Live in Japan (2004)

From Stacie Orrico’s outstanding worldwide double-platinum album, see the hits come alive with an elaborate stage set, lively dance interpretations, costume changes, and 5.1 surround sound that will add another dimension to the live music experience. The concert took place at the International Forum Tokyo on February 21, 2004 in front of Stacie’s most dedicated fans. The DVD also includes the music videos of Stacie’s hits "Stuck" and "(There’s gotta be) More To Life".

Great concert, wonderful voice!

I usually hate watching concert DVDs, but I went ahead and bought this one anyway because I'm such a big fan of Stacie Orrico's. I was pleasantly surprised. I absolutely love watching this concert and her voice is incredible throughout. She has great control of her voice that not too many singers seem to have. Also, she sings almost all of her major hits and she has lots of energy. I also like this DVD because you can hear everything clearly. In some concert DVDs it's hard to hear the singer and band because of all the screaming, etc., but that doesn't exist here. I think the best performance on this DVD is when she sings "Dear Friend." It's such a great song. Stacie hasn't released anything in a couple of years now. I really hope she resurfaces someday because the world is really missing out on something special. October 15, 2008

Good Concert -- But What Is One Expecting?

I first heard of Stacie Orrico when she performed at a Dove Awards celebration. I've seen her music at Christian book stores, and hear "(there's gotta be) More To Life" on Christian radio. So one can assume she's a Christian singer. This blurb from the back of the video gives this promise of this concert's spiritual emphasis:

"From Stacie Orrico's outstanding almost platinum album, see the hits come alive with an elaborate stage set, lively dance interpretations, and costume changes . . ."

One can argue if Stacie is a Christian musician or a musician that is a Christian. My first impression is that she was a Christian answer to Britney Spears; rather, I think she is rather a wholesome alternative.

I have no doubt that Stacie is my sister in the Christian faith. (Actually, with our relative ages, she may be more likely my niece or daughter). Some of the songs have great meaning, such as "Genuine", "(there's gotta be) More To Life" (the video also fit the bill), and "I Could Be The One". But other songs have no hint of Christianity to them (including the video "Stuck").

Artistically, it was better than I expected. The band was top-notch, able to play jazz as well as pop, and Stacie did well on the piano. Besides the songs I mentioned, I also liked "Strong Enough" and "Security". I also liked the slow start for "(there's gotta be) More To Life".

However, Stacie can be used as an argument for those who think "Christian rock" is a contradiction. While her performance and the dancing could be more flirtatious than seductive, there is not much lyrically or in the performance that seperates her from secular performers. From the sound of reviews, her following project is even less spiritual. February 28, 2007

Good quality

I am not a fan of concert CDs or DVDs, or of concerts themselves, actually. Music in concert rarely sounds as good to me as on the record, since the record is recorded with careful perfection while concerts are done on the fly. But I do enjoy this concert CD.

Stacie Orrico's "2 1/2" album, her self-titled white cover album, was my favorite CD of 2003. It is an album of pop perfection. The songs from that album are performed on this DVD, plus a couple from her first album. But beyond the songs from her self-titled album being the most perfectly crafted pop songs to be heard today, Stacie Orrico has a great voice. On this concert CD, you get a sense of how good her voice really is.

For me, to make a live concert or concert CD/DVD special, I want to hear some different treatment to the songs or some other special treat, not just the album songs performed live. There are a couple touches like that on here. At the end of the beautiful pop ballad "I Promise," Stacie leaves the stage to do a costume change, and the song is extended with a nice saxophone solo. On the single "(There's Gotta Be) More To Life," she starts it out slow, instead of with the beat, and then has the audience sing the chorus to her, before she kicks off the song at regular tempo. But the highlight of the "different" element of this concert is her performance of an Ella Fitzgerald song. She says that she grew up listening to Ella Fitzgerald, and when you hear her sing this song, you hear an entirely different Stacie Orrico come to life. The song is true-to-life jazz, even using an acoustic bass, and Stacie shows complete command of the jazz vocal style. Her outfit of a 1920s style pink dress and pink feather boa add to the effect.

Those are my favorite moments of this concert. The rest is mostly just straight performances of the songs from the album, but again, her vocal skills are more salient in this DVD.

A bonus to the concert is the inclusion of the music videos of her two singles. I really like both videos, but in both music and video concept, "(There's Gotta Be) More To Life" is definitely superior. July 17, 2005

Excuse Me!?

Whoever said Stacie is not in the same league as lip-synching, sex selling women needs a serious reality check! Stacie is an amazing singer, far better than those mentioned. She performs her songs live and her dancers don't look at all like they are...you know what I mean. Her songs are about deeper things than just relationships. This DVD is amazing. I have been a long time fan of hers and it blew me away. Her voice sounds better live than on the cd! So, if you would like to see a TRUE artist then buy this dvd. It's worth it! November 26, 2004

Amazing Concert

Before beginning my review of the DVD, I have to quibble with the review below that stated Stacie was not "in the same league" as Hilary Duff, Britney Spears, et al. First and foremost, Stacie is a far different artist from those mentioned below. For the most part, her songs speak about God and the challenges/triumphs she faces as a young Christian woman. Her material is not sexual (while that of some of the aforementioned performers is). The dancing featured in the DVD is more athletic than sensual and Stacie also performs all of her songs live (unlike a couple of the others previously mentioned).

Filmed in Tokyo in 2004, Live in Japan features material from the entire "Stacie Orrico" album (with the exception of "That's What Love's About"), two tracks from her debut cd "Genuine", and a lovely rendition of Ella Fitzgerald's "Can't We Be Friends". The musicianship is impeccable (highlights include Stacie herself playing the piano on "Strong Enough" and "Dear Friend", the jazz interlude, and an acoustic rendition of "Maybe I Won't Look Back") and the dancers are spirited and enthusiastic. Also included are the videos for "Stuck" and "(there's gotta be) More to Life" (a bit of a disappointment since the DVD was previously advertised as including the videos for "I Promise" and "I Could Be the One" which were only released overseas, not in the United States). Overall, this is a wonderful concert appropriate for all ages. Definitely a great buy for fans of Stacie Orrico or those who wish to learn more about her as an artist.

The tracklisting:

1.Tight
2.Bounce Back
3.Hesitation
4.Instead
5.I Promise
6.Strong Enough
7.Stuck
8.Can't We Be Friends
9.Jazz Interlude
10.Security
11.Genuine
12.Maybe I Won't Look Back
13.(there's gotta be) More to Life
14.Dear Friend
15.I Could Be the One


November 13, 2004

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