Alicia Keys: VH1 Storytellers Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		4.0

Alicia Keys: VH1 Storytellers Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman June 24, 2013

Have you ever seen or read a news report that just made you burst into laughter? Recently there was a newspaper article here in my hometown of Portland, Oregon, about a middle aged woman who had been arrested for being drunk and disorderly and who somehow managed to not just get her handcuffed limbs in front of her, she also somehow scrambled unnoticed into the front seat of the police cruiser she was being held in and took off in the car, evidently while the cops were hobnobbing somewhere close by. She then led the police on a mad, high speed chase, but here’s what made me burst into giggles: she apparently got on the car radio and started singing Alicia Keys’ “Girl on Fire” as she attempted to make her escape. The mug shot revealed a woman rather far removed from Keys' svelte glamour, not to mention her multi-racial and ethnic background. In fact, this particular runaway “girl” was soon on ice, caught and re-arrested (with more supervision this time) and charged with a whole new battery of violations which will probably keep her behind bars for the next several chart hits of Ms. Keys herself. In the meantime, the incarcerated fool can spend her time watching this entertaining episode of VH1 Storytellers.

Keys moves through a number of songs (though not that many, considering the hour time slot she had to feel), giving spoken introductions and letting people into her songwriting process. Taylor Swift might want to take a few lessons from Keys, for as she discusses dealing with relationship issues in songcraft, she states how she's not out for revenge, but is really just looking for catharsis. Keys sounds just a tad hoarse through some of these proceedings, in both her spoken and sung moments, but she's invariably charming and personable. And she does "Girl on Fire" much better than I assume the fugitive did.

Alicia Keys: VH1 Storytellers Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Alicia Keys: VH1 Storytellers is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of RCA and VH1 with an AVC encoded 1080i transfer in 1.78:1. The purple lighting scheme does no favors to Keys (who might be a bit sick anyway, considering her unusually raspy voice), but overall the image here is quite clear and free of any combing artifacts. Fine detail pops quite nicely in the many close-ups.

Alicia Keys: VH1 Storytellers Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Two uncompressed tracks are offered, LPCM 2.0 and LPCM 5.1, as well as a standard Dolby Digital 5.1 mix. Keys does a few of these songs solo at the piano, and so separation or immersion really isn't an issue. That said, the LPCM 5.1 track offers some really nice ambience and added depth, especially when the band and backup singers kick in. Fidelity is excellent.

Alicia Keys: VH1 Storytellers Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Three bonus performances are included, "New Day", "Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart", and "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)".

Alicia Keys: VH1 Storytellers Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Keys is one of the most charismatic performers of her generation, and that comes through quite winningly in this short but enjoyable set. Her little confessionals before the songs are also highly enjoyable. She sounds a little tired or perhaps even ill throughout this concert, but still manages to deliver a wonderful performance. Recommended.