According to the National Breast Cancer Coalition, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every three minutes. And every twelve minutes a woman dies from breast cancer. This means that in the time it likely takes you to read this review, a woman somewhere will die from breast cancer. That frightening reality brought together Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, Heart's Ann and Nancy Wilson, Wynonna, Cyndi Lauper , Destiny's Child and Amy Grant for "Women Rock! Girls & Guitars," a concert taped for Lifetime Television at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles on Thursday (the show will air as a two-hour event on Lifetime on Sunday, Oct. 22).

Dream lineups like this often tempt fans with the possible once-in-a-lifetime combinations, such as Heart with Wynonna, or Etheridge and Crow teaming up for a duet of say "Strong Enough" or "Come to My Window." Too often, however, the collaborations at big benefit shows like "Women Rock" are limited to the requisite all-star finale. "Women Rock" did indeed close with everybody on stage together, but it was the continual pairings leading up to that point that made the night rich with musical memories, starting with the opening number. The nearly four-hour taping kicked off with Crow, Etheridge and Wynonna joining the Wilson sisters for a ferocious version of the Heart classic "Barracuda."

After a brief introduction by actress Allison Janney (The West Wing), Crow, Etheridge and Ann Wilson then teamed up for Crow's "If It Makes You Happy," highlighted by Etheridge's bold, brash vocals and superb showwomanship.

As the night progressed, the combinations got more adventurous, starting with Wynonna and Nancy Wilson delivering a rousing rendition of Mary Chapin Carpenter's apropos "Girls with Guitars." The odder the pairings got, the more effective the results. Rock queen Etheridge uniting with former Christian singer-turned-pop-artist Amy Grant sounds like a horrendous idea on paper. But their duet on Etheridge's beautiful ballad "You Can Sleep While I Drive" made that one of the evening's standout numbers. Etheridge's solo presentation of "I'm the Only One," which climaxed with a long, slow bluesy ending, was also one of the show's outstanding non-collaborative numbers, the other one being Heart's "Crazy on You."

The Wilson sisters, who were introduced by actress/comedienne Ellen DeGeneres (who got one of the biggest hands of the night), soaked up the adoration from both the fans and their fellow musicians. Despite a long layoff from performing as a result of Nancy's pregnancy over part of last year and this year, they showed no rust. Ann's husky vocals have only grow more forceful over time, while Nancy displayed the showwomanship you'd expect from a person who's been on stage for over twenty years.

What came next was truly a once-in-a-lifetime event. Grant, Etheridge, Crow, the Wilsons, Wynonna and Lauper brought a little bit of folk and Nashville tradition to L.A., presenting a "guitar pull." A "guitar pull" features the performers sitting on stools and performing acoustic songs at the suggestion of their fellow artists. The TV producers (this was a taping, and they did make their presence felt), seemed nervous about the spontaneity, but the performers thrived on it.

Following an Etheridge-led, spirited cover of Janis Joplin's "Me and Bobby McGee," the producers tried to cut the segment, but the women, who were having such a good time with it, would have none of it. In fact, Etheridge poked fun at the producers' concern, quipping, "This is real TV."

Each woman got a turn showing off her folkie side, with Grant, who did her version of Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi," Nancy Wilson, who covered Neil Young 's "Helpless," and Lauper, who turned to old English for a lovely song called "The Gift," giving standout performances.

Lauper, like Heart, was treated with the respect her veteran status affords her, and she also seemed to revel in it. Jenna Elfman (Dharma & Greg) introduced Lauper's first significant segment (she had appeared in group presentations throughout the night, getting rousing hands every time she set foot on stage), by talking about Paul and Linda McCartney and their public fight against breast cancer. Then Lauper, Nancy Wilson and later Ann Wilson united for a cover of McCartney's classic "Maybe I'm Amazed."

Returning to the odd pairings theme, Lauper served as mentor for Destiny Child's first appearance of the night, as they performed the Supremes' classic "Ooh Child." The first take was a bit flat, but, because this was a TV taping, they got to do it again, with decidedly better results the second time around. Lauper also played musical director for a calypso-flavored version of her Eighties anthem "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun," during which she led a band comprised of Destiny's Child, Wynonna, Grant and the Wilsons.

At this point, the producers pleaded with the restless throngs to stay in their seats, saying, "We only have two more numbers, and they are amazing." It's a testament to the power of "Women Rock" throughout the evening that a cover of the Beach Boys ' "God Only Knows" by Heart, Etheridge, Lauper and Grant failed to dazzle. The performance was spirited, but after nearly four hours of memorable moments, the magic was starting to fade, which is perhaps why the all-star finale also seemed anti-climactic.

Again though, any sense of letdown was brought about only by the continual excitement "Women Rock" presented throughout. What airs on TV remains to be seen. If the producers prove as daring as the artists and air things like Etheridge leading the acoustic "Me and Bobby McGee," this has the potential to be a great TV event. Regardless of what the TV special comes out like, "Women Rock," the concert, delivered on all the hype. And then some.

STEVE BALTIN
(October 14, 2000)