"Celine Dion gets repackaged"

[Ronny83]

Celine Dion gets repackaged

 

http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2007-10/33155504.jpg

 

Evanescence guitarist Ben Moody and collaborator David Hodges attempt to get Celine Dion back onto Top 40 radio.

By August Brown, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

October 14, 2007

 

IS it time to reconsider Celine Dion? With her Vegas show, "A New Day," wrapping up in December after a 4 1/2 -year run as an indisputable hit, the popular 33 1/3 book series is planning a respectful treatise on her role in popular culture and her forthcoming album, "Taking Chances" (due Nov. 13), features compositions by recent pop-chart stalwarts Linda Perry and Ne-Yo.

 

The most unlikely writing credit on "Chances" may be the one for former Evanescence guitarist Ben Moody. Moody has written tracks for Avril Lavigne and Kelly Clarkson, but those artists are at least vaguely based in rock music. What would he do with a Francophone diva best known for Titanically weepy ballads?

 

"She's one of the most amazing vocalists alive, her recordings and live performances are flawless," Moody said. "To me it's all just music, I don't care what the format is."

 

The format may be an unlikely attempt to get Dion back onto Top 40 radio. Moody (along with frequent writing collaborator David Hodges) contributed writing and production to two songs on "Chances." One, a cover of Heart's "Alone," gets a slightly creepy makeover from tinkling pianos and enveloping strings, suggesting that Dion's intentions when she gets you alone may not be as wholesome as planned.

 

But Moody and Hodges' original song, the anti-domestic-violence plea "This Time," is unusual for all parties. Dion has rarely ventured out of safe, power-of-love territory lyrically, and erstwhile metal-guitarist Moody isn't on anyone's list of go-to writers for a female empowerment anthem.

 

"She doesn't usually do political songs," Moody admits. "But it's just the direction it took. I had the idea for the phrase 'this time,' and the story just got laid out in front of me."

 

Judging by the unexpectedly sexed-out cover of "Taking Chances" (think tasteful cleavage and windblown tresses), the collaboration is part of a significant repackaging of Dion that may or may not stick on pop radio. But for Moody, working with her was infinitely easier than some 19-year-old MySpace find.

 

"With certain artists, if they want to be [difficult], they've at least earned the right," Moody said. "Of all people, [Dion] had the right to be full of herself, but she wasn't like that at all. She was so unbelievably classy."

 

august.brown@latimes.com

[Feidhlimbrennan]

Apologies if this has already been posted, but I just found it, and it was posted tis morning on the LA times website::

 

Evanescence guitarist Ben Moody and collaborator David Hodges attempt to get Celine Dion back onto Top 40 radio.

By August Brown, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

October 14, 2007

IS it time to reconsider Celine Dion? With her Vegas show, "A New Day," wrapping up in December after a 4 1/2 -year run as an indisputable hit, the popular 33 1/3 book series is planning a respectful treatise on her role in popular culture and her forthcoming album, "Taking Chances" (due Nov. 13), features compositions by recent pop-chart stalwarts Linda Perry and Ne-Yo.

 

The most unlikely writing credit on "Chances" may be the one for former Evanescence guitarist Ben Moody. Moody has written tracks for Avril Lavigne and Kelly Clarkson, but those artists are at least vaguely based in rock music. What would he do with a Francophone diva best known for Titanically weepy ballads?

 

"She's one of the most amazing vocalists alive, her recordings and live performances are flawless," Moody said. "To me it's all just music, I don't care what the format is."

 

The format may be an unlikely attempt to get Dion back onto Top 40 radio. Moody (along with frequent writing collaborator David Hodges) contributed writing and production to two songs on "Chances." One, a cover of Heart's "Alone," gets a slightly creepy makeover from tinkling pianos and enveloping strings, suggesting that Dion's intentions when she gets you alone may not be as wholesome as planned.

 

But Moody and Hodges' original song, the anti-domestic-violence plea "This Time," is unusual for all parties. Dion has rarely ventured out of safe, power-of-love territory lyrically, and erstwhile metal-guitarist Moody isn't on anyone's list of go-to writers for a female empowerment anthem.

 

"She doesn't usually do political songs," Moody admits. "But it's just the direction it took. I had the idea for the phrase 'this time,' and the story just got laid out in front of me."

 

Judging by the unexpectedly sexed-out cover of "Taking Chances" (think tasteful cleavage and windblown tresses), the collaboration is part of a significant repackaging of Dion that may or may not stick on pop radio. But for Moody, working with her was infinitely easier than some 19-year-old MySpace find.

 

"With certain artists, if they want to be [difficult], they've at least earned the right," Moody said. "Of all people, [Dion] had the right to be full of herself, but she wasn't like that at all. She was so unbelievably classy."

 

august.brown@latimes.com

 

 

here's the link : http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/...e-entertainment

 

 

just wondering if anyone knows what the 33 1/3 book series is???

[Xpresso]

Thanks for the article!

Interesting and positive write-up from the L.A Times!! They are usually not so kind to Celine... It will take time for the critics out there to embrace the new Celine... but it's going in the right direction!

[Shaun]

Ohhhh that's a great article and a good find, well done!

 

I love how it conveys the message that Celine actually IS taking chances and not sticking to her tried and tested forumla. Also, that's another person to add to the list of "we thought Celine would be a diva but wasn't."

[Tal]

I think someone posted that yesterday. Its a great article!

[stevo]

This is why I think she'll release This Time- it'll get press due to it's theme and that in itself should help it get radioplay. But that's down the road.

[Nando Férri]

This is why I think she'll release This Time- it'll get press due to it's theme and that in itself should help it get radioplay. But that's down the road.

Oh... This time would be a great video. It has to be the next single.

[smw]

Here!

[LD1977]

I looooooooooove Ben Moody! "She was so unbelievably classy" YES, she is! And I like the pic!

[Un Rêve]

Go Ben Moody!!! And again, more Celine out there in the world

[CSCfan]

Thanks for the article (though it's already posted twice before)..

[ByuSmurf]

I'm STOKED!! With this article it appears that THIS TIME might be the next single!! YES!!!

[xo1hrt4celineox]

what a great article!! I really can't wait to see what this album does, it might take some time, but it definitely seems to be going in a positive direction!

 

"Of all people, [Dion] had the right to be full of herself, but she wasn't like that at all. She was so unbelievably classy." --she always makes me so proud to be one of her fans

Edited October 14, 2007 by xo1hrt4celineox

[VinnyT.]

Celine Dion looks to Top 40 with new album

 

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- Celine Dion, the Canadian diva, is attempting a make-over with her new album following a four-year run at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

 

“Taking Chances,” to be released Nov. 13, features songs penned by Evanescence guitarist Ben Moody, who worked with pop icons Kelly Clarkson and Avril Lavigne.

 

Moody collaborated with David Hodges to revamp the Heart hit “Alone” with a slightly suggestive overtone, as well as “This Time,” a song with an anti-domestic violence message.

 

“She usually doesn’t do political songs,” Moody told the Los Angeles Times, noting the song developed its message on its own during the artistic process.

 

“Taking Chances” marks a re-branding campaign for the normally adult contemporary genre singer.

 

Perhaps with an eye on popular radio, Dion’s collaboration with metal guitarist Moody is a departure for the singer, whose previous hits dealt with love and other saccharin themes.

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Entertainment...new_album/9457/

[JP]

"She's one of the most amazing vocalists alive, her recordings and live performances are flawless,"

 

Woww, that's so nice!! I love the article!

[Esty]

Thanks for the article! I looove it!

[stevethefan]

That's a nice article. It's nice to see a more positive article and I really like the direction Celine seems to be taking with this album and the artists she is working with.

[celinerific]

Great article. It's great to see Celine getting all this positive feedback.