Divas deliver in n estimated 20 million people watched this making it the highest-rated program in A concert when it first aired live on April 14, VH1's 13-year history. And certainly this teaming of five disparate pop singers was, if nothing else, a nearly impossible visual treat. Surprisingly, in spite of the potential clashing of egos and styles, this recording of the landNick POP mark event is almost as much fun. "VH1 Divas But be forewarned, there Live" are drawbacks: dumb stage Mariah Carey, patter (Celine Dion, the Gloria Shania Twain, Estefan, French-Canadian songbird Aretha Franklin, with the thick accent, raps Celine Dion. Epic. hello to "everybody in the 14 tracks. how-us"), Gloria Estefan's Grade: B Las Vegas lounge arrangeWith The verdict: ments and Mariah Carey's Sisterhood is pow- out-of-control vocal cords hittrait" erful on this all- ting notes like an unleashed star summit. pinball. The solid moments, however, are as rich as a "hal(country) lelujah" from the First Lady of Soul. Certainly Aretha Franklin's presence sets the bar up a notch, and the divas deliver. Relative newcomer Shania Twain actually sounds better than the wobbly Estefan ("Turn the Beat Around") MARC BRYAN-BROWN / Sony Music Hallelujah chorus: Gloria Estefan (from left), Mariah Carey, Aretha Franklin, Carole King, Celine Dion, Shania Twain. and unbridled Carey ("Make It Happen"). Dion picks the perfect tunes for her over-the-top delivery: Ike and Tina Turner's ultradramatic "River Deep, Mountain High" and (yes) yet another version of "My Heart Will Go On." But the star of this show isn't even listed as a headliner. Legendary singer-songwriter Carole King joins the entire group for a soulful version of "A Natural Woman (You Make Me Feel Like)" that's as electric as the final frenzy of explosions in a fireworks show. Miriam Longino I Soundline number: 135
