There's a reason
Celine Dion's most famous hit comes from the most momentous film epic of our time. Grand statements and performances are what she does best. More than Whitney, Bette, Patti or any other modern vocalist, the northern queen of balladic boom invests her material with so much scope, reach, and power that every song becomes an incredible emotional outpouring. And when she turns her glow on us, the effect can be mesmerizing. "Don't give up on your faith/Love comes to those who believe it/And that's the way it is," she sings on "That's the Way It Is," the radiant
Max Martin-produced first single from ALL THE WAY. Translation: I'm here to lift up you where you belong. In that vein, ALL THE WAY is a Celine dream. You get nine massive hits, such as "The Power of Love," "Because You Loved Me (Theme from Up Close and Personal)," "I'm Your Angel," and the Grammy- and Academy Award-winning "My Heart Will Go On (Love Theme from Titanic)," plus seven brand new songs -- including an eerily powerful duet with the late Frank Sinatra, a revelatory version of "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," and collaborations with
Dianne Warren, Shania Twain producer
John "Mutt" Lange, and the aforementioned Martin. Of course, each of these formidable figures knows that his or her duty is to stand back and let Dion do her thing, and so many of the productions are simply sonic white walls on which the diva extraordinaire paints her vision with magnificent gestures. And that's all she needs. The world of music rarely produces art this sweeping, and Dion's many fans will welcome this long, lush parade of hits and new performances with joy and enrapt awe. --
Peter Rutter
