Rod 2.0 Exclusive: "Jill Scott Live in Paris" DVD Review and Giveaway

Live in Paris is the first concert DVD from the phenomenally talented Jill Scott. The concert DVD comes on the heels of her critically-acclaimed third studio album, The Real Thing, and is scheduled to drop on February 5. That date is only three days before the broadcast of the Grammy Awards, where "Jilly from Philly" is nominated in three categories. In other words, this is Jill Scott's moment.

The Live in Paris DVD is a fabulous journey of sight and sound and will please most fans because the essence of the Jill Scott concert experience—the intimacy —is not lost in translation. The set was recorded over Thanksgiving weekend in 2007 at the historic Elysee Montmartre, a cavernous belle arts that hosted a standing room only, sold-out crowd and the video production crew was "fairly well hidden in head to toe black and clearly instructed by Jill not to be seen nor heard from," executive producer Steve McKeever tells Rod 2.0. McKeever says the cameras were tucked away so "not to intrude on the intimate exchange between audience and artist."

It shows. Live in Paris is an eclectic collection of vintage and new Scott and the sound is brilliant. The first set is "The Way", one of our favorites from Who is Jill Scott, but with a killer bass hook. The driving tempo and stomping feet—plus Jill's sky-high Afro and "Proud Lady" t-shirt—is vintage 1970s. For extra measure, the artist introduces her bass player for an extended solo. Class. The segue to the second track, "Whatever", is effortless and also quite retro. It's beautiful to hear the hook of this R&B song played with a xylophone. By the time Jill reaches "Golden", you're captivated and imaging yourself in the Parisian concert hall—her voice is rare, haunting, beautiful, and, the ambiance of the French-accented voices in the crowd is wonderful. As a treat, Jill invites her fans to sing along in the final set, "He Loves Me" and it is a wonderful harmony.

There are some nice bonus features. In addition to the behind-the-scenes documentary shot on the streets of Paris, Jill Scott fans will be happy to see the live "mini-concert" at the Los Angeles House of Blues. This includes four new tracks from The Real Thing, "Crown Royal", Hate on Me", "My Love" and "All I." Of those, the first two are our faves, possibly because they are up-tempo.

Jill Scott:Live in Paris is the first concert DVD in a new series from Jill's label, Hidden Beach Recordings, the niche label that also boasts Brenda Russell, Keite Young and Rod 2.0 fave Cornel West. The DVD will also be packaged will an accompanying audio CD.

Thanks to Jill Scott, her management and Hidden Beach, a limited number of DVDs will be given away to Rod 2.0 readers. In the comments below, tell us the name of your favorite Jill Scott song and in a short paragraph (or two) explain why. Include your name and correct email and we'll choose five or more responses. The DVDs will be mailed directly from Hidden Beach next week. The giveaway closes Thursday afternoon at 6pm ET.

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Comments

[ATL Kid]

Rod, this review is fabulous! you get everything first, and that is why I love this site.

My favorite Jill Scott song is "Whatever." It's tender, slow and talks about the vulnerability we all have when we are in love. It also talks about loiging and want, and the tyhings you will do for love.

[brad lindau]

Hi Rod 2.0.

I'm actually in Paris and heard about this coincert but missed it.

My favorite song is one that you mentioned, "The Fact Is." It's a universal song about need and loneliness. "I can pay my own rent ... but I need you." I love Jill Scott!

PS: Even if I don't win, thanks for the giveaway and keeping us up to date. Some of those comments in that Obama post were out of line, but YOU know that Rod 2.0 rocks!

[ca]

Thanks for the review. I didn't even know that Jill, Scott was debuting a DVD.

My favorite is probably "Slowly Surely." It talks about walking away from love and a breakup. It reminds me of the strength that I needed to walk away from a man that was no good for me. That probably saved my life.

Thanks, Carl Albert

[Alan T]

Thanks for the review. My favorite Jill Scott song is "family reunion." it just reminds me of my family, all of our families, from the bourgeois relatives to the 'hood in-laws. It describes our family reunions to a "t". The food is always tasty, the music is loud and the alcohol is flowing. I love it.

[Gabriel]

Wow...so many great songs to choose from in Jill's catalog, once you really think about it. But ultimately, I keep coming back to "The Way", which is probably the most unabashedly romantic pop song of the last decade. What's amazing about it is that it manages to totally bypass the post-ironic sensibility of so many mainstream hits these days, without succumbing to cliche or convention. (The song details a universal experience -- or what I hope is a universal experience! -- but does so in a fresh lyrical context.) All of it backed by a lush, laid-back arrangement that begs for early morning sunlight and breakfast in bed. Simply put: it makes you smile every single time you hear it. Like I am right now. :-))

[Gabriel]

Wow...so many great songs to choose from in Jill's catalog, once you really think about it. But ultimately, I keep coming back to "The Way", which is probably the most unabashedly romantic pop song of the last decade. What's amazing about it is that it manages to totally bypass the post-ironic sensibility of so many mainstream hits these days, without succumbing to cliche or convention. (The song details a universal experience -- or what I hope is a universal experience! -- but does so in a fresh lyrical context.) All of it backed by a lush, laid-back arrangement that begs for early morning sunlight and breakfast in bed. Simply put: it makes you smile every single time you hear it. Like I am right now. :-))

[Ben]

My favorite Jill Scott song is "I've Got Somethin' Better at Home" - I think that's the proper title - and what can I say...the song inspired me to work harder at the relationship I was in at the time of the song's release (when everyone else was "Golden".) That, and Jill's vocals on the song are colossal!

[C. Baptiste-Williams]

They all sit and wonder why this feelin' I can not hide...
It ain't a question of pride...
Shoobey-doobey doobey do it's love

I remember when Jill Scott first hit the scene she use to come here to DC all the time. I think I first saw her at Nation's and when I went home to Texas that Christmas I had to educate my fam about Jilly from Philly.

But It's Love is my favorite song of hers because it reminds me of the first time I saw her perform (I have seen her 7 times live so far) and the Go-Go beat reminds me of DC. Hard to choose just one but that would definitely be it for me.

C. Baptiste-Williams
Hisstory1@gmail.com

[Kenneth]

It is so hard to choose! I think my favorite of the moment is "All I". It's as if she's teasing you with her voice, but it's so sensual at the same time. Jill has a way, especially on this new album, of being sensual and romantic almost without you knowing. I love it!

[Kenneth]

It is so hard to choose! I think my favorite of the moment is "All I". It's as if she's teasing you with her voice, but it's so sensual at the same time. Jill has a way, especially on this new album, of being sensual and romantic almost without you knowing. I love it!

[johnozed]

I love Jill Scott and your review of the DVD makes me want it more and more. My fave is The Fact Is. It hits close to the heart.

[Sire]

As usual you never fail to keep us informed sexy! As for me, it would have to be "Golden."
This song embodies the bare essentials we all need to survive, maintain, and thrive in life. "I'm holden on to my freedom, can't take it from me, i was born into it-it comes naturally..." Love and cherish yourself and you will never come in second in this life whether it pertains to love relationships, careers, or friendships. You are precious, hard to find, something to guard, cherish and treasure!

[RB]

Rod..thanks for the review. I've been waiting for this. I can't wait to see it.

I would have to say my favorite song from Jill is "He loves me" ...as we know she is divorcing the man from which this song is about but you can tell the sensitivity and passion she has for this man in the song. Plus with top notch instrumentation and production its one of the best songs!

my email is: rodneybraddock@aol.com

[Bill]

My fave selection is "He Loves Me". It's because it's a reminder of what love can feel like ragrdless of what the two of you may be going through. It's a chance to remind you of the quiet moments of love and how it touches your soul and makes you reach into your spirit, especially when she's improvising at the end with those lilting operatic notes.

Peace

tjulian24@aol.com

[Lewis.]

I cannot wait till her movie with Anika Noni Rose comes out. They filmed it in Botswana last spring, so it should be soon. Jill is a beast! LOVE her.

[Lewis.]

I cannot wait till her movie with Anika Noni Rose comes out. They filmed it in Botswana last spring, so it should be soon. Jill is a beast! LOVE her.

[Nigel]

The Jill Scott song constantly on repeat in my ipod is "Wanna Be Loved" from her latest album. Her flow on that was just amazing and the production around her voice was just icing on the cake.

My FAVORITE Jill Scott song is "Slowly Surely" That song just spoke to me. Its a song many people can relate to. Break ups are hard but break ups where love or what we belive to be love can be so much harder. The process IS slow and sometimes almost stagnant but comeing to the realization that it is not love is what makes you sure that its time to move on. ITS REALLY GREAT SONG!

[sidney cobb]

I've seen Jilly in concert a couple of times and her soaring vocalizations are beyond reproach, or any other diva for that matter. I love "The Way" and think its her signature song. Everytime she sings it the words sound fresh, like a new song she's debuting. She MADE the Sweetwater Tour, and is coming back to Oakland next week....Lucky us! Rod you are the greatest blogger...keep on doing what you do dude!

[sidney cobb]

My email addy is sydisid@yahoo.com

[Kevin]

"Slowly Surely" takes me back to when I first heard the song on KCRW, weeks (months??) before the album dropped. I called the station immediately after the song played to find out who that was, and was dismayed to learn that the album wouldn't be released for several months. I marked the calendar to count down the days for the release (which got changed and moved back, which made me one angry somebody).

The lyrics and performance spoke to me in a way few songs do. I got to meet Jill at a pre-release listening party for "Who Is . . ." and was just taken in with her spirit. I got a photo w/her (pre-digital, a Polaroid), which she signed with the most touching message. I have it with me to this day on my desk and look at when I need a reminder of all that's right in the world.

[Mikey]

My name is Michael Simeon and my favorite Jill Scott song is "Wanna Be Loved," off the recent album The Real Thing: Words & Sounds Vol 3. The reason this is my favorite song is because it speaks about all of our desires to simply be loved by anybody. "I just wanna be loved like everybody else does." And this is so true and it is a song that speaks to everybody, whether you've been in bad relationships, whether you're currently in a relationship, or whether you've never had a relationship.

[Mark Norris]

My favorite song by Jill is "(Living My Life Like it's) Golden." This song reminds me that my life is truly a gem and deserves to be treated and lived like it's "golden." I sometimes fall into ruts that stem from past hurts and pain. I have been through a lot of unnecessary suffering that I have cause myself and some I didn't. Losing friends and family, and getting through an addiction are just a couple of of the things that try to take my mind there. But, Jill's song gets played by me on those days and it is just the ingredient to pick me back up.

[Wil Lavender]

My favorite song is "My Love." I find that is speaks to me because I have this ex and he has moved on. The funny thing is we all talk and are friends. But from time to time we, meaning the ex, still talk about why he is with him and the longing for what we had. But out of respect we realize that it can never be.

[S. Jara]

My favorite Jill Scoot song is "Golden" because the lyrics reflex the positive attitude about one's life and how one should live it. This song is a great motivator for youth (and others), and emphasizes the importance of respecting one self enough to get the best out of life!

[Jerome Price]

I've been the ultimate Jill Scott fan since I first purchased her debut album, "Who Is Jill Scott?: Words & Sounds, Vol. 1." She has a beautiful voice and is very talented. My favorite song is definitely "Cross My Mind" because every now and then we all get that feeling when we start having those sentiment, warm feelings about past loves that still can somehow put a smile on our face. The song is very positive and insightful.