Celine Diondion Pleasure to Work With
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ISSUE #31 MMUSICMAG.COM ISSUE #31 MMUSICMAG.COM Q&A we recorded my voice is different. The have been singing for my own pleasure. But again. I have a beautiful family and a great fact that you can totally denude my voice then I began realizing every night how the husband, and I don’t need the career. I don’t and make it raw is quite incredible. On my people were responding—holding hands and benefit from show business anymore. But previous albums, there was a lot of reverb in tears. When we stop, reach out, and talk all artists love the spotlight, the attention, and effect on my voice with a blending of about these things, we truly listen to what and love to perform. I love to express myself the music from the producers. This time, if we have all gone through. It’s like traveling through music. there was a crack in my voice, we left it. It’s through time to perform that song. not perfect, it’s not a mistake—it’s what we What’s the highlight of your career? wanted. It’s another kind of raw emotion, all Feel the need to record new songs? A lot of very important things have happened. about letting go and feeling the edge. There is Now I can go out there with my old repertoire Starting with the songs that my mother perfection in the imperfection. I want to sing for the rest of my career, but there are new wrote for me in French when I was just with passion. It doesn’t have to be perfect. songs to add to my show. I’m not expecting 12. It’s like when you roll a little snowball anything. If the fans respond well to the and it gets bigger and bigger. Having Was there a theme? music, then I’ll be more than proud. If not, I success is just a combination of events, I’m at the mercy of the songs because I don’t will still have the older write them. So I can’t sit and tell you what I songs to perform. I’m want the essence of the album to be. I have looking forward to to hear a lot of songs and find the ones that feeling the response are right. I feel very fortunate to have so from the fans. many songs to choose from. I was given some amazing new material. After all these How do you care years, it’s great to still have these writers for your voice? want you to record their songs. At first we Some people can go Alix were planning to have half of the album with out and scream and M alka/ covers I perform in the show and half with dance at the club F original songs—but there were so many great at night, then take eeling Productions songs that we had to record them. their guitar the next morning and sing in Who’s the architect of the new sound? this sexy, soulful voice It was a team effort. All these new people with a raw edginess. who I’ve been working with are really I wouldn’t be able inspiring. And I thought that I had done it to do that. In a way, all in my career. Of course, Stevie Wonder, I’m borrowing a bit Babyface, Ne-Yo and Sia were such a from the life I never CELINECELINE DIONDION pleasure to work with. had. I’m borrowing Lisi Niesner/Reuters/Landov from the characters Her latest showcases an earthy approach to recording her inimitable vocals What inspires your song selection? in my songs. It’s I choose all of the songs on my albums. I’m very different. The AFTER SELLING MORE THAN penned tunes for Christina Aguilera, Katy at it as a risk,” Dion says about her creative the one who must sing them every night, and characters might 200 million albums and enjoying 25 years Perry and Rihanna. “My son could not believe evolution. “It’s trying something new and I’ll be singing them for the rest of my career. smoke and drink and of global success, five-time Grammy Award- it,” Dion says. “He thought I was making it up different and fun.” I have to sing with passion and convince have a good time—not winning Celine Dion might be inclined to take when I said I was working with these people: Away from the microphone, Dion, 45, people to reach within. I have to believe in that I want to smoke it easy. But the powerhouse singer refuses ‘Mom, there’s no way!’” enjoys the simple pleasures of home and what I’m singing. and drink—but I’m to slow down, and while she continues her Six years removed from her last English- family. She and her husband of 19 years, living through them. Onstage in Dusseldorf, Germany, 2012 Las Vegas residency at Caesars Palace, language album, 2007’s Taking Chances, René Angélil, reside in Las Vegas with their Why did you choose to include “At she’s recorded a new album that challenges Dion is back with a renewed sense of energy three sons: René-Charles, 12, and twin Seventeen” on the new record? Has less touring preconceptions. and purpose. She will always reign as the 3-year-olds Eddy and Nelson. We spoke “At Seventeen” was a discovery for me. affected your voice? ‘There is perfection in the On Loved Me Back to Life, the queen balladeer of monster hits like “My with Dion about her new approach and how Singing it allowed me to really know the The singing is not as tense. Canadian native explores a wide range of Heart Will Go On,” “Because You Loved her latest album has allowed her to take a song. It’s exquisite and extraordinary. There was a time when I imperfection. I want to musical elements and enlists an impressive Me,” and “Beauty and the Beast,” but Dion walk on the wild side. [TV producer] Ken Ehrlich called me to pay felt like I had to prove roster of contemporary hit-makers. Take for is reintroducing herself with more uptempo, tribute to Janis Ian [for 2008’s Grammy myself in the industry. I’m sing with passion.’ example the tunes penned by R&B artist dance-ready material. At the same time, What’s different about this album? televised nominations special]. At the time more relaxed now. It’s the and producer Ne-Yo—including the duet she’s scaled back on the vocal acrobatics, It’s more modern, fresh and edgy—at least I wasn’t very familiar with the song. The best of myself. I have to be the best of me. the momentum of things. The release of “Incredible”—or the title track, co-written supplementing her vocal stylings with a edgy for me. The producers put an emphasis success of that song is remarkable. There’s been a transition, and I have more my first album was incredible. It was a big by Australian singer-songwriter Sia, who’s deeper, raspier tone. “For me, I don’t look on changing the recipe for this album. How maturity. I’m sounding much better. I’m thing to do Jay Leno and Johnny Carson, Why has that song endured? grounded and going with the flow. and to perform in the Olympics and at the There aren’t a lot of songs like that now. Oscars. Working with David Foster was During this time of being a teenager it gets to What keeps you motivated? a special moment, and then there was ‘After all these years, it’s great to still have these be awkward for all people. It was a soothing My children are the reason for everything. Beauty and the Beast and Titanic. It’s hard to writers want you to record their songs.’ experience for me to be able to sing that My singing is important to me, and I’ve had pick just one moment. song every night. These years in Las Vegas I a wonderful career. I feel like I’m a child –Blake Boldt 36 37 M mag 31.indd 36 11/21/13 9:00 AM M mag 31.indd 37 11/21/13 9:00 AM.