The Diary of Alicia Keys

Don't expect to hear much of Alicia Keys' music on The Diary of Alicia Keys, a DVD talk-fest that is essentially a video journal of the diva's recent travels, informed with a lot of biographical detail (told in Keys' own words) and insights about her career (among other things, we learn the star was born into a tough New York City neighborhood, and attended a performing arts school that stressed multi-disciplinary learning). Individual chapters on the disc focus on the making of Keys' video for "Girlfriend," the fun of combining a live band with deejay mixes onstage, the work involved in sorting out a stage show, and so on. Viewers also get glimpses of Keys' visits to Africa, the Middle East, and various parts of the U.S. Given the dearth of music, this docu-profile is pretty much optional for all but the Grammy-winning Keys' most devoted fans. Aud: P. (T. Keogh)