May 8, 2008 - London, United Kingdom (O2 Arena)

May 9, 2008 at 11:01 AM

It was an amazing concert, my highlights were All By Myself, Think Twice, My Love and River Deep.

I managed to record most of the concert on video and will try and post it on youtube soon. The video is not so good as i had crappy seats but the sound is amazing.

Hope whoever goes to Birmingham has a wicked time!

May 9, 2008 at 11:07 AM

Many singers perform in their second language and manage to sound convincing. Despite selling a reported 200 million albums – including 27 million copies of that Titanic soundtrack – Céline Dion is not one of them. Time and again, during a 105 minute-long set, the Canadian superstar warbles, mangles English syllables until they're unrecognisable and inserts unnatural pauses into lyrics like "I hold... on... to your body" in "The Power of Love".

Thank you to this authority on music, phrasing and diction at the Independent. His comments were quite insightful, but for two little problems:

1. Celine doesn't insert even a hint of a pause between "hold" and "on." She connects the two words, leaving absolutely no space between them.
2. That's not even the lyric she sings. It's "I hold on to your *whole* body."

One might be forgiven for thinking this insightful comment was entirely the product of a journalist's imagination. One might even question whether he actually paid any attention to the concert he was attending. Considering that most of his work consists of concert reviews, this is rather a drawback.

i think he meant that she sings it like..."i hold on to-ooo....you---o-o-r...badd-deeeh" as in making it a million syllables more.

Sounds like a good concert last night - im off to bhm tomorrow!! suddenly! cant wait!

Edited May 9, 2008 at 11:07 AM by Hilda

May 9, 2008 at 11:14 AM

Independent.co.uk
Celine Dion, O2 Arena, London

Reviewed by Pierre Perrone
Friday, 9 May 2008

Many singers perform in their second language and manage to sound convincing. Despite selling a reported 200 million albums – including 27 million copies of that Titanic soundtrack – Céline Dion is not one of them. Time and again, during a 105 minute-long set, the Canadian superstar warbles, mangles English syllables until they're unrecognisable and inserts unnatural pauses into lyrics like "I hold... on... to your body" in "The Power of Love".

Considering that most of her show consists of love songs, this is rather a drawback. In fact, as an interpreter, Dion only truly inhabits Jean-Jacques Goldman's "Pour Que Tu M'Aimes Encore", her French signature song, and "My Love", a Linda Perry bespoke number from Taking Chances, her misnomer of a current album, which has underperformed despite the involvement of dozens of writers and producers.

She opens with "I Drove All Night", the yearning Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly composition that served Roy Orbison and Cyndi Lauper so well, and which was Dion's last UK hit in 2003. She's only revving up but, even if her 10-piece band, heavy on the cheesy synths, are never quite loud enough, Dion is soon at full throttle and making light work of power ballads "It's All Coming Back To Me Now" – from the Jim Steinman/Meat Loaf canon – and Heart's "Alone". It's like Magic or Heart FM in front of your very eyes.

"It's been way too long," Dion apologises to her British fans as if to make up for the fact that she chose to play a record-breaking Las Vegas residency for five years instead of touring the world. Of course, the O2 has become an offshoot of Vegas, hosting Elton John's Red Piano show last year and now this soulless production.

The drummer must have played "All By Myself", Eric Carmen's guilty pleasure Seventies song, hundreds of times but still manages to sound leaden. Despite raising her eyebrows, at no point does Dion invest the song with any feeling. Undaunted, she collapses at the end and celebrates her vocal callisthenics as if she'd scored a touchdown.

The conveyor belts on which she slides and glides become metaphors for the whole shebang, which also features an ill-advised soul medley and ends rather flatly with "Love Can Move Mountains". Inevitably, the beached finale on the bank of the Thames is "My Heart Will Go On". Start swimming!

Céline Dion plays the NIA, Birmingham, tomorrow (see www.celinedion.com)

SHUT UP!!!! she was incredible - why do critics feel they have to write cr*p like that???? is it because they're jealous?! :angry:

anyway - she rocked the place!! it was awesome!!

May 9, 2008 at 11:21 AM

Last nights show as many have said was alot better, mainly due to the audience getting really involved and into the show!!

Yesterday my girlfriend and I went to Celine's hotel for the first time, and got there at 3, and seen a large crowd gathering, and 4/5 black mercedes parked outside, with drivers standing by, a few paps, fans, and a few of celine's people with there passes, on there phones or talking to the drivers...so it was all exciting!
Celine's photographer and the camera crew from the dvd then came out, and started snapping and filming....
I would say, there was about 15 fans on my side of the hotel and 8 or so on the other side with a few more behind the cars looking over...
Anyway she finally came out about 4.10pm, and went straight into her car, with rene...I called her and she smiled, I then thought she'd put down her window to sign stuff, but she didn't...Rene seen I wanted something signed, and said, sorry we have to go.
Celine's window was right by me...she looked sad to have dissappointed fans, for not signing anything, but waved...and she was gone.
( I later found out she had, to go film ''this morning'', backstage at the o2 before the show )

Andrea bocelli, left in a silver car infront of celines about 5 mins before she came out, so I thought maybe he'd be special guest but he wasn't.

At the o2 we had dinner then headed to a chinese restraunt/bar where we had a drink, and they played the ''A new day...'' dvd.
It was gr8 to be in a small room were everyone was glued to the screen, watching, and singing...I noticed a few french fans from the board also...

I didn't think much of the support act to be honest...lol.

Can I just say....I really don't agree with those ppl who b*tch and tell others to be quiet or sit down ( when singing or dancing ), its a friggin concert, and Celine herself signaled the crowd to get up and sing and dance quiet a few times...so if you don't like it, stay at home and play the cd or watch one of her dvds!!!

I was seated on the middle section on the floor row g, and it was a much better view believe it or not , than my seats on tuesday night which was the small sections of four rows of seats to the right of the isle...alot closer to the stage, but I think it was to close that you missed out, so last night seats were perfect!
I thought celine and the dancers were great on the moving walkways for ''fa''

During one of her costume changes I went to the bar quickly, and seen rene again behind the sound booth, and he smiled over as I past, I think he remembered me from the hotel earlier...
So when I came back, I went over to him and shook his hand, and said it was nice to meet you.... as he was looking around, before celine came back on...(btw, he had a mic in his other hand...I think he must speak to celine through her earpiece still )

After the show, we were leaving and rene caught my eye, so I waved, but he looked like he wanted to have a chat, so I walked over, he said if I went back to the hotel he would make sure Celine signed something for me...I couldn't believe it
So i thanked him and ran for the tube wth my g/f...lol.

More to come

omg!!! wow!!!!!! thats brilliant - good ol rene!

May 9, 2008 at 11:47 AM

It amazes me how nice Celine is, stopping and making time for her fans whenever she can. Not many people who are as successful as she is would bother. Also good to hear Rene is nice to fans

May 9, 2008 at 12:09 PM

i knew rene would be sitting by the sound booth, looked out for him, but couldnt spot him

lucky you got to meet him

any chance you know what happened with the gifts fans brought in for celine, we gave ours to the supervisor, who said they'd be passed on to celine. did she have anything when she arrived at the hotel?

May 9, 2008 at 12:21 PM

Ok...

So we got to the hotel around 11.05pm, totally exhausted...and were happy to see we where the first people back, there was no paps or anything...

Then slowly, fans started to come back, and I seen two paps arrive around 12.30am...I was starting to get tired, bored and cold, and every black merc that pulled up outside, everyone perked up, and got there cameras out...lol.

This little old, bald, red faced, chubby man ( i think he was the hotel manager ) he was horrible to the fans, ''move away now, you can't stand here, go on you heard me''. And this was on the public pavement, just to the side of the hotel ''outside the grounds'' he was so rude, so i told him were to go...lol

He stared all of us out, the entire time...so we kept smiling he he.

Anway, just before 1am, two mercedes pulled up and security got out and secured the entrance and her car...

Everyone rushed over to the car, and security got all fans to queue on the road next to celines window, to pass there things to her to be signed.

I had my vegas stage piece, and rene smiled as he got out of the car and said to the bodyguards hes ok to stand here, and he shook my hand again, and went into the hotel. (the hotel managers face was a pictue, lol. )

My g/f queued with other fans to get the ''tc'' album cover signed for my little sis, which was cool...

When that was done the bodyguard rene told that I was cool to stand there to get somehing signed, was called into the hotel lobby and celine and nick were coming towards us, and another smaller bodyguard moved us out of the way and totally blocked me from celine's view and she was gone, into the hotel..

I was speechless and gutted, i couldn't believe it....?!?

Fans and paps then started to dissappear, and I was still on the step frozen,lol..

Then the bodyguard who rene told i was ok to be there, came back out, to get her stuff out of the car, noticed my stage wasn't signed and I was talking to my g/f.

He was so nice...he left celine's stuff in her car, took my stage and said wait there my friend...

10 mins later he came out and handed me the stage ''signed'' he said I'm sorry about that, and was the autograpgh ok...I was sooo happy, he was so nice!!

I shook his hand thanked him constantly,lol, and he said you guys have a good night!!!

And that was that.

As we were leaving we met Annie Horth, I was talking to her for a bit..shes so nice and lovely, but a bit shy...

She and a few others were taking bags of clothes and shoes from a mini van into the hotel...

I also met chris eubank, he parked his huge american truck around the side of the hotel, hes cool...

And a bit of an exclusive...it was confirmed that celine would def do a few nights in vegas were she wraps up this tour...

So getting saving guys!!!

I was on such a high and still am!!

I will post a pic of my stage later....

Darren.

Edited May 9, 2008 at 12:25 PM by Ire23

May 9, 2008 at 12:22 PM

Hi...new member, so be gentle....

Last night was the best concert so far, hands down. I had front row seats in C1, and she really does make you feel like she is singing just for you. I'm a bit gutted that I've only got 2 shows left and am madly trying to get tickets for dublin or stockholm!! I'm still on a high, haven't managed to get any work done today so far (nor do I really intend to lol). Wow, the woman is a legend!

I love the fact that the musicians and dancers are all having such a good time, they really love their job, the lucky buggers. I hope that everyone had/has a great a night as I did yesterday.

Pictures from last night as follows:

Celine @ O2 London 08/05/05

So jealous of those who got to meet her at her hotel. Anyone know where she is staying for Birmingham?

Thanks

Clare x

May 9, 2008 at 12:36 PM

thank u for the pics Hamiltonclare by the way can i put those pic on my site?

May 9, 2008 at 12:49 PM

Of course you can!

Here are my pictures from 06/05/08 at the O2

Celine - O2 London 06/05/08

And Manchester 03/05/08 at MEN

Celine - MEN Manchester 03/05/08

Will post Birmingham and Paris too as soon as I get them if you want...

And just call me Clare!!

Clare x

May 9, 2008 at 12:57 PM

Absolutely awesome show last night!! The first London night was a bit disappointing cos no one was really into it but last night was incredible. Even before the show started the audience were cheering and clapping and one group of fans were getting everyone in their section to cheer. Plus Celine was in really good spirits, she was extra playful and she kept making all those crazy little gestures we love her for that have been a bit lacking recently. You'll probably see in the YouTube vids, she was really fun last night. Plus I was right at the end of my aisle, and at the end she walked right past us and smiled! So my Celine journey is now over (4 shows in a row so I can't be too disappointed) but it was a great experience and it just made me love her even more.

I recorded the show (MP3's) and it sounds good so I'll upload that later. :msn-wink:

May 9, 2008 at 04:00 PM

Heres a pic of my stage that Celine signed last night!

Darren.

May 9, 2008 at 04:07 PM

Who went to see her yesterday.

Was soo hot was waiting for about 45mins so glad i didnt get burnt. Was fantastic to see her she gave a little wave as she came out and so did Rene.

May 9, 2008 at 04:11 PM

Heres a pic of my stage that Celine signed last night!

Darren.

wow that's so cool! your so lucky

May 9, 2008 at 04:12 PM

thats sooo cool Darren :w00t:

May 9, 2008 at 04:21 PM

Darren, did you BUY that thing or WIN that thing? And how did you get it signed? Spill, dear... spill!! :whistling:

Heres a pic of my stage that Celine signed last night!

Darren.

Edited May 9, 2008 at 04:21 PM by JessCC

May 9, 2008 at 04:23 PM

LOL. Darren explained exactly how, where and why he got his floor piece signed in his posts above. :mdr:

May 9, 2008 at 04:24 PM

i bought the stage...and celine signed it last night, like i said in the previous posts , he he .

May 9, 2008 at 04:25 PM

The show was amazing!!!! My first time seeing Celine and she was amazing!

Here is some pics I took - http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v517/Mel.../Celine%20Dion/

(Guest Password = Secret)

I was in the front row on the lower tier. Was a bit annoying because I wanted to stand up sometimes, during the uptempo songs but the people behind me were not standing when I did so I felt like I had to sit down which was annoying! I hate feeling like I'm in people's way so just sat down pretty much whole time! But enjoyed myself anyway !!

Edited May 9, 2008 at 04:28 PM by Melanie858

May 9, 2008 at 04:31 PM

Whoops! Sorry... :shy: Scrolled too fast. Missed that part. hahaha...

i bought the stage...and celine signed it last night, like i said in the previous posts , he he .

May 9, 2008 at 04:58 PM

ooo! Thanks for the info Darren! I am SO going to those Vegas shows!!! So glad you got your stage signed...that`s a good idea, I may copy you and do that when she comes to NY

May 9, 2008 at 05:09 PM

melanie, i need a password to see ur pics ??

May 9, 2008 at 05:13 PM

OH MY WORD!!!! Last night was incredible!! It was my first time seeing Celine live and words cannot describe how excited I was/still am!! When she walked down the aisle and onto the stage I actually thought I might explode with excitment!!

She was fantastic and the crowd were really good last night! I stood up for most of the concert and even though people were sitting down behind me they didnt comment which was very nice of them! She sounded incredible! I think the highlights for me were All By Myself, River Deep Mountain High, Fade Away, To Love You More and It's All Coming Back To Me Now!!

Was really nice to meet Kev and James inteh bar beforehand - thanks for letting me crash your dinner guys!! Shame not to meet more of you lovely lot but i'm sure there will be other opportunities!!

Took some great video footage - will upload it to facebook and give you the link asap!!

(sorry if this is sounding really rather hyper and over-enthusiastic! Have just watched all the video footage I took last night and am still on a high from reliving the memories!!)

May 9, 2008 at 05:18 PM

melanie, i need a password to see ur pics ??

it's secret

Here is some pics I took - http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v517/Mel.../Celine%20Dion/
(Guest Password = Secret)

May 9, 2008 at 05:28 PM

The show was amazing!!!! My first time seeing Celine and she was amazing!

Here is some pics I took - http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v517/Mel.../Celine%20Dion/
(Guest Password = Secret)

I was in the front row on the lower tier. Was a bit annoying because I wanted to stand up sometimes, during the uptempo songs but the people behind me were not standing when I did so I felt like I had to sit down which was annoying! I hate feeling like I'm in people's way so just sat down pretty much whole time! But enjoyed myself anyway !!

Cna you please post the pictures here on the forum?? because I can't enter the website you posted...

May 9, 2008 at 05:42 PM

Great show last night, no need to say anymore as others already have. I've been to all UK concerts this week and this was the best. :clap:

I started off at the hotel and got some great close photos which I'll post later. I had been talking to a French fan named Magalie and bumped into her again at the 02. She had been invited as a guest by a member of staff and was waiting for her ticket to be delivered. When it arrived she had been given 2 of the best seats in the 02 so asked if I'd like to join her as I was also alone. So instead of my crappy cheap seat high in the gods I had the most expensive ticket sitting with Celine's invited guests!!

Nick, Celine's bodyguard also knows her and before the show he said if we dropped some things off he'd get them signed and ring her when they'd been done. Unfortunately, I had to come home but I'm waiting for them to be posted on to me. I had my photo taken with him and he laughed at me as I'm only just 5' and standing next to him I looked like a dwarf!

When I first arrived at the 02, Alison Hammond was there with the cameras filming fans singing their favourite Celine song. I was asked if I'd like to sing but I declined, otherwise I would have emptied the arena with my dreadful voice! Apparently, they were going to show it to Celine and her interview is going to be broadcast on Tuesday morning.....set your videos!

May 9, 2008 at 06:59 PM

Sorry my photoalbum's not working lol so will post some of the best pictures here..............

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v517/Melanie858/Celine%20Dion/CelineDion_035.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v517/Melanie858/Celine%20Dion/CelineDion_039.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v517/Melanie858/Celine%20Dion/CelineDion_050.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v517/Melanie858/Celine%20Dion/CelineDion_056.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v517/Melanie858/Celine%20Dion/CelineDion_061.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v517/Melanie858/Celine%20Dion/CelineDion_065.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v517/Melanie858/Celine%20Dion/CelineDion_068.jpg

May 9, 2008 at 08:13 PM

Oh how I am impatience to see this version of this English-style show that goes etre something as the French moreover lol!

May 9, 2008 at 08:38 PM

I loved the show even more yesterday than in Manchester! Céline was sooooo good, I took pictures and videos that I will post later

May 9, 2008 at 09:06 PM

Great show last night, no need to say anymore as others already have. I've been to all UK concerts this week and this was the best.

I started off at the hotel and got some great close photos which I'll post later. I had been talking to a French fan named Magalie and bumped into her again at the 02. She had been invited as a guest by a member of staff and was waiting for her ticket to be delivered. When it arrived she had been given 2 of the best seats in the 02 so asked if I'd like to join her as I was also alone. So instead of my crappy cheap seat high in the gods I had the most expensive ticket sitting with Celine's invited guests!!
Nick, Celine's bodyguard also knows her and before the show he said if we dropped some things off he'd get them signed and ring her when they'd been done. Unfortunately, I had to come home but I'm waiting for them to be posted on to me. I had my photo taken with him and he laughed at me as I'm only just 5' and standing next to him I looked like a dwarf!
When I first arrived at the 02, Alison Hammond was there with the cameras filming fans singing their favourite Celine song. I was asked if I'd like to sing but I declined, otherwise I would have emptied the arena with my dreadful voice! Apparently, they were going to show it to Celine and her interview is going to be broadcast on Tuesday morning.....set your videos!

A photo from the hotel.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q222/jacwar58/Celine%20Dion%20at%2002/100B2173.jpg

The rest can be viewed on

http://s137.photobucket.com/albums/q222/ja...2002/?start=all

Edited May 9, 2008 at 09:19 PM by jacwar58

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May 8, 2008 - London, United Kingdom (O2 Arena)

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