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(10:00 a.m. GMT) Tina Turner Week continues on CBS Friday night when Celine Dion kicks off her hour-long concert special, "That's Just the Woman in Me," with a glittery,
full-throttle rendition of "River Deep, Mountain High." It bears a striking stylistic resemblance to Turner's own performance of "Proud Mary" with Beyoncé on the Grammys Sunday night.
Specifically, Dion shows her mastery of the Las Vegas gloss that Tina applied on Sunday. Truth is, that's something Dion has always worn better than Turner, and she puts it all on display for this prime-time show. Big, showy productions have been Celine's signature for
years, a signature that's made her one of the richest and most popular entertainers in America. On this special, as in the rest of her work, Dion more than occasionally takes it over the top. On "The Power
of Love," her voice goes up and just keeps going - and the crowd gets happier with each note.
Nearly all artists talk about how they love the audience, but that sentiment is rarely as palpable, or reciprocated, as with Dion. Much of her popularity rests on her extraordinary connection with fans,
which stems partly from her ability to simultaneously project both star power and an aura of "Aw, shucks, is that me you're clapping for?" She's done that in Vegas for years. It's harder on TV, but
even here, fans will come away feeling like they've spent an afternoon in her living room.
In the segment where she is joined by Josh Groban, she devotes several minutes to a warm exchange about how much she helped and encouraged him back when he was young and nervous. Lest
anyone miss the point, she dedicates another song to Jennifer Love Hewitt, who is sitting in the audience with her fiancé. As Dion sings a love song, the camera pans across Hewitt's table, where she and her
fella are bathed in soft blue light.
That's hardly an accident, though ultimately it's just decoration on the Dion package. The main reason Dion has become an institution is that people like the way she sings, and for most
of this hour that's what she does. She sings "Something" with Joe Walsh, and "Eyes on Me" with will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas. She sings them strongly, with a twinkle or a plea in her eye,
depending on what the song calls for.
She should save the biggest twinkle, however, for when she sings the title song from her new CD, "Taking Chances." If there's one thing Celine Dion does not do, though, it's leave anything to chance.
[Source: New York Daily News]
We expect tickets here to be snapped up fast as well,” Artiste World executive director Arianna Teoh said.
“The show is definitely an experience not to be missed. This is a lifetime opportunity and definitely a family affair.”
Celine Dion Taking Chances World Tour – Live in Kuala Lumpur will be held at Stadium Merdeka at 8pm on April 8. For details contact 03-2282 2020.
[Source: thestar]
(1:10 p.m. GMT) Jean Lamoureux and Stéphane Laporte revealed yesterday to the Quebec press that they're working on a brand new project for Celine Dion. A team of Productions J
taped the whole press conference and will follow the complete Taking Chances World Tour to create a DVD on the same concept of A New Day... Live in Las Vegas DVD.
Denise Bombardier, one of the writers of D'Elles song-lyrics, will also follow a part of Celine World Tour to write a book.
Celine and her family will be meeting Nelson Mandela and a representative of the children of Soweto nourished by African Children's Feeding Scheme (ACFS) on Friday morning .
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"But two years ago Mr Mandela called to invite us and we were committed to be in Las Vegas for five years. René [Angélil, her husband] and I promised
each other and Mr Mandela that we would start [the next tour] in South Africa. "I am more than thrilled to be here. Jozi people are lekker," said
Dion. Dion is the biggest selling female artist in South Africa and her 12-month tour is named after her latest album, Taking Chances.
Dion was welcomed to the press conference by the Soweto Gospel Choir, who on Sunday night won their second Grammy award. Dion said "Eish ...
", and then smiled and expressed her admiration for choir's performance. The choir will be a supporting act for her first performance on Valentine's
Day along with pop icon Danny K and Idols winner Jody Williams. Dion will kick off the 35-country Taking Chances.
“I am my music and I just want to share that with South Africa. I have been listening to some South African artists such as Sibongile Khumalo and I
love her sound,” Dion said. “Maybe in future I will have collaborations with a South African artist.”
[Source: mg.co.za, Sowetan]
“As the ‘World’s Biggest Selling Female Artist of All Time’, Celine Dion has proved that she appeals to all ages and cultures,” says Mr Price Group, chief executive operator Alastair McArthur.
“Mr Price has the same broad appeal to South African consumers, so we identify with her on a number of levels.” The theme chosen by Mr Price Home for Dion’s dressing room is romance and luxury…
perfect for Valentine’s month. Her ‘Taking Chances’ World Tour which kicks off in South Africa on Valentine’s Day, will take her to 35 countries on 5 continents and is set to be the most spectacular box
office gross of 2008. This is also the first time in South African history that an international artist will perform at six outdoor stadia during a visit to the country.
Having achieved double platinum status of her new ‘Taking Chances’ album Celine Dion is undoubtedly still the biggest artist ever to visit our shores. Idols 2007 winner, Jodi is the opening act for
the Celine Dion Tour countrywide. Celine Dion arrived at the Johannesburg International Airport on Monday night and said to her adoring fans, "I am thrilled to be in South Africa. It has been a life
long dream for me to perform in your country. I look forward to starring in what I believe to be one of the most spectacular productions ever."
[Source: newsonline.co.za; Tonight]
(2:20 p.m. GMT) Vuoi sapere chi si siederà affianco a te al concerto di Celine da te scelto? Inviaci un email all'indirizzo
celman@inwind.it. L'oggetto dell'email dovrà essere 'My Celine Concert' e dovrai includere il tuo nome,
data, posto e città in cui si terrà il concerto. Non dimenticare di aggiungere la sezione, fila e numero del posto a sedere che hai comprato.
NON vivere questa esperienza straordinaria tutto/a da solo/a, unisciti ad altri fans e GIOISCI del TALENTO di
CELINE DION. Creeremo una nuova sezione in cui pubblicheremo tutti i dati inviatici così che potrai scoprire in anticipo chi si siederà
al tuo fianco.
(2:20 p.m. GMT) Do you want to know who will sit next to you at your Celine Concert-date? Send an email to celman@inwind.it.
The subject line of e-mail should be 'My Celine Concert', and you must include your first name, date, venue and city where your Celine concert will be held.
Do not forget to add the section, row and the number of seat you bought. DO NOT live all by yourself this amazing experience, join more
fans and ENJOY the TALENT of CELINE DION. We will create a brand new section where to post all your concert-data
so that you'll all be able to find out in advance who will sit by your side. Dion is married to long-time manager René Angélil. They have a seven-year-old son, René-Charles. “I’ve heard so much about Table Mountain, that it’s probably the most beautiful mountain in
the world,” she said. René-Charles, who started home schooling two years ago, always travels with his parents and his tutor. “He thinks he is going to have a safari in his room,” Dion said laughing.
[Source: The Times]
Q: It has to feel utterly surreal to consider all that you have accomplished over time -- well more than two-thirds of your life.
Celine Dion: "I can still see myself standing on the kitchen table at 5 years old singing in front of my family ... my mom writing my first song ... meeting when I was 12 with Rene (Angelil, her
manager, whom she wed in 1994). It was all very intimidating to travel from my little suburb (in Charlemagne, Quebec) to Montreal to meet him. Taking the bus and the subway then was a wild adventure,
riding in an elevator to go to an office where I sang for a man in a tie. There I was, about to meet the world. "To finance my first album, Rene mortgaged his house, and because it was cheaper, we rented a
studio from 10 at night to 6 in the morning. We recorded my first French album and a Christmas album at the same time. I still see it all so clearly. And I still prefer to record at night. That's how I started my
career, and now it's hard to imagine doing it any other way."
Q: After that first recording in 1981, you achieved great success singing in French, with nearly a dozen albums and 16 hits by the end of that decade. Why the decision to cross to the English-speaking
world?
Dion: "I came from such a big family and grew up listening to so many English recording artists known around the world -- the Bee Gees, Stevie Wonder, Creedence Clearwater Revival, the
Beatles, Janis Joplin, the Eagles, Supertramp -- and it sets a standard. As a family, we sang in French; it's in our blood and we're made of that. But English is the universal language, and I always thought it
was cool when my brothers and sisters would sing in English. To be able to cross the barriers, to sing to more people, artistically, it was just so powerful."
Q: Your first U.S. single, "Where Does My Heart Beat Now," was a top five hit in 1991. But it was "Beauty and the Beast" a year later that is often credited with connecting your voice to your name.
Did you feel you had arrived?
Dion: "It was quite emotional. Everyone at the record label was so excited that I actually had a career at that point. They started a campaign, 'Remember the name, because
you'll never forget the voice.' I wasn't scared, really, but it set the bar high for me. At least people started pronouncing my name correctly." (laughs)
Q: And yet, along with popularity comes the inevitable backlash. This is the point when many critics began writing negative, if not cruel things about you. How did you react to the press?
Dion: "There were certainly more negatives than positives. Honestly, I was not really affected, because Rene said, 'They can write what they want, but if we still sell out the shows, you
know it's a good sign.' The only thing I cared about was to never disappoint the fans."
Q: In the liner notes of the 1993 "The Colour of My Love," album, you revealed to the public that you and Angelil were in love, writing, "Rene, for so many years I've kept our special dream locked
away inside my heart. But now it's too powerful to keep inside." Were you concerned how people would react?
Dion: "Over time, we realized that our feelings for each other were stronger than our dreams for my career. We loved each other. At first, we didn't want to mix up the cards, but
eventually, passion led our way. We kept a secret for a long time and didn't want to have to hear them say, 'Oh, my gosh, she's so young and he's been married twice.'
"But we decided, 'Let's not hide, because if we can't walk hand in hand under the sky and scream to the world that we love each other -- which is the greatest thing in the world -- then we missed
the boat, we missed it all. It's not right, it's not worth it.' "Our success today as a couple is stronger than the success of our business. Someday, if somebody makes a movie about our life, that's
going to be the good part, the really good part." (laughs)
Q: Through much of your career, you have been saddled with the "diva" label -- and yet those who know you recognize you as unpretentious and herald your sense of humor. This seldom seems to
come through in your public persona.
Dion: "You know what? People think I share it all. Maybe I'm not as much (of) an open book as they think I am. People think I'm so dramatic, so black-and-white. Those who
know me personally do say to me that I am funny. But let's put it this way: It's OK for some things to remain intimate. You don't give everything to everybody."
Q: What would people who think they know everything about you be surprised to learn?
Dion: "That I hate to sing as much as I love to sing. I love it when I have my full strength, my full happiness -- but I hate to sing when it takes me away from my family, when I'm sick or not
feeling good and can't do my best vocally. I hate to do it, because I know how fun it can be. And it's a struggle when you're not having fun. Singing is not just the vocal cords; it's your whole body, your soul.
The night I lost my dad and had to sing, I tell you -- it hurt."
Q: When in 2003 you began your four-and-a-half-year residency at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, one of the reasons the concept was so appealing to you is that it offered stability, a routine and the
opportunity to focus on raising your child, Rene Charles. Now that it has been a couple of months since closing night, do you miss it?
Dion: "The hardest part is not seeing the people we worked with for so long. The last show (December 15) was emotional. But you have to know when to stop. You don't want to leave after
things start to fall down. So we were ready. It's a great achievement, we're very proud of it, but it's time to move on to greater things."
Q: What have you been doing between the Vegas finish and the launch of your world tour on February 14?
Dion: "I'm extremely tired, because we're already working on the new tour. It's very high-energy, very up-tempo. There are quick wardrobe changes, there are treadmills,
so now, before that begins, I want to rest -- I need to rest my voice. "We're taking Rene Charles to Disney World, we're going to see the whole family, and I can't wait to see my mom. These are
the things that make Rene, me and our family happy. We're taking one day at a time in this new world. No one knows what's going to happen tomorrow, so I want to make today the best day. That is my
greatest joy."
Q: What have you not yet accomplished that you would like to?
Dion: "Acting. Some movies. I would love to play Maria Callas in a film."
Q: Twenty-seven years in and counting, how would you sum up your life and career?
Dion: "I'm extremely proud of the fact that the fans have come with me on this journey, that they have trusted me for so long. Do you know how fortunate I am to be able to sing for
over 25 years, to have had hits, to have a career? ... If it ends tomorrow, I'm OK with that, because look at what we have. Yes, I feel enormous pride for what I have accomplished after all these
years. I have shared a part of my soul -- and I still love to do it."
[Source: Billboard/Reuters]
Jamie King, the artistic-director, said: "Celine will be more ROCK and will DANCE more than EVER! The show lasts two hours and it's divided in four segments.
There will be the soul segment, the rock one, a segment where Celine will act the part of a fashion-victim and another one inspired to the gipsy, spanish and arab cultures.
Celine will be supported by eight dancers (4 male and 4 female) and she learned all the coreographies last November and December in Primm (Nevada).
The tour-settings include about twenty LED-screens, among which one that will orbit on the stage, few tapis roulants and elevators.
As announced months ago, Celine taped few videos for her show. In the intro-video we will be able to see Celine driving high-speed. Another video will show
Celine with different fashion-looks. Jamie King will join the tour on May 2nd in Manchester. Before that date, the show will not be on a central scene for
logistic-matters. After two months and half, Celine will rehearse again to settle the show at four sides.
She and her band rehearsed about SIXTY tracks, both in english and french. Among those ones, about 20-25 songs will be performed in a show.
Pour que tu m’aimes encore will be performed in the whole World-Tour. She will also make several NEW numbers - Mégo reveals - and few cover-songs
that she never performed on stage.
Celine and her family will remain THREE weeks in South-Africa so that they will take the occasion to tour the coutry and make a SAFARI.
She will also visit several Nelson Mandela's centres and maybe Oprah Winfrey's school... another Oprah TV-Special coming soon??
[Source: Le Journal de Montreal]
Dion describes the upcoming show as "very high-energy, very uptempo. There are quick wardrobe changes, there are treadmills, so now, before that begins, I want to rest -- I need to
rest my voice." In fact, Dion admits, "I hate to sing as much as I love to sing. I love it when I have my full strength, my full happiness -- but I hate to sing when it takes me away from my family,
when I'm sick or not feeling good and can't do my best vocally. I hate to do it, because I know how fun it can be. And it's a struggle when you're not having fun. Singing is not just the vocal cords;
it's your whole body, your soul. The night I lost my dad and had to sing, I tell you -- it hurt."
As she gets ready to hit the road, Dion is still marveling at her historic run at the $95 million, 4,100-seat Colosseum at Caesars Palace, which grossed a staggering $385 million, drawing nearly 3 million
people to 717 shows. "We definitely took a chance on something that 99% of the industry said we would fail on," Concerts West co-president John Meglen says. "But the real truth of the matter is we
proved something that works in that marketplace, that an artist can sit down in Las Vegas and allow the audience to travel to them instead of the artist traveling to each city."
[Source: Billboard Magazine]
(2:20 p.m. GMT) Vuoi sapere chi si siederà affianco a te al concerto di Celine da te scelto? Inviaci un email all'indirizzo
celman@inwind.it. L'oggetto dell'email dovrà essere 'My Celine Concert' e dovrai includere il tuo nome,
data, posto e città in cui si terrà il concerto. Non dimenticare di aggiungere la sezione, fila e numero del posto a sedere che hai comprato.
NON vivere questa esperienza straordinaria tutto/a da solo/a, unisciti ad altri fans e GIOISCI del TALENTO di
CELINE DION. Creeremo una nuova sezione in cui pubblicheremo tutti i dati inviatici così che potrai scoprire in anticipo chi si siederà
al tuo fianco.
(2:20 p.m. GMT) Do you want to know who will sit next to you at your Celine Concert-date? Send an email to celman@inwind.it.
The subject line of e-mail should be 'My Celine Concert', and you must include your first name, date, venue and city where your Celine concert will be held.
Do not forget to add the section, row and the number of seat you bought. DO NOT live all by yourself this amazing experience, join more
fans and ENJOY the TALENT of CELINE DION. We will create a brand new section where to post all your concert-data
so that you'll all be able to find out in advance who will sit by your side. The Canadian crooner bade Las Vegas farewell last December after five years, and is setting out on a year-long tour around the world. "The best is yet to come," she revealed.
"I enjoy singing much more now than I ever did before because I don't need to do it - I want to do it. I don't need to prove anything." Celine added: "I'm not thinking of technique. I'm taking chances
and trying different sounds."
[Source: metro.co.uk]
The tour includes a stop in Tokyo, which features the largest Meyer Sound MILO system with a record 168 MILO line array loudspeakers.
The system design for the elaborate, in-the-round production is handled by Dion’s long-time head of audio and first-time FOH engineer, Francois “Frankie” Desjardins, whose sound
design credits include the Beatles-inspired REVOLUTION Lounge in Las Vegas’s Mirage Hotel and the Cirque du Soleil’s Saltimbanco touring show.
Having used Meyer Sound loudspeakers since 1992, Desjardins is quick to point out the quality of the products made the choice an obvious one: “People come to hear
Céline’s voice first and foremost. The sound quality of the vocals is of course the most important thing. Meyer Sound products deliver incredible vocal quality and high
intelligibility; they faithfully reproduce the human voice in a way no others can.”
The touring system is provided by Montreal, Canada-based Solotech, which is also the sound provider for various Cirque du Soleil productions and Dion’s resident show.
According to Desjardins, the music in the show is more uptempo and has a stronger rock and roll element than her previous tours.
On tour with Dion is a technical team comprised of notable sound veterans including Denis Savage who oversees the entire production, Mario St-Onge who handles the technical
aspect of the sound system and tunes it using Meyer Sound’s SIM 3 audio analyzer, Jean-Charles Ethier who is in charge of monitoring for Dion and the band, along with
Desjardins who mixes the show.
Demand for tickets has been overwhelming, with the first dates selling out in mere minutes. “Celine’s fans know they get a tremendous show,” says Desjardins.
“She always delivers her best, and she demands the best from us, and from her equipment. That’s what we deliver.”
[Source: etnow]
She got other nominations in the Artist of the Year category (against Avril Lavigne, Feist, Michael Buble and Pascale Picard);
"Francophone Album Of The Year" (against Damien Robitaille's 'L’Homme Qui Me Ressemble, Daniel Bélanger's 'L’échec Du Matériel', Isabelle Boulay's 'De Retour à La Source',
Jorane's 'Vers à Soi'); Juno Fan Choice Award (against Avril Lavigne, Claude Dubois, Michael Buble and Nelly Furtado); Pop Album Of The Year (against
Anne Murray's 'Duets: Friends & Legends', Bedouin Soundclash's 'Street Gospels', Feist's 'The Reminder' and Michael Buble's 'Call me Irresponsible')
She's closely followed by Avril Lavigne, Feist, and Michael Buble, who earned five apiece.
The nominees for the awards, honouring the best in Canadian music, were announced this morning at a news conference in Toronto. Arcade Fire, Finger Eleven and Blue Rodeo received three
Juno nods each. The annual Juno gala takes place April 6th, 2008 at Calgary's Saddledome. The host of the show will be comedian Russell Peters.
[Source: The Canadian Press]
The other Celine Dion concerts include:
The concerts will showcase the biggest, tailor made stage, being more than 75 metres long and 14 metres wide. More than 400 dedicated touring personal have been working 24/7
to build these master pieces up at spec stadiums and venues across the country. Celine will be traveling across the country with more than 75 entourage and more than 88,000kg of gear.
In addition to her entourage the tour is also set to attract many of Celine’s international fans, from the Team Celine, and more than 400 have already been booked by international tourists who
will be visiting South Africa to see the biggest selling female artist of all time in concert for the first time in years, outside of the Vegas walls. Tickets for these spectacular concerts are still available exclusively
from every Mr Price Store across South Africa and from Ticket Connection, or call 0861 121 333.
[Source: Tonight]
(2:20 p.m. GMT) Vuoi sapere chi si siederà affianco a te al concerto di Celine da te scelto? Inviaci un email all'indirizzo
celman@inwind.it. L'oggetto dell'email dovrà essere 'My Celine Concert' e dovrai includere il tuo nome,
data, posto e città in cui si terrà il concerto. Non dimenticare di aggiungere la sezione, fila e numero del posto a sedere che hai comprato.
NON vivere questa esperienza straordinaria tutto/a da solo/a, unisciti ad altri fans e GIOISCI del TALENTO di
CELINE DION. Creeremo una nuova sezione in cui pubblicheremo tutti i dati inviatici così che potrai scoprire in anticipo chi si siederà
al tuo fianco.
(2:20 p.m. GMT) Do you want to know who will sit next to you at your Celine Concert-date? Send an email to celman@inwind.it.
The subject line of e-mail should be 'My Celine Concert', and you must include your first name, date, venue and city where your Celine concert will be held.
Do not forget to add the section, row and the number of seat you bought. DO NOT live all by yourself this amazing experience, join more
fans and ENJOY the TALENT of CELINE DION. We will create a brand new section where to post all your concert-data
so that you'll all be able to find out in advance who will sit by your side. 
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"We can meet all that stuff easily," said Atkins, executive producer of 2010's opening and closing ceremonies. "I think here we've got Celine Dion, and you've got those Jet Skis and Ski-Doos
and stuff. From our point of view, it's to make [the opening ceremony] as reflective of Vancouver, B.C. and Canada as it can be."
[Source: The Province]
Accompanying her on her trip will be her husband, who is of Middle Eastern origin but will also be visiting the region for the very first time” comments Duncan Heafield, representing Kusasa, the entity
assuring the smooth sailing of Celine’s South African and Middle East tour, ‘Taking Chances’, which is set to be the world’s most publicized and anticipated music tour of the 21st Century. Celine
Dion’s World tour will be covering all corners of the globe, making stops in Africa, the Middle East, Japan, Korea, China, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the America’s, including 25 countries and in
over 100 cities.
Organizing such a large scale production considering the challenging terrain of the venue has not been an easy operation. To top this off, event organizers are striving to ease the traffic in the area on the
evening of the concert. “We have chosen an extraordinary venue which compliments the artist’s image. Both our local and international teams have worked hand in hand to confront the mega challenges
encountered in hosting the concert at Four Seasons Golf Club. With Dubai’s traffic problem in mind, we have set adequate plans with the Dubai Festival City team to ensure maximum comfort for parking
space, with clear signs and traffic controllers to guide people. We are also providing shuttle buses to the venue from the parking lot, as well as having the option to walk to the entrance” reassures Tony
Haswani, Event organizer for the Middle East wing of the tour.
Four Seasons Golf Club, a high end venue exuding sophistication and prestige, will be hosting its first ever concert on 5th March 2008. “'Four Seasons is delighted to be the venue of choice for the
Celine Dion 'Taking Chances' Dubai concert” comments Bahram Sepahi, Regional Vice President and General Manager Four Seasons Dubai. The pop icon, who is set to perform some of her legendary
classic numbers, will also be wooing crowds to the melody of her latest album ‘Taking Chances’.
Dubai’s multicultural landscape will be reaching out and embracing the pop diva when she arrives in March. Blessed with one of popular music's great voices, she has crossed all barriers - even that of
language - with her electrifying series of international hits. Celine has been called the premier contemporary pop vocalist of the Nineties. She has earned music industry accolades from around the world:
Grammy Awards in the US, Juno and Felix Awards in Canada, and World Music Awards in Europe. Céline's international breakthrough came when she recorded the title track for the soundtrack to the
animated Disney hit movie 'Beauty and the Beast, picking up an Academy Award and a Grammy Award. This was shortly followed by the block buster Titanic’s song “My Heart will go On” which won the
Academy award for Best Original Song. Hurry up and book your tickets online through www.showbizme.com, or by calling Hotline: +971 4 366 2277. Heads up, tickets will also go on sale in-store mid
February.
[Source: albawaba]
(2:00 p.m. GMT) Celine Dion and Coty Beauty are banking on Sensational to be the songstress' biggest fragrance hit, once it makes its worldwide debut this spring.
All facets of the women's scent were fashioned with Dion and the rejuvenation of her touring career in mind, according to Steve Mormoris, senior vice president of global marketing for Coty Beauty,
Coty Inc.'s mass arm. "Every little bottle has some dreams floating in it," said Dion, who explained that Sensational's juice is a mix of fruit, flower and woody notes, plus no small portion
of strength and sex appeal.With the scent, Dion wants "to reach women of different ages. I think women have to lead their own destiny, have to be in charge of whatever they want in life." Sensational's launch coincides
with the kickoff of Dion's 11-month "Taking Chances" world tour, to include 160 performances starting in South Africa and traveling to five continents. It marks the first time in half a decade that Dion will
hold major shows outside The Coliseum, a 4,000-seat theater constructed for her in Las Vegas, where Dion had performed five nights a week to packed houses since 2003.
"This is the year of the relaunch of her career, and the same goes for her fragrance franchise," said Marsha Brooks, Coty's vice president of new business. "It's a new beginning for her." Sensational
is expected to be Dion's best-selling scent. Coty, for its part, isn't taking any chances that the singer's presence will be missed at the fragrance bar. Sensational's launch is to be backed by a
bigger budget than any of her other scents, including Celine Dion Parfums, Belong and Enchanting, according to industry sources.
While Coty executives would not discuss numbers, industry sources estimate that, in the first year globally, the advertising and promotional spend for Sensational is USD$20 million
and that the scent itself will generate $50 million at retail. The Celine Dion fragrance portfolio has made more than $500 million at retail around the world since 2002, according to Coty.
Dion's style has recently morphed to have a slight rock edge. And the new fragrance differs from her others, too.
"We were looking for a more sparkling experience," explained Mormoris, of Sensational's juice. He added that, while the earlier Dion fragrances also include floral notes, those in the new scent have
different levels of intensity and character. Symrise's Maurice Roucel created a modern, luminous floral scent. He said he chose heart notes of orris and mimosa to reflect Dion's sensual, delicate and vibrant
sides. The fragrance also has top notes of icy pear, crisp apple and plum; heart notes including jasmine and freesia, plus base notes of amber, musk and sandalwood. Dion particularly adores musks and
woods.
"Even though I love fruits, flowers and femininity, I always love extremely woody scents and musks," she said. Sensational's oval bottle, designed by Jane Tarallo, represents an
aesthetic break from Dion's other, more linear fragrance flacons. Its checkered glass imprint is meant to recall spotlights, and such motifs are repeated on the outer packaging, as well. The ad campaign
focuses on Dion's modern, onstage persona, said Mormoris. Photographer Alexi Lubomirsky shot Dion wearing an Emanuel Ungaro dress for the single- and double-page ads, while Scott
Lochmus directed the 30-, 20- and 10-second TV spots.
Sampling is to include 25 million scented impressions, including scented strips, and scent cards will be distributed in Dion's new album. There are to be in-store raffles with tickets for her concerts as
prizes, among various promotional activities. As her first global rollout, Sensational will be launched in France and a handful of other countries, such as the U.S.
(where the scent is to be introduced in Kohl's, J.C. Penney's and Sears), in March. By May, Sensational will be fully rolled out in the U.S. and in all of Dion's other fragrance
markets. Overall, its door count is expected to be about 20 percent larger than for her earlier fragrances for a total of 50,000 points of sale.
Sensational's line includes a 100-ml. eau de toilette spray for $48, a 50-ml. edt spray for $32, a 30-ml. edt spray for $26 and a 15-ml. version for $16. Ancillaries are to include a 200-ml.
body lotion for $12.50. The prices are for the U.S.
[Source: wwd]
