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

[idolfan05]

Was Andrea Bocceli there? Is he at every show?

[CelineFreak]

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!

 

 

You were singing along? No offense, but if you're singing loud enough so that the people around you can hear you...that's not a good thing. Applause, screaming, woo-ing, "I Love Yous" and ruckus after a performance are one thing but singing during....is another. (Unless she specifically asks you to, which in this case, the last verse of BYLM) Because they came to hear Celine, not you and basically, that's ruining the concert for them. Cause you're singing OVER Celine. It's no different than talking or answering your cell phone in the movie theater.

Edited September 23, 2008 at 06:28 AM by CelineFreak

[CelineFreak]

Was Andrea Bocceli there? Is he at every show?

 

 

Only on the video screen.

[ashleylovesceline]

Awesome, Sarah! (I already sent you a message on Facebook!)

 

@ the flower "My Love" story! That is THE dream moment for a fan...she will be reeling from that for months, years -- forever! So sweet.

[ryry1982]

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.

 

 

May I just say how eloquent you are? In this age of abbreviated forum speak (of which I myself am guilty), your review summed up how I felt about the night! Hearing the beginning of My Love acapella, just Celine's crystal amazing voice sent shivers down my spine.

[ryry1982]

Awesome, Sarah! (I already sent you a message on Facebook!)

 

@ the flower "My Love" story! That is THE dream moment for a fan...she will be reeling from that for months, years -- forever! So sweet.

 

 

And the best part of that whole scene was that the camera panned in on the woman and her (I'm assuming) husband, broadcasting her on the big screens, and she nearly burst into tears again. It was an extremely touching moment.

Edited September 23, 2008 at 07:19 AM by ryry1982

[VintageCeline]

WOW!!!! What an amazing show you all seemed to have.

 

Did anyone get any videos of last night?

 

x

[Chula]

Any new cities added to the introduction video?

[kathyc25]

That moment with the fan sounds so magical...I`m dying to see it!

[SarahJB5]

Did anyone get any videos of last night?

 

x

 

I didn't get any video, but really wish I would have...haven't had any luck finding anything on youtube either...

 

 

Any new cities added to the introduction video?

 

Nope, still just Quebec being the most recent one on there.

[SarahJB5]

here's a link to a slideshow of pictures from last night (the Columbus Dispatch) set to taking chances. The picture taken in the beginning was of our side, and I can kinda see Becca and I!!!

 

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/multi...Dion/index.html

 

Here's the review:

Everything is big, energized, to a fault

 

Tuesday, September 23, 2008 3:17 AM

By Margaret Quamme

 

For The Columbus Dispatch

 

No one could accuse Celine Dion of skimping on anything in her show, except perhaps the amount of fabric in her dresses. Everything about last night's sold-out show at Value City Arena was big: the set, the production, her voice, her gestures and her facial expressions, all of which were magnified on giant video screens.

 

Dion clearly has her act down to a science, and she moved through it without a glitch, keeping up an energetic pace for two hours and frequently punctuating both songs and her French Canadian-accented chatter with exuberant shadow-boxing moves.

 

Looking extremely fit, and wearing the highest of heels, she filled the arena with sound as she moved briskly and confidently along a series of conveyor belts, up ramps and stairs, and to the top of a piano on a stage set in the middle of the arena.

 

At the center of Dion's act, and maybe at the center of her success, is one big contradiction: She specializes in songs of vulnerability and heartache, but with her oversize voice and personality and evident confidence, she comes across as being about as vulnerable as a Mack truck.

 

Her confidence, and the soaring beauty of her voice, no matter how often used, give the audience the chance to revel in the sentiment of heartbreak without risking real pain.

 

When Dion sang the bluesy It's a Man's World, she did so from the top of what looked like a glittering wedding cake, with four male dancers far below her, leaving no doubt that the song's sentiments didn't apply to her. When she took on All by Myself, any whiff of despair was washed out by her vocal pyrotechnics.

 

Dion aimed for a wide range of music but fell into the range of the merely goofy with numbers such as We Will Rock You.

 

She was at her best in songs that used her unstoppable energy, such as the show-opening I Drove All Night.

 

A cover of Queen's The Show Must Go On even temporarily resolved the contradictions in Dion's performance: For a few minutes, she both exulted in her power over the audience and held her image up to question.

[minniemare5]

Wow Sarah! I am SO jealous! I was waiting around the arena parking garage at 3pm, came back around 4pm, and no Celine. Around 5 I heard the band warming up inside so I assumed Celine was in, and my Dad I left at 5pm to go to dinner I wish I stayed outside and waited for her! Anyway, Im going to Cleveland, and I'm definitely gonna wait outside there. Hopefully she will stop. I have waited 16 years to meet her, and I am not going to miss anymore opportunities. What time do you think I should arrive? 4pm? Have you been to Cleveland before, do you know what the garage is like? If you or anyone else here is going to Cleveland we should try and meet up. I bought Cel a little frog that has a tshirt with Michigan State University's (my college) mascot logo on it, and of course a letter.

 

I was sitting in section 300 something, and my section would not get up. They did stand up after All By Myself and after MHWGO, but that was it...not even LCMM! My Love was f***ing amazing! I SO want to try and go up to the stage at Cleveland or Detroit (I have 5th row for both shows). I did not see many "dedicated" fans at Columbus, but overall I thought the crowd was great considering. Celine was absolutely stunning! I was surprised my stomach didn't hurt (I usually get butterflies when I see her) maybe it was because I was so far away from her.

 

I brought my camera but did not take any pictures because being up so high I didn't think they would come out well. I forgot my camera charger cord so I want to save my battery for Cleveland and Detroit. My Dad brought binoculars so that definitely helped.

 

Is everyone thinking she flew back to Montreal?

 

I did notice the playback for IDAN, ICBTMN, (I don't think BYLM used playback), and TLYM. I could tell when she went back to singing live, the sound changed a bit. It really didn't bother me that much because the rest of the songs were SO incredible. ABM brought chills down my spin, as well as Chances and My Love.

 

I am in Celine heaven this week! 3 shows in one week! 1 done, 2 to go! I am definitely going to go into CDWS on Saturday.

[stevethefan]

Thanks for all the pictures/reviews. My favorite is the one that Sarah got of her meeting Celine in her SUV. It's great that even when she's rushed she takes time to stop and sign things and talk with fans.

[stevethefan]

BTW that Columbus Dispatch link (a few posts above) is great (slideshow) since it has has her singing almost the entire TC song from that show which sounds fantastic. Edited September 23, 2008 at 02:43 PM by stevethefan

[shishi]

thank you for the reviews and pictures

[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.

 

 

May I just say how eloquent you are? In this age of abbreviated forum speak (of which I myself am guilty), your review summed up how I felt about the night! Hearing the beginning of My Love acapella, just Celine's crystal amazing voice sent shivers down my spine.

 

 

Why thanks RyRy Just trying to spread the word of Celine's love...lol And like you said, internet lingo just wouldn't cut it for this one. Where were your seats? Was this your first time seeing her?

[Chula]

My Love video please!

[celinevegas]

here's a link to a slideshow of pictures from last night (the Columbus Dispatch) set to taking chances. The picture taken in the beginning was of our side, and I can kinda see Becca and I!!!

 

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/multi...Dion/index.html

 

Here's the review:

Everything is big, energized, to a fault

 

Tuesday, September 23, 2008 3:17 AM

By Margaret Quamme

 

For The Columbus Dispatch

 

No one could accuse Celine Dion of skimping on anything in her show, except perhaps the amount of fabric in her dresses. Everything about last night's sold-out show at Value City Arena was big: the set, the production, her voice, her gestures and her facial expressions, all of which were magnified on giant video screens.

 

Dion clearly has her act down to a science, and she moved through it without a glitch, keeping up an energetic pace for two hours and frequently punctuating both songs and her French Canadian-accented chatter with exuberant shadow-boxing moves.

 

Looking extremely fit, and wearing the highest of heels, she filled the arena with sound as she moved briskly and confidently along a series of conveyor belts, up ramps and stairs, and to the top of a piano on a stage set in the middle of the arena.

 

At the center of Dion's act, and maybe at the center of her success, is one big contradiction: She specializes in songs of vulnerability and heartache, but with her oversize voice and personality and evident confidence, she comes across as being about as vulnerable as a Mack truck.

 

Her confidence, and the soaring beauty of her voice, no matter how often used, give the audience the chance to revel in the sentiment of heartbreak without risking real pain.

 

When Dion sang the bluesy It's a Man's World, she did so from the top of what looked like a glittering wedding cake, with four male dancers far below her, leaving no doubt that the song's sentiments didn't apply to her. When she took on All by Myself, any whiff of despair was washed out by her vocal pyrotechnics.

 

Dion aimed for a wide range of music but fell into the range of the merely goofy with numbers such as We Will Rock You.

 

She was at her best in songs that used her unstoppable energy, such as the show-opening I Drove All Night.

 

A cover of Queen's The Show Must Go On even temporarily resolved the contradictions in Dion's performance: For a few minutes, she both exulted in her power over the audience and held her image up to question.

wahou!!amazing pic !!!!thanks!

[CSCfan]

My Love video please!

 

Youtube please!

[remykyes]

AHHHHHH! I'M STILL ON CLOUD NINE!!!! I'll give a full review later!!!

[mrmonnin]

My wife and I saw Celine for the first time last evening. I was slightly annoyed that this was a derivation of the Vegas show - But, her presence, ability to connect with her audience, and MASSIVE voice for such a petite body is amazing. We missed her by a week in Vegas. I guess what we did wrong was we saw her Vegas show on DVD and in the movie theatres. God Bless Celine and her family.

[CelineFan4Life]

I attended the concert last night in Columbus with my wife and it was amazing! I have some pretty good pictures and some videos also that I need to get loaded on my computer but look forward to sharing. One of my wifes dreams came true last night and that was getting to shake Celine's hand just after the show was over and she was walking out from under the catwalk. I was so excited I hit the wrong button on the camera and thought I was recording it but actually was not. I know there was a ton of people taking pictures and Celine paused for at least 5-10 seconds in front of my wife so I know someone snapped a photo or vid of it. Our seats were right next to the catwalk in section 122 row f right by the changing area side of the stage. Once Celine finished singing my heart will go on, she came out and the first person she could see was my wife who promptly leaned over the railing and said amazing show to Celine as she grabbed her hand. I could see in my wifes eyes how much it meant to her, and therefore would love to find a picture I know its a needle in the haystack search but its worth taking chances.

She will post her comments about the concert when she gets home from work tonight. The concert was even better then I expected it to be, and has us seriously thinking about going to another show soon. It looks like Indianapolis is our best bet It was great being surrounded by so many fans! Heck we even saw the lady who is one of Celine's biggest fans. The one who was on the dvd and said she went to like a mllion of the Vegas shows. She was sitting about 20 feet from us!Well guess I should get back to work, since it pays for going to future shows!

Cya

Brian

Edited September 23, 2008 at 06:02 PM by CelineFan4Life

[autumnskies00]

aw, good luck finding that photo. I know how it is. I still never got a photo of my special moment with Celine from the 13th, and the damn lady next to me deffinitely got it on camera! I hope you have better luck than I did.

[SarahJB5]

opening video:

 

[remykyes]

thank you for finding that!

[autumnskies00]

Was Andrea Bocceli there? Is he at every show?

 

He passed away some time last year. She uses a video of him for the song in every show.

[SarahJB5]

My Love CLIP ONLY...cuts off right at the part when the lady threw the flowers!!!

 

 

All By Myself

[SarahJB5]

Was Andrea Bocceli there? Is he at every show?

 

He passed away some time last year. She uses a video of him for the song in every show.

 

 

Ummmm passed away, are you sure? He was just shown on Oprah singing with Charice...I'm pretty sure he's alive, lol!

[remykyes]

Was Andrea Bocceli there? Is he at every show?

 

He passed away some time last year. She uses a video of him for the song in every show.

 

I think your thinking of Luciano Pavarroti.

[Chellbie]

WOW GUYS!!!!!! these reviews ... i think that I thrive for them! I'm at work and I've been reading this non stop! I work at a register and I get so mad when customers walk up cause then I have to stop reading! LOL

 

Sarah- thanks so much for the pictures! The one of her in the car is soo surreal! it really puts a thought in my head that meeting her and seeing her right infront of me is reachable!! WOW! And Celine FREAK - awsome review. I'm a writer myself so that was pretty impressive!

 

WOW - this is so fun to read! I love the pictures!

 

now i really cant wait till my concert but I feel like I have bad seats! AND GOSH I HOPE I'M NOT AROUND A BUNCH OF DOODLES THAT WONT GET UP AND DANCE AND AVE FUN! I wish i could be on the floor! I even bought my raliegh tickets in 2007 and STILL couldnt get floor seats!!!!???!! how on earth?! =(

 

CONGRATULATIONS EVERYONE!!!!! =) yay!