Céline Dion Album: “D'Elles”

I will comment on each track individually:

1. ET S'IL N'EN RESTAIT QU'UNE is a very good first track out of the album. I enjoy this one a great deal. It is very modern, and yet, has a flair of POUR QUE TU M'AIMES ENCORE. It reiterates the same topic. The "I-would-do-anything-for-you"-type of song. Very well written by Françoise Dorin, an author who has illustrated herself over the past 30 years in literature, and in movies as well.

2. IMMENSITE has grown on me. I enjoy this one as well. This is an interesting song written by a young author who specializes in writing on lesbian love. This is a well-crafted song.

3. I really like the beat of A CAUSE. This is a little different for a French song by Celine. Once again, Françoise Dorin wrote it. It almost sounds like a piece taken out of a book. Very well crafted as well, with a nice dance beat.

4. JE CHERCHE l'OMBRE is another nice tune written by Lise Payette, born in Verdun, France but educated in Quebec. Interesting choice of texts since she is known to be a feminist in her own right. This song is anything but. It is well-written. It is a very sensual song, overshadowed by a lot of sincerity meant to denote intimacy in the light of love vs. the strict physicial approach.

5. MES PARADIS is a nice song. The tune itself reminds me of LES DERNIERS SERONT LES PREMIERS from D'eux. It is a nice catchy song. It feels like it's been heard before. This being said, it is a nice song on the feeling of longing for her "paradise" that she is seeking.

6. LA DIVA is a great song, which I did not know what to do with originally. I always liked Maria Callas. Her voice is so pure to me. I can see why Celine admires her. The track is nice, and could be a single, based on her show on Canadian TV. Celine mentioned that she has always felt a special connection to La Callas. Maybe a movie in the works? The idea is out. She is proving on the last minute of the song, that she may have the chops. The song is about the despair that the Callas felt throughout her life, and how music rescued her from her dark moments. Celine has had a similar path whereby music has "saved" her from the dull moments of her earlier part of life, where boredom of school set in. Written by Denise Bombardier, a Canadian author.

7. FEMME COMME CHACUNE is one of the songs I like least. The intro reminds me of another song by Celine entitled CHERCHE ENCORE, which has never really been a favorite of mine. Not quite a filler, but just easy to overlook. I don't know the author. This song sounds very French for some reason.

8. SI J'ETAIS QUELQU'UN is an OK song. I don't quite know what to do with this song. Not bad, but I am just on the fence as to liking it. It is a bit dull, and contributes to the CD getting 4 stars.

9. JE NE SUIS PAS CELLE feels like one of Christine Orban. A bit tedious to read with many details. The tune fits to the lyrics, but it is quite boring, and almost depressing. I guess that's what they went for, as it works for that purpose. This reminds me of the song TU NAGES, which is a drag in and of itself (just a personal opinion). It feels like it takes ages to finish.

10. Written by a playwright, LE TEMPS QUI COMPTE reminds me of DESTIN as well. The texture of the lyrics seem to mirror the time spent since D'EUX for some reason. Pretty good soung. More upbeat.

11. LETTRE DE GEORGE SAND A ALFRED DE MUSSET is written by George Sand, a great figure of French literature from the XIX century. It sounds like it's a page of literature that is coming to life. This song, while well crafted lyrically (taken from an actual letter from the author to her lover Alfred de Musset), which means that it almost does not feel like it should be put to a tune. It is working OK though. Not a favorite of mine.

12. ON S'EST AIME A CAUSE is one of my favorite songs on the entire album. It is beautiful, and an extension of track 3 A CAUSE (written by same author). I enjoy listening this song an awful lot. Celine's voice is at its best. It is about the reason why one would fall in love, and fast-forwarding many years, and realizing that the present time requires for love to be established DESPITE many ailments that may have crept into the relationship. It really is a nice reflection on the theory of love and relationships. To me, this song seems to go with MES PARADIS, track # 5 on this album. The progression of these three songs (3,5 and 12) seem to tell a story of their own. Well done.

13. BERCEUSE (lullaby) is an OK song. It sounds like a lullaby too, which is great. Canadian-native Janette Bertrand wrote the song. She is also a comedienne. The only hang-up I have here is that it is hard for me to differentiate this tune from the DIVA song. On that song she mentions being grateful to know the Callas, and that she is the reason why she is on stage, while this one seems to be putting the stress on her life on stage because of her son. It is a bit confusing to me. I know that this is not supposed to be a book, but because the authors are so prominent, I don't seem to be able to separate the two.

So, overall, this is a very good album. My favorite tracks are 1-3, 6 and 12. The least favorite ones are 8, 9 and 11. The others are all good. I think this is a very original concept, which will prove to be another highlight in French music. I would definitely recommend it.

Ok, it's not Jean-Jacques Goldman, and it's not young Celine anymore.

D'elles portrays a collection of songs written by different women from the french and franco-canadian scene. I'll go through them one by one:

Et s'il n'en restait qu'une: 4/5

**** First single off the album, a very powerful and sentimental ballad, you can almost hear the old celine in this one.

Immensite: 4/5

**** A very nice song, second single. Great music by Veneruso, who wrote many songs in celine's last french album. The string arrangements are very nice.

A cause: 3/5

**** A fast-paced , catchy song, kind of melodramatical. Still, i think there's something missing. The arrangements are not perfect, and celine sounds nasal.

Je cherche l'ombre: 5/5

**** One of the best songs in the album, if not the best. Beautiful music, mixing the piano with kenas, violins and accordeon.. quite a la francaise. Celine's voice sounds soft and pure, and then powerful and still pure.

Les paradis: 2.5/5

***** Filler material.. sounds like "Contre Nature" but with less quality in the writing. I skip this one.

La Diva: 4/5

***** Weird song.. Celine sings along Maria Callas,kinda reminds me of "Papillon", but a little more nasal. There's a problem with some high notes, Celine seems to be stretching to get up there. Good song though, you get a few seconds Celine singing lirical.

Femme comme chacune: 2/5

***** Bad song, celine's voice sounds awful, and the song itself is bad contemporary, trashy pop. Skip it

Si j'etais quelqu'un: 3.5/5

***** Nice song.. it varies from soft to bombastic/rocky.. you'll see. Not bad, but forgettable.

Je ne suis pas celle 3.5/5

***** The beginning sounds like "Tu Nages", but not as good as that one. It looks like a Lara Fabian song... too soap-opera dramatic.

Le temps qui compte: 4/5

***** Very nice and catchy song. Also sounds like "Contre Nature", it could be a good choice for a single.

Lettre de George Sand a Alfred de Musset: 2.5/5

***** hmmm Celine whispers too much in this one. Doesn't sound too nice. It's a slow and boring song.

On s'est aime a cause: 5/5

***** Great song, it's a variation from song #3 but a lot better, more ballad-like. It got stuck in my head for some days. I would really like to see this as a single, although I don't think that will happen.

Berceuse: 4.5/5

***** Berceuse, which means "lullaby", is a very beautiful soft song, alla "Memoire d'Abraham", just the piano, the strings and Celine. The lyrics seem to be dedicated to her son, Rene-Charles Angelil.

I think it is a wonderful record. Of course, very difficult to beat "D'eux" from 1995 but still Celine sounds as fresh as ever. When she sings in her native tongue she is definitely better.

This is Celine's best work in a long time, IMO. Her voice is still flawless. It's nice to hear her work with new people, too. The packaging for this album is very nice too.

A superb piece!!! Delicate and beautifully done!!! I have followed Celine's voice for many years now as she alone has lifted me to the heavens. This album is a splendid body of work with her native voice at its finest. As if one is listening to the strings.

If you love 'The French Album' and 'On Ne Change Pas' ... do purchase this. These three albums alone were worth the wait for her gifts are majestic in French. Thank you Celine for you will never know what your music has done for me. I listen to the voice yet my heart hears the notes...you are an angel and an instrument from above.

A woman fully embraced.

Bravo Celine... A standing ovation!!!