Celine's vocal evolution between each album

[Angel2006]

Its from « Un an avec Celine »

 

(At 32min)

 

Thanks

 

I just got a moment to sit down and listen to this interview. I am pretty sure there is a translated version of this interview out there that has been posted to this forum before too?

Edited December 1, 2022 at 12:40 AM by Angel2006

[Squall]

I think ANDHC was her last album where she sounded amazing from start to finish. When she recorded Taking Chances, they pushed her for a more rock sound and I think she liked that. I think she liked it a little too much. She went from sounding like herself to sounding like a parody of herself. And she only continued to get worse from there. Now on Courage she sounds like she's trying to do a bad impersonation of Cher.

 

Back in the day of Colour of My Love to Let's Talk About Love, I feel like that was HER voice. When people think of Celine, they think of her singing THOSE songs. I still hear "It's All Coming Back To Me Now" on a regular basis when I'm out in public. That's the voice she's known for. And I feel like it's still there. If she would only stop trying to copy Adel and Cher.

[Chantemoi]

I think ANDHC was her last album where she sounded amazing from start to finish. When she recorded Taking Chances, they pushed her for a more rock sound and I think she liked that. I think she liked it a little too much. She went from sounding like herself to sounding like a parody of herself. And she only continued to get worse from there. Now on Courage she sounds like she's trying to do a bad impersonation of Cher.

 

Back in the day of Colour of My Love to Let's Talk About Love, I feel like that was HER voice. When people think of Celine, they think of her singing THOSE songs. I still hear "It's All Coming Back To Me Now" on a regular basis when I'm out in public. That's the voice she's known for. And I feel like it's still there. If she would only stop trying to copy Adel and Cher.

 

This is exactly why Taking Chances, on the whole, is so hard for me to listen to. Just look at the album cover, it says it all: she’s a shiny, metallic mannequin totally devoid of personality. It’s actually quite fitting… Yes, it’s impressive that she can sing any genre well, but that doesn’t mean the results are always great… when she tries too hard to present herself as edgy, it rings hollow - because we know she’s not edgy - c’est Céline!

 

Her Cher impression seemed to really take hold during the Vegas years (I suspect because it’s easier to sing that way than to sing technically perfect) and we know since she became a mother, the vocal exercises and days of silence took a backseat. Even her speaking voice changed, naturally, due to her age.

 

The Courage album, while I dislike the gargled phrasing, rings true to me because I do think René’s death jaded her and the music reflects that. We know she can still sing clean and polished vocals - The Prayer during CWT was proof enough- but she’s singing how she feels now. Maybe one day, she’ll go back to the style she was known for, but I’m not holding my breath. Honestly, her whole career has been about her trying new sounds and experimenting, and the most recent album was probably the most reflective of that evolution. Again, look at the album cover: her past is literally on fire.

 

 

Edited December 1, 2022 at 04:04 AM by Chantemoi

[smw]

I think ANDHC was her last album where she sounded amazing from start to finish. When she recorded Taking Chances, they pushed her for a more rock sound and I think she liked that. I think she liked it a little too much. She went from sounding like herself to sounding like a parody of herself. And she only continued to get worse from there. Now on Courage she sounds like she's trying to do a bad impersonation of Cher.

 

Back in the day of Colour of My Love to Let's Talk About Love, I feel like that was HER voice. When people think of Celine, they think of her singing THOSE songs. I still hear "It's All Coming Back To Me Now" on a regular basis when I'm out in public. That's the voice she's known for. And I feel like it's still there. If she would only stop trying to copy Adel and Cher.

 

Agreed.

 

There have been little glimmers of classic, non edgy Celine on her past few albums but not near the level of ANDHC.

 

Edited December 1, 2022 at 08:04 AM by smw

[smw]

 

 

This is exactly why Taking Chances, on the whole, is so hard for me to listen to. Just look at the album cover, it says it all: she’s a shiny, metallic mannequin totally devoid of personality. It’s actually quite fitting… Yes, it’s impressive that she can sing any genre well, but that doesn’t mean the results are always great… when she tries too hard to present herself as edgy, it rings hollow - because we know she’s not edgy - c’est Céline!

 

 

It’s a shame they didn’t use one of the other photos from the TC photoshoot for the cover. Because there were some beautiful ones.

 

Edited December 1, 2022 at 08:07 AM by smw

[comingback]

Delete Edited December 1, 2022 at 06:54 PM by comingback

[comingback]

 

 

This is exactly why Taking Chances, on the whole, is so hard for me to listen to. Just look at the album cover, it says it all: she’s a shiny, metallic mannequin totally devoid of personality. It’s actually quite fitting… Yes, it’s impressive that she can sing any genre well, but that doesn’t mean the results are always great… when she tries too hard to present herself as edgy, it rings hollow - because we know she’s not edgy - c’est Céline!

 

Her Cher impression seemed to really take hold during the Vegas years (I suspect because it’s easier to sing that way than to sing technically perfect) and we know since she became a mother, the vocal exercises and days of silence took a backseat. Even her speaking voice changed, naturally, due to her age.

 

The Courage album, while I dislike the gargled phrasing, rings true to me because I do think René’s death jaded her and the music reflects that. We know she can still sing clean and polished vocals - The Prayer during CWT was proof enough- but she’s singing how she feels now. Maybe one day, she’ll go back to the style she was known for, but I’m not holding my breath. Honestly, her whole career has been about her trying new sounds and experimenting, and the most recent album was probably the most reflective of that evolution. Again, look at the album cover: her past is literally on fire.

 

Can't agree more. I love some songs : TC, Alone, SS, SOL, but the whole album is too edgy and the album cover is horrible. Yes, she was edgy on the INCOGNITO album, but she was 20 years old at that time. TC sounds like a Kelly Clarkson wannabe album.

[CelinesDIVO5]

I don’t think that TC pushes the envelope too hard that it’s not Celine. I think it has a great balance of the “edgy” and Celine. And we also have one of the most personal English songs of her career in this album.

[tomantha]

It's funny you guys mention Cher cause she recorded a song that samples Believe on Courage. It obviously didn't make the cut. Hopefully the next album will have clean polished vocals and that she will be rested before she does anything. Too bad she doesn't record music in Florida anymore, humidity always helps, unlike dry Vegas.

[mirage]

Wait Celine recorded a song that samples Believe for the Courage album?

Please tell us more haha

 

It's funny you guys mention Cher cause she recorded a song that samples Believe on Courage. It obviously didn't make the cut. Hopefully the next album will have clean polished vocals and that she will be rested before she does anything. Too bad she doesn't record music in Florida anymore, humidity always helps, unlike dry Vegas.

[ryba]

It's funny you guys mention Cher cause she recorded a song that samples Believe on Courage. It obviously didn't make the cut.

what? How did you come up with that? We expected Courage to be Celines Believe and be as huge, but it obviously wasn’t. It doesn’t mean that she recorded a song that samples Chers Believe!!! Edited December 2, 2022 at 07:01 AM by ryba

[tomantha]

what? How did you come up with that? We expected Courage to be Celines Believe and be as huge, but it obviously wasn’t. It doesn’t mean that she recorded a song that samples Chers Believe!!!

 

I didn’t « come up with that » lol ask her management. But what you said made sense, maybe they thought she’d have a comeback a-la Cher that’s why we ended up with Flying On My Own cause that was random, and it was definitely the introduction of a Celine with a different voice. Who knows.

[Ukrfan]

I don't think that TC pushes the envelope too hard that it's not Celine. I think it has a great balance of the "edgy" and Celine. And we also have one of the most personal English songs of her career in this album.

 

Taking Chances was an amazing album. I find her vocals on it DI-VI-NE. Her edgy voice was very on point there, unlike granny bedroom voice on LMBTL.

[PuraVida]

I adore Taking Chances -- and my appreciation has grown for it over the years after seeing/hearing the English albums she released after it. Her proficiency at pop-rock can be traced all the way back to Unison and Dion Chante Plamondon. She grew up hearing those types of artists: Janis Joplin, Creedence, Doobie Brothers, Heart, Queen, etc.

 

Didn't she also say she had wanted to record "That's Just The Woman In Me" or like a decade or smth. before it ended up fitting on Taking Chances. To me, the record didn't feel too edgy. She was turning 40 and felt invigorated. However, she did do some unique pronunciation on the album, which was odd (TJTWIM, IGNL) but it wasn't the croaky/bedroom voice kind she has since trademarked.

[queenofvegas]

The problem with Taking Chances to me is not that it's edgy but that it sounds like she's trying way too hard to be edgy. She's had edgy songs since way back in the 80s, like Delivre-moi, Incognito, I Feel Too Much, J'ai besoin d'un chum, Oxygene, Des mots qui sonnent, etc... but in these songs she actually sounded like herself. Taking Chances just comes off as corny to me like she's trying to impersonate someone else. I can't listen to most of the album for this reason, it gets annoying. And she started developing weird habits in her singing around this time which have stayed with her until Courage. Her voice wasn't as pure and crystal clear as it used to be.

[nomys]

To me, Taking Chances is her last English stronger album. Loved me back to life and courage Can t compare to it.

[Abodi2002]

Her most noticeable and best vocal change was from TCOML to FIY. In French, from DCP to D'eux.

 

Her change for the worst was LMBTL to Courage. In French, SSDA to 1F&4T.

 

If a new album is to be released, her voice should sound polished and crystal clear. She is not a girl anymore, Barbra Streisand wouldn't do it at Celine's age, just listen to "Tell Him". So, no more forced nasalities and raspy sounds all the time. They should be placed strategically in certain parts as in the "away" in TPOL.

How would you say TCOML to FIY is a good change vocally? FIY album vocals were decent but overall 1993-94 was better vocally imo. It was easier for her to incorporate rasp without hard-core straining. Upper belts even in studio were a struggle, examples include the F5 on “because” in Because You Loved Me, the F5 in All By Myself, although I actually like that note, and the sustained F5 in RDMH which is extremely raspy.

[Abodi2002]

A New Day Has Come is her best album after the 90’s. One Heart is okay. I like Taking Chances, although it’s quite different and I almost never listen to the whole album it’s entirety.

LMBTL, her weakest album alongside Miracle, too many boring covers. The first 8 songs are fairly solid, not sure what style she was going for with those odd lows in Water And A Flame. EUS, rarely listen to this one in it’s entirety, maybe I need to give it another chance.

Courage, I like most of this album despite a couple songs having meh pronunciation.

[queenofvegas]

A New Day Has Come is her best album after the 90's. One Heart is okay. I like Taking Chances, although it's quite different and I almost never listen to the whole album it's entirety.

LMBTL, her weakest album alongside Miracle, too many boring covers. The first 8 songs are fairly solid, not sure what style she was going for with those odd lows in Water And A Flame. EUS, rarely listen to this one in it's entirety, maybe I need to give it another chance.

Courage, I like most of this album despite a couple songs having meh pronunciation.

 

I love her vocals on ANDHC and 1F4T. Her voice started changing after those albums and got a lot more nasal and thin.

[Chantemoi]

EUS, rarely listen to this one in it’s entirety, maybe I need to give it another chance.

 

You should! It’s a great album. The pop songs are decent (although I don’t always love the effects they used on her voice) and the slower tempo songs/ballads have really beautiful vocals.

[ryba]

 

 

I love her vocals on ANDHC and 1F4T. Her voice started changing after those albums and got a lot more nasal and thin.

I blame Vegas for that. Her intense performing schedule damaged her vocal cords, that’s why she never sounded as good and clear as on ANDHC again

[LukeD]

I think ANDHC was her last album where she sounded amazing from start to finish. When she recorded Taking Chances, they pushed her for a more rock sound and I think she liked that. I think she liked it a little too much. She went from sounding like herself to sounding like a parody of herself. And she only continued to get worse from there. Now on Courage she sounds like she's trying to do a bad impersonation of Cher.

 

Back in the day of Colour of My Love to Let's Talk About Love, I feel like that was HER voice. When people think of Celine, they think of her singing THOSE songs. I still hear "It's All Coming Back To Me Now" on a regular basis when I'm out in public. That's the voice she's known for. And I feel like it's still there. If she would only stop trying to copy Adel and Cher.

Preach!

How would you say TCOML to FIY is a good change vocally? FIY album vocals were decent but overall 1993-94 was better vocally imo. It was easier for her to incorporate rasp without hard-core straining. Upper belts even in studio were a struggle, examples include the F5 on "because" in Because You Loved Me, the F5 in All By Myself, although I actually like that note, and the sustained F5 in RDMH which is extremely raspy.

100% agree. In terms of her vocal prime FIY has the weakest vocals. Too many strained high notes. TCOML, LTAL, TAST are overall better. Edited November 28, 2023 at 06:26 PM by LukeD

[LukeD]

I blame Vegas for that. Her intense performing schedule damaged her vocal cords, that's why she never sounded as good and clear as on ANDHC again

True! The only negative impact that Vegas had on her career (at least the one I acknowledge) is how it exhausted her voice. She sounded so good in Sans Attendre when she was restful. Edited November 28, 2023 at 06:25 PM by LukeD

[smw]

I blame Vegas for that. Her intense performing schedule damaged her vocal cords, that’s why she never sounded as good and clear as on ANDHC again

 

She had gorgeous moments vocally long after ANDHC. Sadly, a lot of those moments were live and not featured on an album.

 

 

Edited November 28, 2023 at 07:20 PM by smw

[ryba]

The problem with her sound on the Courage album might also be due to the fact that she recorded the songs while she was performing non stop during summer tours and Vegas. There were no vocal breaks in between and her voice was exhausted

[DCCeline]

I think she said f*** it to sounding American as possible and just has given in to the french canadian accent full stop

[Abodi2002]

Her tone is so much better in 2011 than the Taking Chances tour. Vegas once again made her voice worse. I think outside of Vegas she often sounds better too. For example, compare the 2018 tour to, say November 2018.

[CelinesDIVO5]

Surprisingly there isn’t much rasp on the note in ABM. A little bit, yes, but it conveys the emotion. Any other “distortion” (for lack of a better word) is honestly because of where technology was at the time vs. her voice.

 

RDMH, it’s a rock song tried and true. How she sang the song was a stylistic choice.

 

The word “strained” is not being used correctly here. If you want the definition of strained high notes, just go listen to any Demi Lovato performance. Strained is definitely not the word for the FIY album.

[ryba]

I also think that these were stylistic choices. It conveys the notion of a cry, and I actually like it

[AdrienneM]

Surprisingly there isn’t much rasp on the note in ABM. A little bit, yes, but it conveys the emotion. Any other “distortion” (for lack of a better word) is honestly because of where technology was at the time vs. her voice.

 

RDMH, it’s a rock song tried and true. How she sang the song was a stylistic choice.

 

The word “strained” is not being used correctly here. If you want the definition of strained high notes, just go listen to any Demi Lovato performance. Strained is definitely not the word for the FIY album.

 

You can’t be serious? The note in All By Myself is REVERED because of its throat-destroying intensity. The note is very much strained, it’s at the top of her belting range (which even Celine herself has said many times) and it’s an incredibly she’d note to sustain. Even when she lowered it by 2 semitones on tour during the Falling Into You era it was often still very strained and tense.

 

As for the note in RDMH it being a rock song doesn’t mean the note has to be so painfully strained that it probably hurt her throat to sing. She never once sang it like that live, and often sang it with far better technique and far less strain than the studio version. Tina, who had incredibly raspy vocals during most of her peak as a singer, never sang the note with that level of scratchiness. The notes were strained (in my opinion, unintentionally) BECAUSE she sang notes at the very peak of her range in almost pure chest voice, which I’m sure any singer or vocal coach would tell you is just silly to do for your own vocal health.