Vegas Review from DVD recording

[Cheerfuljane]

Have you ever heard the phrase “There`s a first time for everything” ?

That sums up the month of January for me. It was my first trip to America, My first time seeing Celine perform live and, most importantly, my first time meeting Celine – but hopefully not the last (wink, wink, nudge, nudge).

 

My plane was delayed by 3 hours due to bad weather conditions so I only arrived in Las Vegas at 5pm on Friday January 19th. It took a while to get through immigration and to get a taxi, but I finally arrived at my hotel at 6:30pm. I was ever so slightly stressed due to the fact that I still had to iron my clothes, shower, do my hair and make-up, get-dressed and trek all the way across the street to Caesars Palace to meet the production team and other interviewees.

 

With about 3 minutes to spare I get across the road and go in the wrong direction – not my most intelligent move. I ended up in the Forum Shops and after walking through passage after passage of fancy, totally out-of my-price-range, shops I eventually make it to the Colosseum. A group of people are waiting patiently by the entrance reading and signing forms, so I sneak past and go to the box office to collect my tickets for the 4 shows that I would be seeing. Then I go over to the group and introduce myself to Nadia from J Productions. She hands me the release forms and I sign them and hand them back with my DVD of photos and videos.

 

Nadia then tells us that we will be going into the Colosseum and will be met by Patrick Angelil and that there will be cameras following us as we head down to the Green Room. Patrick greeted us with the cutest of grins in the foyer and then divided us into three groups as we all headed to the lift with bright camera lights in tow.

 

I was in group three along with Salla and Anu from Finland and four ladies from Montreal. We exit the lift into the white hospital-like hall and wait while the first two groups go through to the Green Room. Patrick waits with us and asks us where we are all from. He is very surprised to hear that we have traveled all the way from Finland and South Africa to see the show. We then go through to the green room.

 

I usually have a brilliant memory but that night my “brain cells were fried” – as it was so aptly put by Heidi – a fan from Tahiti. It all became hazy so we had to get together later to recap the events of the evening to ensure that we didn`t forget a single moment.

 

We get into the not-so-green Room and Patrick then announces that we won`t be having the interviews tonight, but instead Celine will be coming in to meet us all one by one.

 

!!! Goodness gracious great balls of fire !!!

(This is when the cells start to fry).

 

Salla had said to me that she heard a rumour that we might be meeting Celine which, quite frankly, I didn`t believe. I should have because I would have had more time to psyche myself up.

 

So now they`re telling us that we`ll have a little chat with her and then get our picture taken together. I look over to Salla to make sure that I`m not the only one trying not to freak out and low-and-behold she looks like she`s about to faint. I said something to make her and Anu laugh, but fried brain cells prevent me from remembering the exact words. We had to stand up and walk around for a bit, then sit down, then stand up, then sit, then stand, then sit then……

 

We hear THE voice……

We all crowd around to see her. I`m at the back with Salla and Anu. She looks like an angel in her white outfit and glittery eyes. She goes straight over to Cindy, Stephanie, Suus and Mathias from Holland.

Cincy shows Celine her orange Holland shirt and asks her if she remembers it. Celine thinks for a moment and then says “Yes. You follow me everywhere I go.” She then starts singing “Everywhere I go….” And we all join in “all the places that I`ve been. Every smiles a new horizon on the place I`ve never been.”

Celine looks around at all of us and says “They know all the words!”

 

Mathias is wearing a button-up shirt over his orange Holland shirt, which Stephanie points out to Celine so Celine goes over to Mathias and unbuttons his shirt. Very naughty indeed. This was the second most hysterical thing ever. The first would be Matthias`s facial expression. Then she notices a necklace around Suus neck and hesitantly goes to take a closer look. She sees that it`s a Canadian nickel coin and asks if Suus has it because she likes nickels or because it`s Celine`s lucky number. Suus tells her that it`s because it`s Celine`s lucky number and that it`s from 1968.

 

There are a few people in the group who I have not met before. One of them is the girl with the tattoo on her back. I never got a look at it but Celine did and her reaction is “You didn`t have to go THAT far!”

There is also another girl with a car number plate that I can`t see clearly, but it has reference to Celine.

Then it`s the turn of the two Japanese ladies. One of whom does not speak English, but here friend helps her. So does Celine. She says Hajimemashite (Nice to meet you) and counts to ten in Japanese. It`s so fantastic how multicultural she is. The ladies are flabbergasted.

 

Then it`s Paula from Manchester in the UK. She tells Celine that she named her daughter after her and has the birth certificate to prove it. She takes out the certificate and Celine signs it. She also shows Celine a picture of her daughter.

Then she goes over to Jane and her husband from the UK. I couldn`t hear what they said to each other, but I did hear Celine saying to Jane`s husband “A happy wife - A happy life”. (Jane got the rose that evening.)

 

My turn next….

I get told by Julie that I need to make it quick because Celine must go upstairs soon.

Fried brain cells in tow I go over to her and say “Hi. I`m Jane from South Africa.” She has an amazed look on her face.

Now I`m thinking to myself: If I pee in my pants now it`s gonna be way more embarrassing than it was in the first grade!

Then she looks behind me at Salla and Anu and says “Are you all together?” and I said “No. I`m all by my lonesome.” So she puts her arm around me and leads me to the carpet saying “You look beautiful tonight!” I blush and say “Thank you.”

 

So we`re on the carpet ready to take a photograph and I`m thinking: What the heck am I supossed to do? Must I just stand here and smile? So I nervously put my hand around her waist – then suddenly realize maybe I shouldn`t have done that! Now I`m trying to figure out which camera to look at. There are so many people filming us. Celine then says “Look at that camera” and points at the right one. I hadn`t even seen it amongst all those lights. Click click and it`s over. She gives me a hug and says “Enjoy the show tonight” and I`m thinking: DUH !!

I go outside and wait in the bright white hall for Salla and Anu. They are speechless after meeting Celine and almost as bright white as the hall. We walk in a dreamy dwell to the lift and go upstairs to take our seats.

 

It`s my first time in the Colosseum so I`m looking all around me in awe. It`s absolutely gorgeous with it`s plush red seats and gold rails. It`s filled to the brim with fancily dressed people. The audience is being filmed and shown on the humungous LED screen at the back of the stage. We stand around chatting for a bit then take our seats. I`m in the 4th row while most of the others are two rows in front of me. It`s almost 9pm so, thanks to us loony fans, Celine is a half hour late.

 

The cameraman focuses on selected members of the audience. He shows the Australian family mentioned earlier and their cute little blonde daughter. They show a few people in the front orchestra. Then they focus on a couple on the first mezzanine who must be in there seventies and the husband kisses the wife on her cheek – too cute. They focus on a few more people and then …..

 

The lights fade, the glass cracks and we see an image of Celine walking down the steps on the LED screen. A New Day Has Come…..

 

The show was unbelievably brilliant. Celine was in top form – as were the fans – if I do say so myself. My hands were really sore from all the clapping. We were all on cloud nine and just didn`t want the night to end, but it eventually did – 4 hours and several cocktails later.

 

Saturday the 20th….

 

I meet up with the Dutch group at our hotel and we make our way over to Paris to join Darryl (from Canada) and Marisa (from LA) for breakfast. You`ll never guess what the topic of conversation is?!!

We then go our own ways, but will be seeing each other again at 2pm for the “BIG surprise!”

 

I get to the Colosseum at 2pm and a group of fans are waiting patiently to hear what the surprise is. Marisa comes along and says that we`ll be given a private backstage tour of the Colosseum. We go inside and are met by the director of the show (I think) who tells us exactly what is going to happen. We go into the Colosseum and take our seats in front orchestra 4. It looks amazing when there are no people there and the lights are on full. He stands on the stage in front of us and tells us all the fascinating facts about the construction of the Colosseum and especially how the sound is dispersed and captured around the Colosseum. It`s all rather technical but I get the jist of it all.

 

We then follow him onto the stage and into the wings on the left. We go around to the back as he tells us about the moving apparatus and how the dancers use them. We can see the dancers costumes hanging on the walls. They each have their own sections marked with their names. The men`s section is first and then the women`s section. They have an area closed off with a curtain that they probably use to change in. To the right we can see the staircase that leads up to the part of the stage that Celine makes her initial entrance from. Above us are all the props that move across the stage during “I`ve got the world on a string” and other songs. We then go around to the right and back onto the stage.

[Cheerfuljane]

Will continue when my fingers recover from all the typing

 

It probably not all that accurate.... but fried brain cells will have that effect

[CSCfan]

Aww, GREAT review Jane....definately worth the wait..

And again..it's all coming back to me now..

[Elaine]

That's how I am! But tears of happiness!! OMG! What an incredible week you had huh?!

I tend to cry every time I read reviews like this!!

Looking forward to seeing the other parts!!

 

Thanks for sharing!

[Cheerfuljane]

So do I ...

Make sure you get your butt there in December and we`ll all have one big cry together

[stevethefan]

Thanks for the nice review. I never get tired of reading reviews on these shows, and I really like the amount of detail in each one. I especially liked the part where you talked about meeting Celine. I love the way Celine takes the time to find something unique to talk about with each fan, even though she does not have that much time. I thought it was cool that she noticed someone's 1968 Canadian nickel. I know she must appreciate all the thought her fans put into these things.

[Scully Dion]

ahhh twas great to hear you story! thanks!

[tativale]

Great review!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I want to go back there!!! hehe I wish we could turn back time.... |I wish I could re-live this meeting over and over again lol

Why don't they put you for Saturday if they knew you were going to arrive on friday just a few hours before the show? Anyway... the most important thing is that you could make it and met Celine - this is amazing!!!! I'll never forget that moment even though I haven't talked to her much -- I was speechless --

hey why did you think you shouldn't have put your arms around her waist? heheh I did that too! lol it's normal when weare going to take a pic with someone hehe at least in Brazil it's very normal hehehe

[Cheerfuljane]

Continued....

 

I`m busy filming while the others all stand together on the stage for a group picture. Sophoan (California) sets his camera to take a group photo, passes it to someone to take a photo and then joins the group. Click click. One more time… And another….

I then shout to Marisa that she still has to sing us a song. She says “I`m not singing” and I say “Don`t worry. We`ll all be your backup.”

The group then sings River Deep Mountain High with Marisa in the lead. I film it all.

Then I`m shouting to everyone to turn around so we can take a photo with the seats in the background. They eventually catch on and turn around. Sophoan sets a camera again and joins the group. Still filming, I join the group for a quick click click.

Time to leave…ahhhh.

We make our way out as slowly as possible trying to absorb every moment and imprint it all in our long-term memory. Marisa told us later that we were only suppose to be there for 20 minutes, but had spent almost an hour there instead.

 

So, once again, we all went our separate ways but would be meeting up again in a few hours for dinner at Café Lago in Ceasars Palace.

 

I am fashionably late because I`ve been sightseeing. OK….OK….I was playing poker!! Everyone is here already. There are 5 large round tables and I take a seat at the one with Marisa, Sophoan, Jose, Erwin and a few others. We all chat for a bit while I have some Southern Comfort and Lemonade. Then some people go up to the buffet and start eating. Once we are all done, Marisa gets up and knocks her fork against her wine glass, but the noise is too loud so no-one hears it. After getting everyone`s attention she asks what we think we could do during the show tonight to encourage audience participation and to support Celine.

We eventually come up with these ideas:

Doing the arms out, knee-bending thingy during I`m Alive

Clicking our fingers during I`ve got the World on a string

Doing the arm movements during I drove all night

 

We plan and practice that when Celine sits down on the top step to sing If I could, Marisa and I will shout ON T`AIME CELINE!! Hoping that she would say “I love you too”. If she did then we would shout WE LOVE YOU MORE!

 

We agree that we will all stand during all the upbeat songs even if grumpy people behind us tell us to sit down.

 

It`s now after 7pm and some of the people have to meet with J Productions to “have their interviews” (ie. Meet Celine!)

 

The rest of us wonder off into Ceasars. Salla, Anu and I are walking through the casino when I shout out “VIVA” and they follow with “LAS VEGAS” ! Oh yeah…Celine fans IN THE HOUSE!!!

We head to the Celine store where Lisa (UK) has the bright idea of buying a poster and all signing it to thank Marisa for organizing the backstage tour and dinner. I whack out my black marker and sign my million-dollar signature. Then I film everyone saying thank you as well. Marisa: YOU ROCK!!

 

We get into the Colosseum and hang around orchestra 4 with the other fans. I`m in the second row with Ramona right behind me. Salla and Anu behind her. Alana next to them. The others are all on the other side of orchestra 4. We are all so hyped up and can barely contain our excitement.

 

The show begins with the breaking of the glass…..

Celine is even a thousand times better than the night before – if that is possible! We do all the movements like we agreed, but then came the “ON T`AIME CELINE” part. She`s just about to sit down and I shout it out very clearly.

Her response: “Thank you”.

No..no..no…..that was not part of the plan.

Cindy saves the day with “WE LOVE YOU CELINE”.

Her response: “I love you more”.

Yes..yes..yes…THAT was part of the plan.

So we all shout “WE LOVE YOU MORE!”

Her response: “I love you the most. Huh! Beat that. Let me tell you something…I`m the baby of a family of 14 so when I get a chance to speak I take it.”

 

The whole show was just unbelievable. The dancers enjoyed our participation just as much as Celine. We were on such a high afterwards so we went to see the dancers and musicians and then headed over to Slice for some drinks. I got back to my hotel at about 2am.

 

Sunday the 21st

 

There`s still quite a few of us left and we all get together in orchestra 4 before the show once again. This time we get a special treat: Rene comes onto the stage with goofy looking head phones and tells us that they had a problem with filming the audience because the lighting was too bad. He asks us to pretend he is Celine (ha ha) and if we could please give him a standing ovation. We all stand up and start cheering. He stops us and says that they were not ready and that we should go on his count.

We go again. Then he stops us and listens to the voice coming through his headphones. He says that it was good and that he will now sing 2 numbers and we can cheer again. There are a few seconds of silence when we realize that he`s joking and start laughing. Mathias turns around to me and says that we`re going to shout out “ON T`AIME RENE”. 1..2..3… up….clap clap clap…and I shout “ON T`AIME CELINE”, but don`t realize my error and Mathias turns and says “IT`S RENE!!” - A thousand apologies Mr Angelil Sir

 

Once again the show was absolutely flawless. Celine and the dancers seemed to be less tense than the night before. Probably because it was the last one, which would have been a relief.

 

Monday the 22nd

It was all over. Almost all the fans were going home that day. The whole weekend had been so emotional that I even cried. So not like me. Vegas seemed so sad without everyone there. Even Celine was off that day.

 

Wednesday the 24th

I`m all by my lonesome wearing my pink Celine shirt. I go into the Coloseum and take my seat in orchestra 6 right next to Mego`s piano and Barnev`s microphone. The show starts as usual and after A New Day Has Come, Celine comes over and says Hi to Mego, Barnev and Mary-Lou. She looks at me and grins as if she recognizes me – if not I`m staying in denial . I wave at her and she waves back.

The show was brilliant, but there no huge fans. Not even one person was standing – only when Celine told them too. There was one group on the 1st Mezz that shouted out “CELINE – ON T`AIME” and Celine said “Merci”.

I missed the others terribly that night

[Cheerfuljane]

THE INTERVIEW

 

 

After the show on Friday we had to go back down to the not-so-green room for our interviews with J Productions. We waited in the bright white hall for a while because they were still busy inside. It was nerve-wracking. I just wanted to get this interview over. Eventually we get inside and Mathias is the first to be interviewed. The rest of us are waiting behind the screen but can slightly hear what`s been said on the other side. We were told to keep quiet because the microphones are very powerful and pick up all surrounding noises. Now I`m thinking to myself: OK…you`ve just told 8 women to keep quiet…good luvk with that !! So we were talking and giggling and talking and giggling. Over they came to remind us to keep quiet.

 

Then it`s my turn…..

I go to sit down in front of the huge bright lights. Nadia is sitting in front of me with the TV camera next to her. She explains what will happen: I must look at here and not the camera and that the questions will not be heard on the DVD so when I answer I must use full sentences and include the questions in the answers.

She asks questions regarding my trip to Las Vegas: How long it took, Describe the last 24 hours, My meeting with Celine etc.

Questions about being a fan: What`s my favourite song and why?, How long I`ve been a fan, When did I Become a fan? Etc.

The saddest part: She asked which song has the most emotion for me? I said that it was Immortality because my father, who died when I was young, loved the Bee Gees and that the song made me cry. Then I started crying. Pathetic.

The lamest part: She said if I could describe Celine in one word what word it be and I said Awesome! Oh…..if only I could turn back time!

 

I never get nervous. I`ve met Nelson Mandela and Queen Elizabeth and I wasn`t at all nervous either time. But this night I was a complete wreck. Either I`m just getting old or Celine has some major power over me! I`m gonna go with the latter!

[CSCfan]

Wow.... Only one word: AWESOME!

Thanks Jane!!

 

[tativale]

Ahh Jane, it is hard not to be nervous when we meet someone we like so much - as Celine.

 

I was very nervous during the meeting and more relax during the interview. I said everything that I so wished I could tell Celine in person, during the interview. When I met her I was speechless and I couldn't say a complete phrase to her.

 

It's really hard to define Celine in one word hehe I think, still, she is AWESOME! I said "generous".

[#1fanforever]

I loved your review!!! I think Celine has a power over all of us...lol! Hope to meet you in december

[ErwinG]

great review ... it was pretty amazzing being there and having met everybody who was there ...

 

Can't wait for December ...

[Lawna]

Awww Jane! Thanks for your review! I miss everyone and I miss Celine! Saturday Jan. 20th 2007 was such a dream and such a high for us all...it was bittersweet when it ended

[Cheerfuljane]

Just in case you missed the videos that I took......

 

Backstage tour on 20 January

The whole group taking pictures on stage

 

 

Please excuse my loud annoying voice

I'm a terrible photographer

 

 

This next one is very short but you hear someone behind me saying "we're 20 minutes late" or something......

 

 

Another very short and sweet one....

 

 

Leaving the colosseum after our backstage tour.

 

 

Fans Dinner at Cafe Lago on 20 January

 

This is Marisa discussing what mischief we would get up to during the show.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOKJcyT-0oI

 

A short and sweet one showing the "I drove all night" movements and then deciding when to shout "On t'aime Celine"

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58eS9yJx8SQ

 

This one is of Salla and Sopha taking pics of the Dutchies.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYZBBjP-79A

 

After the show on the 20th. Having drinks and very intellectual conversations

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiiXTIqZBTI

 

More intellectual conversations...

 

[nano]

woohoo. Thanks for the review Miss Jane.

I miss everyone..

 

 

I haven't written my review yet..ooops.

[anewdayhascome]

read mine it's also interesting though there wasn't Celine meeting:( I wish i met het:):

[CELINO]

but who's been there during the filming of the show?

[Cheerfuljane]

Um.....

There are some group pics and a list of names in this thread:

http://www.celinedionforum.com/index.php?s...40&start=40

[nano]

Um.....

There are some group pics and a list of names in this thread:

http://www.celinedionforum.com/index.php?s...40&start=40

yeah..check Love's review, there are tons of pictures.

 

Like this one

http://www.celinedionforum.com/index.php?s...st&p=469690

Edited August 7, 2007 at 07:14 AM by nano

[KimboCosmo]

Have you ever heard the phrase “There`s a first time for everything” ?

That sums up the month of January for me. It was my first trip to America, My first time seeing Celine perform live and, most importantly, my first time meeting Celine – but hopefully not the last (wink, wink, nudge, nudge).

Jane, I will need your help when I come over there now. I've never left America! HELP ME!! I'm so scared lol

[Celine CRAZY]

thanks for the info! wow i can't wait to c all of u on the DVD!

[celinemad]

My goodness!

It sounds like you had the time of your life....

How special! You must have felt so privileged.

I would have loved the opportunity to stand on that stage and look out onto the colosseum, I bet it looked awesome!!!!.

The meeting of Celine sounds incredible, your one one lucky person!!!

 

I've been every year since it opened in 2003. Me and my Husband saw Celine the day before we got married. I wanted to shout out to her to tell her "Hey we're getting married tomorrow" but there were many people calling her name so I felt it would be rude of me to interupt while she was trying to talk.I wish had though!!

 

If you hear anything about her signing autopgraphs or meeting fans on the last day, please can you you let me know?

 

 

X Rachel

[roubaix]

Jane,

I'm so late to this but WOW what a great review and insight. Geez, what a thrilling time for you and the others. I was so jacked up the two times I saw Celine at Caesars I can only imagine the rush you had going through this.

 

Wow! Thanks, thanks, thanks!