Online Reporter
MONTREAL. – When Céline Dion performed here ten years ago, it was the first time in seven years that she was performing and it was a mighty emotional night.
From the moment Celine Dion took the stage at the Bell Centre, emotions ran ridiculously high.
She fought back tears from the first moment and she had to dry her eyes on several occasions over the course of the show.
The crowd was as moved as the pop star.
The standing ovations just kept coming.
It was the Quebec superstar’s first concert in Montreal in seven years – the kickoff of a nearly-sold-out 10-date run at the arena – and it was also the first gig for her here since the death in January that year of her husband and manager, René Angélil.
She addressed that right off the top.
“I’m very happy to be here,” said Celine Dion back then.
“I just want to say I received all your words, your memories, all that energy.
“The last time that we saw each other, it was under very sad circumstances. But I want to make this a happy show, with strong emotions.
“The kids are doing good. I’m doing good. It’s time to smile and think of great memories.
“For sure, here in Montreal, I have to think of René and I know he’s here with us.”
At that point, she looked up and blew a kiss to the rafters.
Wherever Celine Dion performs – whether it’s in Las Vegas or South Africa – there’s a special connection to the audience.
But there’s something even more unique when she brings her show back to her hometown. The amazing thing about this show was that it had almost nothing in common with the Caesars Palace concert.
There were 22 of the 30 songs in the language of Charlebois – there were only eight English tunes and they were basically the monster hits.
This was really a stroll through Dion’s franco repertoire.
That’s the Céline the world knows and loves – or doesn’t love.
As soon as she stepped into ‘Because You Loved Me’, the hand gestures got bigger, the band pumped it up a few notches, and all of a sudden it was Céline dialed up to 10.
The comeback show was also a reminder of how Celine Dion commands the stage.
There is never a moment when she’s delivering anything less than her 110 per cent, like hockey players back in the day.
She wouldn’t have a clue how to mail in a performance.
She’s the ultimate old-school performer.
First and foremost it’s about real live singing – I know it’s a novel concept in today’s world of pre-fabricated auto-tuned ‘singers’ — and man, that voice was in stellar form that night.
There was her Prince homage, Purple Rain, complete with wailing lead guitar, followed by far and away the most swinging section with Love Can Move Mountains, River Deep, Mountain High and her exclamation point of a cover of Queen’s The Show Must Go On.
Then came the encores, including, of course, that little Irish ditty My Heart Will Go On, a couple more standing ovations, and then an image of Dion with her arms wrapped around Angélil.
So yeah, she wears her heart on her sleeve – and that’s just the way her fans like it.
Speaking of old-school, there was the crack band.
I mean who else tours with a line-up that includes a 14-piece orchestra, a five-piece brass section, three backing vocalists, a drummer and percussionist, a guitarist, bassist and piano-playing band leader.
That was not just another night in Celine Dion’s life. It was her return after tragedy and a seven-year absence.
Ten years later, as she returns to the stage, it feels like a song being replayed. – LeMonde/Mint
