VH1 Diva’s Live, returned after a four year hiatus and it should have been renamed Divas: The Next Generation featuring singing acts in their tweens and twenties.
The show aired live from the Brooklyn Academy of music.
Paula Abdul hosted the returning show. Abdul showed that she has a great sense of humor taking a dig at her American Idol replacement Ellen DeGeneres. Abdul rocked out wearing Ellen’s signature suit, tennis shoes and a short blonde wig while doing a butched up version of the Ellen dance onstage. Too funny and justly so. All is fair in love and war.
Jennifer Hudson’s duet with the legendary Stevie Wonder reminded us just how big this girl’s soulful voice really is. Having seen JHud live in concert, she’s a first class diva act. Wonder and Hudson made singing look so easy, by just playing together. Amazing!
My personal highlight was LA homeowner, Leona Lewis of the UK, singing her new hit. She looked, sounded and brought the emotion of an old school glamourous diva on stage. Her couture gown, coupled with the high notes she can hit up in the rafters of the Brooklyn Music Academy’s Opera House, like Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston could at her age, was the show stealer for me.
A diva has the ability to bring magical moments like that, not just sing songs. Leona did. Coupled with a stunning duet of True Colors with American music legend, Cindy Lauper was heavenly. Thanks Leona Lewis.
Of course, having met Miley Cyrus in person, I enjoyed Smilers duet with Sheryl Crow. Sheryl looked like she was truly honored to have a blast and sing with Cyrus, and Miley surprised by singing lower than Crow does and being taller than her music icon too. Miley continued to annoy/ shock however, like any teenager her age does, by singing the lyrics: “Well, o.k. I still get stoned.” At 16 honey, you’re just being a big diva on that number, for sure!
Adele was soulful to a fault. Her duet of Video with India Arie, reminded us that a big girls curves are beautiful too and to be happy in the skin you’re in. A great message. Adele fuses her humilty with a big voice like Alison Moyet. Love her!
Kelly Clarkson’s duet with Melissa Etheridge rocked the house. These girls have rockers voices. Not easy to sing, when you’re women and America is all about rock n’ roll too. I loved their performance.
Here in LA, Ryan Seacrest tweeted “Gnite..sleep well! Whitney houston and taylor swift on radio tomorrow. And its fri!” More Divas on the radio, oh Kiss FM lovers of LA. It’s Diva mania here. Sheryl Crow’s exquisite talent as a lyricist follows with her If It Makes You Happy Song:
I’ve been long, a long way from here
Put on a poncho, played for mosquitos,
And drank til I was thirsty again
We went searching through thrift store jungles
Found Geronimo’s rifle, Marilyn’s shampoo
And Benny Goodman’s corset and pen
Well, o.k. I made this up
I promised you I’d never give up
[Chorus]
If it makes you happy
It can’t be that bad
If it makes you happy
Then why the hell are you so sad
You get down, real low down
You listen to Coltrane, derail your own train
Well who hasn’t been there before?
I come round, around the hard way
Bring you comics in bed, scrape the mold off the bread
And serve you french toast again
Well, o.k. I still get stoned
I’m not the kind of girl you’d take home
Chorus
We’ve been far, far away from here
Put on a poncho, played for mosquitos
And everywhere in between
Well, o.k. we get along
So what if right now everything’s wrong?
Chorus
