Live at Wembley is a live album by American recording artist Beyoncé, released on April 26, 2004. The DVD features her concert at Wembley Arena in London, United Kingdom, as part of her Dangerously in Love Tour in support of her first solo studio album Dangerously in Love (2003). Most of the songs on Live at Wembley originate from Dangerously in Love, although Beyoncé also performed a medley of past songs by her former group Destiny's Child. Live at Wembley was critically well-received, with Allmusic awarding it three-and-a-half stars out of five. The cover of Rose Royce's "Wishing on a Star", included on the album, was nominated in the category for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 48th Grammy Awards.
The album debuted at number seventeen on the US Billboard 200, selling 45,000 copies in its first week. It also charted on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums at number eight. It managed to top the DVD charts in the United States, Australia and Spain and peaked in the top ten in Austria, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy and the United Kingdom. The DVD was certified double Platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album was also certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ).
Background and development
![](../I/m/Wembley_Arena_Evening_172XS_Web.jpg)
Live at Wembley was filmed at the Wembley Arena (pictured) in London
Live at Wembley was filmed at the London's Wembley Arena show of the Dangerously in Love Tour, Beyoncé's first international solo tour, on November 10, 2003.[1][2] The tour supported her debut solo album, Dangerously in Love (2003). Most of the songs on Live at Wembley originate from that album, but it also contains a medley of past songs by her former group Destiny's Child and two soundtrack singles: "Work It Out"[3] and "Summertime". The second disc of Live at Wembley contains three previously unreleased studio recorded songs, including a cover of Rose Royce's "Wishing on a Star", and one remix each of "Crazy in Love", "Baby Boy" and "Naughty Girl".[2] Behind-the-scenes footage can be also seen on the DVD.[2]
The concert audio was mixed by Rick Camp, the same engineer who mixed at the concert venues.[4][5] It is uncommon for mix engineers to specialize in both live and recorded mixing.[4] For Camp, "Mixing Beyoncé is a pleasure because she's a real singer and makes it easy. There is hardly an overdub on this project — it's 95 percent live Beyoncé."[4] He further talked about the collaboration with Beyoncé with Mix magazine, saying: "In my 22 years of mixing, I've never come across anyone who could deliver like she does: vocally and her ability to do a show. I've seen this young woman run across a 60-foot stage, hit every note and never miss a thing. And that makes my job so much easier."[4]
Show synopsis
On stage, Beyoncé was backed by several male and female dancers performing choreography during the show. DJ Diamond who served as a DJ during the performances and a backing band provided the music. The performance starts with footage of the crowd during the concert cheering before the appearance of Beyoncé. The curtains are lifted to reveal the stage and Beyoncé appears in red clothes hanging upside down while being taken to a sofa on the stage with a harness singing "Baby Boy". She is backed by a big screen and several dancers on stage who perform a choreography around her. She later starts dancing with them as the song plays and a breakdown towards the end is also featured. She asks from the girls in the crowd to sing to "Naughty Girl" as she dances with background dancers while the words "Naughty Girl" are displayed on the screen behind her. Towards the end of the song she performs portions of Vanity 6's song "Nasty Girl" (1982) as a short dance break. The lights are turned off and later silhouettes of Beyoncé and her dancers appear performing a choreography in front of the screen which is colored white while a backing track is played. She continues to perform a cover version of Little Willie John's song "Fever" wearing white pieces of wardrobe backed by four male dancers. The words "Pure Players" start appearing on the screen as a man's voice says them and "Hip Hop Star" is performed next with Big Boi's and Sleepy Brown's vocals played on a backing track while Beyoncé performs a choreography with several background dancers. "Yes" is performed with Beyoncé and her female dancers dancing on a fence. "Work It Out" follows and Beyoncé tells the fans that she's going to "slow it down" for the performance of "Gift from Virgo" as she hangs in the air on a yellow curtain wearing a yellow dress. In the middle of the song, she is taken down to the stage where she continues to perform the song.[6]
She continues telling to the crowd that she would sing a song from Dangerously in Love further asking the attendees how many of them have the album. She then introduces "Be with You" as one of her favorite slow jams and starts singing it. For the beginning of "Speechless" she sits on a chair singing the song. She asks the fans in the arena to cheer and announced "Well, this is my very first solo tour as an artist and I'm very happy to share this wonderful experience with you all tonight in London".[6] She then starts performing a short Destiny's Child medley beginning with "Bug a Boo". Beyoncé then tells the story about the group's first single "No, No, No Part 2" and continues performing the song. "Bootylicious", "Jumpin' Jumpin'", "Say My Name", "Independent Women Part I", "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" and "Survivor" are performed afterwards as part of the medley. She introduces the next song "Me, Myself and I" saying that she wrote it for all the ladies, "I thought it was something we all need to hear. When we get in these relationships they don't work out. Sometimes we blame the man, we blame another girl, we blame ourselves. But I think we should take every experience and learn a lesson out of it, even the bad experiences and I want all the ladies to know that we will never disappoint ourselves. You'll always have yourself."[6] She introduces the next song "Summertime" as one of her favorite songs asking from the crowd to dance further performing a step dance while footage of flowers was projected on the screen. The lights go out again and Beyoncé appears wearing a grey, sparkly dress for an extended performance of "Dangerously in Love" surrounded by smoke. After the word "Beyonce" is written on the screen several times, she appears on a staircase wearing a long shirt as the opening lines of "Crazy in Love" start and the song's music video is projected on the screen. Beyoncé then continues singing the song and performing its choreography with her female background dancers and confetti are dropped on stage during the end of the performance.[6]
Release and reception
Live at Wembley premiered at Regal Entertainment Group cinemas around the US on April 26, 2004. Tickets for the theater premieres were purchasable by members of the public. The album was released by Sony Music Entertainment and RCA Records in Europe the same day,[7][8] and by Columbia Music Video in US the following day.[1][9] It was released in both CD and DVD formats.[10] On August 17, 2010, Beyoncé's cover of "Wishing on a Star" was released as a promotional single through several online digital retailers.[11][12] It peaked at number one on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles[13] and number twenty eight on the US Adult R&B Airplay chart.[14] At the 48th Grammy Awards held on February 8, 2006, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, the cover received a nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.[15][16]
Website Allmusic graded the album with three-and-a-half stars out of five.[17] A writer further praised the CD of the album, writing that "a fun, late-1970s/early-'80s vibe pervades the record".[17] The writer added that the album "opens with a sexy cover of... 'Wishing on a Star'... 'What's It Gonna Be' drips honeyed harmonies over a funky beat, while 'My First Time' falls somewhere between Rufus and Shalamar, with its dreamy '80s-funk-fueled R&B."[17] He further praised the soulful slow-tempo remix version of "Crazy in Love" and the high-powered techno reworking of "Baby Boy".[17] The DVD was also included in Vibe magazine's list of "Get in Tune With New Music" in June 2004.[9] In an interview with The New York Times in 2007, American singer Miranda Lambert stated that she admired Beyoncé's performance in Live at Wembley, saying "The charisma and the confidence — she’s the ultimate diva."[18] She further revealed that the album inspired her to "take little bits from that [Beyoncé's performance] for her live shows."[18]
Live at Wembley debuted at number seventeen on the Billboard 200, selling 45,000 copies in its first week.[19] The DVD was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipping 200,000 copies.[20] According to Nielsen SoundScan, it had sold 264,000 copies in the US by October 2007,[21] while as of October 6, 2010, it has sold 197,000 digital downloads.[22] Live at Wembley entered the Swiss Albums Chart on May 16, 2004, at number seventy-three, and moved to number eighty-nine the following week, before dropping out of the chart.[23] The album spent one week in the Portuguese Albums Chart at number twenty-six.[23] It also spent four weeks in the German Albums Chart, peaking at number fifty-nine.[24]
Live at Wembley peaked at number one on the Billboard Top Music Video chart in May 2004.[25] The album debuted atop the Australian DVD Chart the week ending on May 24, 2004,[26] and remained in the chart for thirty-two weeks, dropping out in January 2005.[27] It was certified double platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association for selling 30,000 copies.[28] Live at Wembley spent twenty weeks in the Japanese Oricon Albums Chart, peaking at number eight.[29] On July 22, 2004, the album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan, denoting shipment of 100,000 units.[30] In Italy, the album appeared at number five on the FIMI DVD Chart ending April 4, 2010,[31] but did not re-enter the chart.[32] Live at Wembley became the third best-selling music DVD in the world in 2004.[33]
Track listing
1. |
"Backstage" |
8:38 |
2. |
"Staging/Choreography" |
5:51 |
3. |
"Beyoncé's Dressing Room" |
5:48 |
4. |
"Show Favorites" |
3:06 |
5. |
"Beyoncé - Solo Artist" |
3:25 |
6. |
"A Day in London" |
4:58 |
7. |
"Meet the Fans" |
2:58 |
8. |
"A Conversation with Beyoncé" |
16:26 |
9. |
"Crazy in Love" (Live from the 2004 BRIT Awards) |
3:42 |
10. |
"L'Oréal Commercial" |
0:31 |
11. |
"Destiny's Child Update" |
0:17 |
Credits and personnel
Credits for Live at Wembley, adapted CD's liner notes and Allmusic.[5][35]
- Sharon Ali – producer, video producer
- Zakari Asher – dancer
- Bill Ashworth – camera operator
- Carmit Bachar – dancer
- Peter Barnes – lighting design
- Alan Beechey – lighting technician
- Ahmet Bekir – camera operator
- Angela Beyincé – composer, personal assistant
- Beyoncé – composer, creation
- John Blow – editing
- Daniel Boland – lighting director
- Lanar Brantley – bass, music director
- Charlie Bryan – camera operator
- Lenora Dee Bryant – wardrobe
- William Burke – Pro-Tools
- Anthony Burrell – dance director, dancer
- Kim Burse – creation, creative director[36]
- Anwar Burton – dancer
- Alice Butts – package design
- Thom Cadley – mixing, surround sound
- Billie Rae Calvin – composer
- Rick Camp – engineer
- Shawn Carrington – guitar
- Shawn Carter – composer
- Matt Cashman – camera operator
- Justin Collie – lighting director
- Mike Colucci – set construction
- Annie Crofts – liner note producer
- Mark Cruickshank – camera operator
- Mark Davies – camera operator
- Ceire Deery – production coordination
- Milan Dillard – dancer
- DJ Diamond – DJ
- Corte Ellis – composer
- Richard Ellis – camera operator
- Renece Fincher – dancer
- Alan Floyd – tour manager
- Aisha Francis – dance director, dancer
- Michael Garabedian – set construction
- Frank Gatson – choreographer, creation, staging
- Danielle Green – production coordination
- Rich Harrison – composer
- Brandon Henchel – dancer
- Gerald Heyward – drums
- Tim Highmoor – camera operator
- Chris Hollier – camera operator
- Adrian Homeshaw – camera operator
- Chad Hugo – composer
- Tyrone"Ty" Hunter – assistant hair stylist, stylistic advisor
- Chris Issacson – technician
- Ed Jarman – video engineer
- Paul Jarvis – camera operator
- Scott Jenkins – camera operator
- Harold Jones – production coordination
- Pete Jones – sound recording
- Chris Keating – video director
- Julia Knowles – director, producer
- Mathew Knowles – executive producer[36]
- Tina Knowles – stylist
- Yose Lawson
- Casper Leaver – camera operator
- Melanie Lewis – dancer
- Jim Littlehayles – camera operator
- Sophie Lote – production coordination
- Carl Lott – drum technician, guitar technician
- Kandice Love – composer
- Darragh McAuliffe – lighting technician
- James "McGoo" McGregor – DJ, drum technician
- Neil McLintock – camera operator
- Giorgio Moroder – composer
- Nahum – director, editing
- Kenneth Nash – monitor engineer
- Naomi Neufeld – technical director
- Vincent Perreux – sound technician
- Eugene Record – composer
- Arthur Ross – camera operator
- Mark Scott – engineer, sound recording
- Rod Spicer – photography
- Scott Storch – composer
- Donna Summer – composer
- Tim Summerhayes – audio supervisor
- Larry Troutman – composer
- Roger Troutman – composer
- Robert Waller – composer
- Horace Ward – engineer
- Daniel Weatherspoon – keyboards
- Mark Wilder – mastering
- Pharrell Williams – composer
- Joe "Flip" Wilson – keyboards
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
Certifications
|
Release history
- Original release
|
- Re-releases
Country |
Date |
Label |
United Kingdom[64] |
March 25, 2008 |
RCA Records |
Belgium[65] |
Sony Music |
Netherlands[66][67] |
France[68] |
December 15, 2008 |
United States[69] |
April 1, 2008 |
Columbia Records |
Belgium[70] |
November 13, 2008 |
Sony Music |
Netherlands[71][72] |
Poland[73] |
August 2, 2010 |
|
References
- 1 2 "Columbia Music Video Set to Release New Beyonce DVD/CD: Live at Wembley" (Press release). New York: Columbia Records. April 23, 2004. Retrieved December 26, 2011.
- 1 2 3 A. Christian, Margena (May 31, 2004). "Jay-Z and Beyoncé: Music's Dynamic Duo Silent About Romance But Roars As Performers". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. 105 (22): 59. ISSN 0021-5996. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
- ↑ Peterson, Todd (June 9, 2006). "Beyoncé: I Need a New Band – Fast". People. Time Inc. Retrieved February 29, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 Petersen, George (May 1, 2004). "Rick Camp Travels With Beyoncé". Mix. NewBay Media. Archived from the original on December 30, 2011.
- 1 2 Live at Wembley (DVD). Beyoncé. Columbia Records/Sony Urban Music. 2004.
- 1 2 3 4 Beyoncé (2004). Live at Wembley. Columbia Records/Sony Music Entertainment. Event occurs at 0:00:00 to 1:19:31.
- 1 2 "Beyonce - Live At Wembley (DVD + CD)" (in German). Amazon.com (Germany). Retrieved February 29, 2012.
- 1 2 "Beyonce - Live at Wembley [With Bonus CD] [DVD]". Amazon.com (UK). Retrieved February 29, 2012.
- 1 2 "Get in Tune With New Music". Vibe. Vibe Media. June 2004. ISSN 1070-4701. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
- ↑ "Beyoncé". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. 106. 2004. ISSN 0021-5996.
- ↑ "Wishing on a Star - Single by Beyoncé". iTunes Store. (US) Apple Inc. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
- ↑ "Wishing On A Star - Beyonce Knowles". Amazon.com. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
- ↑ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: Week Ending July 17, 2004". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
- ↑ "Soundtrack Has Radio 'Bounce'". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. November 12, 2005. p. 48. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
- ↑ "Complete list of Grammy Award nominations". USA Today. Gannett Company (The Associated Press). August 12, 2005. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
- ↑ Harris, Chris (December 8, 2005). "Mariah Carey, Kanye West, John Legend Lead Grammy Nominees". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 "Live at Wembley - Beyoncé Knowles". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved December 29, 2011.
- 1 2 Caramanica, Jon (April 29, 2007). "Mess With This Texan, You'll Pay in a Song". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved February 29, 2012.
- ↑ "D12 Ends Usher's Album Chart Reign". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved December 26, 2011.
- 1 2 "Searchable Database". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 28, 2011. Note: Click on "Video Longform" and navigate to page 2.
- ↑ Crosley, Hillary (October 6, 2007). "Billboard Bits: Beyonce, Bob Marley, Bragg/Brad". Billboard. New York: Nielsen Business Media. 119 (40). ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved December 26, 2011.
- ↑ Grein, Paul (October 6, 2010). "Week Ending Oct. 3, 2010: America's Most Popular Inmate". Yahoo! Music. Yahoo!. Retrieved April 1, 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 "Beyoncé – Live at Wembley [DVD]". Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved December 26, 2011.
- 1 2 "Beyonce: Longplay-Chartverfolgung". Musicline.de (Phononet). Retrieved December 28, 2011.
- ↑ Trust, Gary (December 1, 2011). "Chart Moves: Lady Gaga's 'Marry' Moves Up, Michael Jackson Misses With 'Immortal', Divas Duke It Out". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
- 1 2 "ARIA Top 40 DVD" (PDF). The ARIA Report. Australian Recording Industry Association. 743: 19. May 24, 2004.
- ↑ "ARIA Top 40 DVD" (PDF). The ARIA Report. Australian Recording Industry Association. 777: 22. January 17, 2005.
- 1 2 "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2006 DVD". Australian Recording Industry Association. 2006. Retrieved December 28, 2011.
- 1 2 "Beyoncé Album Discography". Oricon. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
- 1 2 "「ミリオンシングル/アルバム」認定作品一覧". Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved September 12, 2011.
- 1 2 "Archivio - DVD Musicali" (in Italian). Federation of the Italian Music Industry. March 29 – April 4, 2010. Retrieved December 28, 2011.
- ↑ "Archivio - DVD Musicali" (in Italian). Federation of the Italian Music Industry. April 5–11, 2010. Retrieved December 28, 2011.
- ↑ "Mercado Brasileiro de Música" (PDF). Associação Brasileira dos Produtores de Discos. 2004. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
- 1 2 "Live At Wembley/ライヴ・アット・ウェンブリー(初回仕様限定盤)" (in Japanese). Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Retrieved December 26, 2011.
- ↑ "Live at Wembley – Credits". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
- 1 2 "Music > Live at Wembley". Beyonce.com. Parkwood Entertainment. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
- ↑ "Ranking Mensal de DVD". Argentine Chamber of Phonograms and Videograms Producers. August 21, 2004. Archived from the original on August 21, 2004. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
- ↑ "AUSTRIA TOP 40 - MUSIK-DVD TOP 10 23.05.2004". Ö3 Austria Top 40. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
- ↑ "Ultratop 10 MUSIC DVD Flandres". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
- ↑ "Ultratop 10 MUSIC DVD Valônia". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
- ↑ "DVD Music Top 30 (15 Março, 2004)" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
- ↑ "Top 50 Ξένων Aλμπουμ" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on 2004-06-05. Retrieved January 1, 2012.
- ↑ "Top 20 DVD Musical" (PDF). Productores de Música de España. March 2004. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
- ↑ "Guns 'N' Roses Greatest Hits is pushed to number two after D12's new record D12 World takes the top place and Anastacia falls to third place". Music Week. Intent Media. May 8, 2004. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
- 1 2 "Live at Wembley - Beyoncé". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 26, 2011.
- 1 2 "Live at Wembley > Charts & Awards". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
- ↑ "Top Music Videos". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 116 (21): 40. May 22, 2004. ISSN 0006-2510.
- ↑ "Chart Search". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 3, 2012. (subscription required)
- ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 2004" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
- ↑ "Rapports Annuels 2004" (in French). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
- ↑ "Lista Anual DVD's Musicales 2004 - Top 10" (PDF). PROMUSICAE. 2004. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
- ↑ "Mercado Brasileiro de Música" (PDF). Associação Brasileira dos Produtores de Discos. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
- ↑ "Certifications Video Platine - année 2004". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
- ↑ "Top 20 DVD Musical" (PDF). Productores de Música de España. May 2008. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
- ↑ "Certified Awards Search". British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on July 1, 2016. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
- ↑ "Beyonce : Live At Wembley" (in French). Amazon.com (France). Retrieved March 3, 2012.
- ↑ "Beyonce - Live at Wembley (Plus bonus-cd)". Bol.com. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
- ↑ "Beyonce: Live at Wembley". Amazon.com (Canada). Retrieved February 29, 2012.
- ↑ "Beyonce - Live at Wembley (2004)". Amazon.com (US). Retrieved February 29, 2012.
- ↑ "Live At Wembley (Dvd & Cd Pack)". JB Hi-Fi (Australia). Retrieved March 3, 2012.
- ↑ "Live At Wembley - Beyonce". Sanity (Australia). Retrieved March 3, 2012.
- ↑ ライヴ・アット・ウェンブリー (in Japanese). Amazon.com (Japan). Retrieved March 3, 2012.
- ↑ "Live At Wembley [CD+DVD]". CD Japan. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
- ↑ "Live At Wembley - Beyonce". HMV Group. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
- ↑ "Live At Wembley - DVD". Free Record Shop (Belgium). Retrieved March 13, 2012.
- ↑ "Live At Wembley - Beyonce - DVD". Bol.com. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
- ↑ "Live At Wembley". Free Record Shop (Netherlands). Retrieved March 13, 2012.
- ↑ "Live At Wembley: Beyoncé". Amazon.com (France). Retrieved March 15, 2012.
- ↑ "Beyonce: Live at Wembley (2004)". Amazon.com (US). Retrieved March 13, 2012.
- ↑ "Live At Wembley - DVD". Free Record Shop (Belgium). Retrieved March 13, 2012.
- ↑ "Live at Wembley - Beyonce - DVD". Bol.com. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
- ↑ "Live At Wembley". Free Record Shop (Netherlands). Retrieved March 13, 2012.
- ↑ "Live at Wembley". Empik.com. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
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