"I Am: Celine Dion" documentary - Official Topic

[LukeD]

Here is my opinion on some of the points in this thread.

 

I am also tired of sugarcoated narratives relating to the loving family who had no money but had music. What I need from this documentary is an insight to the experiential reality of Celine - an indication of how she has been coping with SPS.

 

I do not particularly care about her being positive. Because positivity can be toxic as well. What I care to see is the range of emotions she has experienced - good or bad. Of course, hope is going to be part of this. Hope and human nature are intertwined, but I need to see more than that.

 

And I think that what I expect to see is also what the world expects to see. This is not because I am self-righteous. It is just that, in my opinion, pop culture nowadays more than ever embraces authenticity - or what appears to be authentic. The #1 TV show in the UK for 2024 is 'Baby Reindeer', a story about stalking and self-hatred, drawing from the 'real-life' personal experiences of the writer/actor/protagonist. Similarly, some of the most popular singers nowadays write their own songs. It is almost as if songwriting ability is pre-requisite to be taken seriously as an artist. This again relates to the assumption that those singers draw from personal experiences and therefore their artisic endeavours are more authentic. This is why they are seen as successful 'story-tellers', no matter how inept their singing is apparently.

 

In my opinion, this documentary should be consistent with this context and offer something new, something real, even if it is unsettling. Realness and consumption go hand in hand.

[tshlw]

What are the questions you would want answered that haven't been before? What questions do you feel she has avoided answering?

 

I do wish she would do less of the singing and either answer the question or just say I would rather not answer.

 

I was thinking about fact we get the same thing in these interviews but as some have said these are for the masses who might not know or remember these answers. I know when I watch an interview about JLo or say Mariah or even Cher a lot of things I would not know that I am sure their fans do and that they get sick of hearing over and over.

 

I feel she does not like to show her weakness or as others have said does not like not being in control. So I do wonder how she will deal with the SPS questions.

 

This is very apparent after losing Rene, in most interviews tried to paint that she was OK and she was in control. Almost like not allowing herself to be seen upset or heart broken. Like she is not allowed since she is rich and has so much help and others who have gone through same thing do not. Yes she has the means that others don't but that does not mean her struggles are any less than any one else. She is allowed to cry and even get upset at what has happened to her, but either she does not want to show it or feels as a celebrity with so much she has no right. As well as always want to show her kids everything is all right and that she is in control.

[tshlw]

It is almost as if songwriting ability is pre-requisite to be taken seriously as an artist. This again relates to the assumption that those singers draw from personal experiences and therefore their artisic endeavours are more authentic. This is why they are seen as successful 'story-tellers', no matter how inept their singing is apparently.

 

Do you think Celine may feel she has overall compared to a lot of artists had a pretty good life so doesn't have all these misfortunes or tragedies, at least early on, the way others had, so doesn't feel what she would write would be as impactful? Or if she wrote about things that were not really things that happened to her would they be accepted.

 

Yes she was poor and sure her early life not quite as rosy as she says but still compared to a lot or artists not a bad up brining. Also never had to deal with break ups, drugs, alcohol, or any real scandal. I wonder what she would write about.

[LukeD]

Do you think Celine may feel she has overall compared to a lot of artists had a pretty good life so doesn't have all these misfortunes or tragedies, at least early on, the way others had, so doesn't feel what she would write would be as impactful? Or if she wrote about things that were not really things that happened to her would they be accepted.

 

Yes she was poor and sure her early life not quite as rosy as she says but still compared to a lot or artists not a bad up brining. Also never had to deal with break ups, drugs, alcohol, or any real scandal. I wonder what she would write about.

Ι think her perfectionism has got a lot to do with why she did not engage in songwriting as much as she could. She wanted her catalogue to be as perfect as possible, so she preferred to rely upon professional songwriters. I also think expressing herself in written form is not a key strength of hers - I remember in an interview she stated it was more difficult for her to write in French than in English which is indicative of what I am saying. I think she felt she could not be perfect as a songwriter and this is why she did not develop this skill any further. Plus, she has been busy as hell - the most hardworking singer/performer of the 90s and 00s for sure. Not to mention she is family-oriented and having 3 kids adds to her workload.

 

If during the past 4 years she embraced her vulnerable side a bit more and understood how it is OK not to be perfect all the time, then maybe there is a chance for us to listen to some of the songs she's written. If anything, what we've heard so far was on a good level - 'Entre Deux Mondes' was really good.

[scielle]

If anything, what we've heard so far was on a good level - 'Entre Deux Mondes' was really good.

Speaking of which - and I had posted this in the Rene legacy thread but worth reposting here - Marc and Stella Dupré recently performed it on Quebecois TV: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5qlYwisdap/?igsh=NWN4ZThlOGk3Y3c1

[Peppercorn1991]

 

 

I do not particularly care about her being positive. Because positivity can be toxic as well. What I care to see is the range of emotions she has experienced - good or bad. Of course, hope is going to be part of this. Hope and human nature are intertwined, but I need to see more than that.

 

I don’t agree with you but I do agree with some of what you say. Celine is a figure in the world and has had influence over a lot of people for many, many years.

 

For someone in her position to stand positive despite loss and health issues is very encouraging for many people.

 

I would also like to see the emotions she has gone through, but even so, she can still feel positive and optimistic and I feel this is quite healthy for her and her future. Celine is not delusional by being positive.

 

We can all look at a situation in different ways and I know by working with people within social care, those who see the positives lead much richer lives. I feel the same for Celine.

 

I love that you mention hope… it’s so important.

 

Kev x

[Zofia]

Very interesting issues have come up in this thread, and before the trailer was released

 

I do not particularly care about her being positive. Because positivity can be toxic as well.

 

I couldn't agree more. A lot has already been written in the psychological and medical literature about the harmfulness of the ideology of "positive thinking," and this is especially true for people in need (sick or in some kind of life crisis), because they are especially vulnerable. How to distinguish edifying and helpful optimism from toxic "positivity"? I think one important criterion might be just what you wrote about authenticity.

 

It is just that, in my opinion, pop culture nowadays more than ever embraces authenticity - or what appears to be authentic.

 

Canadian philosopher Charles Taylor wrote about this modern "ethic of authenticity" as early as 1991, but I guess it's actually only recently that it has come to dominate pop culture so strongly. And you may be right: this may be one of the reasons why the world today values songwriters much more highly than performers (I never thought of this before; maybe because I don't like disparaging performers). And this is where the problem with Céline begins: she is fantastically authentic and real on stage, as well as in her fashion dress-ups. Bold, expressive, non-conformist, she couldn't care less about "how it should be" or whether it will please everyone. But words are not her domain: here she feels insecure and often veils herself in banalities. What bothers me most about her interviews is not that she tells the same stories: well, it's her life, her childhood, she won't make up another one (and most likely, still not everyone in the world knows about her thirteen siblings ). But I have a problem, because listening to her, I too often say, "And what do you really think? Where is the real you hiding? Why don't I believe you?" Just like I don't believe the retouched lady in the poster....

 

something real, even if it is unsettling

 

May it be so! A hundredfold may it be.

 

This is very apparent after losing Rene, in most interviews tried to paint that she was OK and she was in control.

 

I can imagine how devilishly difficult it is: not to fall apart, to keep in shape, if only to give her children a sense of security in public (especially since they are the ones who live in social-media incomparably more than their mother). I don't expect her to display the exhibitionism and demonstration of weakness that is popular today, because that seems to go against her nature. She will always choose old-school bravery of character. It's just that between exhibitionism and coaching nonsense like "Everything is in life for something" (go and tell that to people with SLA, etc.) there is plenty of room for the truth of one's experience. For wise though difficult optimism. And for credibility.

[LukeD]

I don't agree with you but I do agree with some of what you say. Celine is a figure in the world and has had influence over a lot of people for many, many years.

 

For someone in her position to stand positive despite loss and health issues is very encouraging for many people.

 

I would also like to see the emotions she has gone through, but even so, she can still feel positive and optimistic and I feel this is quite healthy for her and her future. Celine is not delusional by being positive.

 

We can all look at a situation in different ways and I know by working with people within social care, those who see the positives lead much richer lives. I feel the same for Celine.

 

I love that you mention hope… it's so important.

 

Kev x

Yes, hope or positivity or survival instinct and human nature are intertwined as I said. And I know, for a fact, that this documentary will end on a positive note since the last track of the accompanying compilation album is 'I'm Alive'. So yes, a positive, encouraging message is a given. And that's a good thing. However, my point is, that I do not want this 'positive outcome' to be emphasised at the expense of more raw, negative emotions she probably experienced.

 

Because I have seen this pattern in her interviews or even album releases, as others have suggested as well. It is almost as if vulnerability is hidden under the rug - I do not need this for this documentary. If there have been instances of vulnerability, I would like to hear about them. Besides, this will make the above-mentioned 'positive outcome' even more meaningful.

[Peppercorn1991]

Yes, hope or positivity or survival instinct and human nature are intertwined as I said. And I know, for a fact, that this documentary will end on a positive note since the last track of the accompanying compilation album is 'I'm Alive'. So yes, a positive, encouraging message is a given. And that's a good thing. However, my point is, that I do not want this 'positive outcome' to be emphasised at the expense of more raw, negative emotions she probably experienced.

 

Because I have seen this pattern in her interviews or even album releases, as others have suggested as well. It is almost as if vulnerability is hidden under the rug - I do not need this for this documentary. If there have been instances of vulnerability, I would like to hear about them. Besides, this will make the above-mentioned 'positive outcome' even more meaningful.

 

I love what you have said and feel we are coming from the same standpoint. Totally agree - I want the same.

 

Kevx

[Állex Sodi]

 

And I think that what I expect to see is also what the world expects to see. This is not because I am self-righteous. It is just that, in my opinion, pop culture nowadays more than ever embraces authenticity - or what appears to be authentic. The #1 TV show in the UK for 2024 is 'Baby Reindeer', a story about stalking and self-hatred, drawing from the 'real-life' personal experiences of the writer/actor/protagonist. Similarly, some of the most popular singers nowadays write their own songs. It is almost as if songwriting ability is pre-requisite to be taken seriously as an artist. This again relates to the assumption that those singers draw from personal experiences and therefore their artisic endeavours are more authentic. This is why they are seen as successful 'story-tellers', no matter how inept their singing is apparently.

 

 

I was thinking the same thing reading this topic. In Celine’s prime years was all different. Selling perfection and positivity was the brand, PR team would make sure every line was previously rehearsed, even in a show. The audience wants something different now from their artists. They need to have an opinion about things, take stand, speak their minds. Celine still talks like it’s from a 90’s PR team textbook.

 

Telling she didn’t want it to record MHWGO is as far as she goes on getting out of the book. Judging by how many times she told that story, I think she actually believe is a bold move.

 

Let’s hope for a deep Celine on this doc. With a good director, we have a possibility.

[scielle]

We all have such high expectations from this project, and each of us wants something a little different from it. So whatever it ends up being, all of us will inevitably be a little bit disappointed. Let’s just hope it’s just a little bit, and that there’s something in it for everyone. It’s a hard balance to strike, for it to be both “for the fans” but also not too much “inside baseball” for the general public.

Some press (who knows how reliable) already said she wanted to call it off, that she didn’t want to appear “too diminished” (I think that was the language used in French), which doesn’t bode well for the vulnerability aspect. I just hope they didn’t end up leaving the most compelling content on the cutting room floor.

[Nmj]

We all have such high expectations from this project, and each of us wants something a little different from it. So whatever it ends up being, all of us will inevitably be a little bit disappointed. Let’s just hope it’s just a little bit, and that there’s something in it for everyone. It’s a hard balance to strike, for it to be both “for the fans” but also not too much “inside baseball” for the general public.

Some press (who knows how reliable) already said she wanted to call it off, that she didn’t want to appear “too diminished” (I think that was the language used in French), which doesn’t bode well for the vulnerability aspect. I just hope they didn’t end up leaving the most compelling content on the cutting room floor.

 

Let’s hope that whomever convinced Celine to ultimately do the doc… presumably Irene Taylor, really had convinced her that if she’s going to tell her story it shouldn’t be watered down. As she often says “when I commit myself, I give all myself”… I hope she took that approach, otherwise they would’ve been better off sticking to her music in terms of the doc.

[tshlw]

So if you had the chance to ask Celine one question what would it be?

[Nmj]

So if you had the chance to ask Celine one question what would it be?

 

I’d ask her if Pepe ever got to third base?

 

Obviously that’s a joke people.

[tshlw]

Ι think her perfectionism has got a lot to do with why she did not engage in songwriting as much as she could. She wanted her catalogue to be as perfect as possible, so she preferred to rely upon professional songwriters. I also think expressing herself in written form is not a key strength of hers - I remember in an interview she stated it was more difficult for her to write in French than in English which is indicative of what I am saying. I think she felt she could not be perfect as a songwriter and this is why she did not develop this skill any further. Plus, she has been busy as hell - the most hardworking singer/performer of the 90s and 00s for sure. Not to mention she is family-oriented and having 3 kids adds to her workload.

 

If during the past 4 years she embraced her vulnerable side a bit more and understood how it is OK not to be perfect all the time, then maybe there is a chance for us to listen to some of the songs she's written. If anything, what we've heard so far was on a good level - 'Entre Deux Mondes' was really good.

 

I agree on the perfectionism and she has always said likes to do one thing at a time so she focused on singing professionally and mother/wife in her personal.

 

Will be interesting to see if she did do any writing during this time or so focused on what happening to her and getting better and her kids that she didn't attempt.

[zuv]

So if you had the chance to ask Celine one question what would it be?

 

If tomorrow you had to make a sequel album of one of your English album which one would you choose and why?

[Nmj]

 

 

If tomorrow you had to make a sequel album of one of your English album which one would you choose and why?

 

I’m willing to bet she’d say “Courage”, because there’s enough leftovers for a volume 2.

Edited May 23, 2024 at 01:11 AM by Nmj

[joaofilho]

What time does the trailer come out?

[Nmj]

What time does the trailer come out?

 

No time given. The announcement came at noon EST today so maybe it’ll be the same?

[zuv]

 

 

I’m willing to bet she’d say “Courage”, because there’s enough leftovers for a volume 2.

Loll truuee id had add, except Courage

[Nmj]

 

Loll truuee id had add, except Courage

 

Personally I’d like a “One Heart” part 2. with the same genre of pop dance songs with long clear and sustained notes.

[PuraVida]

Why did they use that photo for the movie poster? The b/w silhouette makes it look like she has big raised bumps on her neck...

[Nmj]

Why did they use that photo for the movie poster? The b/w silhouette makes it look like she has big raised bumps on her neck...

 

I believe that’s her knuckles.’

[karatedude317]

 

 

Okay but Céline looks so 1996 in those, admittedly unclear, pictures/video. The outfit, hair and everything.

 

You mean that bun that she’s been sporting since 2019 that we all hate? 😂 she didn’t have that bun in the 90s

[PuraVida]

I believe that’s her knuckles.’

 

it doesn't read well. i know i'm generally critical of team celine anyway, but geez... the face part of the photo looks nice though.

[scielle]

You mean that bun that she’s been sporting since 2019 that we all hate?

Not all. I love it. It’s classy and suits her. Few can wear a chignon as well as she can.

[LukeD]

So if you had the chance to ask Celine one question what would it be?

Very hard to decide on one question... I'm a Libra

 

It depends on what I'd feel in the moment...

 

If my curiosity took over I'd ask why she and Pepe had a fallout.

If my hunger for her music took over I'd ask when she's going to release PMLALS (yeah, shoot me)

If my critical self took over I'd ask when she's going to fire TeamCeline and recruit people who actually know how to handle social media

If my empathetic self took over I'd simply ask how she's doing

If my fandom took over I'd ask her if she knows how much we all love her

Edited May 23, 2024 at 04:52 AM by LukeD

[Chantemoi]

 

Not all. I love it. It’s classy and suits her. Few can wear a chignon as well as she can.

 

It looks much better when it’s worn free & loose — not combed/pulled back tightly (which exaggerates her features and makes her look somewhat emaciated).

[Shamrock_1982]

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