September 5, 1999- Celine Information Celine's official website, celineonline.com, has only recently began keeping a very good up-to-date news section. It's worth a visit for all the information I've misssed the past month. July 30, 1999- New Concert Date A new date has been added in the US for Celine's tour! September 29, 1999
For information on how to obtain tickets to this show, please contact your local
ticket retailer. July 23, 1999- Live in Memphis Video Sony Canada, what are you thinking??!! This might be considered old news, instead of latest news, but I'm getting a little fed up... aren't you? The Live in Memphis video is said to be scheduled for release in the U.S. on Dec. 31st, 1999! Can you wait that long for more Celine? Not me... encore, encore! Anyway, Europe has had the video for over a year, and some Canadians have already had the chance to purchase it, before it was ripped off the shelves once more.
July 15, 1999- Edinburgh, Scotland Concert Review Murrayfield Stadium, 8th July 1999
Please note, I don't think I can do justice to writing a review of this show, but I'll just tell you my experience, an unforgettable one.
I arrived at the stadium around 3.45pm, the heat was almost unbearable and the masses of people lying around the gates were all entertained by the noise coming from within the stadium... We could hear Céline and her musicians warming up..... Taro Hakase practiced on his violin for the spectacular "To love you more", we heard the musicians, under the direction of Mégo, jamming with "Love can move mountains"... as well as Céline singing "The Reason", "S'il suffisait d'aimer" and what (I think) was "Terre".... It became increasingly hard to distinguish between the bands crazy jamming and the actual songs! It was an incredible appetiser...
After buying the (very large) programme... the gates opened slightly late (due to technical difficulties) at 5.45pm approx.. we then made our way into the stadium..... I couldn't wait to see the stage and so I blindly rushed past the merchandise stalls which weren't yet busy.
André-Philippe Gagnon had performed from about 6pm, with some very amusing stand-up comedy/singing... The Corrs then performed from 7-8 pm. They were good, but I couldn't wait to hear Céline....
I made my way to the passage which leads from the stadium dressing rooms to the stage and then came Eric... Céline's bodyguard. I had spoken to him several hours before, I think I scared him, saying "Hi Eric, how are you" in my Irish accent. And then came the box.... We received several strange looks from unsuspecting people who weren't aware that this box contained our Star, Céline! I joined my friend Anna and others in barking at the box.....to amuse Céline. Then we shouted hellos to the band, Mégo, Julie, Elise, Barney, André and all the others!!. I snapped a few photos, but I don't know what they've turned out like...
Then I quickly dashed for my seat, as the Titanic music played, I looked at the stage, I wasn't at my seat yet, and there appeared Céline in a glimmering white outfit. Forgive me for being male, and acutley ignorant of fashion, but she shone like the star she is. She began singing her opening number "Lets talk about love" accompanied by an Edinburgh Childrens Choir.. I had seen them on Scottish-TV earlier in the morning and they looked really cute up there with Céline. And then I walked right past the front of the stage to find my seat..... I was going numb, I was walking past Céline..!! I couldn't belive that a Cd wasn't playing, she was standing right in front of me singing. I dragged my feet back to my seat and quickly grabbed binoculars to take a closer look. As I write this, I still can't believe that I've seen her....it has been a dream come true but It just hasn't registered with me yet. She greeted us "Good evening Edinburgh.." she is SO funny, she said it in a Scottish accent..!!! I keep laughing when I think on that. Of course, everyone gave her a standing ovation for her opening number.
With my binoculars, I could see Céline in the most immense detail, every crease in her clothes. She was so beautiful and looking so great! Being enthralled in the concert, my order of songs might be a little confused! but I think "Because you loved me" was the next song, at the end of which, she began to talk about Réne.... Everyone stood up and applauded when she said that he was doing fine. She then went on to explain the satelite link-up whereby Réne was watching the show.... She blew him kisses and talked all lovey-dovey to him... it was so sweet. She told us that all our positive energy was really helping Réne and so we sent yet another applause down the satelite to his Florida home.
Céline looked very emotional as she talked about Réne, but she quickly made it clear that she was happy to be in Scotland with us, and that it was a beautiful day, the sun was shining and there was a clear blue sky....and Céline - wanted to party with us!! With that came, "Declaration of Love". A song which I must admit disliking when I first heard it on FIY, but after seeing it on "Live in Memphis" and hearing other live versions of it, I really came to like it..... and we really moved to it.!
Continuing the party mood, she sang "Treat her like a lady"... I hoped that this would maybe push the single up the charts, but I'm not so sure. Its a good song, but unfortunately it just isn't making it on the British Charts.....but then, who really trusts the British charts? Sorry for waffling... Diane King showed up on the Screens for this song and all the male musicians were enemy-no.1 for this song!! Very convincing glances were exchanged and very amusing for us.!
Next came "The Reason".... Céline told us how happy she was to have worked with two of her idols for this song, Carole King and Sir George Martin. This was an excellent performance. After this came "I'm your Angel" with Barney singing the part of R-Kelly... he was excellent....maybe even better than R-Kelly. Barney received a great applause for this and he quickly became the man behind the show.. Mégo always appeared to be the male voice of the show on her concert videos, but he looked pretty contented behind his piano as Barney entertained us. The focus was on Mégo now, as he started to play the intro for "Its all coming back to me now"... This great ballad was much appreciated.
Then came the haunting strings which brought in "Think Twice", the song which really made Céline take-off in the UK, you could feel the crowds appreciation for that... I really enjoyed hearing this song and there were even a few new lyrics added to the end...she really brought the house down with that.
"You all know by now that I'm French.....I thought singing in French for you tonight"....she explained that the next song mean't "If only love was enough"... ("S'il suffisait d'aimer") I really enjoyed that song, but I enjoyed even more, the next one, "Pour que tu m'aimes encore", one of my all-time favourites, this performance was EXCELLENT! as always, and I seemed to be the only one in my row who sang the words, but I couldn't keep on my seat at the end so I jumped up and applauded. I really appreciated that song.
Shen then introduced Taro Hakase, the Japanese violinist who played into the song "To love you more"... again, one of my favourite songs, I could see that a lot of people didn't know the song, due to the fact that it wasn't released in the UK....well apart from on "Live ŕ Paris" where the studio recording was put at the end of the CD. An excellent song and a stunning performance by both Céline and Taro.
The band now accumulated together with their various instruments at hand as they began the 'Unplugged' section of the concert. Céline talked about all the people who had influenced the music industry - Roberta Flack, Eric Clapton, The Beatles and Frank Sinatra. She then sang some of their biggest hits, "The first time ever I saw your face" (of Roberta Flack), "Because" (Of the Beatles), "Tears in heaven" (Of Eric Clapton) and "All the way" (Of Frank Sinatra). These were beautiful and "All the way" is Céline and Réne's special song... and she said that she couldn't wait to get home to kiss him!.
Bursting with energy, Céline began her legendary "Love can move mountains", this song is performed on all her concerts and was originally recorded for her self-titled album in 1992. She must really love this song, as it really gets the crowd on their feet and I really enjoyed singing along with them and watching the great effects, where some of the lyrics appeared on the stage. She re-recorded this song recently for the "Touched by an angel" soundtrack. Céline then used the song to introduced the band and then Barney took control of the song as Céline went under the stage to change, we were kept busy - and on our feet....and then Céline surfaced and finished the song.
Next came the beautiful duet with Barbara Streissand, "Tell Him". Video of Barbara was played on all the screens with the live pictures of Céline overlaid, it was very professionally done, and indeed the next best thing than having Barbara on stage. The crowd really loved this!
Next came another favourite, "The power of love"... an excellent song, and performed brilliantly. This is one of the songs where the backup singers aren't needed and we hear the raw power of Céline's voices..... amazing, and incredible.
This is so weird, I'm writing all this, even though I don't believe it, was I dreaming this? I'll tell you when It has sunk in! Céline now wants us to dance again, and a large disco-ball (I don't know the right word..) was lowered and Céline performed the greatest dance song of all time..."Saturday Night Fever !!") This consisted of "Stayin' Alive" and "You should be dancing.." The crowd really enjoyed this.....and were probably surprised too. The many sides of Céline, you really couldn't classify her music could you? Pop is such a meaningless term to give her....
Staying with the BeeGees, she introduced them, on the video screens, a segment of them had been recorded and Céline played along by talking to them and then singing "Immortality" with them...Again, this was very well presented and enjoyed by all. It is a very touching song and an excellent performance.
The whole band then dissapeared of the stage, and we were left standing for a few minutes.... As this was my first concert I wasn't really aware of the Encore thing! and I panicked....no MHWGO? Not that Its one of my favourite songs, I knew that it was probably the song that a lot of people came to hear and after the technical difficulties earlier and the delayed starting time... I was begining to worry!! But then images from the Titanic movie came on the screens and the band, one by one, slipped onto the stage, barely being noticed... Julie (I think!!) played the tin whistle for the start of the song and then Céline appeared from under the stage in her third outfit....I call it a white wedding dress, but my sister says a very pale pink dress.....stunning nonetheless, and she began so sing "My heart will go on." a very powerful ballad to end an excellent show with, and a phenominal applause followed. Céline circled the stage saying goodnight to everyone, and I dashed to the front of the stage to give her a small gift... I knew she couldn't make it to Ireland, with Réne being sick, and Dublin was a special place for her and Réne, as their romantic affair began there in 1988 after she won the Eurovision song contest. So I held up an Irish car-registration plate with Dublin written on it..... (I probably looked very silly indeed!!) and I then gave it to Antoine Malette (of Céline's lighting and video crew) who put it in a safe place to give to her.
I couldn't make it over to try and see her leaving but I was in heaven after the magical evening.
I then joined the masses of people who made their way to buy a poster or any souvenir of the concert. And it was such a warm night! The queues for the trains and busses were Mad so I just walked back to Leith Walk.. most of the 1 hr walk was made in silence as I was trying to take in what I had just seen!
It still doesn't seem real.... I hope it does soon!! Maybe when I get my photos developed? Sorry if this dragged on a bit!!.
Ché Lee Murphy.
June 28, 1999- Last U.S. Concerts Tickets are onsale through Ticket Master for two of Celine's last U.S. concerts on the Let's Talk About Love world tour. The tickets are for Colombus, Ohio, and Denver, Colorado. Information on dates and prices, as well as an opportunity to purchase tickets online, are available at ticketmaster.com.
June 15, 1999- Rene Is Doing Well Obtained from the Color of My Love Message Board: A fan of Celine who met her last night at her concert in Amsterdam says that Celine told those in attendance at the show that Rene is doing well. His treatments have been going good. More information on this matter will come as received. May 17, 1999- Pray for Rene Since Rene was diagnosed with cancer on his neck over a month ago, there has been much speculation to how everything will turn out. Rumors have been flying, and no one really knows what to believe. There is only one who knows exactly how everything will turn out, and that is God. As Rene and Celine work together to overcome this roadblock in their lives, please remember to pray for them. Your role as a fan of Celine will provide them with strength. We can only hope things will turn out for the best. We love you, Celine.
May 15, 1999- Cancelled European Tour Dates As I'm sure you all know, because of Rene's cancer treatment and therapy, Celine has had to change plans for the European leg of the Let's Talk About Love concert tour. Several European dates have been cancelled, and not all are able to be rescheduled. For dates and more in-depth information, check out Celine's official web site at http://www.celineonline.com
April 9, 1999- Celine Cancels Gigs to Stay with Hubby Celine Dion has canceled several concerts so she can be with her husband as he recovers from skin cancer surgery on his neck. 
Omaha Civic Auditorium - Omaha, NB
Dion, 31, married Rene Angelil in 1994. Her concerts from April 13 to May 7 will be rescheduled for the fall.
"Obviously, this a very delicate time for Rene and I, but we have been blessed with some fo the very best medical attention in the world," Dion said in a statement. "Rene is the biggest priority in my life, and I want to be by his side as he continues his treatment."
Angelil, 56, who has managed Dion since she was a teenager, was released from the hospital last week and will receive radiation therapy for six weeks.
