MUSIC BOX: CelineDion:TakingChances

Celine Dion is blessed with one of the greatest voices the world will ever hear. This music legend’s latest album, Taking Chances, has her venture out of her usual zone and back to her rock ‘n’ roll roots. The album’s best moments come as early as the first song, with the title track Taking Chances where Celine sounds phenomenal. The uplifting melody and convincing vocal could not have been carried out better by anyone else.

Up next, she does a cover of one of my all-time favourite tracks, Alone by Heart, and although this is perhaps the millionth (metaphorically speaking) version of the song, Celine’s rendition is one of the very best. The overall haunting sound of the song will definitely ‘chill (you) to the bone’.

Eyes on Me is Shakira-inspired for sure; whereas the tender song, My Love with soothing chords is followed by two mediocre tracks. While This Time sees the diva croon in anger of deceit, the gospel track New Day has her soulfully sing “A new day will come...”

A World to Believe In reminds one of the unforgettable Because You Loved Me. The eternal, poetic lyrics will brighten up your spirits — it’s one of the album’s best tracks. The tone changes with Can’t Fight the Feeling, which is very non-Celine with rough, harsh vocals.

Right Next to the Right One is another good, melodious track as is the high-pitched and fast-paced Fade Away. The grungy That’s just the Woman in Me with screeching vocals and some attitude is amazing. Skies of LA ends the album and is brilliantly sung and highly reflective. The album is quite a mixture of different sounds and writers-producers such as Ne-Yo, Ben Moody and Linda Perry have worked on it.

Best known for her incredible soundtrack from Titanic and hits like It’s all Coming Back, I Surrender and The Power of Love, with countless awards, records and amazing numbers, this effort is far from Celine’s best. She hasn’t included a signature power-ballad here and ardent fans will surely miss that. Nevertheless, this album is no less a treasure, and will leave you wishing you could hit that high note like the queen herself.