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Beyonce Live At Roseland DVD

Being in one of the world’s biggest girl groups of all time, and further storming the charts with a historic solo career, the next best step for the R&B singer was to release a DVD showcasing her work. Not only are we invited to an intimate gig where we see the goddess of music in her famous raunchy outfits, belting out her classic tracks and taking the tone down with her slower, more profound numbers, but we are exposed to behind the scenes footage ranging from her Destiny’s Child days to the present.

Opening with a video of the innocent Beyoncé Giselle Knowles as a little girl, oblivious to the remarkable career ahead of her and thanking her parents for being there for her, it is hard to believe that the busty, glamorous singer would end up where she is today. Held in Roseland’s Ballroom, New York City in August 2011, Beyoncé allows the audience to go back in time and start at the very beginning, showing footage of herself, Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland in rehearsals. Whilst singing hits such as ‘Bills, Bills, Bills’, ‘Bootylicious’ and ‘Survivor’, it is clear that she knows exactly how to get under the skin of the crowd and prepare them for a night they won’t forget.

Once she has probed into her musical history, the sincerity of her performance shows through when she says “I just want to have a good time with y'all!”, and you find yourself up from the sofa and holding the remote in your hand like a microphone. A few booty shakes and a hair flick later, you can imagine yourself there in the crowd, clawing the person in front to get a closer look at the stunning star. It is then that she launches into her classic songs such as ‘Single Ladies’ (with that infamous dance routine) and ‘Irreplaceable’ (written by Ne-Yo), allowing the audience to sing along with her and really get into the mood of the night.

But the best is yet to come, as the feisty side of this woman shines through when she says "The label told me I didn’t have one hit song on my album. I guess they were kinda right. I had five!" She then begins singing songs from her latest album, 4, named after her lucky number. After up-tempo tracks like ‘End Of Time’ and ‘Run The World’, where her performing skills are at their peak, the most touching and genuine song of all is ‘I Was Here’. This slow ballad is a real crowd-swayer, with Beyoncé performing on her knees and really showing off the range of her vocals. The lyrics of this song are the most heartfelt of all, making you want Beyoncé to leave a legacy on the world just as much as she does.

The DVD package itself is not one to miss, as along with the concert, there is bonus offstage footage and a 20-page booklet, including gorgeous photo-shoots of the star. In addition, the video anthology is a personal portfolio of Beyoncé’s work, allowing us to see the transformation from a young, fiery teenager that blossomed into a curvy, sexy and idyllic woman. Not only an idol to young girls, but to those past their prime as well, Beyoncé appeals to a range of audiences – particularly the male niche. But it isn’t just the image of Beyoncé that is left on the mind of the viewer, as the meanings behind her songs and genuine gratefulness for being on the stage is the most obvious asset she holds, making her one of the most admired women in the world.

Author: 

Holly Braine 'Swallow Our Words'