January 23, 2009 - Miami, FL (American Airlines Arena)

[kerche]

SOOOO how about I have NO voice right now. NOTHING! I think its a mixture of a little cold and screaming at three concerts before this but I'm really freakin out because I board my plane in the morning and I meet Celine before the show. What if I still can't talk by then. I mean NOTHING is coming out! Maybe I'll just write it all down. lol..

 

o boy, this will be interesting! I am giving her a drawing I did of her and RC =)

 

You are meeting Celine again?? LOL!

How do you do it girl?!! Get the opportunity I mean

I hope I have some sort of luck in Montreal next month!!!!!!

 

But have lots of fun & drink plenty of hot lemon-honey water. Hopefully it'll help soothe your throat.

Can't wait to hear stories & see photos. I'm sure she'll definitely be surprised to see you again! :-)

Edited January 23, 2009 at 07:45 AM by kerche

[CSCfan]

Celine Dion to have two South Florida performances

One unsuspecting man's journey to the feet of a superstar.

 

By John Tanasychuk | South Florida Sun-Sentinel

January 23, 2009

 

Round about the time I left Canada 20 years ago for the United States, I started hearing a singer named Celine Dion.

 

My French-speaking friends got turned on to her first. My French, which I'd studied every day of my school life through high school, had not aged well. But here was a voice I wouldn't forget no matter what language she sang.

 

Celine also had a story. A Canadian story. The youngest of 14 children born in small town Quebec, her parents owned a bar where Celine learned to perform. When I started to hear her first songs in English, I recognized the hint of a French-Canadian accent that reminded me of home.

 

The first big English hit I remember was 1990's Where Does My Heart Beat Now. It told me this was no ordinary Canadian singer. What Canadian sings power ballads that give you goose bumps?

 

We Canadians are used to far less showmanship. Growing up in the '70s, my collection of 45s included Gordon Lightfoot's If You Could Read My Mind and Anne Murray's Snowbird. My first rock concert was Bachmam-Turner Overdrive.

 

But mixed into this Canadian was much more American music.

 

I grew up on the U.S.-Canada border, just a tunnel ride from Detroit. Windsor, Ontario, was a blue collar city and the automotive capital of Canada. Growing up so close to The D, our ears were filled with Aretha and Motown, Iggy Pop and Bob Seger. I was open to almost every music style. It didn't hurt that my mother loved Louis Armstrong. My father liked Ray Price. My sisters danced to the Supremes on Swingin' Time, the local TV show.

 

So when Celine did a cover of Patti LaBelle's If You Asked Me To in 1992, she seemed like a Canadian who understood where I came from. Understand, too, that when you come from a country with one-tenth the U.S. population, you find yourself rooting for Canadian success.

 

I couldn't believe Celine was singing Beauty and the Beast with someone of Peabo Bryson's status. She was somehow being offered the kind of opportunities that would propel her to a status few Canadians had ever attained.

 

I'd heard about her manager, René Angélil, a man 25 years older whom she first met when she was 12. When they married in 1994, the wedding was televised live across the country. This was just plain weird for Canada. As far as I am aware, no other Canadian had been married on TV.

 

I was a nascent fan. But a skeptical one. When did Canada start growing divas?

 

One who held her own alongside Aretha Franklin, Gloria Estefan and Mariah Carey on VH1's Divas Live special in 1998.

 

Four years ago, I declined when some old friends invited me to go along on a trip to Vegas where Celine had taken up residence at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. They came back converts. At least one came back a member of Celine's fan club.

 

Finally, late last spring, when the same group announced they were seeing Celine outside of Detroit at the end of September, I decided to join them. The fan club member bought front row tickets. I won't tell you how much they cost.

 

But seeing Celine became a weekend event. Hotel rooms were booked. Dinners were planned.

 

On concert night, I almost couldn't believe I was sitting in the front row. Surely, there were bigger fans in this stadium.

 

Then out she came. Gorgeous. Fit. Spray tanned. A head full of blond hair.

 

And then she opened her mouth. I'm not sure if she chose to open with I Drove All Night because she was singing in a stadium a stone's throw from Chrysler headquarters. The song had been used in TV commercials for the company's Pacifica a few years earlier.

 

It didn't matter. Because at that moment, I became an unabashed fan. I think it was a kind of baptism.

 

Over the next few hours, I realized that Celine had long outgrown everything I thought I knew about her. No wonder she was filling stadiums around the world.

 

There was the voice. It's not until you hear someone sing live that you appreciate a singer's range. Not just vocal range, but emotional range.

 

There was her easy way on stage, the result, no doubt, of a lifetime spent performing.

 

And then there was her spirit. Yes, she's a new kind of pop superstar, a phenomenon unto herself, but I couldn't help but think she remembers where she came from. Wherever she goes, she brings a little bit of Charlemagne, Quebec, along with her.

[scorp82]

SOOOO how about I have NO voice right now. NOTHING! I think its a mixture of a little cold and screaming at three concerts before this but I'm really freakin out because I board my plane in the morning and I meet Celine before the show. What if I still can't talk by then. I mean NOTHING is coming out! Maybe I'll just write it all down. lol..

 

o boy, this will be interesting! I am giving her a drawing I did of her and RC =)

 

 

Chelsea, I hope you're feeling better! Take extra care of yourself!

[scorp82]

Alright you guys, as Celine says, tonight is the night!

 

I can't wait for tonight, but at the same time, I really want to savor every moment!

 

I can't believe the wait is over!

[Shamrock_1982]

What a great story/review..... thanks for sharing!!!

 

Have fun tonight peeps, especially you Chellbie....

 

Darren.

Edited January 23, 2009 at 01:47 PM by Ire23

[kwright]

Yay tonight is the night! I cannot wait to hear the reviews and pictures! It seems like Celine is realizing her tour is ending and she is definitely putting on some good shows!!! Chelsey I'm so excited for you and cannot waittttt to hear how it goes! Hope you're feeling better!

[Chellbie]

I am at the AIRPORT!!!!!!!! i have a little of my voice back.. i thnk I'll just tell celine its because I screamed too much at the previous 3 shows LOL! I'm getting thrillllled! and nervous!

[CelineGAfan]

I am at the AIRPORT!!!!!!!! i have a little of my voice back.. i thnk I'll just tell celine its because I screamed too much at the previous 3 shows LOL! I'm getting thrillllled! and nervous!

 

Hey Chelsey!

 

Happy to hear you have some of your voice back! I am SO excited for you!! Can't wait to hear ALL about your experience in Miama!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Have a great trip and we will be "waiting for you"!!!!!

 

((Hugs))

Elisa

[maceta_biloxi]

HAVE A GREAT SHOW TONIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[celinedream]

Chels try to rest your voice a little

 

have a good flight and enjoy your moment with Celine. Thank you for sharing this whole thing with us. I really appreciate you doing that

 

watch out for Gloria & Emilio in the audience tonight

[Shamrock_1982]

Chellbie, dont forget to mention to Celine about that lil exclusive for me also please.... lol.

 

Enjoy!

 

Darren.

[anget64]

have fun! good luck!!!!

[J'adoreCeline]

I have second row in the inner circle for next friday's show, but it seems I am out of luck for tonight's show. I had Section 3 Row 10 for the AAA, but sold it a month ago to try and get closer. Oh dear...

[CelineDionFan710]

good luck chelsey. well tonights the night. AWWW

[minniemare5]

chelbie...how are you getting the opportunitiy to meet Celine? I missed your original post. Also, how did you meet her before?

 

Lucky you!

[sazzlepop123]

Good luck tonight Chelsey!!!!!! Thinking of you, I hope you get to say everything you've always wanted to say to Celine...I can't wait to hear about it all. How exciting!!!

[anewdayhascome]

where are you gonna meet her?

[takeachance]

Have a great time people, and Chelsie have a great meet and greet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[takeachance]

Enjoy the concert people. And Chelsie hope ya have a super meet and greet!!!!

[KimboCosmo]

Have fun tonight everyone!!! I hope this show is as good as the last 4 were!

 

Good luck, Chels!

[scorp82]

I'm sure this concert will be awesome... Just like the others!

 

Well, I'm about to leave my house and I'll be on my way to the arena in Miami! I'm very excited but at the same time I know I'm headed to Miami but part of me still can't believe I'll be seeing Celine tonight... Still hasn't quite set in yet!

 

I'll tell you all about it when I come home later on... I can't promise pictures or videos, but I'll check in with y'all later!

[I Surrender]

have a great show everyone

[Jacqui]

Have fun!!!

[hellmeister]

woo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! show starts soon

 

can't wait to hear all about it!!!

 

GO CHELSEY!

[hellmeister]

chelbie...how are you getting the opportunitiy to meet Celine? I missed your original post. Also, how did you meet her before?

 

Lucky you!

 

Her mom wrote in for her for the "sensational" contest and she won.... and then she met her before in atlanta when she got hugged when Celine exited after the show and then again when her and I went up to the stage and handed Celine a flower in Raleigh and Celine hugged us both

[CelineDionFan710]

its starting soon thats right. GO CHELSEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[CellyDee87]

Chelsey Chelsey Chelsey

[takeachance]

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Im so excited!!!!!!!!!!! I wonder how Chelsie is doing if we feel like this!!!

[WindyCityCelineFan]

Enjoy the show.....man reading all these posts makes me wish I could go to another show...

[CelineGAfan]

I called Chelsey earlier to tell her she is being thought of and I just yelled WOOOOOOO HOOOOOOO!" in her ear!!! She, of course, sounded exicted and said she is nervous. She will tell us all about it after the show..........

 

Chelsey...YOU GO GIRL !!!!