Dutch fans met Céline on June 12th, 2012

[Filine]

http://www.celinedion.nl/celine/images/celinesoundcheck3klein.jpg

 

We are back in Holland! In the past two weeks a small group of Dutch fans from the Dutch fanclub "Céline Dion Informatiepunt (CDIP) has been travelling to Montréal and Las vegas. That it's been an unforgettable trip, is a fact. We left for Montréal, Canada on June 5th 2012. In and around this city Céline's career started out in the early eighties. In a couple of days we've visited all the places that were important in Céline's life. An amazing guide from the city of Montréal showed us everything that had to be seen in Montréal and in the vicinity. Highlights were our visit to the Notre Dame Basilica, were Céline and René got married in 1994. We did a cruise through the harbour of Montréal and went to the Olympic Stadium were Céline sang for the pope in 1984. The next day we took a little bus that brought us to the observatory on the top of Mont Royal, the view over the city was amazing. Next stops were her childhood home in Charlemagne, and Ile Gagnon to see her house there that's currently on sale for 29 million Canadian Dollars.

 

On June 9th we took the next plane out and flew to Las Vegas, the city were Céline currently dominates the Strip with one of the most succesful shows in entertainment history. We had full days here as well. The highlights of Las Vegas were: Madame Tussauds; we took our pictures with Céline's amazing wax statue and went on to visit "Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition" in the Luxor. We took a picture on the exact replica of the grand staircase of the Titanic. The next day, a 7-hour limousine tour brought us to the "Welcome to Las Vegas Sign" to take pictures there. While sipping champagne we went on to Lake Las Vegas, Fremont Street where we took a picture with one million dollars in Binion's. Next stops were City Centre and the Bellagio. We ended the day in the Stratosphere Hotel. We had dinner in Roxy's Diner, were the serving staff is singing. Of course we also went up the Stratosphere Tower to enjoy the amazing view of Las Vegas by night!

 

The ultimate moment came, however, on June 12th, 2012. During a lunch at the Cheescake Factory in Caesars Palace we surprised our group with invitations for Céline's soundcheck prior to the show we would visit all together that night. It was a very special and emotional moment that we have been looking forward to for months.

 

Before the soundcheck we were able to meet Céline, we took three beautiful pictures with her and were able to present to her, on behalf of all the CDIP donators, a cheque of $2000,00 for the Céline Dion Foundation. Céline was so touched and so happy with the donation. Telling us that "Every penny counts". We told her how many people are supporting her in The Netherlands and Belgium and that according to us the gift to her that would be the most meaningful and suiting would be a donation towards her foundation. We told her how privileged we are to be able to come to Las Vegas to see her show and that we are so aware that so many others are struggling and will never be able to. Céline teared up and was fighting back her tears during the first two songs "Open Arms" and "The Reason", we all needed tissues. We were all overwhelmed and in tears as well. The next treats were a-ma-zing "Rolling In The Deep" and "Love Can Move Mountains". Then it was time for Céline to get ready for the show. It was an unbelievable experience and we will never ever forget. Less than an hour later we were back in the Colosseum for the show, for some of us it was the very first time to see it!

 

All the shows were amazing that week, the addition of "Rolling In The Deep" is absolutely brilliant. René was in the audience most nights that week and we told him that we loved that song and that they definitely have to keep it in! On the show of the 13th they had serious technical problems. During "Overjoyed" the projection of Stevie's hologram got stuck and so did the sound. Céline had to pull her earplugs out because of the horrific noise and Stevie disappeared in thin air. Céline then was stuck on the platform for quite some time because she needed a ladder to come down. Of course she was joking around singing "Rescue me, come on and rescue me...", talking randomly about Nelson and Eddy and a kids show she watched with them. Telling us she "Needed a ladder to come down, because it wouldn't be a pretty sight in that (white) dress". She was hilarious and it's those moments that we see real Céline. In the end the skipped the rest of "Overjoyed". The problem was beyond repair and she had been up there for 10 minutes. Next was "At Seventeen" but the problems continued. Now Céline's microphone didn't work, she held the microphone upside down to see if it would work the other way And then collapsed backwards , cracking up the audience again. After that the song went fine. Then "Beauty and the Beast" and it still wasn't over with the problems; during the intro of the song Mégo's piano and half of the other instruments weren't audible so they had to restart the song. Barnev and Céline could barely stop laughing during the song. Of course we loved the spontanious and unexpected interaction with the audience. We sure love non-scripted Céline But we heard at the boxoffice that a lot of people had wanted their money back. Hello people, it's live...things like that can happen and in the end you saw all the songs, plus much more!

 

Just wanted to share our story with you

 

xoxo

Cindy

Edited June 17, 2012 at 06:12 PM by Filine

[Shamrock_1982]

Great pic

[the power of celine]

congrats guys

[browseceline]

seems you had a great experience:-)

[dmeredith]

Thank you so very very much for sharing your story with us!!!! I loved reading every detail!!!!

[Peppercorn1991]

Thank you so very very much for sharing your story with us!!!! I loved reading every detail!!!!

 

Me too! so celine got upset when hearing people cannot afford to go to see her in vegas? will u tell us more about this?

 

kev x

[Dionesque]

Wow, this is a lovely story - congrats guys and I certainly envy you, in the positive way, haha!!!

 

Lovely photo you have with Céline, that must have been an amazing moment, especially for those in your group who saw her for the very first time live and than already also had a chance to meet her in person - what a treat!!

 

But am I seeing well? It weren't just Dutch fans who met her?? I could swear I see Lindsey on the pic too?!

 

Although maybe it's just someone who looks similair to her, lol, my eyes are crap anyway so wouldn't be a surprise!

 

Anyways, I'm very happy for you all and that emotional Céline... awww!!!

[Filine]

Barbara, just Dutch speaking fans, from The Netherlands and Belgium.

 

Kev, I think what got Céline emotional is that we, both Céline and all of us there, were so aware that we are truely blessed in this life and that it's so different for so many other people. We told told her we are so lucky to be able to afford trips like this and to have this experience with her.

what struck me the most that she was *so* happy with the amount, we all know how much money she has and how much she gives away herself. Basically the amount is, of course, peanuts to her. And still, she recognizes the value and the hard work we have put in to raise it telling us that it was "a lot of money and that every penny counts, and we can help a lot of people with that." She's so grounded. She knows where she comes from. And of course I can't tell exactly what triggered her tears, but how amazing and lovely is this woman? <3

[kerche]

Thanks for sharing your trip to Vegas and about the soundcheck!

How wonderful to set up something for the Dutch fans and to present a cheque to her foundation! Certainly isn't easy to raise money, but you guys did it! Bravo!

[duri]

Thank you for sharing your story and congratulation you met Céline and it ´s so so nice you offer money for her foundation, it seems some of you met her also in 2007 for A new Day DVD, right? Did you tell her about it?

[takeachance]

Aw thats a sweet story !! thanks for sharing . Celine is so sweet. I really like her cat suit thing she is wearing.....

[Amethystj]

Great story and fantastic that you guys had the opportunity to meet Celine!

Dreams do come true... and that's the way it is!

[celinedream]

How could you forget to mention a visit to Nickel's and eating Celine cake in Montreal ?

 

Anyway I agree with you un-scripted Celine is so the real deal I love her even more when you share stories like this. It was a real treat to have been able to see a show like that, those people asking for their money back don't know how lucky they were !

 

thanks for sharing !!! a la prochaine

[Sweetceline]

Thanks for sharing your experience with Céline.

May i ask you how did you got your invitations from her?

[DionFanAlways]

What an amazing story and night! I would of loved to of seen her stuck in the air like that... That is why I love her, her humor. Her voice captures your attention but then you notice that wonderful personality! I wish she had those un-scripted moments a little more often! I can't believe people wanted their money back. What a rare jem when something spontaneous happens in her show......