These Are Special Times
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| These Are Special Times | ||
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| Studio album by Céline Dion | ||
| Released | October 31, 1998 (JP), November 2, 1998 (EU / Asia), November 3, 1998 (U.S. / CA), November 9, 1998 (AU) | |
| Recorded | 1998 | |
| Genre | Pop | |
| Length | 68:27 | |
| Label | Columbia Records, Epic Records (U.S.) | |
| Producer(s) | David Foster, Ric Wake, Bryan Adams, Humberto Gatica, R. Kelly, Tony Renis, Carole Bayer Sager | |
| Professional reviews | ||
|---|---|---|
| Céline Dion chronology | ||
| S'il Suffisait d'Aimer (1998) |
These Are Special Times (1998) |
The Early Singles (1999) |
These Are Special Times is Céline Dion's 1998 first English Christmas album and third if countings French releases. It's also her 6th English album and 25th in total. It was released on October 31, 1998.
Contents |
[edit] Album information
These Are Special Times is an especially successful holiday album since Dion wisely balances popular carols ("The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)", "Blue Christmas", "Feliz Navidad") with new songs ("Don't Save It All for Christmas", the R. Kelly duet "I'm Your Angel"), hymns ("Ave Maria", "Adeste Fideles"), and Christmas songs with a distinct religious theme ("O Holy Night", the Andrea Bocelli duet "The Prayer"). Céline is joined by her family on "Feliz Navidad", and "Les Cloches du Hameau". The album was produced by Dion's longtime partners David Foster and Ric Wake.
Céline was nominated for two Grammy Awards in Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals category for "I'm Your Angel" (1999) and "The Prayer" (2000). The last one was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song and won the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song from the Quest for Camelot movie in 1999. Dion performed it with Andrea Bocelli at the Grammys and Oscars.
On November 25, 1998 a one-hour CBS Special dedicated to Céline's Christmas album was broadcasted all across U.S.
[edit] Additional facts
- "Don't Save It All for Christmas Day" was co-written by Céline.
- Diana Krall plays piano on "Blue Christmas."
- "Another Year Has Gone By" was written and produced by Bryan Adams. He also played guitars, bass and sang backing vocals.
- "The Magic of Christmas Day (God Bless Us Everyone)" was later recorded as a duet with Rosie O'Donnell for her album A Rosie Christmas (November 1999).
- "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" was recorded in 1993 for The Christmas Album by David Foster. French version of this song appeared on Céline's first two Christmas albums: Céline Dion Chante Noël (1981) and Chants et Contes de Noël (1983).
- "The Prayer" was recorded first as a solo version and appeard on the Quest for Camelot soundtrack (May 1998). Re-recorded solo version (re-named "A Mother's Prayer") appeared also on Dion's 2004 Miracle album."The Prayer" was covered by Josh Groban and Charlotte Church in 2001. Josh sang it live with Céline at the Concert for World Children's Day (November 2002). "The Prayer" (duet with Andrea Bocelli) was also included on Dion's later compilation The Collector's Series Volume One.
- "Brahms' Lullaby" was recorded in 1996 for the compilation For Our Children Too to benefit Pediatric AIDS Foundation (September 1996).
- "These Are the Special Times" was covered in 2000 by Christina Aguilera for her Christmas album.
- "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" was the first John Lennon' song that Céline has recorded. In 2004 she did it again with "Beautiful Boy" for the Miracle album. "Happy Xmas" was sang by Céline at the end of her A New Day... show in December 2004.
- "I'm Your Angel" was sang by Dion and her backup singer during the Let's Talk About Love Tour. Garou joined her on this song at the "Millennium Concert" instead. "I'm Your Angel" was also included on Dion's later greatest hits album All the Way... A Decade of Song.
- At the end of 1999, Dion has recorded another Christmas song called "I Met An Angel (On Christmas Day)." It was included as the B-side to the "That's the Way It Is" single, and appeared on various compilations (but not on Céline's album).
- In December 1994 A Very Merry Chipmunk by The Chipmunks was released, containing "Petit Papa Noël" featuring Céline. The latter recorded her own version of this song in 1981 for Céline Dion Chante Noël album.
[edit] Chart success
These Are Special Times is one of the best selling Christmas albums ever, topping the charts in four countries. It has sold 12 million copies worldwide, including 5 million in U.S. alone. The album featured very successful single "I'm Your Angel" (#1 in U.S.), as well as followed-up radio only release "The Prayer" (#8 on Canadian AC chart). Later, another radio single called "Don't Save It All for Christmas Day" was released.
[edit] Track listing
| # | Title | Writers | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | O Holy Night | Traditional | 5:21 |
| 2. | Don't Save It All for Christmas Day | P. Zizzo, R. Wake, C. Dion | 4:37 |
| 3. | Blue Christmas | J. Johnson, B. Hayes | 3:48 |
| 4. | Another Year Has Gone By | B. Adams, E. Kennedy | 3:24 |
| 5. | The Magic of Christmas Day (God Bless Us Everyone) | D. Snider | 4:17 |
| 6. | Ave Maria | F. Schubert | 4:55 |
| 7. | Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful) | Traditional | 4:43 |
| 8. | The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) | M. Torme, R. Wells | 4:13 |
| 9. | The Prayer (with Andrea Bocelli) | D. Foster, C. Bayer Sager, A. Testa, T. Renis | 4:29 |
| 10. | Brahms' Lullaby | J. Brahms | 3:32 |
| 11. | Christmas Eve | M. Christensen, C. Frasca | 4:16 |
| 12. | These Are the Special Times | D. Warren | 4:08 |
| 13. | Happy Xmas (War Is Over) | J. Lennon, Y. Ono | 4:14 |
| 14. | I'm Your Angel (with R. Kelly) | R. Kelly | 5:31 |
| 15. | Feliz Navidad | J. Feliciano | 3:40 |
| 16. | Les Cloches du Hameau | J. Brahms | 3:10 |
| Japanese Bonus Track | |||
| 17. | My Heart Will Go On (instrumental} | J. Horner, W. Jennings | 4:40 |
[edit] Chart performance
| Country | Peak Position |
Number of Weeks |
Certification | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 1 (2w) | 24 | 8x Platinum | 800,000 |
| Norway | 1 (4w) | 9 | 2x Platinum | 100,000 |
| Switzerland | 1 (4w) | 17 | 2x Platinum | 100,000 |
| United States (Top Holiday Albums) | 1 (10w) | 124 | - | - |
| United States (Top Pop Catalog Albums) | 1 (7w) | 81 | - | - |
| Austria | 2 | 12 | Platinum | 50,000 |
| Norway (Mid-Price) | 2 | 13 | - | - |
| United States (Billboard 200) | 2 | 17 | 5x Platinum | 4,707,000 |
| Europe | 3 | n/a | Platinum | 1,000,000 |
| Germany | 3 | 11 | Gold | 250,000 |
| Sweden | 3 | 8 | Platinum | 80,000 |
| Finland | 4 | 7 | Gold | 27,326 |
| Japan | 4 | 15 | 2x Platinum | 504,240 |
| Netherlands | 4 | 13 | Gold | 50,000 |
| New Zealand | 4 | 14 | 2x Platinum | 30,000 |
| Australia | 6 | 9 | 2x Platinum | 140,000 |
| Denmark | 6 | 5 | n/a | n/a |
| Italy | 7 | 12 | Platinum | 250,000 |
| Hungary | 14 | 13 | n/a | n/a |
| Belgium (Flanders) | 16 | 9 | Platinum | 50,000 |
| United Kingdom | 20 | 11 | Gold | 199,000 |
| France | 23 | 8 | - | 60,000 |
| United States (Billboard Comprehensive Albums) | 85 | 21 | - | - |
| Mexico | n/a | n/a | Platinum | 150,000 |
| Poland | n/a | n/a | - | 30,000 |
| Portugal | n/a | n/a | Gold | 20,000 |
These Are Special Times is undercertified in one country:
- Italy - should be certified 2x Platinum (200,000)
[edit] Awards
| Year | Award Show | Award |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Original Song - "The Prayer" |
| 1999 | Gold Disc Awards | Pop Album of the Year - These Are Special Times |
| 1999 | Sony Music Awards | For Over 100 Million Albums Sold |
Céline was also nominated for one Academy Award:
- Best Song - "The Prayer" (1999)
Céline was also nominated for two Grammy Awards:
- Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals - "I'm Your Angel" (1999)
- Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals - "The Prayer" (2000)
Céline was also nominated for three Juno Awards:
- Best Female Artist (2000)
- Best Album - These Are Special Times (2000)
- Best-Selling Album (Foreign or Domestic) - These Are Special Times (2000)
[edit] References
| Celine Dion |
|---|
| Albums | Singles | Videography | Tours | Awards |
