LA Times Article on "Ne Me Quitte Pas"

[binsk]

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/...0,2857181.story

 

Celine Dion finally sings 'Ne Me Quitte Pas' in concert

For years, Celine Dion would not perform 'Ne Me Quitte Pas,' saying she wasn't ready for the revered song's heavy emotions. She changed her mind for her new Las Vegas show.

 

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By Scott Gold, Reporting from Las Vegas

 

April 3, 2011

 

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The most poignant moment of Celine Dion's new show, to many in the audience, almost didn't happen — and was a tortuous 15 years in the making.

 

The production, which recently launched a three-year run in Las Vegas, contains a number of revealing moments that Dion said would have left her feeling exposed in past years. Chief among them is a French dirge called "Ne Me Quitte Pas," a song so laden with sadness — and so revered — that she was long convinced that she couldn't pull it off.

 

Written by the late Belgian Jacques Brel, the song translates loosely to "Don't Leave Me," and is sung from the perspective of a man who realizes, too late, that he is losing the love of his life. Repeatedly, and in vain, he begs her to stay — promising her that he would mine the earth even after his death in order to cover her body with gold. Most famously, almost pitiably, the man asks for permission to just watch her from a corner — to be, he asks, "the shadow of your shadow."

 

The song has become a pop standard, translated into Finnish, Portuguese and other languages, recorded in French by Nina Simone and in English by Madonna, Brenda Lee and many more. It would seem a natural fit for Dion, who has often seemed more tranquil and contented singing in French than English.

 

René Angélil, Dion's husband and the engineer of her success, first asked her to sing the song about 15 years ago, when she was preparing for a show in France.

 

Dion, like many performers, is quite assured of her skill; in a recent interview she said she's in talks to play Maria Callas, the soprano, in a film. She added, unprompted, that she was fairly sure she'd win an Academy Award for the role. But "Ne Me Quitte Pas," she said, was unthinkable.

 

"I was too young," she said. "I was not ready emotionally. It's — it's heavy."

 

She turned down her husband then, and then again in 2003 and a third time in 2008.

 

This time, "I didn't say a thing," Angélil said. Ken Ehrlich, the mastermind of the Grammy Awards who had become the director of Dion's show, proposed it instead — without knowing any of that history.

 

"There was an opportunity here to make a statement," Ehrlich said.

 

"I didn't say a word," Angélil said with a laugh.

 

Dion rehearsed the song in Florida. "Everyone had chills," Angélil said. On the way home, Dion announced — again — that she couldn't do it. They bagged it, settling on another French-language song. "It was OK," Ehrlich said. "It wasn't 'Ne Me Quitte Pas.'"

 

Finally, during a car ride in January, Angélil gave it one more go. "I said: 'You're 42 years old. You can do that song. It's something great," he said. (Dion has since turned 43.)

 

Finally, she acquiesced. And for all the criticism she's faced over the years that her songs are technically sound but devoid of real emotional connection, that was a very real tear rolling down Dion's cheek when she finally sang it live.

[Tyler1991]

I wish they would have said what the other French song was.

[Celinefanatic07]

Awwwwww poor Celine! It's going to tear me apart when I see it live.

[SuperLove4Celine]

I wish they would have said what the other French song was.

 

Probably "Pour que tu m'aimes encore."

[LisaFaye]

Probably "Pour que tu m'aimes encore."

 

I think you're probably right about that! Haha!

[Timster]

15 years ago? - maybe Rene wanted it in the D'eux tour...

[anewdayhascome]

i think it would be another cover

[Bralo20]

As a Belgian and a true musiclover I always loved the song "Ne me quitter pas" by the Belgian singer/songwriter Jacques Brel... A lot of versions have been made of this song, even Vicky Leandros covered this marvelous song... But on March 15 when I heard Céline performing this song it was the most beautiful version ever heard... It was amazing... I can't say that it was better then Brel's original but it was different... It was surely as good and it had more emotion in it... I think Céline brings this song very well and I hope it will someday be featured on a CD...

 

IMHO it was (is) one of the highlights of the Céline show...

Edited April 3, 2011 at 10:45 AM by Bralo20

[Javito]

René behind this step again... this is getting annoying now

 

I really don't get René's music taste, but each time I'm more and more convinced that if we have some uptempo and happier songs in her discography its not precisely because of him

 

Thank God she sang "Quand on n'a que l'amour" in 1996, instead of this extremely boring and sad song

[Your_Su_Phu]

René behind this step again... this is getting annoying now

 

I really don't get René's music taste, but each time I'm more and more convinced that if we have some uptempo and happier songs in her discography its not precisely because of him

 

Thank God she sang "Quand on n'a que l'amour" in 1996, instead of this extremely boring and sad song

 

You really didn't get the point of the article. It's kind of funny cos it's about as subtle as a sledgehammer

 

Anyway........

 

 

I hope that quote about Celine being pretty sure she'll win an oscar is a misstatement or something. I'm so embarrassed for her that she would actually say that.

 

in 1999 when she was asked about opera she had the most level headed, realistic response (you can find it on youtube) in an interview: that she doesn't have the talent or training. it's simply far too late at this point for her to start the training and hope to become Maria Callas..what's more that comment about the Oscar oh god.

Edited April 3, 2011 at 05:11 PM by Your_Su_Phu

[binsk]

i kind of hope she records an English and French version of this song

[Claudette]

So wait is this the song that they talk about in all her biographies that Rene and Dave wanted her to sing for years but she always refused? Wasn't it also part of the setlist or something during the time Rene was going through the cancer thing and Mego decided to remove it because he thought Celine would not be emotionally ready to sing it (or something along those lines)? Or Rene wanted her to and Mego said that she would not be able to?

 

*Goes to check*

 

Edit: Found this. But I know I read it in one of the biographies too. I have a lot more admiration now for Celine for finally agreeing to sing the song now that I know the story behind it.

Edited April 3, 2011 at 05:48 PM by Claudette

[Davey84]

René behind this step again... this is getting annoying now

 

I really don't get René's music taste, but each time I'm more and more convinced that if we have some uptempo and happier songs in her discography its not precisely because of him

 

Thank God she sang "Quand on n'a que l'amour" in 1996, instead of this extremely boring and sad song

 

You really don't get it, do you?

 

 

 

I am very happy she is singing this song, it is amazing and the message behind it, the fear of loosing René, is getting more and more realistic as he gets older...

 

I like the way this song has a history already for 15 years! It only adds to it!!

[JasonFromTheMoon]

Interesting story, yes, I heard something like that in the past too. I love this song and I'm glad she agreed to perform it now. Also I think she probably felt even more ready after hearing Barbra Streisand performing it recently (she did it on Jonathan Ross' show and on her promo concert and it's included on her last album too). I hope she does a studio record of the song as well!

[Celinenvegas]

I'm probably in the minority here, but it's def not a fav for me. I wouldn't mind if it was removed and I think it will be replaced within a year.

[Alex_Incognito]

"Ne me quitte pas" is not meant for the casual listener who most enjoys her English music. It's meant for Francophones. It's a classic French song. It seems to be lost on most anglophones.

[JP]

"Ne me quitte pas" is not meant for the casual listener who most enjoys her English music. It's meant for Francophones. It's a classic French song. It seems to be lost on most anglophones.

That's why it is great that she is singing it. It may take her english public further, make them discover more of the french culture !

[I Love You]

"Ne me quitte pas" is not meant for the casual listener who most enjoys her English music. It's meant for Francophones. It's a classic French song. It seems to be lost on most anglophones.

 

 

That is why its great, that Celine is singing it. So us Anglo phones that don't now French songs besides Celine's French music.

[Tyler1991]

People *CENSORED* about PQTME being the only song in the show, and they still aren't happy.

 

Don't get me wrong, I understand people wanting one of Celine's own French songs in the show, but considering we have only had the same 6 French songs for the last 13+ years, I'm more than satisfied to have a classic, whether it be one of Celine's own or not.

 

And why is b**** censored now. It wasn't last week. .....sigh. LOL, even using ! instead of i has it's own "correction."

Edited April 5, 2011 at 01:51 AM by Tyler1991

[CelineDionFan710]

i really liked it

[I Love You]

I love the song, it's get me every time emotionally. I would give Celine a hug, after she sang it cause she knows that Rene is getting older.

[Bellamy]

"Ne me quitte pas" is not meant for the casual listener who most enjoys her English music. It's meant for Francophones. It's a classic French song. It seems to be lost on most anglophones.

I think "If You Go Away" is almost as good.

[Javito]

You really don't get it, do you?

I am very happy she is singing this song, it is amazing and the message behind it, the fear of loosing René, is getting more and more realistic as he gets older...

 

I like the way this song has a history already for 15 years! It only adds to it!!

 

Yes Davey I get the story and the meaning behind the song for Céline, but she could also add to the setlist "Goodbye's The Saddest Word" where she sings to her mother and we'll have the complete set of "weeping songs", in addition to the pack of consecutive sleepy/boring songs we already have in the middle of the show All the audience can expect to be left in tears and a face like this , and I don't think that's what they're looking for in a Vegas show...

 

I don't think its a song to be sung on a regular basis, but just on a few concrete performances, where the emotions are unexpected and will flow freely The contrary, I'm afraid she becomes the "robot Celine" when it comes to these kind of "too emotional" songs.

Edited April 5, 2011 at 11:34 AM by Javito

[Alex_Incognito]

I wish she never would have mentioned "Roboceline" because now fans won't stop referring to it! Quick---burn all copies of "My Story, My Dream!"

[takeachance]

what do ye mean by robo celine? i kind of understand ,but could someone explain it better? i have read her book, so kinda know what ye mean

[ferjaacu]

René behind this step again... this is getting annoying now

 

I really don't get René's music taste, but each time I'm more and more convinced that if we have some uptempo and happier songs in her discography its not precisely because of him

 

Thank God she sang "Quand on n'a que l'amour" in 1996, instead of this extremely boring and sad song

 

 

And once again...

 

Of course René is behind this and behind everything... He's her manager !!!

 

The uptempo songs that you like... He has introduced Celine to their producers and writers !!! You know Celine thanks to him !!! And, about his taste in music... Thanks to his taste in music he met Celine and we got to meet her.

And BTW... What if he was the one that suggested her to sing Quand on n'a que l'amour?? Wich is not an uptempo song either !!!

[Gicedi]

I would reeeeeeeally love to listen her sing that song with her -15 years ago-voice!!!

[Tyler1991]

Her voice today is as good as it was in 1995, so I don't care to hear it from back then.

[ferjaacu]

Her voice today is as good as it was in 1995, so I don't care to hear it from back then.

 

Yep. And her interpretation of the song would had been different back then. So I think today's the best moment for her to sing it...

[Tyler1991]

As weird as it sounds, I actually think it would have been more robotic back then, as compared to today. Up until D'eux tour it was like, robotic French and real English, then after that it flipped.

 

Just look at how robotic Le Blues Du Businessman sounds.