Celine Dion - The Best Singer In The World

Céline Dion was born on Saturday, March 30, 1968 in the small town of Charlemagne, Quebec, Canada, with a singing voice that her mother encouraged. By the age of five she was performing for anyone who would listen.

In 1980 her mother brought her to agent/manager René Angélil, who so believed in her voice that he mortgaged his home to help finance her career. In 1981 they released her first record in her native French language, "La Voix du bon Dieu" ("The Voice of God"), that made her an instant star in Quebec. The following year she competed and won the gold medal at the Tokyo World Song Festival. Her career continued to blossom, and in 1987 she produced the album Incognito, which became a huge success. Approached by Swiss song writers Atilla Serefthug and Nella Martinetti she was chosen to represent Switzerland in the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest singing "Ne partez pas sans moi". By winning the Contest in Dublin, Ireland on April 30, 1988, she received a large boost to her career in Europe. Her first English-language album, Unison (1991), expanded her international recognition with the breakthrough single, "Where Does My Heart Beat Now".

Many of the hit singles that followed over the next ten years (including a cover of the James Bond song "If You Asked Me To", "Water from the Moon", and "Nothing Broken but My Heart") were written by Diane Warren, a composer best known for power ballads. However, Céline Dion finally showcased her talents as a songwriter when she co-wrote "Don't Save It All for Christmas Day" for the 1998 Christmas album, These Are Special Times and "Treat Her Like a Lady" on her Let's Talk About Love album, 1997.

In 2000, Dion began a two-year hiatus from the music industry. In that time, she gave birth to her child, and prepared plans for her biggest show to date, A New Day... Live in Las Vegas.

In 2002 after her two-year hiatus, she returned to the music world with a new album ("A New Day has Come") and a contract to play again in Las Vegas, Nevada. In March 2003 Céline was everywhere, on the 25 of March Céline's show opened in Las Vegas, her album One Heart was released and her own perfume line was revealed. And, in 2003, moviegoers once again heard Céline Dion's voice on the soundtrack to Mona Lisa Smile.

On March 25, 2003, Dion began a three-year engagement to play five nights a week at the Colosseum at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada. The show is put together by Franco Dragone.

Dion first conceived the idea for the show after seeing O by Dragone early into her break from recording. The show is described as a combination of dance, music and visual effects. It includes Dion performing her songs against an array of dancers and special effects. Even though the show did not get the best reviews from some critics it has been very well received by audiences, selling out every night since opening in March 2003.

In September 2004 the contract was extended into 2007. [1]

As of the week ending 17 July 2005, Dion has sold out 315 out of 384 Las Vegas shows.

Dion sold 322,000 tickets and grossed $43.9 million in the first half of 2005, the trade paper Pollstar reports. Billboard placed her show at #2 in the Mid-Year Concert Chart.

In October 2003 her French album 1 Fille & 4 Types was released. The album is yet again a collaboration between Céline and Jean Jacques Goldman (joined by 3 of his friends Gildas Arzel, Eric benzi & Jacques Veneruso) who had previously worked with her on "S'il suffisait d'aimer" and "D'Eux" (also known as the french album which sold 8 000 000 copies worlwide and which makes it the most sold french album of all times). Critics have called it Céline’s best and most natural album. Céline herself has referred to it as "the album of pleasure".

She is married to her manager René Angélil and has a son, René-Charles Angélil (born January 2001).

To date Céline has sold around 160 million albums making her the best selling female artist of all time.

Career achievements :

Has an estimated wealth of $320 million to $400 million.
According to RIAA, Celine got 47 Platinum certifications (which stands for 47 million albums for shipment) in the US. According to IFPI, Celine got 40 Platinum certifications (which stands for 40 million albums really sold) in Europe, making her also the best selling female artist in Europe.
In the US, Dion, Britney Spears, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Shania Twain, and the Dixie Chicks are the only female artists with multiple Diamond (shipped over 10 million copies) albums
On UK singles top Céline has: 2 No. 1s, 13 "Top 10" and 23 "Top 40" singles. On UK albums top: 5 No. 1, 10 "Top 10" and 14 "Top 40" albums.
On US The Billboard Hot 100 singles top Céline has: 5 No. 1s, 10 "Top 10" and 24 "Top 100" singles. On US The Billboard 200 albums top Céline has: 4 No. 1s and 9 "Top 10" albums.
Céline Dion performed the hit single of the film Titanic, the second best-selling CD of the 1990s, and her albums Falling into You and Let's Talk About Love are both in the third position, having sold more than 30 million copies each.