Cancelled show in Halifax

[Macaronie]

Yes I wrote that on Perez as well, Celine didn't knew about this at first.

[Xpresso]

You see now what kind of crap you need to get promotion?? And please, don't blame all of Canada. Canada is a huge country and this is happening in Halifax, Nova Scotia. They have nothing better to do. They complained when the concert was announced and now they complain because it's cancelled. No matter what you do, people will always... COMPLAIN! Way to go Halifax!

[Davey84]

Blame Canada, Blame Canada

Because when Canada is gone,

There'll be no more Celine Dion

 

Blame Canada, Blame Canada

They're not even a real country anyway

 

[AllCeline]

I'm sorry to say this, but it serves them right! They [the media] didn't want Celine there, so they got what they wanted; now she's not coming. They've suddenly changed the minds all of a sudden?

 

The media is just utterly pathetic.

[krazy_kool_dude]

well look at this way, at least people are talking about her. Negative or not!

 

For a while people haven't dared mention her name 'cos of the type of songs she does. Yes it's a shame it's all for the wrong reasons but the reason why it bothers us is because we like Celine.

 

In 2 days time people will forget about this, then two weeks time or whenever An Audience with Celine Dion will air, it'l again split the public opinion of her ('cos she mimed) but at least they'll be talking about her!

 

and we had the cheek to think she was no longer relevant!

[Shaun]

You can always rely on the UK. They don't play her songs, don't promote her album and act like she doesn't exist.

 

However the second a story breaks like this, she's suddenly everywhere!

[Leenu]

This is getting out of hand now...

The Finnish tabloid Iltasanomat reported on their website that

 

"Enraged Celine called off gig"

and "Celine Dion fiercely maddened by feedback from Halifax"

 

Where DO they get their info?? The story keeps getting crazier...

 

http://www.iltasanomat.fi/viihde/uutinen.asp?id=1457365

[nano]

Iltasanomat got the story from mtv3 and mtv3 reports Perez Hilton as their source.

 

The decission is made by Rene, and the site quotes him. But Celine is the one everybody is blaiming.

The headline is "Celine Dion got mad and cancelled her concert"

"Canadien superstar Celine Dion is know for her DIVA attitude, this time she got upset with the negative comments that were coming from the city of Halifax"

and then the quotes from Rene.

[Hilda]

am 100% sure she has a valid reason for cancelling the show, no matter what the media says. I am sorry for the people from Halifax, I know how dissapointed I'd be.

I don't think it's funny either. Like she did it because she wanted to be cruel. That is ridiculous. Obviously they got no real story so they have to pick on her and btw, what's Ireland or the UK got to do with Halifax. The only people who's opinion I am interested in are those affected. Let's Halifax talk!

 

ok ok dont get all touchy on me guys - unless u go and listen to the radio one thing you obviously not gonna understand what bits i meant were funny. I dont think the whole Halifax thing is funny - far from it - i think the media there and some of the few people with bad mouths have created an awful mess for celine...but this radio thing was just funny coz it was as if she wasnt wanted anywhere. And of course thats not true so i can laugh at it.

 

and then he said after the 'fan' had been on ...ok so were gonna play celines new song for u now...and she was like "oh thanks so much"....and he said "naaa youd never catch me doing that on radio 1" hahaha. (and for the void of humour its funny coz of R1's audience) If I wasnt at work I'd have rang up and proper defended her! I think its rubbish that shes getting all this flack for just cancelling a concert that you just wouldnt wanna do in the circomstances. and that R1 were now contemplating whether they should put a MAP up of the country on their site (even the world) that people could write in and say where they didnt want celine to perform was just eeeeven worse....but what else can ya do but laugh.

 

And Colin, someone from scotland already said they didnt want her there hahaha (clearly representing the whole of scotland u understand)

Edited November 22, 2007 at 08:13 PM by Hilda

[Del]

This thing just gets crazier by the day. I mean it started by just being a local thing and now it's everywhere. I wonder what Rene thinks of this going everywhere around the world like it has. It's truly an embarassment for the city.

[celine_dion_fan]

SO I was on facebook ... and there is a group about celine not going to Halifax . There are over 900 people in it .. yikes. How can we support celine... any ideas?

[Love,]

This thing just gets crazier by the day. I mean it started by just being a local thing and now it's everywhere. I wonder what Rene thinks of this going everywhere around the world like it has. It's truly an embarassment for the city.

Well, apparently a reporter from Halifax begs to differ. She think she's found the silver lining:

http://www.hfxnews.ca/index.cfm?sid=82370&sc=417

[SuperLove4Celine]

You know at this point I really think that Rene and/or Celine needs to post a statement on her official website as well as hold a press conference for "damage control." Even though none of this was their doing it's amazing how out of hand things can get, as we are seeing. There really needs to be something done on a big American entertainment channel/news show.

 

...Joe...

[Love,]

I think they need to hold a press conference on the WORLD TOUR. That's even more important...

[Loup_garou]

This thing just gets crazier by the day. I mean it started by just being a local thing and now it's everywhere. I wonder what Rene thinks of this going everywhere around the world like it has. It's truly an embarassment for the city.

Well, apparently a reporter from Halifax begs to differ. She think she's found the silver lining:

http://www.hfxnews.ca/index.cfm?sid=82370&sc=417

 

 

C'mon that jerk is just a Perez wannabe....but instead she's hitting to the wrong artist.....

[Hilda]

i think they should just stay quiet - a press confrence would be them stoking the fire. If they dont say anything it suggests they havnt done anything wrong and shouldnt have to say anything. Which is how it is. They've given their reason.

[celinefan1985]

What a bunch of loosers in Halifax! What do you expect from a bunch of retarded and backward maritimers? Why would she want to perform there anyways? Celine is one of the most famous Canadians ever, but instead of being proud, they're dissing her. Ýour loss suckas!

[Loup_garou]

and once again she's on the front page....sorry if it was already posted

 

Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned print this article

I, too, am to blame for cancellation of Celine Dion concert

 

Lisa Blackburn

LISA BLACKBURN Lisa Blackburn RSS Feed

The Daily News

 

Well, confession will be easy this week. Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned: I am responsible for the cancellation of the Celine Dion concert in August. Actually, I can't take full blame - only Dave Rodenhiser can do that - but I was part of the problem.

 

First off, I have nothing against Celine Dion. She has one of the most incredible voices in modern music. Her new single is catchy and signals a new era in the star's career. But she's been in Las Vegas for the past five years and her audience has aged since she last took to the stage in Halifax. The performer and her husband/manager have failed to recognize that crucial fact.

 

In a scathing conference call to the Halifax media, manager Rene Angelil told reporters Celine has performed in Halifax four times and can't understand what the problem is. He says in the 25-plus years he's been managing Celine's career he can never remember such a negative backlash to a concert announcement. I think Angelil and company have only heard what they want to hear.

 

The media in this town (and as a morning radio-show host this includes me) have been fairly unanimous in our estimation of the situation. I've said from the very beginning that it was great Celine was coming to town, but the Halifax Common just isn't the right venue for her. Last year's Rolling Stones show was the Common's coming-out party. Other than hosting then pope John Paul II in the 1980s (and we all know how rowdy those fans can be!) it was the first time the Common was used for such a large event. Many lessons were learned and many more need to be before these shows can be perfected. Until that happens, rock shows are the best event for the Common.

 

Let's face it, rock and roll fans are more forgiving when it comes to the conditions they have to endure to enjoy their music. Rain? No problem, just pull on a garbage bag that you've bought for $10 from a street vendor. Line up for the Port-a-Potty? Just do your business behind it while no one is looking. Just as long as the beer is cold and the concession stand doesn't run out of burgers, everyone is happy - just bring on the music.

 

Maybe it's a stereotype, but Celine Dion fans would not be rolling in the mud. They wouldn't enjoy standing for six hours because they couldn't bring in a lawn chair and an umbrella in case it rains. The artist was right, but the venue was not.

 

I think my mother accurately represents the Celine Dion fan of 2007. She is a woman in her 60s who's been to the Metro Centre twice to see Celine. As a gift for her 60th birthday, my father took her to Las Vegas to see her show. When asked if she was planning to buy tickets for the August concert, the answer was "not on your life!"

 

I find it difficult to believe that negative press coverage was solely to blame for the show's cancellation. Celine has been around for a long time. She's endured negative album reviews, parodies of her music and comics making fun of her and her style. After all that, one would think a performer would develop a thick skin, but no. Angelil says it's a question of feelings.

 

Angelil points out that just after the Halifax show was canned, a show in Dublin, Ireland sold 54,000 tickets in one day. That's because it's being held in a stadium! With running water, modern facilities and seats. If the Halifax show had been in the Metro Centre, it would have been a sellout.

 

On the up side, Angelil suggests this debacle won't hurt Halifax's chances of hosting more major concerts. Good thing. I think if this show had failed miserably, it would have been more of a black mark on Halifax's reputation than this aborted takeoff.

 

newsbag@eastlink.ca

 

Lisa Blackburn is the morning-show co-host for Q104. She lives in Beaver Bank.

 

http://www.hfxnews.ca/index.cfm?sid=82522&sc=93

[stevethefan]

Ah la la! This thing has taken on a life of it's own!

 

I really don't think this will affect anything on her tour since every other city seems to want her. I think the combination of some upset reporters and inhabitants that are eager to criticize Celine got way misunderstood and caused all of this.

 

I've always thought that ANY publicity is GOOD publicity.

[CSCfan]

Celine episode: Time to review the way we talk

 

RALPH SURETTE

Sat. Nov 24 - 4:47 AM

 

THE SOURCE is surprising and unlikely, but in cancelling the Celine Dion show slated for Halifax, impresario Rene Angelil has told us something about ourselves that some of us at least should take to heart and mull over seriously.

 

I’ve been saying for years that I suspect that, in Nova Scotia, we have the most corrosively cynical attitudes in the country towards public affairs. That’s a very slippery notion that’s hard to substantiate, of course, especially since I hadn’t lived elsewhere recently.

 

But Angelil, Dion’s manager and husband, does have points of comparison. In cancelling the show because of an outburst of acerbic comment in the media, the talk-shows, the Internet and elsewhere, he said, with apparent astonishment: "I’ve been managing Celine for 26 years and in those years, I’ve never seen a reaction like that when we announced a concert."

 

He wasn’t being overly sensitive either: "Believe me, I’ve seen a lot of bad press, a lot of bad reviews about either Celine’s shows or records, and this is part of the game. But I’ve never seen a reaction like that about Celine going to entertain."

 

He pointed out that Dion had played Halifax four times since 1993 without any of this, and added with what seemed like bewilderment: "We love Halifax; we love the people there. I couldn’t understand that negative reaction day after day."

 

Let me sort of explain. There was a time when we didn’t say "boo" to anybody – politicians, business people, entertainers – and we considered ourselves privileged when a visitor of note showed up, priding ourselves on the fabled Maritime hospitality.

 

That all changed from the 1980s on, especially with regard to politics but more broadly to anyone who had a public profile, when some of our bad traditions came home to roost. Corruption in the justice system (the Marshall inquiry) and the mining bureaucracy (the Westray mine disaster), the Liberal trust-fund scandal, out-of control debt, the Shelburne Boys’ School, and a dozen lesser bung-ups – by the time the NDP nearly won the 1998 election, there was a palpable sense of despair around, a sense that everything about public affairs in Nova Scotia was bewitched and nothing could go right.

 

During that time, the Halifax-based media became the most scorching in the country and anybody in authority, or with a public profile of any kind, had better watch out – whether they were offside or not. I consider it no accident, for example, that the satirical Frank Magazine was created here (with another one spun off in Ottawa) during that time, mainly mocking public figures. Such a thing would have gone nowhere in New Brunswick, and perhaps not in larger places either, where confidence in the management of public affairs was higher.

 

All of this was part of our trauma, and was understand-able. But trends always seem to want to go to extremes. Now a whole class of semi-professional carpers has come to be, boosted by the Internet, and always looking for fresh blood, no matter of what type. I suspect that the Dion concert would never have come up at all, had there been the carcass of a new political scandal to feed on. You might say there’s nothing political about Celine Dion, but around here everything is political. These concerts are suddenly a big deal in Halifax, the city throws in some public money, Moncton apparently has to be one-upped, and frictions in the sphere of cyber indignation are high.

 

Conversely, given the prevailing mood, saying anything positive about someone in public life, or in any form of authority, is to invite a hail of vituperation. I recall in particular a column I wrote when former premier John Hamm left office, saying that despite the ups and downs of his government, he had improved the dignity of the office and, with the co-operation of the NDP, stabilized politics in this province. I got promptly beat up by e-mailers for that.

 

This episode, then, has its edifying elements. The city having got a black eye, some of us may now reflect on the way we talk about people in public life. Criticism is one thing. I’ve dealt in that all my working life, hopefully with a constructive intent. But taking public figures’ heads off more or less for sport envenoms public life as much as the misdeeds of the occasional politician or the failures of public policy.

[nickah79]

This is just stupid.

[Mozinha]

Oh dear...

[katie555]

wow thank you for a link with interview. This is really shocking, specially that is happenig in Canada!

In Europe in can NOT wait to see Celine.

[GoldenLeaf]

Oh gosh! What a bunch of as$holes! This just proves us once again how stupid and retarded are people in Halifax. Edited November 25, 2007 at 02:24 AM by Calypso

[Lawna]

Rene is a smart man. It's funny how many locals are excited about their city being known and about this story going international...you can't tell me that some of these people are so ignorant as to not know that this would become a HEADLINE around the globe? HELLO! Celine is an international star! Don't be so naive! Edited November 25, 2007 at 03:28 AM by Lawna

[CSCfan]

Mayor Kelly makes pitch to Celine

 

Tue. Nov 27 - 5:48 AM

 

Entertainment fans used to seeing Hollywood hunks like Brad Pitt and George Clooney on CTV’s eTalk got Halifax Mayor Peter Kelly instead Monday night.

 

In a brief interview on the entertainment show, the mayor extended a personal invitation to chagrined chanteuse Celine Dion, who recently pulled out of a planned summer concert on the Halifax Commons, to come and perform in the city.

 

Last week, Ms. Dion’s husband and manager, Rene Angelil, pulled the plug on the planned August outdoor show, citing negative publicity as one of his reasons.

 

On eTalk, Mr. Kelly downplayed talk of negative press reports.

 

"They weren’t bad," he said. "They were just expressing the views that they had heard."

 

Mr. Kelly said Monday evening that he did the eTalk interview in his office Saturday.

 

He has not heard from Ms. Dion or Mr. Angelil recently.

[Thecolourofmylove]

Sorry if this has been posted, but the picture got me...

 

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o84/nafnoid23/Celine/thedailynews21november.jpg

[Bellamy]

Halifax to name path after Celine Dion

 

Celine Dion can snub Halifax if she wants, but that's not going to stop Halifax from honouring the diva with a special path of her own.

 

Sources tell Halifax Live that a motion will be brought to Halifax council next month to name a path on the Halifax Common after Celine Dion.

Dion's Way, if passed by Halifax Council will mark the first time in the history of Halifax that a path on the Halifax Common will be named after a superstar, or a person for that matter.

 

No word yet from Dion's manager Rene on whether Celine will be permitted attend the naming ceremony.

http://www.halifaxlive.com/content/view/996/2/

[lyn]

Halifax to name path after Celine Dion

 

Tuesday, 27 November 2007

 

Celine Dion can snub Halifax if she wants, but that's not going to stop Halifax from honouring the diva with a special path of her own.

 

Sources tell Halifax Live that a motion will be brought to Halifax council next month to name a path on the Halifax Common after Celine Dion.

Dion's Way, if passed by Halifax Council will mark the first time in the history of Halifax that a path on the Halifax Common will be named after a superstar, or a person for that matter.

 

No word yet from Dion's manager Rene on whether Celine will be permitted attend the naming ceremony.

 

http://www.halifaxlive.com/content/view/996/2/

Edited November 28, 2007 at 01:39 AM by lyn

[stevethefan]

Sorry if this has been posted, but the picture got me...

 

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o84/nafnoid23/Celine/thedailynews21november.jpg