September 22, 2008 - Columbus, OH (Schottenstein Center)

[stevethefan]

A great crowd and it's not even on a weekend! I'm glad Ohio has stepped up and given Celine the audience she deserves!

[CelineTheBest5]

I want to see it

[anghil5]

Another live report from Ramona:

 

Towards the end of "My Love" I guess when she got on her knees maybe, some lady handed her a rose or two (white & red) . Celine said thank you, the crowd went absoulety crazy. Celine stopped right in the middle of the song. Celine fell onto her side and was kicking her leg . Then as the crowd settled down she said "you know the song is not over yet". They showed the lady on the big screen and she was crying hysterically.

 

After the song ended, Celine pulled out each rose pedal and threw it into the crowd. She then said something like " this is the difference between being in a recording studio and here with you".

 

Man am I kicking myself for not going. The crowd sounds AMAZING! A hell of alot better than the lame NY/NJ crowd from last week.

 

You and me both!

 

I so wish I would have drove up! Sounds like it is an amazing night and crowd!

[kathyc25]

wooooo! the crowd sounds incredible! Why couldn`t they have been in NY/NJ?? oh well...thanks for the live report!

[A New Day Has Come]

The crowd sounds amazing as always, That is insane an Ovation everysong my god that is allot of standing ovations. Can't wait for the reviews, pictures and videos.

[Koolan]

Is it better than the Montreal shows?

[ryry1982]

Wow... what a show! Everything is true about the woman handing her flowers. During the end of My Love, she got on her knees singing to the people closest. A woman tried to throw the flowers on stage but missed and they all fell apart. Celine managed to get one rose, smelled it and said thank you. She gave the woman a HUGE hug and had tears in her eyes. Celine even said "I forget which key to sing now..."

 

It was an amazing show, and a great one for my first (and certainly not the last) Celine concert. I went with my Mom, and that was a special experience. Maybe my ears are faulty, but it only sounded like she used a track on 1 or 2 songs.

 

Gordie Brown was mediocre at best and mostly not funny. I'd wished I'd ate dinner and came in after him instead of being there early.

 

I'm looking forward to see everyone's personal accounts. I didn't see a standing ovation for every song... maybe on the floor but not in the stands.

Edited September 23, 2008 at 04:23 AM by ryry1982

[SarahJB5]

OMFG is really the only thing I can say right now...talk about a dream day. Becca and I headed down to Columbus from Michigan and got to our hotel. We decided to head to the arena a little early and try and spot Celine. We found all of the semis and knew that's where Celine would come in. She was running WAY late and finally at about 5:30pm a police escort arrived with 2 black SUVs. I started jumping up and down and screaming! It was amazing. Celine rolled down her window. Since it was so late we thought she'd just roll on by, but that's not our Celine....she made them stop for us. It was amazing. I got her to sign my FIY cd and Becca got her ipod signed. I told Celine that we were going to see her the next 5 nights and she was kinda shocked by that. We told her how much we loved her and I gave her a letter with a little frog. It was amazing. I didn't think that we'd be able to have that opportunity or that Celine would stop since she was running so late. That is why we love our girl!

 

Now on to the concert. The crowd overall was relatively good, but in our section the SUCKED. NOBODY stood up at all (we were on the piano side to the right), but the middle group of fans were on fire (kuddos to you guys). I felt like I couldn't stand up much. You know we were in the front row and the couple next to us were in their freaking gym clothes...I couldn't believe it. Who sees Celine in addidas pants and a t-shirt, you should be ashamed!

 

Celine was ON FIRE tonight. SOOOOOOOOOO much adlibbing. I loved My Love (hopefully somebody recorded it. I only got pictures tonight, no video). Once Celine had stopped singing, she even had to be reminded what key she needed to be in, it was so cute!!! She was having so much fun and I felt so many of the songs tonight were live just because they sounded different from past shows I have seen. Oh, also for IDAN, Celine came right by us and I was pointing at her, then she pointed at me and then Becca...it was great!!!!

 

Anyways, I'll be posting pics shortly!!! It was such an amazing day!!!

 

LOVE CELINE EVEN MORE!!!!!

Edited September 23, 2008 at 04:26 AM by SarahJB5

[ryry1982]

Sarah, did you get pictures with her? That's so awesome you got to see her!

[SarahJB5]

Is it better than the Montreal shows?

 

The audience was definitely WORSE than in Montreal for sure!!!!

[SarahJB5]

Sarah, did you get pictures with her? That's so awesome you got to see her!

 

Nope, just got to snap one of her real quick...I was more interested in talking to her than taking a picture with her...plus she was just in the SUV, it would have been difficult and it was quite rushed!

[SarahJB5]

I didn't see a standing ovation for every song... maybe on the floor but not in the stands.

 

Definitely not in my section (F6)...they hardly stood for anything...what a bunch of pathetic people!

[clbmed02]

WTF was I doing at home.

 

I am soooooo jealous and kicking myself for not being there tonight.

 

Celine gave Ramona kisses and held her hands again and said "bye, bye my love I can't believe it.

 

Now I am really depressed

[SarahJB5]

WTF was I doing at home.

 

I am soooooo jealous and kicking myself for not being there tonight.

 

Celine gave Ramona kisses and held her hands again and said "bye, bye my love I can't believe it.

 

Now I am really depressed

 

 

Awww would have loved to see you here Christine!!!

[Koolan]

Wow Sarah, that's so cool that she stopped by. Makes you love her even more.

 

WTF was I doing at home.

 

I am soooooo jealous and kicking myself for not being there tonight.

 

Celine gave Ramona kisses and held her hands again and said "bye, bye my love I can't believe it.

 

Now I am really depressed

 

I'm so jealous!!

[CelineFreak]

I just got back from Celine's stop here in Columbus, OH. Unfortunately I was by myself as non of my friends here were willing to shell out over $150 to see her. BUT i had floor seats, and I was the closest to her I had ever been for one of her performances. It was thrilling to say the least. She never ceases to amaze me with the power of her voice. It was in perfect form. She of course looked phenomenal. I stood up for the duration of the show (there was no one behind me) - to see better.

 

One very special moment in the show came when she sang "My Love". She explained how difficult it was to record it in the studio as it was an emotional song for her and that singing it for us tonight would show its true meaning. The stadium was dead silent. We waited. "My looove...we have seen it aalll." It was a pure sound that sifted its way through the crowd and settled around each of us - only her voice could we hear ringing through the speakers. What a beautiful sound. No instruments to mask its supple texture or shadow its rich resonance. "...The endless confession - the rise and fall..."

 

Just before the last verse of the song, "Did you see? I could Break? Did you notice, all my mistakes? There were times, I could feel you in my mind..." Celine at this pivotal point in the song was on her knees at the edge of the stage when a dedicated woman struggled to throw roses up to her. The white blooms scattered over the edge of the platform, causing the Singer to pause. The crowd was frenzied. It was this very moment she had been singing of that presented itself to her right there and she could do nothing but acknowledge it. She just sat and smiled at the adoring fan, in gratitude and minor disbelief. She picked up the stem, closed her eyes and deeply inhaled the scent of the white pedals like it was the first time. In a bout of surrender and emotion, she threw herself back on the stage and clasped her hands together and said quietly, "Do you know that the song isn't over?" The crowd laughed wildly and she quipped, "And I thought singing it in the studio was hard..." Turning herself upright, she looked at the woman and motioned her over to the edge of the stage. The Singer wanted to return the favor and so she hugged her. In a long embrace between fan and star, Celine warmly gave her all she could, her thumb lovingly moving back and forth over the weeping fan's shoulder. It was a candid moment that you only wish to see at events like this. Something that separates this night from all the others. An unscripted, unexpected and unassuming picture of what it means to a performer to be loved. And to the fan, in return. Celine, with soggy eyes turned to the band, "I forgot which key we're in," ...and softly finished the lyric, her eyes fixed on the emotional fan, she sang the rest of it to her. "Did you know, I take the time for you? Did you know, that I could see right through? Did you know, that I would play the part? I know I made it clear right from the start."

 

Thank you for reading... it was a memorable night.

Edited September 23, 2008 at 05:09 AM by CelineFreak

[clbmed02]

WTF was I doing at home.

 

I am soooooo jealous and kicking myself for not being there tonight.

 

Celine gave Ramona kisses and held her hands again and said "bye, bye my love I can't believe it.

 

Now I am really depressed

 

 

Awww would have loved to see you here Christine!!!

 

Thanks Sarah.

 

So happy that you got your special moment with Celine. You lucky girl.

[SarahJB5]

Becca with her ipod:

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f380/SarahJB5/DSC02104cropped.jpg

 

Me with my CD:

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f380/SarahJB5/DSC02106cropped.jpg

 

Celine signing my CD:

 

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f380/SarahJB5/P1000087cropped.jpg

 

 

more to come...photobucket isn't cooperating too well with me!

[whineupemily]

I just got back from Celine's stop here in Columbus, OH. Unfortunately I was by myself as non of my friends here were willing to shell out over $150 to see her. BUT i had floor seats, and I was the closest to her I had ever been for one of her performances. It was thrilling to say the least. She never ceases to amaze me with the power of her voice. It was in perfect form. She of course looked phenomenal. I stood up for the duration of the show (there was no one behind me) - to see better.

 

One very special moment in the show came when she sang "My Love". She explained how difficult it was to record it in the studio as it was an emotional song for her and that singing it for us tonight would show its true meaning. The stadium was dead silent. We waited. "My looove...we have seen it aalll." It was a pure sound that sifted its way through the crowd and settled around each of us - only her voice could we hear ringing through the speakers. What a beautiful sound. No instruments to mask its supple texture or shadow its rich resonance. "...The endless confession - the rise and fall..."

 

Just before the last verse of the song, "Did you see? I could Break? Did you notice, all my mistakes? There were times, I could feel you in my mind..." Celine at this pivotal point in the song was on her knees at the edge of the stage when a dedicated woman struggled to throw roses up to her. The white blooms scattered over the edge of the platform, causing the Singer to pause. The crowd was frenzied. It was this very moment she had been singing of that presented itself to her right there and she could do nothing but acknowledge it. She just sat and smiled at the adoring fan, in gratitude and minor disbelief. She picked up the stem, closed her eyes and deeply inhaled the scent of the white pedals like it was the first time. In a bout of surrender and emotion, she threw herself back on the stage and clasped her hands together and said quietly, "Do you know that the song isn't over?" The crowd laughed wildly and she quipped, "And I thought singing it in the studio was hard..." Turning herself upright, she looked at the woman and motioned her over to the edge of the stage. The Singer wanted to return the favor and so she hugged her. In a long embrace between fan and star, Celine warmly gave her all she could, her thumb lovingly moving back and forth over the weeping fan's shoulder. It was a candid moment that you only wish to see at events like this. Something that separates this night from all the others. An unscripted, unexpected and unassuming picture of what it means to a performer to be loved. And to the fan, in return. Celine, with soggy eyes turned to the band, "I forgot which key we're in," ...and softly finished the lyric, her eyes fixed on the emotional fan, she sang the rest of it to her. "Did you know, I take the time for you? Did you know, that I could see right through? Did you know, that I would play the part? I know I made it clear right from the start."

 

Thank you for reading... it was a memorable night.

 

You wrote that beautifully, Celine is truely an angel,

and because of how you explained what happened i sit here smiling, because this is why we love Celine so much!

[SarahJB5]

Celine's Arriving:

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f380/SarahJB5/DSC00093cropped.jpg

 

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f380/SarahJB5/P1000098cropped.jpg

 

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f380/SarahJB5/P1000138cropped.jpg

 

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f380/SarahJB5/P1000142cropped.jpg

 

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f380/SarahJB5/P1000209cropped.jpg

 

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f380/SarahJB5/P1000217cropped.jpg

Edited September 23, 2008 at 05:24 AM by SarahJB5

[SarahJB5]

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f380/SarahJB5/P1000227cropped.jpg

 

Celine on the floor with her rose during My Love:

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f380/SarahJB5/P1000236cropped.jpg

 

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f380/SarahJB5/P1000238cropped.jpg

 

not the clearest, but a funny one with Andre:

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f380/SarahJB5/P1000281cropped.jpg

 

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f380/SarahJB5/P1000301cropped.jpg

 

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f380/SarahJB5/P1000324cropped.jpg

[SarahJB5]

Here's the last of the good ones!

 

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f380/SarahJB5/P1000329cropped.jpg

 

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f380/SarahJB5/P1000348cropped.jpg

 

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f380/SarahJB5/P1000350cropped.jpg

[CelineFreak]

THanks for posting these pics Sarah...they're great. Especially for scaredy cats like me who didn't bring their camera. I'm always afraid they'll confiscate it or something lol

 

...why do they even bother printing the "no cameras" statement if they're not going to enforce it?

[autumnskies00]

ah, why did I think this was tomorrow night? It's a good thing, I would have been bumming out all night to know what I was missing. Sounds like a great show you guys!

[SarahJB5]

oh, btw another thing I think of is that Celine was being her quirky self and kept spelling Ohio...she'd be like O-H-I-O...she did it at least a couple times, it was cute!

[autumnskies00]

oh, btw another thing I think of is that Celine was being her quirky self and kept spelling Ohio...she'd be like O-H-I-O...she did it at least a couple times, it was cute!

 

 

lol aw. GOoooosh, I'm totally suffering CDWS lol. This sucks hardcore. For anyone wondering where she's staying, I'm pretty sure she probably took a flight home. It's not too far from O-H-I-O But congrats on the autographs and meeting her! What a great night for you guys!

[mrladle]

Ah, my 2 cents.

 

Show was okay. Not what I'm used to typically, for live shows.

 

I had people pissed beside me for singing along... That was annoying. No one was into the music, just sat there, like old farts at a funeral.

 

I will never go to another show like this again, just too big of a venue for me. I like a little more intimacy with the performer. She did tear it up though, no doubt about that. I shed a tear during the double encore...

 

Glad to see everyone had a good time!

[JP]

OMG OMG!! She's just sooooo beautiful in the car!! Her hairs looks great and i really love his shirt! Thanks for sharing and i'm so glad you had a wonderful concert and some of you met her!!

[SarahJB5]

No one was into the music, just sat there, like old farts at a funeral.

 

 

That was my thought too about the section I was in!!!

[CelineFreak]

So now I wanna talk about the performances briefly.

 

I'm finding at concerts that often times I'm so into the sight of the person, in this case, Celine...that I find it very difficult to discern whether or not they are lip-syncing...because, A) im just not paying attention or The acoustics are not the best. Tonight, I'm pretty sure she lipped some of the hit-medley (IACBTMN, BYLM, TLYM)

and MHWGO...

 

As for the rest...It sounded very live to me. And I have to say, she changed 'Taking Chances' up a bit (small changes, but still valid) and i loved this version. It's the strongest performance of this song I've heard outside the studio cut. Also, The Show Must Go On brought down the house...as well as All By Myself (that one was pure magic)

 

and of course...My Love...

 

She sang 'Alone' in a cage of see-through video screens that encapsulated her on all sides into a sort of "snow globe" effect with petals and white floaties drifting down around her - very pretty. Looked better on the monitor though but still pretty cool overall.

 

I think everyone forgives the fact that Celine may or may not be lip syncing. It all comes down to seeing her, and when she's standing in front of them - that's the last thing on anyone's mind. The image of her in person is mind shattering and all you really want to do is reach out to her. She's there and that's all that matters at the moment.