Official Topic: Press reviews about the Final Night

[LasVegasCanadian]

OK...by 7 pm tonight, I am going to need a Lot of tissues!! Je t'aime Celine!

Aline

 

CLOCK TICKS DOWN ON 'A NEW DAY ...'

 

 

Tonight's performance ends landmark venture

 

By MIKE WEATHERFORD

REVIEW-JOURNAL

Do you think that's helping?"

 

An emotional Celine Dion asks this in response to the sustained and thunderous greeting on Wednesday, show No. 714, or four in the countdown ticking inevitably to 717.

 

The final performance of "A New Day ...," scheduled tonight at Caesars Palace, is the show that online ticket hawkers have posted for more than $5,000. The one Dion once wished would come sooner. The one that now, she tells Wednesday's crowd, she is sad to see finally arrive.

 

"We kind of knew that one day we were going to put an end to this. But what we did not know is that we were going to be a family," she says of the 60-member cast of dancers and musicians. "And that is not stoppable. That will not be breakable," she declares to more roaring applause.

 

After the show, nibbling at pickles from a small picnic cooler, the 39-year-old Canadian superstar reflects on the end of a landmark venture in Las Vegas entertainment. Back in 2002, the show that put big names back into play on the Strip and has been seen by nearly 3 million people was, well, the least objectionable option at the time.

 

"When I gave birth to my son (Rene-Charles, in 2001) I was not ready to come back into show business," she says. Her priorities had changed from an artist's point of view to a mother's.

 

But Las Vegas offered the singer and her husband-manager, Rene Angelil, just about everything possible to keep her in both worlds: a commute from Henderson to a new, $95 million theater for a show that was no mere headliner showcase, but a spectacle helmed by Cirque du Soleil director Franco Dragone.

 

It wasn't born easily. "A New Day ..." opened the same week the United States invaded Iraq in March 2003. The star was visibly uncomfortable with some of Dragone's grand ideas, such as descending 44 feet to the stage as an angel in a flying harness. Her shoes disappeared from a quick-change room on opening night, and many critics felt the star herself was lost amid the dancers and high-definition visuals.

 

"I think the first year for me was pretty overwhelming," she says. "And the second year, I was exhausted because of the first year. And the third year, that was the hardest for me. I didn't see the end of it. I was very tired, I had to cancel a few shows.

 

"You know how when you start, you're really ready for it, then you give it all, then you go like this?" Her hand draws a dip in the air. "You're exhausted. ... It was very hard for me."

 

But Dion stuck it out, and the show benefited from near-constant tinkering that continued right up to this week, when she decided to include "The Christmas Song" (The surrealistic bicyclist who floats across the stage now wears a Santa outfit).

 

"I needed to give myself time for that show to be mine as well (as Dragone's)," she says. Her husband would coax: "Do your thing. Don't be shy, be natural." But she considered the venture a 50-50 partnership with Dragone. "Am I allowed to do so? Should I do that?" she wondered.

 

Over time, she says, "the stage becomes your living space. It's not only a platform. You know exactly where it dips down, where it's slippery, where it's not. Once you start being comfortable in your environment, then I think the best of you comes out."

 

And the tough times were smoothed over by her original maternal instinct and reinforcement that the long residency was the right decision. She could sing without feeling the guilt of leaving her son every day, and with him understanding "Mommy was not going very far and always coming back home."

 

Next year, the family won't be home much. A world tour promoting Dion's new album, "Taking Chances," begins in South Africa on Valentine's Day and ends in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Jan. 30, 2009.

 

Rene-Charles is 7, and "for us the road now is no longer scary," she says. "I don't have to bring the baby food. His immune system is stronger to whatever allergies. At this age they want to explore, they need to learn. And they can learn through traveling."

 

But home, or at least one of them, will be the house in the Lake Las Vegas development.

 

"We're keeping our home," she says. "It's my son's house. This is his memory as a child. He learned how to swim, how to walk. There's no way we can stop the show here and move our stuff out of the dressing room and then" -- her voice tilts up to incredulity -- "move from our home? No. Too much."

 

Today is going to be hard enough. "I'm trying to really stay calm -- and strong."

 

Dion is noncommittal about when, where and to what degree she would perform again on the Strip. These probably are better questions for her husband, and he has a long tour to worry about.

 

"But I can say I would love that," she says of someday returning. Las Vegas is now "a little bit my hometown and I'll tell you why: I've never lived in another place for five years. Even Florida, I don't even know if I lived there that long," she says.

 

"It's been an amazing success, this whole thing. When I'm back in the area, it's going to be like singing to my hometown."

 

Contact reporter Mike Weatherford at mweatherford@reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-0288.

[LVCeline]

So sad people have to make nasty comments about her looks. No matter, they'll continue to live pathetic lives while Celine continues to flourish as one of the biggest stars in the history of entertainment. And the Vegas locals didn't have any reason to not like her. (god I wish comments like that didn't bother me)

[Feidhlimbrennan]

awww i cant believe how sad im feeling about tonight, i know theres so much more of Céline to come, but it really is the end of an era! really wish i was there, but at least an audience with celine airs next saturday here in the UK, and maybe there will even be a promo about it during tonights xfactor final, that will make me happy!

 

xf

[peo]

Thanks for the article!!! Very touching. I started crying today when they put "My Heart will Go On" on the radio, my mom was like "cry because its the last day of her show". Well, at least we know she wants to go back to Las Vegas in the future, I hope so.

[ashleylovesceline]

Celine Dion A New Day Draws To A Close In Vegas

by Paul Cashmere - December 16 2007

 

It was an emotional night for Celine Dion. Her long-running Vegas show 'A New Day' came to an end tonight after 717 performances.

 

Celine's 'A New Day' has been one of the greatest successes of Vegas. Since premiering in March 2003, the show has been seen by more than 3 million people and has grossed more than $400 million.

 

In a final statement from the Vegas stage, Celine said "This has been one of the most incredible journeys of my career! Working with Franco Dragone...working with an amazing cast of artists every night...knowing that we've had the best team around us, the best partners to work with...and in this most beautiful theater...it's all been a dream come true! I'm going to miss being with this 'family' of extraordinary people who have become a big part of my life during the past five years. I'm grateful to each of them for giving so much of themselves to make our show a success. Most of all, I'm overwhelmed by the support that we've received from all the fans who have traveled to Las Vegas from all across North America, and from every corner of the world...I can't thank them enough!"

 

'A New Day' was one of the hottest tickets in Vegas. It played at the $95 million venue The Colosseum, built especially for the show at Caesar's Palace.

 

Over the year's to keep the show fresh, new songs were added to the set. Celine often sang songs by former Vegas greats, Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley.

 

For fans who could not make it to Vegas for the last performance, the show will screen in 200 cinemas around America on Monday.

 

Celine will have a few months off before embarking on her 'Taking Chances' tour which begins in South Africa in February.

[JP]

Was a huge day for her career today!! A new day will come!!

[Nmj]

A New Day Has Come ; And Gone

-Nmj

[celínico_sin_remedio]

A New Day Has Come ; And Gone

-Nmj

 

 

Amen

[smw]

Wow. It's actually over. It was incredible. And, for the SECOND time in her career, she knew when to walk out.

 

Celine Dion is a genius.

[dionfan07]

it was a wonderful journey. im very glad i was able to witness it as often as i did. im sad its over but happy it happened.

[Shesings2me]

I finally got there during the 2nd to last week and I'm so glad I did. I was able to understand why so many of you went back again and again. Celine is so special, and like I mentioned in another thread it was my first time in Vegas, so Celine is Vegas to me now. It won't ever be the same to go back again without her there.

 

Good luck with the world tour Celine. We'll be waiting with bells on!!!! T.

[TaCD24/7*52]

All the best Celine,See you in 2008 :-) & Thankyouxxxx

[LasVegasCanadian]

I was so fortunate to have heard those words in person. And to witness the love and emotion in the Colosseum. To see the rose petals fall on the stage and to see Celine give one rose to Rene Charles and the other to Rene.

Tonight's ticket is going in a frame!!

She changed the entertainment scene in vegas and will be sorely missed. An angel is missing her voice because it belongs to Ms. Celine Dion!!

 

Aline

[Shamrock_1982]

Hi Aline, you are so lucky to have been there.....can you give us a quick review please??

any celebs there? any changes to the show/songs/costumes?

did she breakdown??

Edited December 16, 2007 at 10:23 AM by Ire23

[LasVegasCanadian]

It is 2:30 am here and I am off to bed but she was VERY emotional after very long standing ovations. Chris Angell was the only celeb I saw but there may have been others. There were a lot of people from CDA there etc. Her Mom and son and husband were there of course.

She came out at the end for quite a few bows, like she didn't want to leave.

At least I know I can see her again in Canada next year. I love seeing her at home. She was so beautiful.

Good night.

Aline

[Shamrock_1982]

Cool, thanks for the info.

[ashleylovesceline]

Celine Dion takes a final bow at Caesars

By RYAN NAKASHIMA, Associated Press Writer

53 minutes ago

 

LAS VEGAS - Celine Dion called it a wrap at Caesars Palace, acknowledging in her final show that pregnancy and poor early reviews almost sank her titanic five-year engagement.

 

As adoring fans cheered, stood and clapped through Saturday night's performance, Dion interspersed her usual numbers with emotion-filled monologues.

 

"At one point, it was like feeling like the Titanic was about to sink again," she said. "But we believed and we went on with it. Even though the vibe was not that positive for us."

 

While the show was still in development in 2000, Dion, 39, became pregnant and told husband-manager Rene Angelil she did not want to continue.

 

"I had a life for the first time," the French-Canadian chanteuse said in a video before her 717th show. "I knew then that I wanted to have more success as a mother than a singer."

 

But Angelil told her that too much money and too many people were involved. Not only would the Colosseum cost $95 million to build, her initial three-year, $100 million contract broke records for a live entertainer.

 

So she pushed on, fighting through initial bad reviews to make it five years of filling a 4,100-seat arena.

 

After her last number, Dion invited husband Angelil and her son, Rene-Charles, now 7, on stage with her. Rene-Charles repeatedly reached down to grab rose petals that rained down on the final bow, giving them to her.

 

"Most of us have left our families behind to give ourselves every night," she said. "I can assure you it was worth it."

 

Since opening in March 2003, Dion's show, "A New Day ... " grossed more than $400 million and was seen by nearly 3 million fans. Dion said one fan had seen her Las Vegas show more than 100 times. Tickets for the final show were for sale on EBay for as much as $1,899.

 

Last month, Dion released "Taking Chances" her first English-language album in four years, and she sang the title song on the album during the extra-long finale. The album was most recently the 12th best-selling in the U.S., according to Billboard magazine.

 

Dion starts touring with a first concert date set for Valentine's Day in Johannesburg, South Africa.

 

Taking Dion's place at Caesars Palace will be Bette Midler's "The Showgirl Must Go On," which is set to open Feb. 20.

 

"Tomorrow morning, it will be back to reality and back to (being) mommy," Dion told reporters after the show.

[Céline's Blues]

"Tomorrow morning, it will be back to reality and back to (being) mommy. I don't have to promote anything, I don't have an album out and whatever they say it's not me on the cover. It's a drag queen looking like Kevin Bacon. I love being a mommy. And I do love Alicia Keys' newest CD, especially the video to the second single which is doing amazingly well. Wow, I love it," Dion told reporters after the show.

 

I love this quote, so true it is.

[kathy4]

i am glad that everyone had a good time.

[VinnyT.]

"Tomorrow morning, it will be back to reality and back to (being) mommy. I don't have to promote anything, I don't have an album out and whatever they say it's not me on the cover. It's a drag queen looking like Kevin Bacon. I love being a mommy. And I do love Alicia Keys' newest CD, especially the video to the second single which is doing amazingly well. Wow, I love it," Dion told reporters after the show.

 

I love this quote, so true it is.

:sofunny:

[amelie]

"Tomorrow morning, it will be back to reality and back to (being) mommy. I don't have to promote anything, I don't have an album out and whatever they say it's not me on the cover. It's a drag queen looking like Kevin Bacon. I love being a mommy. And I do love Alicia Keys' newest CD, especially the video to the second single which is doing amazingly well. Wow, I love it," Dion told reporters after the show.

 

I love this quote, so true it is.

 

[felixwhoals]

I am proud of you Celine! You're the STAR!!! An angel and the best singer in the whole world!

[Attendais]

Vegas Dave wrote on December 15, 2007 07:25 AM:

She should have spent some of those millions on fixing that dog face.

 

Such an idiot! grrr... Britney's or Madonna's fan.

 

Anyway... It's a little bit sad that Celine finished her shows yesterday... She had a permanent job, now she's back into life from 90's.

But I'm afraid Celine maight have problems to become as popular as she was.

 

A NEW DAY HAS.......... GONE!

[anna]

"Tomorrow morning, it will be back to reality and back to (being) mommy. I don't have to promote anything, I don't have an album out and whatever they say it's not me on the cover. It's a drag queen looking like Kevin Bacon. I love being a mommy. And I do love Alicia Keys' newest CD, especially the video to the second single which is doing amazingly well. Wow, I love it," Dion told reporters after the show.

 

I love this quote, so true it is.

:sofunny:

 

 

[quote name='amelie' date='Dec 16 2007, 07:27 AM' post='764262'

 

 

 

what's so funny

the quote is true about her saying she has nothing to prove

and she wasn't that drag queen on that cover, which was ridiculous

but celine really does know what's going on around her in music with that comment about alicia

[krazy_kool_dude]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7146839.stm

Dion ends five-year Vegas stint

 

Singer Celine Dion has played her final show at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas after nearly five years.

 

The Canadian singer has performed her A New Day concert 717 times since March 2003, taking more than $400m (£198m).

 

But she told her last-night audience that the stage spectacular was almost derailed by pregnancy and bad reviews.

 

"At one point, it was like feeling like the Titanic was about to sink again," she said. "But we believed and we went on with it."

 

The Grammy award-winning singer originally signed a $100 million (£49.5 million) contract to perform A New Day in 2003 and its run was later extended.

 

A theatre was built and designed especially for the show, and producers claim nearly three million people have attended since it opened.

 

Rose petals

 

But in a pre-show video Dion confessed that, while the concert was in development in 2000, she became pregnant and told her husband-manager Rene Angelil she did not want to continue.

 

"I had a life for the first time," she said. "I knew then that I wanted to have more success as a mother than a singer."

 

Angelil convinced her to go ahead with the show - and the couple soldiered on despite unfavourable press.

 

"The vibe was not that positive for us," the singer admitted.

 

After the show's encore, Dion invited her husband and son, Rene-Charles, now seven, to join her on stage.

 

Rene-Charles repeatedly reached down to grab rose petals that rained down on the final bow, giving them to his mother.

 

"Most of us have left our families behind to give ourselves every night," said the star. "I can assure you it was worth it."

 

Dion, whose hits include My Heart Will Go On and I'm Your Angel, will launch a 96-date world tour in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Valentine's Day 2008.

 

It is due to touch down in the UK in May, when she will play Manchester's MEN Arena, and stretches into 2009, with the last scheduled date in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on 30 January.

 

Comedian and singer Bette Midler will take her place at Caesar's Palace, with a production called The Showgirl Must Go On.

 

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44303000/jpg/_44303969_dion_300_ap.jpghttp://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44303000/jpg/_44303967_dion_200.jpg

[Shesings2me]

This comment made me cry for sure, "Rene-Charles repeatedly reached down to grab rose petals that rained down on the final bow, giving them to his mother." So, thanks for the pics KKDude. Oh my I'm so sad now. I hope she returns to Las Vegas in the distant future, after having another child perhaps and taking some much needed rest.

 

And...Taking Chances, Celine has been at this for too long to worry about popularity. All the sales, concerts, etc will just be a bonus for her now. We know she has other more important priorities with her family, so as long a she has us fans I'm positive she'll be happy with what she can get. So...don't worry for her 'cause I don't think she is.

 

Stay well, T.

[kathy4]

what songs did she do and hoe long was the show?

[mecee]

I have put a link in for a review that was posted in Australia for Celine's last night in Vegas.

 

http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story...09-7484,00.html

[ahmed]

thank you

[lyn]

Rene-Charles repeatedly reached down to grab rose petals that rained down on the final bow, giving them to her.

 

Awwww!!

 

Thanks much for the link