April 5-6, 2008 - Sydney, Australia (ACER Arena)

[loopygal]

Well she is sounding amazing so far, my friend Alicia (superstarleash) is there and has been calling me so I can hear songs! :clap:

 

All By Myself was out of this world!! :D :D

[artistman2007]

hope ur enjoing the show thanks for the fas t review

[Jacqui]

Ok, I'm home, and nowhere near sleepy, so here's my review...

 

Well the whole night has been totally overwhelming and emotional for me! Didn't help my nerves any that my Mother insisted on doing everything very slowly! But you don't wanna hear about that, I'm sure.

So we got there and picked up the tickets somewhere between 5.30pm and 6pm...it was sometime around then that they opened the doors so you could go get dinner or buy merchandise, for whoever asked.

We got merchandise first- it sounds like a lot of the stuff was similar to Brisbane and Melbourne, but some of the prices were different I think. They had about 6 different TShirts if I remember right, Coffee mugs, badges, keyrings, a hoodie thingy, and the programs which are awesome.

Then we had dinner...but yeah, everywhere was busy and had lines. I would advise to go get dinner early, but then I would also advise to get merchandise early, so I guess it's up to you guys lol.

We went into the arena at about 7.30pm, Anthony Callea started at 8pm. He really was great. I'm not a huge fan, but he sang some ballads, including The Prayer and people loved him.

 

We had a break between 8.30pm and 9...the people in our row and us, entertained ourselves by looking for Celine's family. We spotted Rene-Charles, Maman, Linda and Alain. We didn't see Rene...I was gonna look to see if he joined them after the show started but I was too busy staring at Celine, as if I was hypnotised or something, by then.

She came on just before 9pm. I think she, (or someone from the band?) Was peeking out of the curtains before the show, because some people on the side rows kept screaming and waving every now and then. We were in the 6th row, section C, by the way.

Actually seeing Celine in person for the first time was amazing. She is soooooooooo beautiful!!! I mean, even more so in person than in any pictures. The audience in our section were quite excited, standing up and dancing for parts of the show- I did a few times, but I was kinda trying not to fall down cuz my mind was just thinking "Oh my God....Celine...oh my God...gonna fall down if I don't sit down...woah..."

So she sang I Drove All Night, The Power Of Love, and then talked for a bit. She told us how she loves Australia and she came here 10 years ago and appreciates being welcomed back, as a singer, mother, and daughter. She talked about her Mama being 81 and being there, and how Rene-Charles wants to be a kangaroo and surfer. She thanked everyone for being there and said how hard it was to cancel a show...even harder than it is sometimes to do a show. But she said she enjoyed the extraordinary view out her window while she was sick because we have a beautiful country. She also thanked Anthony and wished him the best. Then she said we would go on with the show, and she sang Taking Chances, a medley of Its All Coming Back To Me Now and Because You Loved Me, followed by To Love You More (complete with air violin hehe). I've listened to her CDs all my life, but there's just no explaining how powerful her voice is until you hear it in person, woowwww, it was like, perfect. I was getting a bit teary, but managed not to cry haha!

Then, costume change, the dancers did their thing, Celine came back out and sang Eyes On Me and All By Myself. All By Myself was especially amazing. I just don't know how she does it, it's so hard to believe she was sick just a week ago. The notes were so huge and unbelieveable.

Costume change again, dancers doing stuff...then I'm Alive, then she said she wanted to sing some new songs for us, so she did Shadow Of Love, Can't Fight The Feeling, I'm Your Angel with Barnev, and Alone. She said she couldn't do a concert without at least one French song, she explained that it was about loving someone so much you'd do anything for their love in return, and she said she thinks a lot of us know that feeling. Pour Que Tu M'Aimes Encore. Then My Love. She mentioned Linda Perry, talked about how special the song is to her, kind of like a prayer, and she sang it down on her knees. She seemed quite emotional towards the end and I was thinking ohhh God Celine, don't cry, cuz if you do, I will. But then she went straight into We Will Rock You, so it was kind of forgotten. She talked about loving Queen, and Freddy Mercury, and how The Show Must Go On is one of the last songs he recorded, and that it has a special meaning to her.

Costume change again, with backing singers doing their medley. She came back out and sang It's A Man's World, That's Just The Woman In Me, and Love Can Move Mountains. She is so cute, her dancing, he smiling at the audience, just everything she does! Oh, and her hair is more blonde than I thought it was.

Then she said goodnight, but came back out to sing River Deep, Mountain High. Then went off again, and we watched Rose and Jack make out while she changed and came back to do My Heart Will Go On.

So...I think that about covers it? Celine is sooooo amazing and incredible and beautiful...I swear, I could do nothing but watch her and love her for the rest of my life. I knew it'd be a great experience, but she still amazed me. I don't know what else to say now. Hmm. Sorry if I made spelling boo boos.

 

I also have to say, it was definitely, by far, the best concert I've been to. Even my Mum said it was totally worth paying $400 a ticket for. I should sleep, cuz I gotta get up and do this all again tomorrow but I'm so not tired.

Edited April 5, 2008 at 01:38 PM by Jacqui

[roubaix]

Thanks for the report, I'm glad you had a great time!

[PrincessCéline]

When the stage is in the middle of the arena, how does she leave th stage ?

[Jacqui]

It wasn't in the middle? I dunno how to explain it...the stage was up one end. But she entered and exited from the side of the stage and sometimes the middle.

[pepillo90]

Perfect review! Thanks! I can't wait to see her in Dublin after reading it

[Dionesque]

Thank you Jacqui for this great review!! I feel like I were there wth you!

 

Oh, and I'm curious now about the mugs they sold before the show! Were they coffe mugs or just regular mugs? And what was on them exactely? (which pic/writing?)

Thanks a lot in advance for your answer, of course if you remember such details in all your excitement!

[Jacqui]

The mug is white, with Celine Dion written on it in silver, and a silver silhouette of the picture from the Taking Chances album cover. And I'm not sure of the difference between coffee mugs and normal mugs lol, I thought it was the same thing?

[Dionesque]

Of course you can use every mug for coffee.

But what I meant as 'coffee mug' is a smaller mug (not so tall as the regular mug) and it's usually thiner at the bottom.

You know, they got such kind of mugs in the Boutique before, for example those wtih "You & I" writing on them, you remember?

 

Thank you for your answer anyway, I would like to get that mug! I love drinking tea so mugs are very welcome for me, esp. if they are also Céline's merchandise!

[Jacqui]

Ok I think it was just a regular mug then. But they were calling them coffee mugs? I dunno if it was labeled "coffee mug" or if someone said it, or if I dreamed it in all the excitement haha.

 

Btw there are some pics on wireimage...I didn't get to take any myself, so if anyone can find a way to make these bigger, I will really love you a lot haha!

 

http://wireimage.com/SearchResults.aspx?ig...ld=C&vwmd=e

[Jacqui]

I'm gonna go to bed now....I'll be back in the morning if you have more questions or anything. I don't know where all the other Sydney people are! Take care everone, goodnight oxoxo.

[The Prayer]

I had a great night at the concert tonight last night, Celine was brilliant I took some pics but I will upload thema bit later cos I need some sleep right now

 

Good night for now

[Lizzy]

Thanks for the review and have fun tomorrow too.

[I Surrender]

was the setlist any diff from the melbourne one ?

[likeaflower]

Aww excellent recap! I feel like I went to the concert again! That's interesting about the mugs, they weren't at Melbourne and I went to 2 stands so they must be new! Was anything else different/new in the merchandise?

[Thomas]

http://i25.tinypic.com/148ly4x.jpg

 

http://i30.tinypic.com/2w32r1w.jpg

 

 

http://i32.tinypic.com/2qwouhl.jpg

 

Lot's of pictures on Getty. HQ pics to follow. Looks like she went blonde again!

[vr6chickbeenfound]

Wow , great pics. Thanx That blonde really suits her, brightens up her face so much. Gorgeous

[Chula]

http://i25.tinypic.com/148ly4x.jpg

 

 

This is extremely goddess! Nice pose!

[Julian]

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h83/CelJunkee/80534001.jpg

This one is great!

I would love to see that in HQ

[Koolan]

Thanks for the detailed review, Jacqui.

 

She looks gorgeous in long blonde, unlike the Vegas short blonde.

[Filine]

Thank you for the review, omg she looks beautiful...love the highlights

[Thomas]

HQ pics from Sydney:

 

http://img203.imagevenue.com/loc510/th_17877_80534314_10_122_510lo.jpg

 

http://img237.imagevenue.com/loc364/th_16820_80533852_10_122_364lo.jpg

 

http://img202.imagevenue.com/loc449/th_16822_80533853_10_122_449lo.jpg

 

http://img103.imagevenue.com/loc828/th_16824_80533854_10_122_828lo.jpg

 

http://img103.imagevenue.com/loc714/th_16827_80533856_10_122_714lo.jpg

 

http://img192.imagevenue.com/loc506/th_16830_80533857_10_122_506lo.jpg

 

http://img222.imagevenue.com/loc106/th_16836_80533858_10_122_106lo.jpg

 

http://img212.imagevenue.com/loc108/th_16838_80533983_10_122_108lo.jpg

 

http://img175.imagevenue.com/loc1151/th_16844_80533985_10_122_1151lo.jpg

 

http://img205.imagevenue.com/loc422/th_16846_80533990_10_122_422lo.jpg

 

http://img241.imagevenue.com/loc421/th_16848_80533995_10_122_421lo.jpg

 

http://img124.imagevenue.com/loc1179/th_17316_80533996_10_122_1179lo.jpg

 

http://img43.imagevenue.com/loc898/th_17325_80533999_10_122_898lo.jpg

 

http://img203.imagevenue.com/loc347/th_17332_80534001_10_122_347lo.jpg

 

http://img41.imagevenue.com/loc860/th_17342_80534007_10_122_860lo.jpg

 

http://img109.imagevenue.com/loc681/th_17348_80534055_10_122_681lo.jpg

 

http://img208.imagevenue.com/loc423/th_17354_80534056_10_122_423lo.jpg

 

http://img121.imagevenue.com/loc941/th_17356_80534058_10_122_941lo.jpg

 

http://img206.imagevenue.com/loc577/th_17364_80534060_10_122_577lo.jpg

 

http://img24.imagevenue.com/loc1079/th_17367_80534066_10_122_1079lo.jpg

 

http://img173.imagevenue.com/loc1057/th_17375_80534084_10_122_1057lo.jpg

 

http://img143.imagevenue.com/loc977/th_17742_80534086_10_122_977lo.jpg

 

http://img233.imagevenue.com/loc73/th_17750_80534093_10_122_73lo.jpg

 

http://img120.imagevenue.com/loc632/th_17753_80534159_10_122_632lo.jpg

 

http://img213.imagevenue.com/loc459/th_17766_80534163_10_122_459lo.jpg

 

http://img201.imagevenue.com/loc88/th_17769_80534164_10_122_88lo.jpg

 

http://img174.imagevenue.com/loc850/th_17771_80534165_10_122_850lo.jpg

 

http://img226.imagevenue.com/loc516/th_17773_80534166_10_122_516lo.jpg

 

http://img189.imagevenue.com/loc28/th_17776_80534168_10_122_28lo.jpg

 

http://img241.imagevenue.com/loc502/th_17783_80534170_10_122_502lo.jpg

 

http://img205.imagevenue.com/loc573/th_17787_80534310_10_122_573lo.jpg

 

http://img180.imagevenue.com/loc434/th_17874_80534311_10_122_434lo.jpg

 

[JP]

OMG, i'm so excited she's blonde again, she looks GORGEOUS!!

 

Thanks a lot Thomas

Edited April 5, 2008 at 06:06 PM by JP

[anewdayhascome]

she is blond again?????!!!!!!!

[Thomas]

Well, yeah. She has blonde highlights now but it's been really light brown since the tour began so it's not like it's a massive change. She looks awesome!

[nano]

Thanks for the pics! She looks fantastic...

[binsk]

short TPOL clip

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwam1nbQrJU

 

it says sydney, but it might be from melbourne i think

Edited April 5, 2008 at 06:35 PM by binsk

[Dionesque]

I prefer Céline with darker hair but of course it's her choice, hehe! Although she still looks amazing on thiese photos!!

Thank you again, Thomas!!!

[Bellamy]

She looks like a barbie doll in some photos.