Facts about songs we don't all know!

[Peppercorn1991]

Hey Guys,

 

I thought it would be interesting to have a topic to post facts about songs, the meanings behind them, the story around the songs and anything else we don't know.

 

I found some interesting facts about a few songs:

 

You and I

 

A Canadian advertising executive named Jacques Duval came up with the line "You and I were meant to fly," and thought it would make a great song for his client, Air Canada, to use in a campaign. Unfortunately, Air Canada looked like it was nearing bankruptcy and in no position to start a new promotion. Duval is good friends with Celine Dion and her manager/husband Rene Angelil. He brought the idea to Angelil, who suggested contacting the Canadina songwriter Aldo Nova, who had a hit in 1981 with "Fantasy" and cowrote Dion's 2002 track "A New Day Has Come." Nova put the song together and Dion recorded it for A New Day... Live in Las Vegas as one of 2 studio tracks on the 2004 album. Later that year, Air Canada's financial condition had improved and Duval convinced them to use it for a new ad campaign, which they did.

This is not the first song originally written for an ad campaign. In 1971, The New Seekers released "I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing" for a Coke commercial.

In 2007, Hillary Clinton began using this as her presidential campaign song after her staff selected it from a contest where users could make suggestions. Apparently, this very Canadian song didn't inspire a patriotic vibe, and Clinton began using songs like "American Girl" and "9 to 5."

 

 

Beauty and the Beast

 

In the Disney movie Beauty and the Beast, this is sung by Kathryn Flynn as Mrs. Potts the teapot. The single release version is by Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson. Both this and "A Whole New World (Aladdin's Theme)" were sung by Peabo Bryson and won Academy Awards for Best Song. Two other songs from the movie - oddly enough also starting with "B" - were also nominated for Best Song: "Belle" and "Be Our Guest."

Along with the other songs in the movie, this was written by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, who had scored The Little Mermaid. Sadly, Ashman's life was cut short by AIDS shortly before the film came out and he never lived to see its victory for Best Song.

The message of the song is that a couple can be "as old as time" no matter how different they are. Among those who have covered it are Steve Tyrell and Kenny Loggins. In 1994 Beauty And The Beast became the first Disney film to make it to Broadway.

This was Celine Dion's first UK single. She had already scored in America with "Where Does My Heart Beat Now" and "(If There Was) Any Other Way." (thanks, Sara - Silver Spring, MD, for all above)

 

I Drove All Night

 

In 2003, Chrysler signed Celine Dion to a $14 million deal to endorse their cars. They were looking for a song to use in the campaign and release as a single. Steinberg knew Celine Dion and had written "Falling Into You," which was the title track of her 1996 album. He sent a copy of Roy Orbison's version of "I Drove All Night" to her record company, who loved it and had Dion record it with Swedish producer Peer Astrom. She used the song in her Las Vegas show and it became the centerpiece of the Chrysler campaign. The commercials were great exposure for the song and helped sell a lot of albums, but they didn't sell enough cars. Chrysler pulled out of the deal after many of their dealers complained and it became clear the ads weren't working.

 

The Prayer

 

This was originally recorded by Celine Dion in 1999 as a duet with Andrea Bocelli. It peaked at #22 on the Adult Contemporary chart before being included as the B-side on Dion's single "Treat Her Like a Lady." Their original version also featured in the 1998 animated movie Quest for Camelot winning the 1999 Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song. "The Prayer" was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song but lost out to "When You Believe" from The Prince of Egypt.

"The Prayer" was written by David Foster ("After The Love Has Gone , "St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)," "Glory Of Love") and Carole Bayer Sager ("A Groovy Kind Of Love," "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)," "That's What Friends Are For.")

In 2008, a live version of "The Prayer," sung by Josh Groban and Celine Dion on Dion's February 15 CBS-TV special became Groban's highest charting single, when it entered the Hot 100 at #70. His previous highest ranking had been the #73 peak of his "You Raise Me Up," in April 2004

 

Did You Give Enough Love

 

This song was written by Seth Swirsky, who was working as a staff songwriter for Chappell music when he wrote this. On seth.com, he explains: "This song, which I co-wrote with Arnie Roman, was supposed to be Celine's 4th Single from her 2nd Multi-Platinum album. The song had already gone to #1 in Canada and she had just come off of three straight Top Ten hits. At the last minute, Celine recorded the Theme Song for the movie Sleepless in Seattle and this song didn't get as widely exposed as it had a chance to be. The first rule of songwriting (and life): be grateful for what you get, not what you don't! As an aside, I remember Celine called and asked me if I thought she could sing the song one step higher. I got out my guitar and she sang it in different keys until it felt right to both of us. She's a very nice person."

 

Goodbyes the saddest word

 

Commenting for Rolling Stone in May 2002, Rob Sheffield said of this Mutt Lange composition it is "sure to inspire many hours of dull debate with Bernie Taupin".

 

This was obviously a reference to "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word", with which it has nothing in common. Whatever the Elton John lyricist thought of it, it was unlikely to have given him sleepless nights. Just the opposite in fact, though it was perhaps a little unkind or even bizarre for the reviewer to allude to Miss Dion's voice as "just furniture polish".

Lange also produced the song, which runs to 5 minutes 19 seconds with a radio edit of 4 minutes 23 seconds. It was recorded at Studio Piccolo and released November 18, 2002. (thanks, Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 2)

 

 

Add your own

 

kev x

[celinelover50]

isn't ms potts voice Angela Lansbury for this film? also I'm sure its her who also sings it as ms potts signing voice too?!

[Celine Fan 77]

Of course, here comes my favorite:

 

Then You Look At Me

 

Then You Look at Me was written by James Horner and Will Jennings, who wrote for Dion her 1997 smash hit My Heart Will Go On.

Unfortunately the Bicentennial Man movie, released on December 13, 1999 and starring Robin Williams, became a flop and the single was cancelled. The second reason was the fact that That's the Way It Is became a hit and was still strong on the singles charts around the world. However, "Then You Look at Me" was included as a B-side to the Live (for the One I Love), The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face and I Want You to Need Me singles. The movie soundtrack also included the track but in slightly modified version, produced by James Horner and Simon Franglen. The version from Dion's album was produced by David Foster, Horner and Franglen and differs in arrangements and in Dion's interpretation.

[frana]

"Where Is The Love" and "Miles To Go (Before I Sleep)" were both written for Celine by Canada and Sony's very own Corey Hart.

 

"Let's Talk About Love" was penned by Bryan Adams and French superstar Jean-Jacques Goldman and produced by David Foster. This late addition to the album is yet another fine example of the sing-along blockbuster ballads Celine is famous for. Gorgeous 'Beatlesesque' production techniques (including strings and a children's choir) give this song a magical air.

[Matias]

SUR LE MEME BATEAU

 

"I think I can only write songs, Jean-Jacques Goldman tells, on December 5, 2001, in the newspaper Le Soir (Belgium). I tried to write a musical. I started it but then I made it as an album, Rouge. Then I began to write another, fortunately I didn't release it, because right after, the movie Titanic was launched. What remains stands on Celine Dion's second album with me, it is entitled Sur le même bateau. I didn't want to adapt a big story like The ten Commandments or Notre-Dame but to write one, a script. And I found out how much I wasn't able to write a story with bounces. I'm less passionated to write musics on lyrics I didn't write."

The lyrics insist about the common tragic event, lived by all the passengers, richs or poors.

[Alex_Incognito]

Wow. This forum is in SERIOUS need of news.

[Matias]

Excusme? this is a forum not only a news board, here we share all Celine related topics, so if you feel so tired, well contribute with news then...don't bash other members just because you don't like the topic...jeez

[browseceline]

well I like this topic! Great to read these things about songs, because I did not know all the backgroundstories. thank you Peppercorn!

[Peppercorn1991]

When I Fall In Love

 

The version by Céline Dion and Clive Griffin was featured in the romantic comedy Sleepless in Seattle and released as a single on June 28, 1993 becoming one of the most acclaimed. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1994, and won a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist. The award went to David Foster and Jeremy Lubbock. The song appears on both, the Sleepless in Seattle soundtrack (number 1 on the Billboard 200 and 4x platinum RIAA certification for selling over 4 million copies in the U.S.), and later on Dion's album The Colour of My Love, released in November 1993.

The music video was directed by Dominic Orlando in Hollywood, Los Angeles.

"When I Fall in Love" reached top 40 in few countries, including number 22 in New Zealand, number 23 in the United States, and number 37 in the Netherlands. It was popular on the U.S. Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks, peaking at number 6.

In 1998, Anne Murray performed "When I Fall in Love" with Céline Dion live and included it on her DVD called An Intimate Evening with Anne Murray...Live. Later, this version appeared on Murray's 2007 album Anne Murray Duets: Friends & Legends.

 

kev x

Edited May 6, 2012 at 12:16 AM by Peppercorn1991

[Peppercorn1991]

Wow. This forum is in SERIOUS need of news.

 

I just thought it would be interesting for fans who didnt know some facts

 

kev x

[Philippe1984]

A french version of You and I was created for the commercial of Air Canada. I mean an extrait of the song was produced in french, an it calls Mes ailes à moi:

 

[québecflower]

I just thought it would be interesting for fans who didnt know some facts

 

kev x

 

very interesting, thank you. :thumbsup2:

[Celinefanatic07]

Uhm excuse me but Mrs. Potts is voiced and Sang by ANGELA LANSBURY. not this Kathryn Flynn character...who is she anyways??

[Matej]

Immortality

 

Producer Robert Stigwood had approached the Bee Gees with his idea to turn Saturday Night Fever into a stage musical. In addition to the original music, he requested something new. "Robert called us up and asked for one more song," Barry recounted, "a big ballad if possible and that is what we came up with but, really, Immortality is about anyone's dreams." Often during the songwriting process, the brothers Gibb will pick an artist to influence the direction that song will take. "Then you get two different styles," Robin explained. "You get your own style coming in with theirs, you then come up with something unique."

 

So it happened that they wrote Immortality. Although the song was intended for the new stage production of Saturday Night Fever, they wrote it in the style of French-Canadian pop diva, Celine Dion, and were delighted to offer it to Celine when she approached them with her request. "We always seize the chance to work with someone else that we really like," said Barry. "We asked them (Bee Gees) if they could maybe write a song for the new album. You know, if you don't ask," Celine said with a Gallic shrug, "things will never happen, so we asked and they have sent me this amazing song."

 

"We just happened to have this one song that would suit Celine right down to the ground. In fact, it was written with Celine in mind," Barry said. After Celine had finished recording her vocals against the backing vocals done by the brothers Gibb, they went to New York to give their approval to the recording. "I just wanted them to be happy," Celine said. If she had been worried about their reaction beforehand, her doubts were quickly laid to rest. "That was a great moment when we went and heard the vocal for the first time, it was magic," Maurice enthused. Celine marvelled, "They listened to the song, and they were crying. They didn't have to tell me anything because when you see somebody with emotion and crying, it says it all. I was very touched by it."

 

For Celine's part, she declared, "I'm so glad I have this song. I just love it so much." Barry has even gone on record as saying that of all the recordings of their songs, "I think our favourite at this point in time, of all time, is Celine doing Immortality. That, to us, is extremely special. That's the finest cover version of any of our songs."

[empress]

This topic was a great idea. I love it! Thank you!!!

[wjd]

Bravo Kev, fantastic topic!

[ferjaacu]

Great topic !!! And thanks to everyone sharing this info !!!

[marckvls]

Not many people know, but TO LOVE YOU MORE was recorded back then in 1994 (if I'm not mistaken). Maybe that's why there is no official video of the recording of this song in studio along with the others in the Let's Talk About Love recording sessions video (which comes in the Au Coeur Du Stade DVD as a bonus). Edited May 27, 2012 at 07:48 PM by marckvls

[dorfus]

Uhm excuse me but Mrs. Potts is voiced and Sang by ANGELA LANSBURY. not this Kathryn Flynn character...who is she anyways??

 

Angela Lansbury indeed voiced Mrs. Potts, but the singing voice when Mrs. Potts sings Beauty and the Beast is Kathryn Flynn's.

[dorfus]

Oh, and excellent topic, Kev.

[celinemaniacaik]

Wow a lot to learn here! Thanks guys!

[Gwynne]

Angela Lansbury indeed voiced Mrs. Potts, but the singing voice when Mrs. Potts sings Beauty and the Beast is Kathryn Flynn's.

Oh no, it's definitely Angela Lansbury that sings it!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSi58VX9XnA

[MTJ]

To add to Goodbye's the Saddest Word: Lange's wife at the time, Shania Twain, recorded the back-up vocals. She also did back-up for If Walls Could Talk.

 

Carol King also recorded her song The Reason, for her own album. Celine sang back-up.

[chocolatechip15]

Not many people know, but TO LOVE YOU MORE was recorded back then in 1994 (if I'm not mistaken). Maybe that's why there is no official video of the recording of this song in studio along with the others in the Let's Talk About Love recording sessions video (which comes in the Au Coeur Du Stade DVD as a bonus).

 

 

To Love You More was recorded in either 1994 or 1995, after Celine's team asked David Foster to write a song as a theme for a Japanese soap opera. David wrote the music, and asked Edgar Bronfman, Jr. (then CEO of Universal, I believe), to write the lyrics. Edgar did so under the pen name Junior Miles, and was actually there when they were recording it. Celine loved the song, and they were in the studio until 3 AM. The song was a HUGE hit in Japan long before it was released in the US. I'm pretty sure it was released in Canada, too, before it was released in the US. I'm in the US, and I remember first hearing it in early 1997 (months before LTAL was released), when Celine sang it with a violin student on the VH1 honors show (the predecessor to Divas Live; to raise money for music in the schools). I remember playing my videotape of that show over and over again, desperately wanting a copy of that song. .finally got it when it was included on LTAL!

[Your_Su_Phu]

My heart will go on and Beauty and the Beast

 

From scattered information I've gathered across different books and sources, I think I know why James Horner had Celine specifically in mind to sing "My heart will go on". Back in 1991, when Celine was still a rising star in the US, she had landed a "big break" when she was asked to sing the theme song for "Fievel goes west" (the sequel to the animated classic "An American Tail"), which James Horner was scoring. It was a dream come true for Celine to be singing the theme to a big Hollywood film directed by Steven Spielberg, and what's more, she loved the song (which was titled "Dreams to Dream").

 

The original film, "An American Tail", had been a great success, including its theme song which was a duet sung by Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram ("Somewhere out there"). Ronstadt was initially contacted to do the theme for the sequel as well, but she refused, which was when Celine was approached. However, word is, after Ronstadt heard Celine's demo of the song, she changed her mind completely and lobbied to sing the theme for the sequel as well. At that time, Ronstadt was already an industry veteran while Celine was a "nobody" in the producer's eyes, so they easily chose Ronstadt, despite Horner's best efforts to fight for Celine's version.

 

Celine was absolutely heartbroken when she found out the disappointing news (And Horner felt bad about it as well). In fact, soon after when Celine was offered "Beauty and the Beast" (almost as a consolation prize), Rene and the whole team felt iffy about approaching her about it because they were afraid she might still be raw about the fallout from "Fievel goes west". Luckily, Celine agreed to do "Beauty and the Beast" after all, and the rest is history. The funny thing is, not only did "Beauty and the Beast" end up becoming a huge success, but "Fievel goes West" was a total flop!

 

I believe it's pretty evident that James Horner had Celine in mind for "My heart will go on" in order to make up for what had happened earlier with "Fievel goes West". That means that two of the biggest milestones in Celine's career might never have happened had she not had to face the utter disappointment over "Fievel goes West".

 

However, Celine has mentioned many times over the years that the melody of the theme from "Fievel goes West" still enters her head from time to time because she truly loved it. Here is that very song as it ended up being sung by Linda Ronstadt in the end credits:

 

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xmQb_yE3eyk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

 

Celine's voice at that time was at its most powerful and dewy, so it would've been interesting to hear her demo!!

Edited May 28, 2012 at 03:09 AM by Your_Su_Phu

[marc-02]

Angela Lansbury indeed voiced Mrs. Potts, but the singing voice when Mrs. Potts sings Beauty and the Beast is Kathryn Flynn's.

 

Nope nope.. Angela Lansbury was BOTH the speaking and singing voice of Mrs. Potts

[marc-02]

To Love You More was recorded in either 1994 or 1995, after Celine's team asked David Foster to write a song as a theme for a Japanese soap opera. David wrote the music, and asked Edgar Bronfman, Jr. (then CEO of Universal, I believe), to write the lyrics. Edgar did so under the pen name Junior Miles, and was actually there when they were recording it. Celine loved the song, and they were in the studio until 3 AM. The song was a HUGE hit in Japan long before it was released in the US. I'm pretty sure it was released in Canada, too, before it was released in the US. I'm in the US, and I remember first hearing it in early 1997 (months before LTAL was released), when Celine sang it with a violin student on the VH1 honors show (the predecessor to Divas Live; to raise money for music in the schools). I remember playing my videotape of that show over and over again, desperately wanting a copy of that song. .finally got it when it was included on LTAL!

 

And while American audiences officially came to know of TLYM through LTAL US version... the song had been previously released as the final song in other versions of FIY in 1996 (like the Asian version etc...)

[dorfus]

Oh no, it's definitely Angela Lansbury that sings it!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSi58VX9XnA

 

Really? Huh. I was under the impression that it was Flynn's singing voice. I remember reading an article that Lansbury voiced Mrs. Potts, and Flynn provided the singing voice. My biggie. Guess you shouldn't always believe what you read on the Internet

[smw]

Wonderful topic!

[volleyceline]

A french version of You and I was created for the commercial of Air Canada. I mean an extrait of the song was produced in french, an it calls Mes ailes à moi:

 

Does anyone know if there is a full version in French of it?:/

 

Great topic,