Céline part of Grammy's Tribute to Aretha Franklin singing A Change Is Gonna Come

[smw]

Celine certainly channel different parts of her voice. No doubt about it.

 

That’s Just The Woman In Me is the perfect example if this. Other songs on Taking Chances, Celine sounded fluid and beautiful whereas on TJTWIM she was purposefully raw and powerful.

 

The performance of A Change Is Gonna Come was a big success. It was full of power and emotion and strategic vocals. The audience clearly FELT her so there’s really no denying the success of this performance.

[Miha]

https://www.dropbox....gD1QCUIG_a?dl=0

 

Thank you

 

...The audience reaction says everything.

[Dion2000]

I loooooved it. But come on guys, listening to you, Celine is like: 'Ok, mmm, which voice am I gonna use today? Crystalline pure, dry, super dry? Ok, super dry level 1000 for Aretha'.

The song was just too high for her, and it was magnified by the fact that she was probably sad because of the moment. She sang at her limits, and decided to push through it. Technically the song is full of nasality and cringey off-key notes, she shouts a looot. Because she's at her limits, she doesn't even pronounce the words correctly. Her vocal chords were probably hurting like crazy after this. Her mixed belts are on point though. But still, despite all the bad points, it works because she knows how to build a song, and it was great for that moment that was a tribute to Aretha.

 

With that being said, that's how her voice is now, and how she feels she wants to sing. She screams, puts *melismas* whenever she can, gets super tragic in her interpretations. I hope she gets away from this though, I love Celine for Celine, the most beautiful voice ever, not for being a Janis Joplin copycat, or a soul singer. A lot of singers can do that much better than her. Whenever I listen to such a performance, I guess I'm hearing all along what the old Celine would do with it. And maybe that's why I like it in the end...

 

 

Not only was it not that nasal but she was actually on key 99% of the time.. it was simply that she was raspy on the high notes that gave the illusion of her being offkey

 

 

And great to know how much you downgrade Celine and hate her current voice because shes constantly screaming and her interpretations of even her own catalogue are “tragic” maybe fund a new favourite because you clearly dont like her that much

[Ajax]

It was Phenomenal ! Iconic !

 

I was a bit septical when the first official footage came. I found it like very very dry, but oh god no !

 

This woman is just beyond amazing on stage. The confidence and ability she gets there is unparallel, Maybe 4-5 artists on this earth have this stage presence. It is just crazy.

 

At 50 performance after performance, it was vocally just unbelievable. You need to listen to Aretha's take to understand what Celine wanted to make, and it is just crazy. Yes it is f****** raw, but it never breaks, she is SO in control, she doesn't stop pushing her instrument and it goes everywhere she wants, with the effect and attitude she wants.

 

Her level of master and charisma on stage just has no limits.

 

It's a shame that it looks like this performance will remain quite confidential. But it is clear that now she is getting a real recognition on stage.

[Celine Fan 77]

Now please TeamCéline / Sony, upload this performance to CelineDionVEVO before this week's over!

[ferjaacu]

Hi everyone!!! Long time no reed...

 

I must be honest, just came here to get the performance for download but while doing so I felt the need to say hi and also express my opinion...

 

I loved it! Sure, it wasn't the Céline of TPOL or the other songs we're more familliar with, but she killed it! I think she sounded like she did on pourpose, like someone said, just like in TJTWIM and when singing WOMLAY & WCN on her first show after Rene's passing. She also looked very touched and emotional at the interviews, so I'm just guessing that's another factor. Besides, there's always been a sort of raspiness on her belts, but she was in control of her instrument like always.

 

Anyways, hope you all are ok and maybe, I'll be here more often.

 

Take care!!! And thanks for uploading the video!!!

Edited March 12, 2019 at 10:31 AM by ferjaacu

[chawatak]

Now please TeamCéline / Sony, upload this performance to CelineDionVEVO before this week's over!

 

I hope too. But sadly they won't put it on Youtube just like her Bee Gee's performance. T_T

Edited March 12, 2019 at 11:11 AM by chawatak

[GameC]

Now please TeamCéline / Sony, upload this performance to CelineDionVEVO before this week's over!

 

Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool) asked about what Céline's power would be if she were part of the X-Force, answered without hesitation, seriously and with great conviction: EMOTIONS!

 

Everyone who will watch this performance (even if they just look at the audience's reactions) will see how true these words are. So yes, I also think, that they should publish this performance wherever it is possible and as soon as possible, because it perfectly shows to the general public that Céline Dion is someone much more than just "this singer with an angelic voice, from the Titanic".

Edited March 12, 2019 at 02:28 PM by GameC

[Ajax]

Talking about confidence.

 

This girl chosen, I mean SHE chosen, maybe she even imposed this song and no others. This is not Natural woman or even Respect. This is a political and intimate song between her and Sam Cooke.

 

And she, this white fragile french canadian, just appeared in front of this mainly black audience, to deliver the way she did And she embarked all of them, all of them. This skinny very white french girl.

 

This is not just an amazing performance, it is almost outrageous how good, surprising, courageous and political at the same time this is from a white girl I insist.

 

We can diminish, question her carrer/impact/legend status in the pop industry as much as we can when it concerns her repertoire, her ability to developp it live, to make studio album/create new music, re invent herself, to obtain at one point in her carrer a popular and critical sucess....

 

But what this girl built on stage is just unparallel and maybe the case of 4-5 people in this world, and maybe the only woman on earth. And at the end I will always be back to that personn who is able, LIVE, to create those moments with no safety net.

 

 

Why no one watched this tribute in the US ? It's going to remain so confidential.

Edited March 12, 2019 at 03:41 PM by Ajax

[Alex_Incognito]

I think for many of us it is hard to watch our idols age. It reminds us that we are aging. She gave a solid performance. Gone are the pitch-perfect, technically perfect days. In her vocal prime there was nobody that could come close to Celine. Just because she is no longer in this prime doesn't mean that she is not a fabulous singer. The only crime for Celine is that she doesn't have a good team when it comes to choosing songs for her. This is why she really rocks at covers like this and "At Seventeen" - these are songs that she loves and that inspire her. It is tragic that the greatest writers aren't writing for Celine.

[browseceline]

Thank you for the uploader.

So I just watched this performance. First of all, nice dress, but Celine her face - the hair like this looks so hard in her face . Nice dress though, but would have rather seen her hair loose. Anyway, she indeed reminded me of her Janis Joplin like singing on the Taking Chances cd. Quite raspy. But she really got into the song, sang it with lots of emotions. But I could not understand a lot of the words she was singing. The pronounciation was not so good. But I could see she moved the audience. I think it was not only her way of singing the song but also those pictures on the screen behind her that reminded people of that time that black people had to fight for their rights. She definately pushed her voice to the limit and that resulted in that rough sound. Full with emotions , a protest and maybe also to give her very best at singing at a tribute for Aretha. Well done Celine.

Edited March 12, 2019 at 04:28 PM by browseceline

[Nmj]

I think for many of us it is hard to watch our idols age. It reminds us that we are aging. She gave a solid performance. Gone are the pitch-perfect, technically perfect days. In her vocal prime there was nobody that could come close to Celine. Just because she is no longer in this prime doesn't mean that she is not a fabulous singer. The only crime for Celine is that she doesn't have a good team when it comes to choosing songs for her. This is why she really rocks at covers like this and "At Seventeen" - these are songs that she loves and that inspire her. It is tragic that the greatest writers aren't writing for Celine.

 

It’s become a songwriters world now. Before songwriters always wanted to give their talent to another talented artist to record and make famous. Nowadays, most songwriters think that just because they have a talent to write and compose a song that they also have a good talent to record them, and they keep them for theirselves; we saw that even with “Loved Me Back To Life” it clearly was a Sia reject song that she didn’t think was strong enough to keep for herself and she shopped it around, I heard that both Rihanna and Demi Lovato were offered it and turned it down until it ultimately ended up with Celine. Whereas the better quality songs stay with her.

 

So I’m not sure if Celine has a legit talent at writing but if chance she does then its time to take that leap or else I’m afraid we probably will see more of the same, mediocre songs at best.

Edited March 12, 2019 at 04:35 PM by Nmj

[stevo]

‘The only crime for Celine is that she doesn't have a good team when it comes to choosing songs for her.‘

 

Céline most certainly chose this song herself- she said herself that that wa stage only option for her. We can’t blame her team. And she killed it!

[jolo87]

Talking about confidence.

 

This girl chosen, I mean SHE chosen, maybe she even imposed this song and no others. This is not Natural woman or even Respect. This is a political and intimate song between her and Sam Cooke.

 

And she, this white fragile french canadian, just appeared in front of this mainly black audience, to deliver the way she did And she embarked all of them, all of them. This skinny very white french girl.

 

This is not just an amazing performance, it is almost outrageous how good, surprising, courageous and political at the same time this is from a white girl I insist.

 

We can diminish, question her carrer/impact/legend status in the pop industry as much as we can when it concerns her repertoire, her ability to developp it live, to make studio album/create new music, re invent herself, to obtain at one point in her carrer a popular and critical sucess....

 

But what this girl built on stage is just unparallel and maybe the case of 4-5 people in this world, and maybe the only woman on earth. And at the end I will always be back to that personn who is able, LIVE, to create those moments with no safety net.

 

 

Why no one watched this tribute in the US ? It's going to remain so confidential.

 

Yessssss this is so true and so important.

 

We're getting caught up in this predictable Celine fan navel gazing about the quality of her voice, whether the raspiness was intentional, etc, that we are missing the context! And there's a lot of context here!

 

On an artistic level what this signifies is Celine totally transcending the idea that she's a white girl with a pretty voice who doesn't have an ounce of soul, and yet (significantly) appropriates certain techniques and even entire songs from black artists. This is *the* biggest criticism of her as an artist going back almost 20 years.

 

What we want for her as an artist is for her to expand her stylistic range beyond what people associate her with. We *know* that this is the big thing holding her back commercially and critically and it's led her in the past to retreat into safer territory and make choices we weren't happy about.

 

So, here we are in 2019 and she's just apparently transcended that, and we're upset because she was raspy?

[jolo87]

I think for many of us it is hard to watch our idols age. It reminds us that we are aging. She gave a solid performance. Gone are the pitch-perfect, technically perfect days. In her vocal prime there was nobody that could come close to Celine. Just because she is no longer in this prime doesn't mean that she is not a fabulous singer. The only crime for Celine is that she doesn't have a good team when it comes to choosing songs for her. This is why she really rocks at covers like this and "At Seventeen" - these are songs that she loves and that inspire her. It is tragic that the greatest writers aren't writing for Celine.

 

Nah, there's still no one who can come close that. The greatest singers have imperfections. Celine was not as great of a singer in 1994 as she is today because she hadn't yet achieved a certain level of artistic mastery.

 

Listen to the greatest singers of all time, Billie Holiday, Anna Moffo, Maria Callas, etc, and they all have rough edges. But what they have, which Celine certainly has now, is an intuitive sees of phrasing and an ability to bend the melody around an emotion using a constantly shifting, evocative pallette of tonalities.

 

Celine has evolved into a better singer than before, that's called creative development and the realization of total mastery, not "aging."

[Alex_Incognito]

'The only crime for Celine is that she doesn't have a good team when it comes to choosing songs for her.'

 

Céline most certainly chose this song herself- she said herself that that wa stage only option for her. We can't blame her team. And she killed it!

 

That was my point. Re-read it.

[Nmj]

‘The only crime for Celine is that she doesn't have a good team when it comes to choosing songs for her.‘

 

Céline most certainly chose this song herself- she said herself that that wa stage only option for her. We can’t blame her team. And she killed it!

 

He’s talking about songs chosen for albums I believe.

[Ajax]

 

 

Yessssss this is so true and so important.

 

We're getting caught up in this predictable Celine fan navel gazing about the quality of her voice, whether the raspiness was intentional, etc, that we are missing the context! And there's a lot of context here!

 

On an artistic level what this signifies is Celine totally transcending the idea that she's a white girl with a pretty voice who doesn't have an ounce of soul, and yet (significantly) appropriates certain techniques and even entire songs from black artists. This is *the* biggest criticism of her as an artist going back almost 20 years.

 

What we want for her as an artist is for her to expand her stylistic range beyond what people associate her with. We *know* that this is the big thing holding her back commercially and critically and it's led her in the past to retreat into safer territory and make choices we weren't happy about.

 

So, here we are in 2019 and she's just apparently transcended that, and we're upset because she was raspy?

 

Yes 😊

I mean, she has no fear. Which other white female singer would adress THIS song, the way she did it in front of a black audience within an Aretha tribute ?

With that unreal confidence and charisma ? Honestly. She is legendary in that specific area. That s the most important part for me.

 

Then, in term of execution it s also as good from my perspective. Vocally and technically it’s remarkable. We have a bit of everything in this song. Far from just raspiness. In the first part lots of notes are round, hold perfectly with this extra jazz musicality that place them on the edge, increasing the strength while holdind them and finishing with this special vibrato. She s just perfect on this exercice.

The runs then, beginning from no where directly on the edge and with strength are technically amazing and very hard. With the rythme and musicality of all that. Well done Madame. And what to say about the final run, she still manage to get higher from raspiness in a clear semi head voice and go back to her full range.

 

She was in charge. That how she wanted it and she had the gust to do it.

 

I loved it. Would have appreciate that It went viral. I mean I was even ready to hear : « her voice is so damaged » by all the other divas fans well, Mimi fans first. 😁

Edited March 12, 2019 at 06:47 PM by Ajax

[jolo87]

 

 

Yes 😊

I mean, she has no fear. Which other white female singer would adress THIS song, the way she did it in front of a black audience within an Aretha tribute ?

With that unreal confidence and charisma ? Honestly. She is legendary in that specific area. That s the most important part for me.

 

Then, in term of execution it s also as good from my perspective. Vocally and technically it’s remarkable. We have a bit of everything in this song. Far from just raspiness. In the first part lots of notes are round, hold perfectly with this extra jazz musicality that place them on the edge, increasing the strength while holdind them and finishing with this special vibrato. She s just perfect on this exercice.

The runs then, beginning from no where directly on the edge and with strength are technically amazing and very hard. With the rythme and musicality of all that. Well done Madame. And what to say about the final run, she still manage to get higher from raspiness in a clear semi head voice and go back to her full range.

 

She was in charge. That how she wanted it and she had the gust to do it.

 

I loved it. Would have appreciate that It went viral. I mean I was even ready to hear : « her voice is so damaged » by all the other divas fans well, Mimi fans first. 😁

 

Let's not bring Mimi into this plz 😉

 

Her voice is not damaged, she just actually *uses* her voice to it's fullest lol

[jpatdeleon09]

This is super HD and the sound quality is amazing. Whose account is this? Can you share the full version?

 

Edited March 12, 2019 at 06:55 PM by jpatdeleon09

[CELINO]

I can't find any HQ mp3 of the song she sang. Can anyone help, please?

[Del]

Finally got a chance to watch the performance as had recorded the special. Celine looked great and did a great job but I wasn't feeling the song. It has a strong message and I could tell it moved many in the audience, but not one I would be re-watching.

[stevo]

 

 

That was my point. Re-read it.

 

Ah you’re, right, sorry

[scielle]

Yessssss this is so true and so important.

 

We're getting caught up in this predictable Celine fan navel gazing about the quality of her voice, whether the raspiness was intentional, etc, that we are missing the context! And there's a lot of context here!

 

On an artistic level what this signifies is Celine totally transcending the idea that she's a white girl with a pretty voice who doesn't have an ounce of soul, and yet (significantly) appropriates certain techniques and even entire songs from black artists. This is *the* biggest criticism of her as an artist going back almost 20 years.

 

What we want for her as an artist is for her to expand her stylistic range beyond what people associate her with. We *know* that this is the big thing holding her back commercially and critically and it's led her in the past to retreat into safer territory and make choices we weren't happy about.

 

So, here we are in 2019 and she's just apparently transcended that, and we're upset because she was raspy?

 

Absolutely in agreement here, and with your subsequent post. (Can I like 10 times? )

 

In retrospect, I think the reason I lost interest and stopped following her c. 2001-2015 is because I felt much of her output was becoming overly predictable and not particularly interesting (certainly English; you could make an argument that was not the case in French.)

I had grown up, but her music hadn't.

Then, sometime around 2015, I stumbled on some YouTube clip - I don't recall what it was - but it made me realize suddenly there seemed to be this whole other artistic depth to her that wasn't there before. Plus, she had grown up, and I became interested again in this now mature woman, not the perfect & meticulously packaged pop star that appealed to me as a teenage girl.

 

And all that growth was on full display with this Aretha tribute performance.

 

From a purely artistic / musical perspective, I'm much more interested in this current incarnation of Celine, than the pristine execution of yore.

[scielle]

So sad when those with copyrights refuse to share the goods with the masses. Media ends up using sub-par versions on fan social media accounts... ah well, I guess we take what we can get...

 

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[maki_Dion-er]

Celine's team needs to upload this performance to youtube.

And why didn't they upload the Bee Gees tribute where she sang her own song.

They posted the MHWGO Billboard performance but not these.

 

I don't understand the way they run her youtube channel.

[Katie]

Celine's team needs to upload this performance to youtube.

And why didn't they upload the Bee Gees tribute where she sang her own song.

They posted the MHWGO Billboard performance but not these.

 

I don't understand the way they run her youtube channel.

 

By any means, this has to be on Youtube for God's Sake

[scielle]

Celine's team needs to upload this performance to youtube.

And why didn't they upload the Bee Gees tribute where she sang her own song.

They posted the MHWGO Billboard performance but not these.

 

I don't understand the way they run her youtube channel.

 

Nothing to do with Celine's team. Everything to do with the copyright owners.

[maki_Dion-er]

Nothing to do with Celine's team. Everything to do with the copyright owners.

 

If it's a copyright issue why were they able to upload the MHWGO performance but not the Bee Gee's Grammy one?

As the original singer of Immortality she should be able to post that performance, at the very least be granted permission. I don't see why she wouldn't be allowed.

[scielle]

If it's a copyright issue why were they able to upload the MHWGO performance but not the Bee Gee's Grammy one?

 

Different copyright owners, different producers, different licensing terms, etc.

 

As the original singer of Immortality she should be able to post that performance, at the very least be granted permission. I don't see why she wouldn't be allowed.

 

Original performer rarely has anything to do with it. Unless they also have publishing rights (for the lyrics & musical composition), master rights, broadcast rights, SVOD or AVOD rights (in the case of YouTube), etc, etc.. Not uncommon for a piece of music to have tens of different rights holders, and even more so if that music was licensed with some particular purpose in mind - like a live recording for broadcast. All depends on terms of the licenses in question.

 

Looks like this particular show was produced by AEG Ehrlich, who would have had to license the use of the underlying music from the various copyright holders for public performance of each piece. They then licensed the actual taped show to CBS for distribution in the US - and those distribution terms may be limited to, say a single broadcast and some specified term on SVOD (e.g. CBS All Access).

Whoever has the AVOD rights is the entity that has the right to post this on YouTube. And once they do, they have to pay all sorts of royalties to the various copyright holders.

 

(I'm no IP lawyer, but am a media investment banker so work with a lot of assets rooted in IP. There's a reason copyright lawyers have jobs - it's a notoriously complicated and convoluted field, especially when it comes to music.)