Many people criticize Céline's music for being too sappy and gushy-- this album proves that she is not and that she has an amazing gift.


She's better in French   April 28, 2002
Andy Agree (Omaha, NE)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful

I am not a Celine Dion fan - in English, that is. THIS is how she was meant to be heard! It isn't just "Celine singing in French" (a language I barely understand), it is Celine singing better songs, and singing them better. She offers none of the hyper-emotional power-belting so typical of her mega-hits, but well-inflected vocals that cover a range of emotions and musical styles. It's flat-out better music, thanks in no small part to the exquisite arrangements of Jean-Jacques Goldman.

Two tracks lead the pack: "Je Crois Toi" (I Believe You), Track 1, and On Ne Change Pas (People Don't Change), Track 3. They are so gorgeous, they alone make this a CD worth having. If I've had a rough day, I often put on these two songs and everything is better - they're that good. In "Je Crois Toi", Celine is alternately gentle, coaxing, emphatic, teasing and just plain thrilling. It is (to borrow a French phrase) a tour de force - a remarkable display of what she can do vocally. In the last minute of the song her voice flutters in tight little trills that send chills up my spine. "On Ne Change Pas" is a delightfully happy and melodic tune that builds gradually and then seems to bud, blossom and then take flight as the key changes suddenly in the middle of the song.

There are other songs I enjoy on the CD, notably the bluesy "Terre", "L'abandon" and "Dans Un Autre Monde". There are others that don't do much for me (hence the lack of a 5th star), but my overall comment is that THIS collection turned me into a Celine Dion fan.


A very good album, with flashes of brilliance   December 14, 1999
Tony Knight (Shropshire, England UK)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful

I love Celine doing what she does best in her native language. I don't know what all the words mean but, for an Englishman fluent in only his own language, a literal translation would surely spoil the flow of this excellent composition.

In my opinion the album is very much along the same lines as D'eux (1995). Both are a collaberation with Jean-Jacques Goldman. Both have a collection of good background listening songs with the odd one or two that stand out as truly superb. On ne change pas is my particular favourite, but looking at other reviews it seems we all have a particular favourite.

Overall a good addition to your collection if either you are an avid Celine fan, like French music or if you see it on special over Xmas.


moonlit melodies   December 31, 2004
Alejandra Vernon (Long Beach, California)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

Those who think of Las Vegas neon when Celine Dion is mentioned, would be surprised to find that her work in French is more like candlelight...and a moonlit serenity in songs like the brilliant "Je crois toi" and the final exquisite "S'il suffisait d'aimer". This album is a terrific collaboration with Jean-Jacques Goldman, who wrote 10 of the 12 tracks, and the other two, "Terre" and "Papillon" (one of my favorites) were composed by arranger Erick Benzi, whose orchestrations are also lovely and complimentary to Celine's voice.

The power and range of Celine's voice is extraordinary, but it is not used in a flashy way here, only to enhance and accentuate the music; the musicianship from everyone involved in this recording is exceptional, giving us a thoroughly satisfying CD for all Celine fans, those of us who mostly prefer her in French, and those who might be converted upon listening to this wonderful CD.
There are some big, lavish songs like the fabulous, "Tous les blues sont ecrits pour toi", but most have a delicacy to them, with Celine singing in a pure style with few flourishes.

Jean-Jacques Goldman, who has attained much popularity in France since the mid-'80s as a solo artist has a large body of work to his credit, alone and with other artists, and his work with Celine is stellar. The booklet insert has all the lyrics (only in French), the sound sparkles with clarity, and total playing time is 51'46.



I just can not believe myself! I must be an idiot....   November 4, 2002
Michael André Duvic (New Orleans, Louisiana United States of America)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

Okay. Let me put this simply...

I had been a HUGE fan of Céline's from the very first time I heard her voice well over a decade ago. I grew in awe as she grew in fame... until she became so popular, and so sappy..that I just got bored. I still bought her music, as a fan would. After not listening to this album for well over a year(if not two), I JUST decided to pop it in my cd player.

WHAT WAS I THINKING !? How could I have ignored this album for so long. I am absolutely stunned at the majority of the songs here - despite having heard them before.

Some favourites ? S'il Suffisait D'aimer , Je Crois Toi, Papillon, L'abandon.

People ! I kid you not - if you don't have this album...you're in serious loss of a side of Céline not enough people know. I really wish that Sony would push her French music MUCH harder. She's much more frail, humble, feeling, warm in her native tongue... Not so in-your-face, and cheesy...

Good Lord! BUY this cd!

Michael
New Orleans