April 15-17, 2011

[Acacia]

 

Preparing for Show #1

 

To my surprise I was real calm while preparing for the concert. It kind of felt like I was getting ready for a girls night out with my good friend, Céline! I couldn’t help but think of how she is preparing for the same exact thing!!! I took a shower, ate, and then changed into a nice dress and before leaving I took a deep breath, looked myself in the mirror and asked myself if I was ready. I answered “yes.”

 

When I walked out of the hotel the time was 6:40. I quickly realized that I should’ve left earlier. Traffic was at a standstill which caused my nerves to be a wreck! I couldn’t bear the thought of being late for my first Céline concert. I kept looking at the entrance sign to whisper the words “hold on Céline. I’m coming!” About ten minutes later the bus had only moved a couple blocks. I decided I could get to Caesars faster on foot (which I did), so I got off at Planet Hollywood and made a mad dash towards Caesars.

[Acacia]

 

Meeting René!

 

Once I finally got to Caesars I checked my clock and it was 7:12. I was starting to feel that I would make it in time, but I wasn’t going to slow down until I made it to The Colosseum. I was still dodging people left and right, and then it happened!!!!! I turned a corner and standing right in front of me was René!!!! I instantly stopped and said, “Oh My God!” I was in complete shock. Had someone been walking behind me they would’ve run right into me. I couldn’t believe my luck!!! Seeing Céline in concert was going to be my dream come true for this vacation, and now I had the opportunity to met her husband? It was all so surreal.

 

René was on the phone, so I stood to the side and waited for him to finish. There were two other men with him. I recognized one of them, but couldn't quite place where I had seen him before (still can't). Once René finished his phone call I walked up and introduced myself. I told him that I'm a big Céline fan and this is my first Céline concert, and that I'm very excited. It's hard to describe how I was feeling. I was definitely in awe of him and went a little speechless, but a part of me also felt comfortable around him. I wish I could've come up with something better to say, but after I said what I had to say René with his calm and gentle voice said, "thank you very much."

 

I then asked to take a picture with him, which he agreed to. I handed my camera to the guy I recognized and tried to be extra nice to him to make up for the fact that I couldn't remember his name. He gladly agreed and I stood by René!!! and talk about nerves kicking in. I stood there with my arm around him, trying with all my might to keep myself from shaking too much from excitement! I didn't have much luck, but no harm done. I thanked him for the picture and he again said, "thank you" and went on his merry little way.

 

I walked away from René thinking "Holy Crap!!! Did that just happen?!!!" I was just in amazement that something like this could happen to me!

 

As for my fashion no no, the only thing saving the dress from being thrown in the trash is the fact that I was wearing it when I met René. It's not a see-through dress, but for some reason the camera flash caused my bra to show through. What a bad time to figure that out! But Céline has done it too, so that makes me feel a little better.

[Acacia]

 

The First Show!

 

I started walking to The Colosseum with a normal pace of walk because René was walking behind me. Once I got there it was 7:18 and I started feeling relaxed that I had made it in time. Once inside I kept looking around. I thought of how I’m finally here!!! I’ve been watching “A New Day…” like crazy and admiring the beautiful venue and now I’m here!!! I looked at the stage, the red carpet, the seats, up to the 1st and 2nd Mezzanine, and I just thought of how this is Céline Heaven. I wanted so badly to take pictures, but the ushers said no pictures, even before the show. At that time I thought the rule was enforced.

 

I was sitting by a nice couple from Québec. We talked about Céline before the show and it felt so good to be around people who love Céline!!!

 

Once the lights dimmed I started getting butterflies in my stomach. I knew the moment I had been waiting 14 years for was about to come true. The intro video played and whenever René was shown I thought of how I’ve met him!!! I already felt like I was on cloud 9. Then the curtains were drawn and I saw Céline!!!! I burst out of my seat and thought to myself, “This is Céline Dion!!!!” and then the light hit her and she smiled her adorable smile, and I can’t even describe the feeling I had. I just stood there with the biggest smile on my face and thought of how this is not a hologram, this is not her on TV, this is Céline Dion in person!!!! Then she started to sing, “Lying beside you, here in the dark...” and I just felt like I was going to lose it. Everything about her was perfect and my eyes became fixated on her. At that moment I knew my dream had come true!! No question about it.

 

For some reason I kept looking at Elise. It felt like she was looking at me!!!! I kept thinking maybe she notices the huge smile on my face. Maybe she thinks I’m cute! Maybe she would tell Céline. Hey one can dream.

 

I clapped like crazy at the end of the song, and then she started to sing “Where Does My Heart Beat Now.” The screens came down and showed images of her and I was just in love!!! It made me think of how far Céline has come as a musician, and it made me think of how all these images are the woman I love and how I loved her at home, but now that woman is standing right in front of me!!!! It was perfect when she sang, “two hearts needing one another give me wings to fly” and behind her was the video from “You and I.”

 

Song after song left me in amazement! I was completely in the moment and hanging on Céline’s every movement. A few times I would close my eyes and just listen to the voice. During the first costume change I realized just how much I was enjoying my time with Céline (because I wanted her back on stage pronto!). I burst out laughing when she made the gibberish noise during “You’ll Have to Swing It” and I watched in great admiration to the video that played during “Lullabye.”

 

I was anxiously waiting for the aisle song, and when what I would describe as a tiny Céline far away started to sing, I knew it was a hologram! I started looking back, and the Québec couple to my right where also looking back. We smiled at each other and regained looking back. Then the light appeared and Céline was in the aisle!!! I sat there with my hand over my mouth and with the biggest smile on my face!!! I couldn’t believe how close she was to me! She continued walking down the aisle and when she got to my row, she stopped!!! I was seat 403, so she was two seats away from me!!! She stood there while the hologram sang, and then she started to sing while facing my row!!!! I just looked up at her with admiration. I really didn’t know what to do. I was hanging on her every movement, and then she looked me in the eye!!! My hand was still covering my mouth and I just about lost it right then and there!!!

 

After what I’m guessing was 20 seconds, she started walking towards the stage. People in the first few rows were standing up and she shook their hands, so I knew if she walked down the same aisle the next day than I needed to stand up. Once she was back on stage I turned to the Québec couple and said “How cool was that?” They excitedly shook their head and said “yes.”

 

The French song was very emotional, especially because the Québec couple where sitting next to me. I could tell they were very moved. The husband took his glasses off and wiped his eyes. Céline also had tears running down her face. Someone in the audience held up a tissue, and Céline noticed. She smiled and ran down to get it, and thanked them. She wiped her face and then started singing “All By Myself” while holding the tissue in her right hand. I kept wondering what she was going to do! Especially when the high note comes, and then between the first verse and chorus she quickly tucked the tissue down the sleeve of her dress. I got a good laugh from that and hoped that it would pop out, but no luck. I thought it would have been funny if it did happen.

 

Once the concert was over I saw the biggest smile on the faces of the audience. I talked to the Québec couple a little more and we both said how brilliant the show was!!! I loved knowing that I would witness this excitement for two more nights!!! When I left The Colosseum I took a picture with the Céline poster…one standing up, one sitting down. I then took a picture in front of the “Céline’s Back” poster. Then I paced back and forth for about an hour in hopes that some of the musicians would come out. No luck, but I couldn’t complain. It was the greatest night ever and on the ride back to the hotel I kept looking at the pictures of me in front of the posters and with René. I still had the biggest smile on my face!!!

 

Facebook message from that night: "Best night ever!!! I met Rene!!!! I saw Celine for the first time!!!! She stood two seats away from me!!!! She looked me in the eye!!! and because things always have to be in five...my butt has now sat where so many Celine fans have (and I have the picture of it) Thank you Celine and Rene for the most amazing night ever. Same time, same place tomorrow...shall we go for it?!!"

Edited May 24, 2011 at 02:00 AM by Acacia

[riobeard11]

Great review so far! Keep 'em coming!

[takeachance]

great review of show Acacia !!

[Claudette]

Thanks for the review! Look at the cute little lion. Tell me u stole one to take home. Edited May 24, 2011 at 02:48 PM by Claudette

[Acacia]

I wish! They were all so adorable that I could've taken all three of them home, but imagine trying to get through security with them Edited May 24, 2011 at 11:24 PM by Acacia

[Odyssey161]

What happened with River Deep, Mountain High on the April 17th show?

I heard Celine ''messed up''

Any recordings of it?

 

David.

[takeachance]

What happened with River Deep, Mountain High on the April 17th show?

I heard Celine ''messed up''

Any recordings of it?

 

David.

 

Ya she just forgot the words !!! You know the part when she says "I love you baby like the flowers love the spring" , well she forgot that part , and the music kind of had to change a little bit because of it, I think she came in then at " just like Tina loves to sing" .My boyfriend was with me and didnt notice a thing, but a real fan ( like me ) would have noticed it! It was fine though ....just interesting!!!

 

I didnt record , maybe someone else has it....

Edited May 29, 2011 at 01:51 PM by takeachance

[sfbaysinger]

Wow wow wow wow wow. I would like to thank the person who recorded the April 15 show. I just finished listening to it, and if you wanna know what came from it as I am a writer, go to the discussions forum and look under special Items for Celine thread and you will find my poem. I think it was THE BEST rendition EVER of All by Myself. How majestic was she, oh my gosh the adrenalin.

Acacia, I could have listened to your stories all Day Long. How vivid. And the fact that you closed your eyes to hear her voice...yes yes yes yes!! As a blind person that's all I have, so to hear that you participated in my world for a while, Awesome! You can fixate your eyes on something, but I can do that with my ears.

Again, thanks for the review and the recording. Amazed also by how many darn Quebec people seem to always show up. What's with them, do they think they love her more than us?

LOL just kidding. One of my dearest friends from CDF is a Quebecoise and proud of it. Just a joke, we All love her!!

[Acacia]

Thanks for all the positive words, everyone. I appreciate it!

 

Am still working on day two and three. Sorry it's taking so long