Dion

Dion, Warren add tune to 'Song': Pic closes Toronto fest Saturday

The final strains of the Toronto Film Festival belong to Celine Dion and longtime collaborator Diane Warren.

Dion has recorded "Unfinished Songs" as the end-credits tune for "Song for Marion," which closes the fest Saturday night at the Roy Thomson theater. Written by Warren, who's been nominated six times for an Oscar but never won, "Unfinished Songs" is among more than a dozen collaborations with Dion, including "Because You Loved Me."

"We go way back and I think we're a good combination, particularly for this song," Warren told Variety. "She had done her show from 7:30 to 9:30 that night and then recorded between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. That's why Celine is Celine -- she really has an amazing work ethic."

Warren said "Unfinished Songs" fits well with "Song for Marion," a music-based dramedy starring Terence Stamp, Vanessa Redgrave and Gemma Arterton. Pic centers on a grumpy elderly man whose wife persuades him to join an unconventional local choir. The Weinstein Co. is handling domestic release.

Cutting Edge Group CEO Philip Moross, who is producing alongside Ken Marshall, brought together Dion and Warren, who saw the film in rough cut. It's the first feature production credit for Cutting Edge, which has provided music services for more than 200 films.

"As a connoisseur of great movie songwriters, my dream has always been to work with Diane Warren," Moross said. "What Diane was able to do with her work on 'Song for Marion' was to find the heart of the movie and put that heart into a beautiful chorus for Celine. It was amazing to witness."

Four-year-old CEG has gained notice by ponying up the money for scoring, clearances and music supervision in a film; it then recoups from such sources as soundtrack and sheet-music sales, licensing and royalties from international ticket sales and TV deals. Earlier this year, it closed a multi-picture slate deal with Endgame Entertainment and entered into an agreement last month with Megan Ellison's Annapurna Pictures.

CEG has invested in over 200 films, most notably "The King's Speech," in exchange for music publishing rights. CEG's films at TIFF include the opening night selection "Looper," "Song for Marion," "End of Watch," "Seven Psychopaths," "Imogene" and "Writers."

As for Warren, she hopes that "Unfinished Songs" may lead to that elusive Oscar.

"I'm a six-time loser," Warren said, "so maybe this is my lucky seventh."

Céline Dion On Motherhood

Céline Dion On Motherhood: “I’m More Grounded Now Than Ever Before”

Mom-of-three Céline Dion bares just about all in the pages of the September issue of V magazine. Posing for a series of sultry pics for photographer Sebastian Faena, the Canadian songstress, who has sons René-Charles, Nelson and Eddy with her husband René Angélil, opens up about music and motherhood.
On being an open book: “I’ve been an open book all my life, and I think that’s why people like me. I’ve been criticized for it, but I’m not forcing myself to be the person that you see…. For me to tell someone that my husband had cancer, that we were struggling to have kids, or whatever we’ve gone through, talking about my life lets people know the real me. I’ve shared everything with them.They come for the whole package. I don’t think they just come for the songs.”
On motherhood: “I thought I had a life before, but until I was a mom, I had no idea. Why would I want a hit? Why would I want to win awards? There is nothing I can hope and wish for my career: I can just hope to be blessed as a mother for the rest of my life the way I am now.”
On her legacy: “Motherhood. Without a doubt. I did not lose myself to try to realize a dream. Everyone thinks that now I’ve climbed this ladder and I’m at the top of the top of the top. I really see the opposite. When I was five and nine and twelve, I was on the top of the ladder and I was looking down. My head was in the clouds. In time I came down the ladder. I’m a mother now. I’m more grounded now than ever before.”

 

Move over Celine Dion

Move over Celine Dion, Guns N' Roses to play Las Vegas residency

Guns N' Roses are going from "Paradise City" to Sin City .
Axl Rose may have refused to play alongside his former GN'R bandmates at the band's Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame induction in April, but the singer apparently has no issue with having his new lineup playing a residency in Las Vegas.
Borrowing a page from decidedly less metal acts like Celine Dion and Elton John, Guns N' Roses will perform 12 dates at The Joint at The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, running from Halloween to Nov. 24, Bilboard magazine reported.
The band officially announced their Vegas gig with a terse tweet, "#VegasTakeOver w/ #AppetiteForDemocracy residency @TheJointLV 10/31-11/24 On sale Fri @10am http://t.co/JVOp5zbf"
"They were incredible; we watched them perform their timeless hits and soon-to-be legendary songs off 'Chinese Democracy,'" AEG Live exec Bobby Reynolds said in a statement. "Immediately following, AEG Live and Hard Rock began turning our fantasy of having them as a resident artist into a reality."
Tickets, starting at $45, go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. for the residency, which is called "Appettite for Democracy" - a nod to the band's classic album, "Appettite for Destruction."

Celine Dion Announces New Year's Eve

Celine Dion Announces New Year's Eve And Winter 2013 Performances At The Colosseum At Caesars Palace

Fresh off the heels of a hugely successful run of sold-out summer shows and following the 100^th performance celebrated on Sunday, Aug. 12, Celine has announced the addition of 29 more performances from Dec. 28, 2012 to March 16, 2013. Show dates are:

Dec. (2012): 28, 30, 31 

Jan. (2013): 3, 5, 6, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20  

Feb. (2013): 19, 20, 22, 26, 27 

March (2013): 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16  

Ticket prices are $55, $95, $140, $175 and $250 (plus applicable fees) and may be purchased beginning Friday, August 17 at 10 a.m. Tickets can be purchased in person at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace Box Office, open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., by calling 877-4CELINE (877-423-5463). All Ticketmaster orders may be subject to additional service charges and fees.  A variety of exclusive VIP ticket packages are also available on Ticketmaster.  For groups of 10 or more, call 1-702-946-4799.
Celine at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace is a glamorous show, directed by famed Grammy Awards producer Ken Ehrlich, that features a 31-piece orchestra and band and includes Celine's biggest hits mixed with timeless classics that pay tribute to some of the most celebrated songs and artists of all time. Fans can also take a peek at the behind-the-scenes action at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on Travel Channel's new show, Trip Flip. Host Ben Kreischer surprises two vacationers with tickets to Celine's show and a backstage tour including a visit with Celine! Don't miss the Las Vegas episode of Travel Channel's Trip Flip on Thursday, August 16 at 9/8c.

singer Celine

I Don't believe it! X Factor and Strictly go head to head over singer Celine 

 

If they were squabbling over Madonna, Kylie, Britney or Beyonce, I could understand the almighty clash...
But the true battle between BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing and ITV’s X Factor is for... Celine Dion. And it’s become bitchy.
The rival shows have been fighting their hearts out for the powerhouse ­vocalist over past weeks. Amazingly, I’m told Strictly has won – and Celine will belt out some classic hits on the ballroom show in the lead-up to Christmas.
It is bound to annoy X Factor bosses that the French-Canadian singer – famed for THAT Titanic song – has chosen to warble her way on to the BBC to appear ­alongside Tess Daly and Brucie instead of joining Team Cowell.
A pal of Celine’s tells me the Beeb has agreed to pick up ALL her costs to fly in and appear on the show to promote album Water and a Flame – which features a stonker of a duet with Stevie ­Wonder.
“It’s been insane,” says my mole. “X Factor wanted contestants to fly out to Las Vegas and sing live. Celine doesn’t tend to do anything like that these days because she’s a perfectionist with her vocals.
“She always likes pre-recorded ­performances because she freaks out big time if she gets a note wrong.
“Celine’s taken advice and decided Strictly’s the way forward. They said they’d pick up all her costs and pulled out all the stops to get her on board.
“She will be flown in with her team, perform ‘live’ on a pre-record and jet back to Vegas to continue her shows there. It will be a whistle-stop visit but will do the job to promote the album.
“X factor must be gutted. They thought Celine was one of the secret weapons they could pull in, especially with so many artists unavailable or on down-time between albums.”
But little does Strictly realise what it’s got itself into. My source says it could cost more than £200,000 to make her performance a reality.
“She doesn’t do anything by halves. She will have a team of people – stylists, make-up, hair and her PA. Then there’s first-class tickets for ­everyone, luxury hotels and expenses. It will cost an absolute fortune for the show.”
There are few divas that ­command such a huge amount of ­attention – and Celine’s one hell of a diva.

 

Celine Dion song sparked fight

 

A dad-to-be has been jailed for six months over an attack sparked by an argument over a Celine Dion love song played at a party.

Christopher Buckley, 31, of Balford Street, Leyland, punched his former friend after he had become involved in an argument with Buckley’s then partner about singing a “depressing” Celine Dion tune at a party at the victim’s home in June 2011.
Preston Crown Court heard the victim had asked the couple to leave his home but was punched once in the face by Buckley as they left through a garden gate.
The 27-year-old dad from Leyland suffered a broken eye socket and cheekbone as a result of the blow and was knocked unconscious.
Recorder Anthony Cross QC said:” The consequence of your actions towards him have been extremely significant.
“He has suffered both physical and psychological problems and I’m satisfied he has suffered significant harm.
“The sad fact of the matter is you have a bad record. This is not the first time you have appeared before the courts.”
Buckley, who wore a shirt and tie, had denied section 20 assault up until his trial was due to start.
Prosecuting, Roger Baldwin said: “At that time the victim was one of his best friends. Everyone was having a laugh.
“There was a dispute between the victim and the defendant’s girlfriend about the sort of music being played. She wanted to sing a Celine Dion song and swapped the music over.
“He changed it back. She went out into the garden.“
He described how the victim had tried to make amends with the woman but the defendant had told him not to speak her “like that”.
After words were exchanged, the couple were asked to leave.
The court heard witnesses saw the victim being punched and lying on the ground.
Buckley was on a conditional discharge at the time of the offence for another incident which had happened just eight weeks earlier.
Defending, Vanessa Thompson said he had two young sons from one relationship and a baby on the way with his current partner.
She said: “It was a single blow which regrettably caused the injuries that he is to be sentenced for.
“Mr Buckley has lost a long term friend and group of friends and intends to move away from the area.”

 

Celine Dion and Mary J. Blige Also Rumored to Be In Running

Mariah Carey, 'American Idol' Judge? Celine Dion and Mary J. Blige Also Rumored to Be In Running

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Mariah Carey, Celine Dion and Mary J. Blige are among the heady names being tossed around as potential judges for "American Idol" after Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez skipped out on next season.
Star power, after all, is what judges add to TV talent shows that otherwise feature unknowns whose performances can range from surprisingly good to stunningly awful.
But Fox's "American Idol," trying to right itself after shedding viewers in its 11th season, may also need to play a numbers game - as in the age of the judges brought in to revitalize a show whose audience is getting smaller and older, neither a plus for advertisers.
"They need judges who will resonate with young people," said media analyst Brad Adgate.
Carey, Dion and Blige, undeniably winning stars, all are in their early 40s.
The median age for the "American Idol" audience rose above 50 last season, the first time ever, and Adgate suggests it take a page from "The X Factor" playbook, as devised by its creator and producer, Simon Cowell.
"Cowell beat them to the punch" by hiring Britney Spears and Demi Lovato after "X Factor," the Fox version of Cowell's British hit, stumbled in its debut last season. Spears, 30, and Lovato, 19, replaced Paula Abdul, 50, and Nicole Scherzinger, 34.
(Worth noting: The male judges, Cowell, 52, and producer Antonio "L.A." Reid, 56, are staying put for season two.)
Lopez announced her departure on Friday, a day after Tyler (an unlikely senior statesman at 64) said he was leaving "American Idol" to concentrate on his role as Aerosmith's frontman. Both appeared for two seasons.
"I honestly feel like the time has come that I have to get back to doing the other things that I do that I've put kind of on hold because I love 'Idol' so much," the 42-year-old actress-singer-dancer told "Idol" host Ryan Seacrest on his radio show.
Fox may be scouting for an entirely new panel, with some reports suggesting that original "Idol" judge Randy Jackson, 56, could shift to another role while Carey, whom he manages, becomes a judge. Jackson's and Carey's publicists did not respond to requests for comment.
The makeover comes at a critical time. In May, "American Idol" posted its lowest-rated finale ever after a season that marked its poorest showing yet among young adult viewers age 18 to 49. A pattern of overall declining viewership continued for the show, which fell from the No. 1 spot for the first time since the 2005-06 season, placing second to NBC's "Sunday Night Football."
"Idol" needs to stem its audience losses and level out, Adgate said, which would be enough to keep it a Top 10 program and a "force to be reckoned with."
Among the younger possibilities who might help, 19-year-old Miley Cyrus fits the Lovato mold. Speculation also has focused on former "Idol" winner Carrie Underwood, 29, and finalists Jennifer Hudson and Adam Lambert, both 30.
Lambert addressed the possibility this week in an interview in London, where he appeared in concert with Queen.
"Well, nothing's been confirmed yet. If I were to be asked, I'd love the job. I think that would be great. That's 'if,' because nothing's been asked yet," he said, adding that he'd enjoy being a panelist who could "help other artists reach their dreams."
Nigel Lythgoe, an "Idol" executive producer who recently joked about hiring Jerry Lewis and Charlie Sheen as judges, was circumspect about Lambert.
"The minute 'American Idol' is discussed and judges are discussed there's gonna be a lot of names flying around, and this is an interesting one," he said. "I happen to like Adam Lambert a great deal but I'm not sure where this has come from probably from Adam Lambert's fan club. We'll wait and see."
Youth isn't all, of course. Other factors at play involve the fan base that judges bring or develop, their skill on live TV and their chemistry with fellow panelists.
Casting a talent show judge, while less daunting than making a Supreme Court pick, can be tricky. The right person has enough celebrity cachet and success to be desirable, but not so much to be unattainable. It's unlikely that Rihanna, at least for now, sees a judgeship as a career ambition.
Predicting who will flourish in a reality TV setting is another hurdle. Who would have guessed, for instance, that the hard-living Tyler would display such impish charm?
Conversely, popular daytime host Ellen DeGeneres was a short-lived "Idol" judge, appearing ill-at-ease and timid in her contestant critiques. Songwriter Kara DioGuardi had serious music credentials but wasn't ready for prime-time.
Whether panelists will mesh, or for how long, also is hard to predict. The love-hate banter between Cowell and Abdul delighted viewers on "Idol" but had worn thin when they reunited on "X Factor." On NBC's "The Voice," country star Blake Shelton and rocker Adam Levine have proved a fun and feisty duo.
"Idol" producers have so far been circumspect while fans toss around names like Carey, Dion and Blige. While millions of dollars are at stake for networks, celebrities weighing a career move to "Idol" know a hefty paycheck may be just the start of their windfall.
When Lopez signed a reported $12 million, two-year deal with "Idol," she hadn't triggered real excitement in the record world for years and her box-office value had taken a hit with flops including "The Back-Up Plan."
But on "Idol," the glamorous, warmly appealing Lopez restored her popularity and converted it into new opportunities, including a TV show about global Latin talent. Tyler's image adjustment did the same for him.
"Who would have thought Tyler would be doing Burger King commercials and Lopez would be hosting 'Saturday Night Live?'" analyst Adgate said. "They got back into the mindset of pop culture followers."
 

Celine Dion after a health break

Celine Dion, back from a vocal cord injury that sidelined her in February, plans to return to her residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas this weekend.

CAPTION

By Ethan Miller, Getty Images

The Canadian pop star is due to do 36 shows beginning Saturday and running through Aug. 19. Dates announced this week: June 9, 10, 12, 13, 16, 17, 19, 20, 23, 24, 26, 27, 30; July 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 24, 25, 28, 29, 31; Aug: 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19.Tickets run $55-$250, plus fees. Tickets also may be purchased via thecolosseum.com or ticketmaster.com. VIP packages also are available.

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One of the songs guaranteed on the Dion playlist is the hit My Heart Will Go On, from the smash movie Titanic.
Earlier in the week, Titanic star Kate Winslet caused controversy when she said on the Today show that every time she enters a room with a piano player, he or she starts playing the song and that hearing it makes her feel like throwing up. "I just have to sit there, you know, kind of straight-faced with a massive internal eye roll," Winslet said.
Dion's typically diplomatic response: First a joke. "If I just count how many times I've sung it, maybe it'll get me sick."
Then she said, more seriously, "'My Heart Will Go On gave me the opportunity to be associated with a classic that will live forever."

Celine Dion Responds To Kate Winslet's 'Titanic'

Celine Dion has finally responded to Kate Winslet's statement that "My Heart Will Go On," the theme song to Winslet's career-launching film "Titanic," makes her sick.
On the "Today" show on Monday, Dion took the criticism in stride — though the look on her face when the topic came up suggested she was maybe a little disappointed in Winslet's slight on the song — and even admitted to some empathy for the Oscar-winning actress, who told MTV News in March that the song still follows her wherever she goes.
"If I just count how many times I've sung it, maybe it'll get me sick," Dion joked to "Today" correspondent Savannah Guthrie. "If she feels tired just hearing it, and, like, throwing up, I'm glad she was not the one singing it."
Asked how she feels when she hears the song, Winslet responded swiftly, saying the song makes her "feel like throwing up." "No, I shouldn't say that," Winslet continued after giving the topic some thought. "No, actually, I do feel like throwing up."
Her words were not intended as in insult to Dion's song itself but rather the fact that it "haunts" her to this day. "I wish I could say, 'Oh listen, everybody! It's the Celine Dion song!' But I don't," Winslet said. "I just have to sit there, you know, kind of straight-faced with a massive internal eye roll."
The actress playfully explained that every time she walks into a bar or restaurant with a pianist and even during a recent interview, people think it's very clever to begin playing the notes to the ubiquitous Oscar- and Grammy-winning smash. "It's thrilling for people to surprise me with the Celine Dion song," the actress confessed.
For her part, Dion, who continues to perform "My Heart Will Go On" as part of her hugely successful years-long residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, was more diplomatic, simply saying, " 'My Heart Will Go On' gave me the opportunity to be associated with a classic that will live forever."