Courage

When I read that Céline’s latest opus, Courage, debuted in the #1 spot on the Billboard Top 200 albums chart after it’s first full week of release, I cried. Obviously, because I am so proud of Céline and her endless accomplishments, but also because of the fact that she hadn’t had a #1 album since 2002. THAT’S SEVENTEEN YEARS PEOPLE! What the fucking fuck, America!?!

I shouldn’t need to remind anyone that since 2002’s A New Day Has Come, Céline has given us One Heart (2003), Miracle (2004), Taking Chances (2007), and of course, Loved Me Back To Life (2013). Suffice it to say, each of these should have reached the chart penthouse, yet here we are celebrating her seventeen year span between #1 albums like it’s not an atrocity. Nonetheless, this is her best album in six years and most certainly deserving of all the positive accolades and recognition it’s already receiving.

It may be a bit early because Courage has only been out two weeks, but I think this might be my absolute favorite album of hers since 1996’s Grammy Winner for ALBUM OF THE YEAR, Falling Into You. I’m sure you don’t need reminding because if you’re anything like me you typically give this album a spin about five times a week, but that diamond record gave us the classics, Because You Loved Me, All By Myself, and my personal favorite, It’s All Coming Back To Me Now.

I want to take you all now on an UNBIASED track-by-track journey through Courage. No doubt you will not be surprised to read that there is absolutely no filler anywhere to be found and each song is very much deserving of listening on repeat. So, as Céline says, “shall we go for it!?!”

Flying On My Own – This was the first taste of the album any of us got when she included a snippet of the song in her tour promo video. When the single was released over the summer, I of course gave it a hearty listen, but it slipped out my eardrums after a few days. Now, however, I have had this soon-to-be EDM (electronic dance music) classic on repeat for the past couple days. This song has been instrumental in helping me progress along with my book proposal. It’s uplifting lyrics and upbeat vibe will have any listener feeling like they too can soar like an eagle!

Lovers Never Die – Unless you have been living under a pop culture rock the past year or so, you should be aware that the 25th 007 film, No Time To Die, will finally be released on April 8, 2020. If the people who choose the James Bond theme music fail to reach out to Céline after hearing this already perfectly-suited-for-Bond song there may very well be riots in the streets. This dark, slinky jam finds Céline in a sultry spot that she showcases quite frequently throughout the album. The entire song is absolutely haunting from start to finish and her single word whisper at the end will send chills down any listeners spine.

Falling In Love Again – On an album full of incredibly important songs, this one might be one of the most important. We all know that in January 2016 Céline lost the love of her life, René, to cancer. (I have tears in my eyes just typing that last sentence…) For anyone who has ever lost a loved one for any variety of reasons, THIS is your song. Céline is here to tell us all that it is more than okay to fall in love again and who better to remind us of this than the woman who literally wrote the universal language of love that all humankind speak?

Lying Down – THIS IS MY FAVORITE SONG OFF THE ALBUM! It was released a month or so before the record as a promotional single and I had it on repeat nearly that entire time. It makes me wanna drive 100 mph down the freeway with the windows down and volume maxed. It’s the perfect single-along song and it’s lyrics of strength and empowerment make me feel like I can take on the world. The chords at a minute thirty six seconds bring a smile to my face every single time too. CÉLINE DION IS AMAZING!

Courage – We all know Céline’s favorite number is five, so I know there was no surprise, but only smiles when we all saw that the title track came fifth. This slow burner really tugs at the heartstrings and I find it nearly impossible to listen to without becoming misty eyed. Céline has been through so much and the fact that she is willing to share those struggles with us makes me feel blessed in ways that no one else could ever bring me to feel.

Imperfections – I’ll be honest, when this was released as the first official single I was a little disappointed. I thought Lying Down should have been chosen instead, but after seeing the video and letting the ABSOLUTELY PERFECT lyrics sink in, I realized that Team Céline made the right choice. Anyone and everyone can benefit from this jam, so it warms my heart knowing that this has become her biggest radio hit of the decade. I had this one on repeat for three days immediately preceding the album’s release and listened to it over a 150 times in that time span. It just makes me so fucking happy! THIS SONG IS PERFECT!

Change My Mind – The verses are really viby and melodic, but once the chorus hits, it soars to those Céline heights we all know and love. The backing beat also makes me think of Britney’s, “I’m A Slave 4 U.” This is in the slightest of ways, but I cannot help but make the connection. What a beautiful comparison. One legend to another.

Say Yes – Another highly important track. Céline is once again reminding both herself and her listeners that it is okay to love again after a love has been lost. This is one of the slower songs on the album, but her cautious delivery makes it that slow burner that clings to your heart in all the right ways.

Nobody’s Watching – The opening line immediately resonated with me and then as the song progressed, I fell even more in love. It’s honestly like Céline was peering through the window at a typical day of me at home writing. I take plenty of singing and dancing breaks to entertain both myself and my furbabies. Céline (the French Bulldog) and Leo (our cat) just adore it when I sing to them and I often need little breaks, so breaking out into any random song and dance always seems to excite the mood. This song is perfect to describe those moments and feelings.

The Chase – This is an absolutely beautiful love song and like the trillionth reason why Céline legitimately wrote the universal language of love. It is another aspect of the emotion that we didn’t even know we needed. She is so wise. Its mid-tempo feelings make me wanna just raise my hands in the air and wave my body slightly to and fro as if I were truly praising her at the Holy Sanctum: The Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace – the building that was constructed in accordance to the specifications of her voice.

For The Lover That I Lost – When I first heard this I felt like it sounded a lot like an old Sam Smith song then I learned that he in fact wrote this exclusively for Céline. I LOVE SAM SMITH, so making this discovery was a real treat! You can truly hear the vulnerability in her voice on this one and I absolutely love it. It creates another unique audible experience on an album full of them.

Baby – Initially, I think we were all hoping this would be a cover of Justin Bieber’s breakout smash, but I’m also certain none of us were disappointed when it wasn’t. Despite upbeat vibes and an insanely catchy chorus this song is kind of really sad. It’s another one that I want to max out my speakers on and drive around town with the windows down singing it atop my lungs. Such a perfect jam!

I Will Be Stronger – Céline does an unrivaled job at disguising these SUPER HEAVY tracks with positive feeling melodies, but this one truly packs a punch. Once again you can hear the vulnerability in her voice as it glides right across the carefree melody. You know for a fact that she means every word she sings and that makes the impact of the song that much more. The last words uttered are powerfully hopeful in every sense.

How Did You Get Here – For all his doo-wopping, this is the vibe and energy Billy Joel was always hoping to create and Céline – naturally – nailed it on her first try. I know we all felt like we were instantly transported back to the 1950’s when we first heard this number. This song makes me wanna just lay out at the beach on a warm summer day and smile longingly in the eyes of My Love. It just has such a positive energy to it. An absolute smash!

Look At Us Now – When the chorus drops I just wanna run around the house and sing this jam at the very top of my lungs. It’s that beautiful. Despite the amazing vibes it gives me, it’s actually another sad love song masked in a vibrant beat. I’m always more of a music man than a lyrics guy, so when I truly listen to what I’m singing I feel sad on this one, but when I do my usual and just sing to be singing, it’s all good! Regardless of its hefty impact, this song will have you fist pumping the air, believe me, I’ve done it about five hundred times these past two weeks.

Perfect Goodbye – An explicit Céline Dion song!?! Never thought I’d see it, but couldn’t be happier to have it! This song truly takes me to church! I know we’ve all been listening to this with our eyes closed expecting that when we open them Céline is before us on stage in the world’s most holiest cathedral (which again is The Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace) and then feeling instantly upset that this is not the case. It has that classic tears and goosebumps factor that one can only find in a Céline song.

The sixteen tracks I just reviewed make up the standard edition of Courage. There is a deluxe edition available (and I would obviously recommend) with four bonus tracks and each one is every bit as phenomenal as anything else Céline has recorded in her record-breaking career. So, when you’re buying gifts for your loved ones this holiday season, I would strongly suggest ponying up the extra couple bucks to get that special person in your life the deluxe edition because everyone needs more Céline.

We are literally living history as it happens. Céline is one of those unrivaled vocalists that people will be talking about centuries from now and we are all blessed enough to be alive in the very same day and age as she. Just thinking about and realizing this gives me infinite goosebumps. Céline Dion truly is SIMPLY THE BEST!

THANK YOU ALL so much for reading! I loved being able to share my unbiased thoughts on this pure and perfect album with each of you and now would LOVE to hear yours! Please leave me a comment below on which songs have been your favorite!

I shall return next week with a post that I have debated over writing about for well over a year now and I’ve finally decided to just do it. One thing is for sure, after reading this next one, you’ll never be able to look at Christmas lights the same way again! Till then, I hope you all have THE BEST week ever!