert was a benefit for "VH1 Save The Music", a pro-social initiative dedicated to improving the quality of education in America's public schools by restoring and supporting music programs in cities across the country. "VH1 Save The Music" was launched in January, 1997. Since then, VH1 and its affiliate partners have contributed over $11.5 million in total support and $3 million in instruments to the national initiative. A significant portion of the proceeds from sales of the "VH1 Divas Live" album will be donated to "VH1 Save The Music" by Epic Records, which has also made a $250,000 advance contribution to the initiative.

Wayne Isaak, VH1 Senior Vice President, writes about the concert: In November 1997, following general months of debate, a small group of us at VH1 finally agreed to turn our annual "VH1 Honors" concert into a once-in-a-lifetime gathering of some of the most notable and popular female voices in contemporary music. Borrowing from several smaller productions, we were determined to create a performance showcase which we titled "VH1 Divas Live".

The task of booking such a show was monumental. To gather some of today's top vocalists together on the same stage, singing both their own songs and a number of collaborations, presented innumerable logistical challenges. We began by researching a list of artists who were actively performing, and factored in those who we thought would work well together. By early December, we had an impressive list of names, and we began to make offers.

In early January 1998, Celine Dion agreed to perform on the show and became our first official booking. Our viewers had chosen Celine as VH1's Artist of the Year in 1996; now her recording of "My heart will go on" was well on its way to become the biggest song of 1998. Since Celine and nearly all of the Divas we had targeted were scheduled to be on the East Coast in mid-April, we decided to move what had become an annual Los Angeles-based event to Gotham City to be held two days after Easter on April 14, 1998. We hastened to secure a venue in New York and to confirm the participation of more Divas.

Aretha Franklin had been on our list from day one. We were overjoyed to learn that she was planning an April release for her new album, "A rose is still a rose", and would be performing live during that time. Truly, Aretha was and is the definitive Diva, and thus became our role model for the event. With the persuasive efforts of Clive Davis, President of Arista Records, she finally agreed in early March to play the event. And when the Queen of Soul stood in for an ailing Luciano Pavarotti and stole the Grammy Awards telecast with her rendition of Puccini's "Nessun Dorma", we knew Aretha was going to be magical.

Gloria Estefan was preparing to debut a new LP, "Gloria!", in early June, and responded enthusiastically to our invitation.

From our vantage point in February, Shania Twain was one of country music's biggest-selling artists, and poised to score a breakthrough pop hit with her new single, "You're still the one". We loved the idea of widening the appeal of our show by including her fans, and we loved the idea of Shania in general. She seemed like a Diva in the making.

From the start, we'd fantasized about having Mariah Carey on the show. But in December and January, her Spring ‘98 tour plans were uncertain, and we didn't want to add another decision to her list. So we built the show to the point of near completion by early March, and only then asked Mariah to join us. She was concerned as to how she'd fit into the already busy evening, but was excited by the prospect of singing with Aretha. After working through her schedule and her repertoire, Mariah finally said yes in mid-March, just hours before our posters and advertisements went to press.

The final addition of Carole King to our artist rooster would prove crucial to the success of "VH1 Divas Live". Producer Ken Ehrlich and I really wanted Carole to duet with Celine on "The reason", a song cowritten by Carole for Celine's album, "Let's talk about love". We also hoped that Carole would lead the whole ensemble through her classic composition, "A natural woman" - one of the best songs ever written from a woman's point of view. Just nine days before the event, Ms. King agreed to come in from Los Angeles.

Another Carole King standard, "You've got a friend", was added and rehearsed onstage the night before the live telecast, with Carole leading Shania, Celine, and Gloria through the song with the aid of sheet music purchased that evening from the Colony Music store on Broadway. "A natural woman" was only fully rehearsed by the group in Ms. Franklin's bus about two hours before the start of the show.

After nearly two-and-a-half hours of singing and musical testimony, network President John Sykes presented a check for $100,000 to "VH1 Save The Music" in the name of each Diva. The "VH1 Save The Music" initiative, which helped inspire the Divas to join the event, is dedicated to improving the quality of education in America's public schools by restoring and supporting music programs in communities across the country. There is an overwhelming proof that music education helps children to learn important subjects like math and science. To date VH1 has contributed over 11.5 million dollars in total support to help bring music instruction to over 50,000 children.

The live broadcast became the highest rated program in VH1's 13 year history. Twenty million people watched the program in the initial airings on the channel in the US. The feedback we received from viewers, the media, other artists, and the Divas themselves confirmed that we all had been part of an extraordinary musical event.

COMPACT DISCS (CD'S)
CD (2894)
no catalogue number
promo, called "sampler"
collection Andy H. Tjondrodihardjo

Tracklisting:
1. My all - Mariah Carey
2. You're still the one - Shania Twain
3. My heart goes on - Celine Dion
4. You've got a friend - Celine Dion, Gloria Estefan, Shania Twain, Carole King
5. A natural woman - The divas

CD from Asia (1579)
491778.2
collection Eric de Ridder
CD from Asia (1576)
491778.9
foldout digipack
collection Eric de Ridder
CD from Australia (0690)
491778 2
collection Eric de Ridder
CD from Austria (0691)
491778 2
collection Eric de Ridder
CD from Austria (3198)
491778 9
collection Marcel Trupia
CD from Brazil (1755)
789.169/2-491778
collection Luiz Gustavo Veloso
CD from Brazil (2108)
2-491778
comes in a card slipcase
collection Rafael Frattini Cabral
CD from Canada (2119)
EK 69600
collection Pascal Bellerose
CD from China (0692)
MKCD-1232
2 CD set
collection Eric de Ridder

Tracklisting CD 2:
1. A natural woman (video)

There are many different catalogue numbers on this item. On the first CD it says ISRC CN-D17-98-326-00/A.J6 and MKCD-1232 and on the back of the booklet it says 491778.2.

CD from Colombia (2083)
92 491778
collection Eric de Ridder
CD from Indonesia (1521)
491778 2
collection Indra Jaya
CD from Japan (2221)
no catalogue number
promo
collection Christopher Kelly

Tracklisting:
1. A natural woman
2. You got a friend

CD from Japan (2752)
ESCA 7367
collection Marcel Trupia
CD from Singapore (2120)
491778.2
collection Pascal Bellerose

This is an limited edition CD, shrinkwrapped with an exclusive VH1 Divas Live address book.

CD from Singapore (1537)
491778.9 / 491778.2
foldout digipack
collection Gilbert Chong
CD from Singapore (3199)
no catalogue number
collection Marcel Trupia
CD from South-Korea (0693)
CPK-1958 (491778 2)
collection Eric de Ridder
CD from Taiwan / Asia (2122)
491778.9
comes with a booklet with English and Chinese lyrics
foldout digipack
collection Eric de Ridder
CD from Taiwan / Asia (2123)
491778.9
promo, comes with a booklet with English and Chinese lyrics
foldout digipack
collection Rob Fredie

This item is the same as item 2122, but on the back cover is a stamp saying in Chinese "promo only".

CD from Taiwan (0753)
MKCD-1232
collection Eric de Ridder

This CD is packed in the Asian video CD case, but on top of the back cover is another cover. Therefor there are many catalogue numbers on this item. On the CD it says ISRC CN-D17-98-326-00/A.J6 and on the back of the booklet it says 491778.2. On the sides it says MKCD-1232 and M2VCD50175.

CD from Taiwan (1501)
MKCD-1232
collection Eric de Ridder

There are many different catalogue numbers on this item. On the CD it says ISRC CN-D17-98-326-00/A.J6 and MKCD-1232 and on the back of the booklet it says 491778.2. On the side of the slipcase it says MKCD-1232 and on the side of the CD it says M2VCD50175. According to the tracklisting on the backcover of the CD it should be two video CDs, but the backcover of the slipcase has the correct tracklisting.

super audio CD from Taiwan (2102)
ES69600
collection Rob Fredie
CD from the USA (?) (2060)
no catalogue number
promo without sleeve
collection Luc Baumgartner
CD from the USA (2115)
EK 69600
collection Rodrigo C. Jusay
CD from the USA (0694)
EK 69668
foldout digipack
collection Eric de Ridder
CD from the USA (2194)
ES 69600
collection Eric de Ridder

This super audio CD is designed for use in super audio CD players only.

CASSETTES
cassette from Argentina (1250)
247.500 / 4-491778
song titles are in Spanish
collection Eric de Ridder
cassette from Holland (0688)
491778 4
collection Eric de Ridder
cassette from Hungary (3527)
491778 4
collection Szilvia Kiss
cassette from Indonesia (1430)
491778.4
collection Indra Jaya
cassette from the Philippines (1728)
491778.4
collection Eric de Ridder
cassette from Poland (1530)
491778 4
collection Eric de Ridder
cassette from South-Korea (2292)
CPT-1958 (491778 4)
collection Luc Baumgartner
cassette from Taiwan (1531)
MKC-1232 / 491778.4
collection Eric de Ridder
cassette from the USA (0689)
ET 69600
collection Eric de Ridder
MINI DISCS
mini disc from Austria (0696)
491778 8
collection Eric de Ridder
VIDEOS
video from Asia (1727)
EV 50175
collection Eric de Ridder
video from Australia (0748)
200858 2
collection Eric de Ridder
video from Brazil (1584)
149.167/2-050175
collection Raphael Armand
video from Europe (0698)
200858 2
collection Eric de Ridder
video from Thailand (2178)
ISBN 1-56330-099-3
collection PP
video from the USA (1612)
EV 50175
collection Ricardo Wakeham
DVD'S
DVD from Asia (1564)
EVD 50175
collection Eric de Ridder
DVD from Asia (2290)
VD-137
collection Luc Baumgartner
DVD from Australia (0749)
200858 9
collection Eric de Ridder
DVD from Brazil (2434)
132.015/9-050175
collection Luiz Gustavo Veloso
DVD from Europe (0695)
200858 9
collection Eric de Ridder
DVD from Germany (2570)
0363
collection Marco Hendriks
DVD from Hong Kong (0979)
ISRC CN-E24-01-487-00/V.J6
comes in a card slipcase, picture disc
collection Eric de Ridder
DVD from Taiwan (2098)
EVD 50175
collection Rob Fredie
DVD from the USA (1613)
EVD 50175
collection Eric de Ridder
VIDEO CD'S
video CD from Asia (0699)
M2VCD50175
2 CD set
collection Eric de Ridder
video CD from Malaysia (0700)
M2VCD50175
2 CD set
collection Eric de Ridder
video CD from South-Korea (0701)
S2VCD 0014 (M2VCD 50175)
2 CD set
collection Eric de Ridder
video CD from Taiwan (1929)
M2VCD50175
collection Rob Fredie
SPECIAL ITEMS
DVD and CD from Brazil (1534)
2-502814/2-491778
collection Eduardo Tacari
promo box from the Netherlands (0697)
collection Eric de Ridder

This promo box contains the CD VH1 Divas Live (491778 2 - item 0691) and the video VH1 Divas Live (200858 2 - item 0698), packed in a black velvet box.

promo box from the USA (2118)
collection Pascal Bellerose

This promo box contains the CD VH1 Divas Live (EK 69600 - item 2115) and the video VH1 Divas Live (EV 50175 - item 1612), packed in a black velvet box.

video and CD from the USA (3065)
EVK 69720
collection Andy H Tjondrodihardjo
© The Mariah Carey Archives 1998 - 2024 | visitors online