To watch Live... and Alone is to realize that few performers connect with their audience as closely, and inspire such mutual gratitude, as Melissa Etheridge. Performing a two-hour, 22-song set at Hollywood's Kodak Theater ... more »on December 8, 2001 (the final American date of an international solo tour), Etheridge moves effortlessly between beautiful ballads ("Ready to Love" and Joan Armatrading's "The Weakness in Me") and raw, aching expressions of passion ("Lover Please," "I'm the Only One," and others) that have chronicled her own survival in a lifetime's quest for love. She may be alone on stage, but offstage life looks sweet between the 40-year-old Etheridge and Tammy, her first girlfriend after breaking up with longtime lover Julie Cypher, the mother of their two children. Etheridge's sensitivity to all facets of love is undiminished, whether she's dazzling her mostly female audience with flawless vocals and expert playing of several guitars, or giving a tearfully maternal response to questions about the mid-tour terrorism of September 11. Loaded with behind-the-scenes features (including rare video of a 1987 club gig), this two-disc set is heaven-sent for Etheridge's loyal fans, offering a thorough and technically impressive survey of Etheridge's career thus far. --Jeff Shannon« less
Actor:Melissa Etheridge Genres:Music Video & Concerts Sub-Genres:Pop, Rock & Roll Studio:Island Format:DVD - Color DVD Release Date: 11/05/2002 Original Release Date: 01/01/2001 Theatrical Release Date: 01/01/2001 Release Year: 2002 Screens: Color Number of Discs: 2 SwapaDVD Credits: 2 Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 0 Edition: Deluxe Edition MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated) Languages:English See Also:
Had some songs you know and some unfamiliar songs that I have have not heard that sounded good. I was not impressed with the rest of the songs that were filler in this. A must if you are a fan of Melissa Etheridge.
Movie Reviews
Melissa Etheridge: Live and Alone, the Deluxe DVD
Starling | California | 10/02/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
".
I was washing my car in a little car wash across the street from Christy's (the other Bono) restaurant when I remembered that that night was the premiere of the Movie of Melissa Etheridge's Live and Alone Concert.So I went. It is just like being at the concert except that you get to sit in a real seat. It begins with some footage from the last time Melissa sang in a particular bar in Pasadena, California in 1987. She had so much promise and poise, even then. The bar scene flows into the time before right before this Concert which was filmed at the Kodak in Hollywood, in 2001. Even Stephen Spielberg hobbles into this pre-concert footage.The concert is The Perfect Melissa Concert: the photography is great; her expressions are fierce and funny; and her voice just fills up the screen and the hearts of those who hear her.Among other songs, she sings the two piano songs, Please Forgive Me and the Weakness In Me; and other songs in which she accompanies herself on the guitar, Down To One, Lover Please, American Girl, Chrome, Scarecrow, The Only One, Come To My Window, Somebody Bring Me Some Water and The Way I Do. There are other songs; I'm not a scribe. Chrome is really a beautiful song and beautifully done. Lover Please, shows Melissa's pain to the point of pleading but also, through the use of that garble-machine into which Melissa sputters the words `do you want me' (I think) and through the use of that harsh yellow light, I sense real anger, anger that I never heard in the song without the visual.The photography and editing are excellent, occasionally there would be three shots of her singing on the screen at once - the movie was really well cut and crafted. And Melissa is Melissa. It is extraordinary. The deluxe DVD of this concert/movie will also contain footage of Melissa at home.It is a must for every music lover."
Awesome Melissa Etheridge
Tim Dunker | Germany | 11/16/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Why did we have to wait so long for such an awesome live DVD of the genial Melissa Etheridge.
This DVD will captivate you infront of the TV for the 2 hour Concert. Make sure you have got some space to dance ...
The Dolby Digital Sound (5.1) makes you feel being right infront of the stage and that feels great.
Etheridge plays all by herself and the show is very diversified.
12String, Electric, 6String, Doubleneck, Piano, Harmonica, percussion on the back of a guitar and acapella.
She impresses as she allways does. My personal highpoint is her performance of "Ready to Love" a song she wrote when she was 17 but nerver recorded it. The bonus material on disc 2 is also very special and I devoured it.
Thank you Melissa for finally giving the fans what they allways wanted ... I can't wait to get the DVD with a band performance next year ;-)"
Etheridge is Exceptionally Excellent!
Leslie L. Larson | MI, United States | 10/07/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Ok my wife and I just finished watching Melissa's "Live & Alone" DVD premiere on Dish on Demand. And right of the bat I'd like to say that we can hardly wait to see this highly awaited DVD's content in full once the release of it rolls about! We've been devoted fans of Melissa's for years now and seen her numberous times in concert ... this woman is sure to deliver a performance like no other in her genre ... and she never disappoints! We will definately be spending the extra buck or two on the deluxe version of this DVD, as it will certainly be worth seeing the little extra tidbits; such as her cute intimate moments w/her new found love, Tammy! Hey, why was the [great] radition of Crimson 'n Clover cut --- what a bummer! Keep it precious Melissa --- Love from your fans, Kay and Les"
Alive, Alone & in your own home.
Belle Fast | Northern Ireland | 11/04/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Firtstly the important bit " what you get for your $'s"Disc 1 : Each separate section is marked with a *
* The concert. 2 hours of footage from the Kodak theater, LA. ( I think the Christmas songs are all that have been cut from the original show.)
* Song Access. Where can jump straight to your favorite bit.
* Audio setup. You can choose between a stereo setting or a Dolby 5.1surround sound.
* Special Features. At this point there are 2 options, The first,
Melissa's Commentary & the second, Multiangle Concert segments. The latter has 2 songs "All American Girl" & "Scarecrow" filmed from 3 angles, you can pick & mix your preferred version from your own handset.
* Links & Credits.Disc 2 :
* Live & Alone Tour Diary. Now this is very cool. There's a graphic that charts Melissa's whole tour & you can follow the plane from city to city in the US & then over to Europe. There's a day counter & mileage chart which also ( inexplicably ! ) tells you how much water Melissa drank & how many bagels the crew ate along the way. Starting from home in LA we see Melissa & partner Tammy in the house, ( Aug. 2. 01 ) fooling around in the kitchen,
get a mini tour of the office, bedroom & closet as they pack for the tour. Then it skips to short segments in Washington DC, Boston, Atlanta & Miami ( featuring the MEIN party & meet + greet ) Then there's a solo piece where Melissa relates being in Texas on 9/11, how she heard about the attack on NYC & what she did that day, it's a very emotional piece.
The next footage is backstage at the concert from NYC. Then the plane travels over to Europe & we see Melissa in London on the London Eye & at the Meet + Greet with her Fan Club. Next it's over to Amsterdam where we see Melissa on the canal doing the
tourist bit again finally to Berlin where we see some landmarks &
Melissa talks about the "wall" & it ends at her Valentine's Day concert.
This portion lasts about an hour.
My favorite part of the discs, although I have to say the camera work is quite shoddy in places, even I know you wouldn't film someone with a window being them as all you'd see would be the silhouette, but it does give a "home movie" feel.
* Melissa Interviewed.
Short interview, although you'd think it was a monologue as the
interviewer is barely audible, also the whole footage of Melissa
discussing 9/11 is repeated.
*Extra songs. 2 full versions, 'Yes I am' filmed in Atlanta & 'Dance without sleeping' from the first night at Amsterdam.
* 1987 Solo Performance. Snippets of songs from the footage that started the movie & ppv, found by Melissa when cleaning !
*Roxy performance with the Band, April 02. Again sadly only snippets of the songs ( LP, BMSW & ITOO )
*Bonus tracks. "The Weakness in Me" & "Alive". Surprisingly there is no visual accompaniment here at all, but it's in ' 24 bit / 96 kHz high resolution uncompressed stereo audio" ( is that a consolation prize )
* Complete Discography
* Special links ( dvd rom features )
* Credits.This DVD is the first ( offical ) release from Melissa Etheridge, after a multitude of videos & live tours finally fans have the chance to take Melissa home ( which will appeal to many ) Watching, you can indulge in the performance as often as you like & get the opportunity to see why so many people follow & are in awe of this very talented artist.
It only lacks the 5th star because filmed at the end of a gruelling tour the travelling has taken an edge off Melissa's voice which doesn't do some of her numbers justice & I think some footage could have been given for the bonus track performances.
Never the less it's been worth the wait, you'll not regret this purchase."
Better late than never!
J. Francis | Virginia | 01/11/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"What was I thinking? I only ordered this two-disc deluxe edition two weeks ago. To think all this time could have been rocking with Melissa!
I was in the audience for the first night of this concert tour in Washington, D.C. To hear her talk about how she hoped her audience realized this wasn't a "watch Melissa sit on a stool and strum her guitar" concert made me realize how important her audience and fans are to her. She performs her heart out and gives everything she has to her audience. Be sure to look for all the extras in this dvd. I almost missed the behind the scenes at several of the concerts. There is also a clip of her getting ready to go on the road and you get a glimpse of her home. I can't wait to see her live again. Thanks for the dvd Melissa! People, check out the "Lucky" dvd too. It is incredible."