English was the language of opportunity for Céline Dion

English was the language of opportunity for Céline Dion

 

Céline Dion, a Quebec native, made a living singing in French in Quebec. Céline learned how to sing in English, eventually becoming bilingual, and is now a world-renowned multibillionaire living in Las Vegas.
Would this have happened if she had continued singing only in French? I really don’t think she would have captured the lucrative U.S. market with French songs. Of course, the downside is that while she and her family may speak French at home they, most definitely, speak English when making those extremely lucrative recording and appearance deals and when dealing with fellow superstars.
Separatists are among those who are very happy that Céline is going to sing on the Plains of Abraham, although I’m not sure they’re as happy that 20 per cent of the songs will be in English.
How come Quebec separatists can celebrate the success of a Céline Dion, who sings in English, earns tons and tons of money in English and lives in the U.S. the majority of her time, while denying other Quebec children the opportunity to learn English? How come Quebec separatists don’t have a problem with separatist politicians ensuring their children learn English while denying the same opportunity to the children of the average francophone?
I have absolutely nothing against Céline Dion. She has a magnificent voice. I just wonder why it’s acceptable for some of their children to learn English but not for others. As far as I can see the dividing line is money— if you’re rich, English is OK, as opposed to being average or poor and government restricted only to French.

Salina native recalls time

Salina native recalls time as Celine Dion's back-up singer

Toni Forbes had flown to Las Vegas with friends to enjoy rest, relaxation and a concert by singer Celine Dion.
The next thing Forbes knew, she had been hired as a backup singer for Dion at Dion's Vegas theater.
"There was a guitar player there, and I started singing with him," Forbes said. "After we finished two songs, an agent of Celine Dion gave me his card."
For the next four years, between 2004 and 2008, the Salina native was flown back and forth from her Kansas City, Mo., home to Vegas almost every two weeks to sing harmony with the legendary diva on some of her most famous tunes, including "The Power of Love," "Taking Chances" and the Oscar-winning "Titanic" song, "My Heart Will Go On."
For Forbes, it was a dream come true. Especially considering she had been born with cerebral palsy and was never expected to live a long life.
"I've been extremely blessed," said Forbes, 49. "My cerebral palsy is mild compared to others."
Here for surgery
Forbes returned to her hometown in March to have knee replacement surgery and follow-up rehabilitation at Salina Regional Health Center. She chose to have the surgery in Salina because her sister-in-law still lived here and could help with her rehabilitation.
On Friday, Forbes treated the physical therapy staff and a patient on the hospital's fourth floor with an impromptu serenade that included a couple of selections from the musical "The Sound of Music."
Born in Salina
Forbes was born Harriet Garrison in Salina in 1963, one of a set of triplets who were photographed as infants by the Salina Journal. The Journal continued to write updates on the triplets until their graduation in 1982 from Salina Central High School.
Forbes said she started singing in church at age 3 and then with her mother at home.
"I was homebound most of the time, and this was something my mom could do with me since I couldn't do all the physical things," she said.
Forbes received vocal and opera training at Emporia State University before moving to Kansas City, Mo., where she has lived for 22 years and works for the Social Security Administration 800 hotline. She has an 18-year-old son who lives at home.
Didn't believe it
When Forbes went to Las Vegas at age 41 and was asked if she'd like to sing backup for Dion, she didn't believe it at first.
"I asked her if she did this often, and she said no, but that she sought talent out whenever she could," Forbes said. "She liked my energy, and she could relate to people with special needs."
All good things ...
So for four years, Forbes flew to Vegas, where she leaned on a cane when performing and had a stool handy in case she had to sit down because of fatigue.
"Onstage, I had to be really careful, because there were so many electrical cords going everywhere and you couldn't see, for the most part, because of the stage lights," she said.
Dion couldn't have been a sweeter person, Forbes said.
"My dad got sick one time, and she sent him flowers," she said. "She's a really genuine person, a good person."
Forbes' run as a backup singer came to an end in 2008, when Dion decided to close her Vegas show to concentrate on family issues. Forbes went back to her normal life in Kansas City with great memories of her time in the Vegas spotlight.
"It was a wonderful time," she said. "And it's how I refinished my house."

 

Celine Dion to play Quebec City

Celine Dion to play Quebec City show this summer

Pop megastar Celine Dion is aiming to conquer Quebec City's Plains of Abraham this summer with her only show outside Las Vegas this year. Dion will appear on July 27 for a single concert. She also played the Plains in 2008 as part of the city's 400th-anniversary celebrations.
Unlike that gig, this one will cost fans.

Promoter QuebeComm said at a news conference today that 60,000 tickets will be available, with prices ranging from $69 to $299 including services and fees.
Sales for the general public will start on April 6.
Dion will sing all her hits, with about 80 per cent of the show in French and 20 per cent in English.
Dion spends most of her time in Las Vegas where she performs at Caesars Palace.
Rene Angelil, Dion's husband and manager, says the timing was ideal for the Quebec show as were the partners.