1529 replies to this topic

[LukeD]

CelinesDIVO5, on 18 March 2023 - 12:56 PM, said:

Rain, Tax? That’s pretty bad lol

I really like the melody!😁

[Chantemoi]

Lyrically, “Rain, Tax” isn’t any worse than many of her biggest Anglophone radio hits — not to mention so-called ‘filler’ songs.

In fact, that song has always been a guilty pleasure for me. It’s a crying shame we never got to see her dance  around to it on stage in her typical, awkward fashion - I always pictured that vividly while listening.

[CourageCeline]

I love Rain Tax it's catchy

Super Love isn't meant for Céline, maybe Taylor Swift but not Celine.

To have said that, The Greatest Reward is a gem! And A New Day Has Come ballad is so much better than the one in the music video. And Sorry For Love gives me Cher vibes!

Edited by CourageCeline, 20 March 2023 - 08:57 PM.

[CelinesDIVO5]

Chantemoi, on 20 March 2023 - 07:58 PM, said:

Lyrically, “Rain, Tax” isn’t any worse than many of her biggest Anglophone radio hits — not to mention so-called ‘filler’ songs.

In fact, that song has always been a guilty pleasure for me. It’s a crying shame we never got to see her dance  around to it on stage in her typical, awkward fashion - I always pictured that vividly while listening.

I find the lyrics much more shallow than any of her other English uptempo songs. Just a bunch of jumble thrown together because they could make it rhyme. Absolutely terrible.

[Davey84]

What's kind of shocking about Rain, Tax is that the producer, Christopher Neil, gave us these amazing songs too:

(IF THERE WAS) ANY OTHER WAY
IF LOVE IS OUT THE QUESTION
I REMEMBER L.A.
THE LAST TO KNOW
ONLY ONE ROAD
REFUSE TO DANCE
RIGHT NEXT TO THE RIGHT ONE
WHERE DOES MY HEART BEAT NOW

And one of the co writers, Charlie Dore, also wrote Refuse To Dance! The other co-writer, Terry Britten, also wrote Tina Turner's "What's Love Got to Do with It". Let's just say this collaboration wasn't their finest hour...

[DCCeline]

Chantemoi, on 20 March 2023 - 07:58 PM, said:

Lyrically, “Rain, Tax” isn’t any worse than many of her biggest Anglophone radio hits — not to mention so-called ‘filler’ songs.

In fact, that song has always been a guilty pleasure for me. It’s a crying shame we never got to see her dance  around to it on stage in her typical, awkward fashion - I always pictured that vividly while listening.

Yes it is lol. Rain Tax its inevitable is nothing we would say in english while casually talking. It just sounds stupid in english. Like a parody.  

Its catchy ill give you that but bad catchy.

Its better then Super Love but in its defense it was a bonus track so even they realized that wasnt worthy of being on the standard.

[DCCeline]

Chantemoi, on 20 March 2023 - 07:58 PM, said:

Lyrically, “Rain, Tax” isn’t any worse than many of her biggest Anglophone radio hits — not to mention so-called ‘filler’ songs.

In fact, that song has always been a guilty pleasure for me. It’s a crying shame we never got to see her dance  around to it on stage in her typical, awkward fashion - I always pictured that vividly while listening.

Yes it is lol. Rain Tax its inevitable is nothing we would say in english while casually talking. It just sounds stupid in english. Like a parody.  

Its catchy ill give you that but bad catchy.

Its better then Super Love but in its defense it was a bonus track so even they realized that wasnt worthy of being on the standard.

[Ukrfan]

DCCeline, on 21 March 2023 - 05:33 AM, said:

Yes it is lol. Rain Tax its inevitable is nothing we would say in english while casually talking. It just sounds stupid in english. Like a parody.  

Its catchy ill give you that but bad catchy.

Its better then Super Love but in its defense it was a bonus track so even they realized that wasnt worthy of being on the standard.

They should have gone with "Death, tax, it's inevitable" as a reference to the famous quote by Benjamin Franklin.

[celinesounds]

Super love
Rain tax

Are lovely songs, they still sounds fresh after 20 years.

Super love, is so cool “gime gime super love”

[anewdayhascome]

I LOVE Rain Tax! It's fun!

[LukeD]

DCCeline, on 21 March 2023 - 05:33 AM, said:

Yes it is lol. Rain Tax its inevitable is nothing we would say in english while casually talking. It just sounds stupid in english. Like a parody.  

According to the Urban Dictionary a ''rain tax'' is a tax placed on people living in certain counties in Maryland because water falls from the sky, and people are apparently taxed every year according to how much it rains.

[ryba]

Rain, tax, after lightning the thunder cracks this song is quite cool. I like Celines vocal delivery there, especially the „It had to be you“ and „what I want is you“ part at the bridge. She recorded songs that are far worse. But yeah, lyrically the tax notion is kinda weird.

[CelinesDIVO5]

LukeD, on 21 March 2023 - 11:47 AM, said:

According to the Urban Dictionary a ''rain tax'' is a tax placed on people living in certain counties in Maryland because water falls from the sky, and people are apparently taxed every year according to how much it rains.

LOL, but punctuation is important here because it’s “Rain, Tax” as two separate subjects. LOL I absolutely love that you looked this up though.

[DCCeline]

LukeD, on 21 March 2023 - 11:47 AM, said:

According to the Urban Dictionary a ''rain tax'' is a tax placed on people living in certain counties in Maryland because water falls from the sky, and people are apparently taxed every year according to how much it rains.

I actually live in Maryland lol

[LukeD]

CelinesDIVO5, on 21 March 2023 - 05:24 PM, said:

LOL, but punctuation is important here because it’s “Rain, Tax” as two separate subjects. LOL I absolutely love that you looked this up though.

Good point! I had looked it up in the past but could not remember the definition so I looked it up again 😅

[LukeD]

DCCeline, on 21 March 2023 - 05:37 PM, said:

I actually live in Maryland lol

😂 Emotional connection to the song confirmed! 😝

[LukeD]

Guys ANDHC surpassed 270.000.000 streams on Spotify! 🥳

[Chantemoi]

CelinesDIVO5, on 21 March 2023 - 02:18 AM, said:

I find the lyrics much more shallow than any of her other English uptempo songs. Just a bunch of jumble thrown together because they could make it rhyme. Absolutely terrible.

Re-read those lyrics—making sure to block out the words “rain” and “tax”—and then tell me they’re more shallow than:

- “When somebody loves somebody that’s the way it’s supposed to be/ Cuz you no nobody else would put up with your games, oh/ I don’t believe you, lover/ You don’t really wanna go, no”

- “When you want it the most there’s no easy way out”

- “Cause I’m your lady, and you are my man/ Whenever you reach for me, I’ll do all that I can”

- “When you were a young boy did you have a puppy that always followed you around”

- “I long for U to talk to me like U did that night in that restaurant”

- “Where does my heart beat now/ Where is the sound that only echoes through the night”

- etc., etc.

DCCeline, on 21 March 2023 - 05:04 AM, said:

Yes it is lol. Rain Tax its inevitable is nothing we would say in english while casually talking. It just sounds stupid in english. Like a parody.  

Most of her lyrics are not phrases we’d say in everyday English.. (see above examples)

I think the most valid critique about this song (made a few posts earlier) is that the phrase should’ve been “Death, tax… it’s inevitable”, but how many songs do we know that are so blunt to use the word “death”? None. Of course, none say “tax” either… maybe they should have abandoned the whole “death/rain/tax” metaphor altogether, but I think the reference point was made and it works for me - the rest of the song is fantastic

Edited by Chantemoi, 21 March 2023 - 11:46 PM.

[Állex Sodi]

I enjoy ‘Rain, Tax’ also, it’s a guilty pleasure! Mostly because when I heard it the first time, I was only 12yo, I didn’t speak english and even if I did I wouldn’t have mind the silly lyrics (I was, after all, a child).

I just loved the melodies and the way it sounds. I remember being very excited about that song cause it sounded like the music my generation was listening to it at that time. Celine was always sell around here target to an older audience, so being a fan of hers was a pretty lonely hobby as no friends of mine enjoyed her music, besides obviously the big hits everybody knew. I showed this song to everyone to prove Celine was indeed very cool, most of them liked the song.

Anyway, years later I learned the English language, was less than impressed by the lyrics, but then again is pop music. It’s supposed to have superficial lyrics that can relate with a maximum number of people possible, and if we start judging by this parameters, most of Celine’s English catalogue would turn out pretty bad!

[rodrigofreitas]

Állex Sodi, on 22 March 2023 - 10:18 AM, said:

I enjoy 'Rain, Tax' also, it's a guilty pleasure! Mostly because when I heard it the first time, I was only 12yo, I didn't speak english and even if I did I wouldn't have mind the silly lyrics (I was, after all, a child).

I just loved the melodies and the way it sounds. I remember being very excited about that song cause it sounded like the music my generation was listening to it at that time. Celine was always sell around here target to an older audience, so being a fan of hers was a pretty lonely hobby as no friends of mine enjoyed her music, besides obviously the big hits everybody knew. I showed this song to everyone to prove Celine was indeed very cool, most of them liked the song.

Anyway, years later I learned the English language, was less than impressed by the lyrics, but then again is pop music. It's supposed to have superficial lyrics that can relate with a maximum number of people possible, and if we start judging by this parameters, most of Celine's English catalogue would turn out pretty bad!

I remember when my English Teacher said: Céline want to say with this song, that The love for someone is inevitable, like the rain that fall in your head, like the tax that we have to pay. We don't get to scape.

Edited by rodrigofreitas, 22 March 2023 - 11:28 AM.

[smw]

[LukeD]

Despite having a bigger emotional connection with LTAL, I have reached the conclusion that ANDHC is her best English album. I do not think there is a single bad song in it. From a scale of 0 to 10 where 5 is average, and 10 is excellent this is my take on the songs:

01.I'm Alive 09/10

02.Right In Front Of You 08/10

03.Have You Ever Been In Love 08/10

04.Rain-Tax (It Is Inevitable) 07/10

05.A New Day Has Come (Radio Remix) 10/10

06.Ten Days 07/10

07.Goodbye (The Saddest Word) 08/10

08.Prayer 08/10

09.I Surrender 10/10

10.At Last 05/10

11.Super Love 06/10

12.Sorry For Love 08/10

13.Aun Existe Amor 10/10

14.The Greatest Reward 10/10

15.When The Wrong One Loves You Right 10/10

16.A New Day Has Come 10/10

17.Nature Boy 08/10

These are not just good individual songs, but all together they create themes that run throughout the record. The result is a concept album that sounds both youthful and mature.

Edited by LukeD, 19 April 2023 - 11:59 PM.

[Chantemoi]

I can’t stand what she did to At Last. The arrangement is cheap and dated. While her vocals aren’t bad, the delivery is a little heavy-handed for my taste… the original version of that song is so highly revered, you can’t just go around singing it karaoke style and get away with it.

And yet… IMHO, Prayer is the worst song on the album. It’s like being trapped inside a Thomas Kinkade painting for 5 & 1/2 minutes… In fact, that reminds me of something a critic from The A.V. Club  wrote about him once: “To his detractors, he represents the triumph of sub-mediocrity and the commercialization and homogenization of painting [...] perhaps no other painter has been as shameless or as successful at transforming himself into a corporation as Kinkade.” He also referred to him as “more of a ‘mall artist’ or a ‘chocolate box artist’ than as a merited painter.”

That could have been a word-for-word critique of Céline at that time if you swapped out “painting” for “singing about love”.  And while the rest of the album was branching out and experimenting with new themes -trying desperately to get away from that criticism- Prayer sounds like a bunch of Hallmark greeting cards strung together and set to music. Musically, her vocals and the orchestra is great, but the melody is awkward - like it doesn’t know where it’s going. For me, it’s up there with Always Be Your Girl as one of her weakest, cringiest ballads - especially when compared to high caliber songs like I Surrender and ANDHC on the same album.

That said, even if those 2 songs were cut - and not replaced with anything - it’s still a bit bloated as an “concept” album. But what’s interesting about ANDHC and OH : you can add all the songs to a playlist and rearrange them however you like and they’re all consistent.

[DCCeline]

Wow I love her cover of At Last.  Dont care for the original.    

Prayer, Rain Tax, Super Love and a couple of the songs at the end could be cut. They are not bad songs but as you said its a "bloated" album.  Though so are all her English albums from FIY onward

[CelinesDIVO5]

ANDHC as a whole for me just didn’t age well. It’s very much of its time. I only listen to a few songs on a consistent basis. The rest is just “meh” to me.

My favorites:

I’m Alive
ANDHC (both versions)
Sorry For Love
I Surrender
The Greatest Reward

I despise her version of “At Last.” They made no effort to make it stand the test of time.

WTWOLYR, it’s okay to me…fun every once in awhile. But I never repeat the track for a second listen.

Prayer, I actually think is a very beautiful song. I think it’s especially appropriate during a time where so many children are being harmed and killed here in the US.

The rest of the album? Eh.

Edited by CelinesDIVO5, 20 April 2023 - 09:41 AM.

[Nmj]

CelinesDIVO5, on 20 April 2023 - 09:41 AM, said:

ANDHC as a whole for me just didn’t age well. It’s very much of its time. I only listen to a few songs on a consistent basis. The rest is just “meh” to me.

My favorites:

I’m Alive
ANDHC (both versions)
Sorry For Love
I Surrender
The Greatest Reward

I despise her version of “At Last.” They made no effort to make it stand the test of time.

WTWOLYR, it’s okay to me…fun every once in awhile. But I never repeat the track for a second listen.

Prayer, I actually think is a very beautiful song. I think it’s especially appropriate during a time where so many children are being harmed and killed here in the US.

The rest of the album? Eh.

I think ANDHC album is more current now in 2023 than TC or LMBTL were even the year they were released.

[Davey84]

CelinesDIVO5, on 20 April 2023 - 09:41 AM, said:

ANDHC as a whole for me just didn't age well. It's very much of its time. I only listen to a few songs on a consistent basis. The rest is just "meh" to me.

The rest of the album? Eh.

Even Right In Front Of You? Cos it was called the TTWII of that album at the time!

I enjoy every song on this album! Even Rain Tax I guess the one I could have lived without is Aun Existe Amor, a new Spanish song would have been better.

[smw]

I think ANDHC remains one of her strongest English albums.

[CelinesDIVO5]

Davey84, on 20 April 2023 - 09:50 AM, said:

Even Right In Front Of You? Cos it was called the TTWII of that album at the time!

I enjoy every song on this album! Even Rain Tax I guess the one I could have lived without is Aun Existe Amor, a new Spanish song would have been better.

The fake violins in RIFOY make my head spin.

[CelinesDIVO5]

Nmj, on 20 April 2023 - 09:49 AM, said:

I think ANDHC album is more current now in 2023 than TC or LMBTL were even the year they were released.

I think it sounds very 2002.