wjd Posted March 11, 2011 at 08:49 AM Posted March 11, 2011 at 08:49 AM I'm not sure if it has already been posted, hopefully not! LAS VEGAS — The woman in the gray sweats, white sneakers and no makeup is amped "Follow me," Celine Dion says. Like a shot, she exits her dressing room and makes for The Colosseum, the 4,000-seat venue that Caesars Palace built for Dion in 2003. But following Dion, 42, is not easy. Although just four months ago she delivered twins Nelson and Eddy, today the lithe Canadian siren bolts up backstage stairs two at a time. During rehearsal, she stalks the stage like a caged tiger, eyes narrowed as she scats through the Ella Fitzgerald classic You'll Have to Swing It (Mr. Paganini). When she jogs in place like a boxer during a run-through of a James Bond theme-song medley, the symbolism is hard to misread. Dion isn't here to perform. She's here to kill it. Again. On Tuesday, Dion unveils Celine, a new show at the very venue where, in 2007, she performed the last of more than 700 sold-out performances of A New Day. That Cirque du Soleil-inspired extravagance grossed $400 million and revived the Las Vegas residency pioneered by Elvis Presley in the '70s. Big one-named acts quickly followed Dion's lead, among them Cher, Bette and Elton. "The first time, it was against all odds, everyone thought we would sink," Dion says in lightly accented English just after the night's rehearsal performance before a non-paying audience of casino employees. "But we showed them wrong." This time around, Dion seems eager to demonstrate that she can still be a force in live entertainment while being a new mother. "With Rene-Charles (Dion's first child), I wanted to quit singing, honestly. But now I know what it is to be a mother, and I see that I can have it all." Dion takes evident pride in being a trailblazer. Which is possibly why Celine is not a new New Day. Where that show featured a singer in a swirl of 40 dancers, this one is just Dion, albeit with 31 musicians. In many ways, Celine is a throwback to the classic Vegas formula established by Presley and Frank Sinatra. The star belts out signature tunes mixed with a little banter, and after a breezy 90 minutes, visitors are back gambling with smiles on their faces. Vegas is betting on Celine. "Maybe it was a coincidence that the first time Celine was here, Vegas was booming, but regardless, there's now a hope that maybe she can bring back the way it was (before the recession)," says Anthony Curtis, president of LasVegasAdvisor.com, which provides subscribers with Strip tips and updates. Curtis says Dion's core fan base — "the Titanic crowd" — represents "that midlevel gambler whose return could help make up for the crowds we've lost since the economy went bad." Caesars Palace president Gary Selesner says Dion's timing "is impeccable. She's back with some improving trends including a 30% increase in our convention business over last year." He adds that tickets for Dion's new show, $55 to $250, are selling out "at a faster pace than her last one. A lot of buyers are from core markets like California and New York. But there are a lot of Canadians and even people saying they're coming from Indonesia, China and the Middle East just to see this new show." Dion long ago proved she's "the perfect act for a casino, which wants the entertainment to serve as a lure for the gambling," says Gary Bongiovanni, editor of Pollstar, which tracks the concert industry. "The demographic she attracts is fairly wide, and not a lot of acts can pull that way," Bongiovanni says. "Look, she pioneered this thing. The only thing that's changed since she was in Vegas last is the economy." 'She is a very lucky person' Talk of Dion saving Vegas brings a smile to the face of Rene Angelil, 69, her husband and manager. "It's good to be optimistic, but Celine doesn't perform miracles," he says. "That said, she is a very lucky person. On the world tour we did (after A New Day), it somehow seemed to stop raining every time she was about to do a stadium show. So maybe she'll bring some luck to this city." Whatever Celine proves to be, it can't repeat the Guinness-like performance of A New Day. For starters, Dion will perform only about 70 shows a year — half the pace of A New Day— and do so in bursts that are staggered around the school schedule of her 10-year-old son. That means, apart from this opening mid-March to early-April run, mostly summer dates with scattered holidays, since the family calls Jupiter Island, Fla., home when they're not in Nevada. For Dion, who went through six in-vitro fertilization attempts over two years before becoming pregnant with twins, motherhood now trumps showbiz. "Performing as a mom is what I enjoy most," she says. "Music is a part of me, sure. But now I don't have to choose between the two. The way I see it, I do what I love, and I get paid for it. But it's not something important. You can't take yourself too seriously." What grounds her is a private lifestyle that is the "opposite of the spotlight on the stage," Dion says. So, setting aside the jets and five-acre beachside mansion in Florida, what does that mean? "Party time for me is on stage. So when I'm off it, I like to be in my PJs and sip my coffee for four hours, maybe swim with the kids. And I love watching old game shows." She pauses for some tea with honey. "I've been doing this (life of a performer) since I was 12. It's a discipline by now. But one day, it'd be nice to be normal." Dion quickly defines what a life without the rigors of performances and interviews would mean. "I'd love to be a hostess, and maybe invite people over and cook for them, c'est bien, no?" she says with a smile. "I'd love to rent a yacht with my family and sail the Mediterranean, going wherever we felt like. "I'd love to eat more good wine and cheese and not worry about what that might do to my sinuses or my head. I'd love to learn to read and write music. Speak Italian and maybe Chinese. Maybe get an apartment in Paris and live there. And I still want to act. I want to play Maria Callas. Maybe one day I'll hear, 'And the Oscar goes to ...' " Thigh-slapping encouraged These sound distinctly like the daydreams of someone who can't quite realize any of them, yet. Right now, the show must go on. And mere days from the premiere, there's still a lot of tinkering going on. The show's producer, longtime Grammy Awards architect Ken Ehrlich, confers with Angelil during rehearsal about cutting a few numbers. "The show can't run over 95 minutes," Angelil says. Ehrlich nods as Dion, on stage, asks her musical director to try to get "more sizzle" into Diamonds Are Forever. Ehrlich helped shape the show's set list, which includes intriguing choices such as Billy Joel's Lullabye and Jacques Brel's Ne Me Quitte Pas, which Dion sings in French. "I'm hoping to be able to grow her fan base a bit," says Ehrlich, whose latest piece of producing wizardry was getting Mick Jagger to perform with Raphael Saadiq on last month's Grammys telecast. "You have to do the hits, of course, but there's an opportunity to really showcase that instrument of hers." Ehrlich says one of the things he admires most about Dion is "her ability to make you feel like she's singing to you. Springsteen can do it. So can Bono. But not everyone. Sometimes, there's been a tendency not to regard her as a serious artist. But she's a remarkable talent." What's apparent just from watching Dion rehearse is an almost rookie-like dedication to preparation. Whether choosing which sounds to scat with, or telling her drummer how she wants the snare to sound, Dion is all about the details. Angelil says his wife rehearsed before each of the 700-plus performances of A New Day. "At the end, she certainly didn't have to, but she did," he says. Though Dion is now at a point in her career where it might even be enough to belt out My Heart Will Go On and call it a night, she isn't aiming for applause. She's looking for rapture. "Celine wants everyone to walk out and say" — here Ehrlich slaps his thigh — 'That's the best damn show I've ever seen.' " After the night's rehearsal performance, which started 45 minutes late because of a technical glitch with the sound, Dion confesses she remains addicted to performing. "I don't need to do it, but I love to do it," she says. "I'm sure my fans will let me know when they've had enough. And then maybe I'll go play some small clubs for those who still want to see me." She says that. But she can't really believe it. "I feel like wine that's gotten better with age," Dion says. "I know I'm not going to be able to sing like this forever. But as long as I can, I will." Taken from USA TODAY, but originally found here: http://tinyurl.com/6j3f8m3 Really beautiful article Quote Céline Dion, music's greatest ever singer, the biggest-selling Canadian artist of all-time and most successful female live act ever - what's not to love?
Terre Posted March 11, 2011 at 09:08 AM Posted March 11, 2011 at 09:08 AM Great article! Thanks for posting! Quote My Taking Chances World TourAmsterdam June 2nd 2008 -Section A4, Row 7, Seat 11Stockholm June 7th 2008 -Section A8/A24, Row 3, Seat 40Helsinki June 9th 2008 -Section 119, Row 4, Seat 2 Bruce freakin' Springsteen
VinnyT. Posted March 11, 2011 at 09:20 AM Posted March 11, 2011 at 09:20 AM I'll teach her italian Quote For Exclusive News "Like Us" on Facebook http://i44.tinypic.com/vfjwad.jpg click on the banner
ferjaacu Posted March 11, 2011 at 10:15 AM Posted March 11, 2011 at 10:15 AM Great article... I would love to see Celine acting and winning an Oscar. Can u imagine that?? It'd be great. Thanks for sharing !! Quote http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3216/5786913948_369265dbeb_m.jpg FERLO
Samstertje Posted March 11, 2011 at 10:20 AM Posted March 11, 2011 at 10:20 AM Nice article Quote http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll5/Samstertje1985/CDFban3.jpg
luisnicole Posted March 11, 2011 at 11:22 AM Posted March 11, 2011 at 11:22 AM I will make her dream of play Maria Callas, I will write her the script if she wants, am a screenwriter. I saw a few weeks a documentary and is a really pasion and deep story to tell. Quote
NeliCD Posted March 11, 2011 at 12:30 PM Posted March 11, 2011 at 12:30 PM Thanks for the article Quote
celine-rc Posted March 11, 2011 at 12:47 PM Posted March 11, 2011 at 12:47 PM Thanks for the article. I'll have to read it later! Quote http://images.lpcdn.ca/435x290/201103/17/305341.jpg Merci Céline pour ces deux soirées inoubliables que j'ai passées à tes côtés. Je ne les oublierais jamais. J't'adore Céline. Merci. <3
CELINE MARIE Posted March 11, 2011 at 12:57 PM Posted March 11, 2011 at 12:57 PM http://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/01_celine-pg-horizontal.jpghttp://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/02_rehearse_husband-pg-horizontal.jpghttp://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/03_rehearse_stairs-pg-horizontal.jpghttp://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/04_rehearse_band-pg-horizontal.jpghttp://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/05_rehearse_spot-pg-horizontal.jpghttp://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/06_rehearse_ken-pg-horizontal.jpghttp://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/07_rehearse_back-pg-horizontal.jpghttp://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/08_rehearse_end-pg-horizontal.jpghttp://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/10_perform_silo-pg-horizontal.jpghttp://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/12_perform_tight-pg-horizontal.jpg http://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/11_perform_gown-pg-horizontal.jpg Quote
carmGel55 Posted March 11, 2011 at 01:30 PM Posted March 11, 2011 at 01:30 PM http://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/01_celine-pg-horizontal.jpghttp://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/02_rehearse_husband-pg-horizontal.jpghttp://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/03_rehearse_stairs-pg-horizontal.jpghttp://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/04_rehearse_band-pg-horizontal.jpghttp://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/05_rehearse_spot-pg-horizontal.jpghttp://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/06_rehearse_ken-pg-horizontal.jpghttp://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/07_rehearse_back-pg-horizontal.jpghttp://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/08_rehearse_end-pg-horizontal.jpghttp://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/10_perform_silo-pg-horizontal.jpghttp://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/12_perform_tight-pg-horizontal.jpg http://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/11_perform_gown-pg-horizontal.jpg where are the last 3 photos taken?????? she's so lovely, i bet its not oscars ofcors, but the hair looks like oscars'.... Quote
CELINE MARIE Posted March 11, 2011 at 01:45 PM Posted March 11, 2011 at 01:45 PM where are the last 3 photos taken?????? she's so lovely, i bet its not oscars ofcors, but the hair looks like oscars'.... Show Celine in LV Quote
puttybuddy Posted March 11, 2011 at 03:21 PM Posted March 11, 2011 at 03:21 PM That's my hard working lady. You go girl!!!! Quote The greatest voice ever! ♥
sfbaysinger Posted March 11, 2011 at 04:13 PM Posted March 11, 2011 at 04:13 PM Wow, what an article, soooooo much there and I can't dissect it all now. I'm going to have to go back and read it all again later...so funny though...lightly accented English..I can just hear that in my mind...she is soooooooo awesome...have fun those of you going...represent and take us ith you those who can't come and show her our love...Thanks for posting!! Quote L'immensite de mon amour pour Celine! L'amour existe encore pour elle!
ferjaacu Posted March 11, 2011 at 05:10 PM Posted March 11, 2011 at 05:10 PM (edited) http://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/01_celine-pg-horizontal.jpghttp://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/02_rehearse_husband-pg-horizontal.jpghttp://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/03_rehearse_stairs-pg-horizontal.jpghttp://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/04_rehearse_band-pg-horizontal.jpghttp://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/05_rehearse_spot-pg-horizontal.jpghttp://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/06_rehearse_ken-pg-horizontal.jpghttp://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/07_rehearse_back-pg-horizontal.jpghttp://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/08_rehearse_end-pg-horizontal.jpghttp://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/10_perform_silo-pg-horizontal.jpghttp://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/12_perform_tight-pg-horizontal.jpg http://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/11_perform_gown-pg-horizontal.jpg Where did you take this fotos from?? She looks amazing !!! Thanx so much for sharing them... !!!! Edited March 11, 2011 at 05:12 PM by ferjaacu Quote http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3216/5786913948_369265dbeb_m.jpg FERLO
Sofie Posted March 11, 2011 at 05:42 PM Posted March 11, 2011 at 05:42 PM (edited) Thanks so much for the amazing article, it's lovely. And the pictures are great, the first one is my favorite. Edited March 11, 2011 at 05:44 PM by Sofie Quote
puttybuddy Posted March 11, 2011 at 09:12 PM Posted March 11, 2011 at 09:12 PM Got the USA Today paper. Two new photos in it but they're black & white! Quote The greatest voice ever! ♥
Yakir Posted March 11, 2011 at 09:14 PM Posted March 11, 2011 at 09:14 PM Amaizing interview!!! I loved it when she said "I'm like a wine and I will sing forever it realy touched me a lot in all the exciting of the new show more 4 days.Thanks for sharing, Great topic Quote This sentence says it ALL and starts allUne voix d'or dans un Cœur enfant http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6a/Celine-Dion-Ce-Netait-Quun-Re-125278.jpeg
C_Airin_D Posted March 11, 2011 at 09:29 PM Posted March 11, 2011 at 09:29 PM I'll read it later! Thanks for sharing! Quote Want! Believe! Be patient! The only way for your dreams to come true!
pollsy Posted March 11, 2011 at 09:47 PM Posted March 11, 2011 at 09:47 PM Great interview! Thanks for it ^^ Quote http://prikachi.com/images/153/5347153U.jpg
I Love You Posted March 11, 2011 at 10:28 PM Posted March 11, 2011 at 10:28 PM Great article thanks. Quote
Nmj Posted March 11, 2011 at 10:33 PM Posted March 11, 2011 at 10:33 PM Did anyone else notice that pic where Rene was getting his pocket fixed by Celine.. that the walls are white again, lol remember they used to be Orange for AND...haha the things i notice. Quote
C_Airin_D Posted March 11, 2011 at 10:51 PM Posted March 11, 2011 at 10:51 PM (edited) "I feel like wine that's gotten better with age," Dion says. "I know I'm not going to be able to sing like this forever. But as long as I can, I will." Isn't she adorable? Edited March 11, 2011 at 10:52 PM by C_Airin_D Quote Want! Believe! Be patient! The only way for your dreams to come true!
Alex_Incognito Posted March 11, 2011 at 11:06 PM Posted March 11, 2011 at 11:06 PM WOW. This is the best article I've read in years about Céline. It proves that she WANTS to song. Many people have been worried that she's over her career, but it seems to be the opposite. The quote that she "can have it all" is powerful. This really bad me happy. C'est bien comme ça... Quote "People pay 20-25 dollars to see you."- Céline Dion, 1990
Nmj Posted March 11, 2011 at 11:08 PM Posted March 11, 2011 at 11:08 PM WOW. This is the best article I've read in years about Céline. It proves that she WANTS to song. Many people have been worried that she's over her career, but it seems to be the opposite. The quote that she "can have it all" is powerful. This really bad me happy. C'est bien comme ça... I Agree, In the past ten years Celine has always said she didn't need her career anymore, this time for the first time in awhile she said she's gonna have both. Quote
puttybuddy Posted March 11, 2011 at 11:10 PM Posted March 11, 2011 at 11:10 PM WOW. This is the best article I've read in years about Céline. It proves that she WANTS to song. Many people have been worried that she's over her career, but it seems to be the opposite. The quote that she "can have it all" is powerful. This really bad me happy. C'est bien comme ça... I agree! As long as she keeps singing, I'll keep listening! Quote The greatest voice ever! ♥
genbidi1 Posted March 11, 2011 at 11:14 PM Posted March 11, 2011 at 11:14 PM http://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/01_celine-pg-horizontal.jpghttp://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/02_rehearse_husband-pg-horizontal.jpghttp://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/03_rehearse_stairs-pg-horizontal.jpghttp://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/04_rehearse_band-pg-horizontal.jpghttp://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/05_rehearse_spot-pg-horizontal.jpghttp://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/06_rehearse_ken-pg-horizontal.jpghttp://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/07_rehearse_back-pg-horizontal.jpghttp://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/08_rehearse_end-pg-horizontal.jpghttp://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/10_perform_silo-pg-horizontal.jpghttp://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/12_perform_tight-pg-horizontal.jpg http://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/2011/l110311_celine/11_perform_gown-pg-horizontal.jpg CAN'T SAY IT ENOUGH SHES SO DAM SEXY p.s I don't care what people think I am Quote GENNI B.
puttybuddy Posted March 11, 2011 at 11:17 PM Posted March 11, 2011 at 11:17 PM CAN'T SAY IT ENOUGH SHES SO DAM SEXY p.s I don't care what people think I am OMG are you kidding me....I can't stop looking at her either!!!! Quote The greatest voice ever! ♥
genbidi1 Posted March 11, 2011 at 11:21 PM Posted March 11, 2011 at 11:21 PM I know this pass week people have called me lesion no afence Quote GENNI B.
René 2 Posted March 11, 2011 at 11:26 PM Posted March 11, 2011 at 11:26 PM I would love to have the first pic in HQ ... she looks stunning ! Quote
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