Last night, we went to see Celine Dion at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace on the Strip. She was fantastic. Her voice is one of the best in the industry, so clear, so penetrating. She entertained the audience throughout the show, which lasted for two hours from 7.30 pm.
Celine sang all her hits. Fairly early on she launched into The Power of Love, which I used to hear regularly on the radio where I worked 20 years ago. She was backed up by other musicians and singers. One young African American, who performed with her briefly, also had a great voice. The stage was flexible and the sets changed constantly. Celine herself changed her dress five times. Four of them stretched to the floor, and she showed a bit of leg through those star-studded outfits.
Celine actually showed a little more. She surprised us when video images were displayed of her in intimate moments with her children. And her much older husband. While these displayed, the gentle, French-Canadian Celine sang her heart out. A star takes a risk sharing their children with the wider world. But she did this. I think it really endeared her to the audience.
The show had all its special effects, flashy lights, glitz and illusions. At one moment, the curtain lifted to show Celine centre-stage in outfit number four singing yet another song. On the two large auditorium walls left and right of the stage, screens displayed her image as she sang. But it was all an illusion. The three images of Celine were pre-recorded. The real Celine emerged from the back of the lower-level audience, walking slowly towards the stage, singing and touching people as she moved forward. While the real Celine sang a few notes, the pre-recorded images paused and waited for the real one to finish. Then, the Celine images resumed, while the real Celine paused, greeting people in the front rows. Soon, the three images of Celine plus the real one hit the notes together, becoming a charming, simultaneous Celine Dion quartet.
I said already that Celine Dion has a clear, penetrating voice. Her ability to hit the really high notes and still sound magnificent commands awe and respect. She does this in the Power of Love. And her finale was, you guessed it, Titanic. As she sings this greatest of her hits, you think of Jack and Rose, played by Leo da Caprio and Kate Winslet. In your mind's eye, you see them on the ship's deck when the sun sets on Titanic for the last time..14th April 1912. In this song, Celine's high voice almost hits the very stars in the sky that chilly night, above a ship sailing towards promise and glory, but above an ocean whose agenda was more sinister.
For more than a century, the world has been captivated by the story of Titanic. For more than 20 years, fans the world over have been captivated by Celine Dion. She will continue to win hearts in the years ahead, I have no doubt.
After the show, Jean and I returned to Paris. That is, we returned to the Paris Casino. Being gluten-intolerant, I shouldn't really have beer. I had been drinking gin n' tonic, but I thought these were a bit boring. I'd never had a Martini before, so I ordered one from the waitress. Here in 'Vegas, if you're at a gaming table, drinks are free. You just slip the waitress a $1 tip. My first Martini tasted great. I really didn't feel affected. It was like lolly water, really. "I'll have another Martini, please!", I often said to the waitress last night. I had about four or five free Martinis. Finally, Jean said I shouldn't have any more. This turned out to be very good advice. I'll say one thing though. If you want to avoid hangovers, just drink Martinis!
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