A Song For You (Leon Russel cover) appreciation thread

[garçon]

Sadly we (or I at least) only have this (short) footage:

 

 

As far as I know, Celine performed this song only a few nights only in Las Vegas. Her interpretation was arguably inspired by Whitney's.. Nonetheless I have been haunted by hér performance ever since I discovered it a few months ago. It is truly beautifully sung.. or more than that: insightful and artistic.. it really shows off her incredible technique. I would be dying to hear more from it.

 

Now, tell me what you think of the performance/ the song? Would you also like to hear more of it? Is there anyone who can share more it?

Can we expect it to be added to the LV-setlist?

[CelineDionForeverNY]

To my knowledge, it was only performed once, on December 31, 2012. I've listened to Celine's, Whitney's, and the Carpenters' versions, and I love each one because they each take their own variation of the song and perform it so beautifully. I really wish we had the whole song to listen to.

[flutefreak]

I would love to hear the whole thing!

[celinesounds]

this song is so beautiful, but her original from TC is better than this one

[smw]

Karen Carpenter's haunting vocals suit this song perfectly. No vocal acrobats. Just raw emotion.

 

[Peppercorn1991]

I didn't really like it..... Maybe it was the quality

 

Kev x

[Alex_Incognito]

Karen Carpenter's haunting vocals suit this song perfectly. No vocal acrobats. Just raw emotion.

 

 

The best...hands down. Would love to hear Celine lay it down simply.

[CSCfan]

Sadly we (or I at least) only have this (short) footage:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOgvl64yTZY

 

 

As far as I know, Celine performed this song only a few nights only in Las Vegas. Her interpretation was arguably inspired by Whitney's.. Nonetheless I have been haunted by hér performance ever since I discovered it a few months ago. It is truly beautifully sung.. or more than that: insightful and artistic.. it really shows off her incredible technique. I would be dying to hear more from it.

 

Now, tell me what you think of the performance/ the song? Would you also like to hear more of it? Is there anyone who can share more it?

Can we expect it to be added to the LV-setlist?

 

The song was to be added to the setlist before René got ill. Could still be the case...then again not..

[anewdayhascome]

I wish we could hear the entire song! I think it was just added for NYE, I wonder why this particular song though... Celine's version is beautiful :wub: :wub:

[Davey84]

To my knowledge, it was only performed once, on December 31, 2012. I've listened to Celine's, Whitney's, and the Carpenters' versions, and I love each one because they each take their own variation of the song and perform it so beautifully. I really wish we had the whole song to listen to.

 

I do wonder... there's footage from two camera's! Was this recorded on the same night and why doesn't neither of them have more footage than this 1:15 video?

 

 

Btw my other legendary diva Cher also recorded and performed this song:

 

 

I love Cher's version aswell

 

 

And how to butcher the song (especially from 2 minutes on)

 

Edited June 22, 2015 by Davey84

[Celine Fan 77]

In my opinion, nobody will ever sing a more incredible rendition of A Song For You than Whitney Houston. Her 1991 performance at the 'Welcome Home Heroes' TV special proves how this woman was a gift from God.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7uQTbYlkFM

 

She recorded the song 18 years later for the album 'I Look To You', with some new arrangements that turned the song into a more dance-pop oriented tune. Nothing like the first performance, to me.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tvxSNyN1ok

[CelineDionForeverNY]

In my opinion, nobody will ever sing a more incredible rendition of A Song For You than Whitney Houston. Her 1991 performance at the 'Welcome Home Heroes' TV special proves how this woman was a gift from God.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7uQTbYlkFM

 

She recorded the song 18 years later for the album 'I Look To You', with some new arrangements that turned the song into a more dance-pop oriented tune. Nothing like the first performance, to me.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tvxSNyN1ok

 

I didn't know that she re-recorded it on her last album. Not a big fan of that version. But yes, that performance at WHH is just phenomenal.

[Caledor]

this song is so beautiful, but her original from TC is better than this one

 

To me the one from Celine Las Vegas and the one on TC are not the same songs !

I mean, I don't recognize the melody nor the lyrics ...

 

Btw can somebody upload the lyrics of the Celine version ?

[powerofamor17]

"A Song For You"

 

I couldn't live

I couldnt live without your love

for one kiss

well I'd give everything up

there's no words I can describe

what I feel deep inside

so I let this song say it all

 

Then I hope you'll understand

once you've listened till the end

 

Heard the music in my head

so before I could forget

 

I start singing

yeah I was singing

this song

for you

 

Just made up the words

la la la ohhh ohhh yeah

my heart with a melody

 

so I am singing

this song

for you

[DionFanAlways]

 

 

To me the one from Celine Las Vegas and the one on TC are not the same songs !

I mean, I don't recognize the melody nor the lyrics ...

 

Btw can somebody upload the lyrics of the Celine version ?

They are completely different lyric and melody

[celine4evauk]

this song is so beautiful, but her original from TC is better than this one

 

They are two different songs. First from TC, and the second (which this thread is about) thats the cover Celine sang one night in lv.

[Caledor]

Yes. You're right.

Does anybody have the lyrics of the version she did in Las Vegas ?

[CelineDionForeverNY]

Yes. You're right.

Does anybody have the lyrics of the version she did in Las Vegas ?

 

Here you go (every singer makes their own little change in the lyrics):

 

I've been so many places in my life and time

I've sung a lot of songs

I've made some bad rhymes

I've acted out my life on stages

With ten thousand people watching

But we're alone now and I'm singing this song to you

I know your image of me is what I hoped to be

I treated you unkindly

But darling can't you see

There's no one more important to me

Baby can't you see through me

Cause we're alone now and I'm singing this song to you

You taught me precious secrets

Of a truth, withholding nothing

You came out in front and I was hiding

Now I'm so much better

And if my words don't come together

Listen to the melody

Cuz my love is in there hiding

I love you in a place where there's no space or time

I love you for my life

You' re a friend of mine

And when my life is over

Remember when we were together

We were alone and I was singing this song to you

 

It's such a beautiful song... Very poetic and nostalgic in my opinion.

Edited June 22, 2015 by CelineDionForeverNY

[Caledor]

Thanks three millions :-)

[celinesounds]

They are two different songs. First from TC, and the second (which this thread is about) thats the cover Celine sang one night in lv.

 

I know

 

her original song from her TC album is so pure so beautiful, the song comes from the heart the lyrics is so poetry

"my heart wrote the melody" " so i start singing this song for you"

 

love it, if i was a singer i had to sing this song with no chances

 

 

the las vegas is a cover, one more cover

[garçon]

I know

 

her original song from her TC album is so pure so beautiful, the song comes from the heart the lyrics is so poetry

"my heart wrote the melody" " so i start singing this song for you"

 

love it, if i was a singer i had to sing this song with no chances

 

 

the las vegas is a cover, one more cover

 

I can see what you mean, but it's not just one more cover. This song is a standard, a real classic, like Christmas songs are perhaps. That's why I has been recorded/performed by so many artists with such variable outcomes.

A song like 'Alone' was just another cover. It actually revealed not much more of a song everybody then already knew well, whereas with A Song For You there's an enormous opportunity/ occasion for her to make it her own; to add her distinctive touch and technique to it. At least, from the short footage we have I clearly hear such potential. Besides, the last few years she really developed into a more idiosyncratic singer (such as Whitney had done much earlier in her career; hence her beautiful rendition of A Song For You.. (Sorry for the comparison, but still, also Mariah has developed a particular vocal style, which rather has become a way of compromising her lost voice)).

But with Celine, she's still vocally strong, this coming set of Vegas concerts I would LOVE to hear her take on the song.

[rhapsodion]

I happen to be listening to this song non stop in the past few days, and love it. but it is whitney's version that i have been listening to. Thank you to whoever posted the whitney's version above earlier in the thread.

[fred]

Would love for Céline to record a live version of this song for a concert DVD or such! Maybe her version needs a bit more "life" than what's shown in the clip - but not R&B midtempo like Whitney. I'd rather have her follow somewhat in the style of Micheal Bublé's version but make it more Celinish

 

/fred

[celinesounds]

maybe i'm the only one who still prefer her own original song and maybe the best of it, it was live in studio, vocals and piano

[Unisono]

I think this song (Russel cover) is amazing. The way she sings it moves me.