Beyoncé Album: “Beyoncé Experience Live [DVD]”

Much can be said about today's artists and the assembly-line fashion in which they are produced, packaged and marketed. Thankfully, Beyonce is not from that mold. The test of any great musical performer is how well their performance can hold up in front of a live audience, away from the safety of music video magic. The Beyonce Experience is one of those rare live performances where if you weren't convinced of the hype surrounding an artist beforehand -- you will be afterwards.

I saw this concert live in Chicago, IL and it was wonderful to find this DVD; it captures every moment of that amazing concert experience. Unlike others where the show relies heavily on stage production and quick edits to hide the weakness of the performance, The Beyonce Experience is one of those rare concert video's that put you right in the experience using camera angles that allow you to actually SEE THE PERFORMANCE.

From the opening in which Beyonce asks her Los Angeles audience, "...are you ready to be entertainnnnnneeeddd!!!," The Beyonce Experience is a magnum opus of all the great work she's compiled throughout the years as lead singer in Destiny's Child to her present solo efforts. Although brief, this concert DVD features brief guest appearances by Jay-Z, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Beyonce brings the heat with every track with exceptional performances on: Crazy in Love, Flaw's N All, Irreplaceable, Jumpin' Jumpin' and Soldier. Even the interludes by her all female band and her dance troupe are crowd pleasers.

The Blu-Ray image is presented in beautiful 1080p and a 1:78.1 aspect ratio so if you have a 16:9 widescreen television (or digital projector in my case); it fills your screen completely without letterboxing. The Dolby 5.1 sound substantially captures her vocals, the music and the crowd's excitement. The PCM audio will drive the neighbors to call the police on you because of the explosive sound quality. For the Blu-Ray fans who like all those fancy little extras, sorry you'll be disappointed. The video is a direct port of the DVD version. Even still, running at a lengthy two hours and ten minutes, for the price this is hands down one of the best concert experiences any artist has ever offered. It's a must for any MUSIC FAN and Beyonce fan alike.

I love this tour. I wanted to see it when she came to Chicago, but the ticket price was outrageous! Beyonce entertained her fans through her songs, energy, dancers, and her all female band! Here is the setlist:

1. Intro Fanfare - The band plays a sample of Strawberry Letter 23 as B makes her way to the stage.

2. Crazy In Love/Crazy - she performs her first single as a solo artist and mixes it with Gnarls Barkley's version of Crazy which was pretty cool. I also like how she rips the long skirt from her costume, making it a short skirt :)

3. Freakum Dress - very sexy performance. This version is more like a rocked-out version. Loved it!!!

4. Green Light/Band Jam - I liked it. One of my favorites from the B'Day album.

5. Baby Boy/Murder He Wrote - Awesome, but this performance is more for the ladies than the men.

6. Beautiful Liar - good, but it needed Shakira.

7. Naughty Girl - sexy performance. Love the soul clapping.

8. Me, Myself, And I - liked it, but I like the Wembley Arena DVD performance better.

9. Piano Break/Dangerously In Love/He Loves Me - one of my favorite peformances from the DVD. It's very elegant and I love how she mixes Jill Scott's He Loves Me in the song.

10. Flaws and All - pretty good. Towards the end, B sheds some tears while embracing an angel.

11. Cops & Robbers Intro/Destiny's Child Medley (Independent Women Pt 1, Bootylicious, No No No Pt 2, Bug A Boo [Screwed & Chopped Mix], Bills Bills Bills, Cater 2 U, Say My Name, Jumpin Jumpin, Soldier [Soulja Boy Crank Mix], Survivor w. Kelly and Michelle) - loved it. My favorites were Bills Bills Bills and Say My Name. I like how she did the Souja Boy Dance with her dancers.

12. Speechless - I think she could've left this number out.

13. Jailhouse Confessions/Ring The Alarm - HOT! The intro is HOT!!! This is the song where she fell on the flight of stairs at the Orlando show. She didn't fall off of this performance which was good.

14. Suga Mama - pretty hot! I've learned to like this song and I love the performance

15. Upgrade U (feat Jay-Z) - not my favorite song by her, but Jay-Z made a special performance with B.

16. 03 Bonnie & Clyde/Prince Mix - okay, not my favorite.

17. Check On It (Special Tour Version) - LOVED IT!! It cracked me up and it was sexy at the same time.

18. Deja Vu - that's my song and Beyonce's! Wished she sang the second verse, but the performance was great!

19. Bass Jam/Bee Intro/Get Me Bodied (Extended Mix) - She bought it home!! My favorite song and performance from B!

20. Welcome To Hollywood - it's just the song and never before seen footage of Beyonce. Pretty good to watch as B makes her costume change.

21. Dreamgirls - Very interesting! I wish she would've performed the whole song.

22. Listen - Awesome!!

23. Irreplaceable/B'Day Surprise - To the left! To the left! Great song to close the show as well as B's birthday surprise.

Overall, it was a great show. I could watch it a million times and still love it

I am a huge Beyonce fan so I may be a little biased, but she really did her thing on this tour. I love how she has an all female band and women of all shapes and sizes dancing with and behind her and singing as well. She takes our old favorites and spices them up with mixes of current songs and dances. (My favorites would have to be the "Crank That" Soldier Mix...Beyonce does what she does best...and the other would have to be the new version of Baby Boy with the extended reggae mix). She finally performed Flaws and All and I love how the camera is on her and she connects with her fans. The entire set, theme, and flow of the show was great. I am still questioning some of her choice in set outfits, (like the sequins on the swimsuit...?) But overall it was an incredible experience, and I wish I was there to witness her in action-her stage presence and the way she interacts with her fans is incredible. There is no other performer like her right now who can sing, dance, and truly give you your money's worth of an entertaining show.

The flip side...is Kelly and Michelle came out for a chorus of Survivor-which was hilarious to me because she had just finished an ENTIRE set of Destiny's Child songs by herself! Just watching Bee perform only reflects the superstar that she is and she is deserving of that title-I think Kelly and Michelle are nice, but they are mediocre they are not on Bee's level and its not because her dad put her in the spotlight SHE works her butt off and is smart and when you watch this DVD of her concert you will agree. She goes out on the stage and leaves her blood, sweet, and tears with the audience and you can fill that passion...that always makes for an incredible artist. This DVD is worth the money whether you are a Beyonce fan or not.

I went to the Beyonce Experience on September 1 and it was amazing. This DVD is the best. This is the best concert I've been to. Beyonce hits every dance move every note she's amazing. She knows how to put on a show. This is a must have.

My Highlight Performances

Crazy In Love

Greenlight

Flaws in All

Destiny's Child Medley

Get Me Bodied

Ring THe Alarm

I haven't seen her in person but I got to see this in the theater's on a One Night Only event and was blown away. Now I've seen Janet on the "Rhythm Nation Tour" and Prince on his "Purple Rain Tour". This ranks up there with those. Beyonce is such a BIG star but she seems approachably and will talk to anyone. Her perfoming gets better each time I see her. Her band was INCREDIBLE also. All Females and will give any all Male band a run for their money. I'm buying this DVD tomorrow and will never sell it.