Taking Chances Tour

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Taking Chances Tour
Tour by Céline Dion
Supporting album Taking Chances
Start date February 14, 2008
End date January 30, 2009
Legs 6
Shows 9 in Africa
10 in Asia
5 in Australia
35 in Europe
61 in North America
120 in total
Céline Dion tour chronology
A New Day...
(2003-07)		 Taking Chances Tour
(2008-09)

Taking Chances Tour is the current concert tour by Canadian pop singer Céline Dion, in support of her latest English album Taking Chances, released in November 2007. The year-long tour will visit 5 continents, 24 countries and 84 cities. Dion will perform 120 shows.[1]

Contents

[edit] The show

The show, directed by Jamie King (Madonna's Confessions Tour, Christina Aguilera's Back to Basics Tour, as well as tours for Kanye West and the Spice Girls), combines Dion's performances with color, fashion and dance. Céline Dion performs some of her biggest hits, along with songs from her latest English album Taking Chances.[2]

Dion performing "Eyes on Me" in South Africa (2008).
Dion performing "Eyes on Me" in South Africa (2008).

The show lasts for one hour and forty minutes and is divided into four segments. There is a soul segment, a rock segment, a segment where Céline acts the part of a fashion-victim and another inspired by Gypsy, Spanish and Middle Eastern cultures. Dion is supported by eight dancers (4 male and 4 female). Rehearsals took place in December 2007 in Primm, Nevada and MGM Grand Garden Arena.

The tour setup includes about twenty LED screens, among them one that will orbit the stage, plus conveyor belts and elevators. Dion pre-recorded a selection of videos for her show. The introduction video shows her driving a car at high-speed, with intermingling images from her career, set to a remix of "I Drove All Night" as the beginning of her concert. Another video shows the singer dressed in varying fashions over the years.

Jamie King joined the tour on May 2, 2008 in Manchester, United Kingdom). Before that date, the show wasn't on a central stage (except in Tokyo, Japan and Melbourne, Australia) for logistics reasons. After two and a half months, Dion rehearsed again to perfect the show for the "in the round" setup. Because of Dion's bilingual career and the restrictions of certain arenas and stadiums on the tour, King had to direct and choreograph three separate shows. One show features a set list comprised mostly of English language songs and is performed in the round using the full system of mobile screens, elevators and conveyor belts. A second show also features the center stage arrangement but includes up to ten French language songs for performances in Francophone countries. A third, less complex show is being used where the center stage arrangement would not fit into the venue or where it would be impractical to transport the stage. An end stage setup is used in these cases, and features a massive central video screen and a lighting system that engulfs the stage in brilliant blue and red from above on all three sides.

Dion and her band rehearsed about sixty tracks, both in English and French. Among those ones, about 20-25 songs will be performed in each show, according to each visited market. "Pour que tu m'aimes encore" will be performed throughout the whole tour. It is the best-selling French-language single of all time, and one of the only French songs in music history to achieve chart success in many non-Francophone countries. The singer also performs several cover songs never performed on stage before.[3]

After the concert in Pretoria, South Africa on February 16, 2008, René Angélil reorganized the show, including a few changes to the costumes chosen by Annie Horth, as well as to the song set list. Angélil also said that Dion will be performing a medley featuring "Beauty and the Beast" and the song "The Prayer" with Andrea Bocelli. Thus far, only "The Prayer" made it into the show in the Netherlands and Denmark.

[edit] Record sellouts

Céline Dion set a record in the history of Canadian concerts, when she sold out all her Montreal shows in only a few minutes.[4] After further shows being added, bringing the total to 8, Montreal's audience became the largest on the tour with 160,000 spectators for a single city. At the end of this tour, Céline will have played the Bell Centre over 30 times since 1996.[5]

Other Canadian concerts were sold out immediately, prompting second dates to be added in Edmonton, Vancouver and Winnipeg, and a third show added in Toronto.[6]

In the U.S., second dates were announced in New York City, Uniondale, Boston, and Newark.[7]

In the U.K., tickets for Manchester and London were sold out in a few minutes. Two new dates were added on the same day. The 64,000 tickets in Dublin, the largest single concert of the scheduled tour, were sold out in 3 hours.[8]

Dion also sold out stadium audiences in Amsterdam (50,000) and Copenhagen (42,000).[9]

A second concert date was added for Sydney, Australia after tickets were selling fast in the country.[10]

Dion's world tour is among the biggest music events ever hosted in South Africa, with almost 400,000 tickets sold. After ticket sales exceeded expectations, another (ninth) date was added there. She is the all-time best-selling artist in South Africa.[11]

Although a free concert, Dion will sing in front of her biggest crowd at a live concert, when she plays on the Plains of Abraham to help celebrate Quebec City's 400th Birthday. Tickets will be distributed to 100,000 people.[12]

[edit] Postponed concerts

Céline Dion was forced to postpone all her concerts in Australia due to a throat infection. Her Australian publicists said "Ms Dion is being treated with antibiotics for a minor throat infection and irritated sinuses that she has been suffering from for a number of days since arriving in Australia,".[13][14] Because of the itinerary changes, the concert scheduled for Malaysia was also changed and the concert in Beijing, China was cancelled.[15]

[edit] Taking Chances Tour DVD

According to Dion's official website, a DVD for the tour is already in production. The DVD will feature two full-length concerts (one in French and the other in English). It will also have a behind-the-scenes featurette following Céline Dion during the entire year long tour. No release date has been set.[16]

[edit] Opening acts

  • Jody Williams (South Africa)
  • Yuna Ito (Japan)
  • Anthony Callea (Australia)
  • Arno Carstens (UK)
  • Michaël Gregorio (France and French shows in Europe)
  • Il Divo (Ireland)
  • Jon Mesek (Germany and Austria)
  • The Story's (The Netherlands)
  • Calaisa (Sweden and Finland)

[edit] Set list

[edit] Anglophone set list

1. Video introduction: "I Drove All Night" (remix)
2. "I Drove All Night"
3. "I Got the Music in Me" 1
4. "The Power of Love"
5. "Taking Chances"
6. "It's All Coming Back to Me Now"
7. "Because You Loved Me"
8. "To Love You More"
9. Instrumental: "New Mego's Flamenco"
10. "Eyes on Me"
11. "All by Myself"
12. Interval video: "My Heart Will Go On" (remix)
13. "I'm Alive" (remix)
14. "Shadow of Love"
15. "Fade Away"2 / "Can't Fight the Feelin'"3
16. "I'm Your Angel" (with Barnev Valsaint)
17. "Alone"
18. "Pour que tu m'aimes encore"
19. "Think Twice"4 / "A World to Believe In" (with Yuna Ito)5 / "A New Day Has Come"6
20. "My Love"7
21. "The Prayer" (with Andrea Bocelli)8 / "A Song for You"9
22. "We Will Rock You"
23. "The Show Must Go On"
24. Medley: "Sex Machine" / "Soul Man" / "Lady Marmalade" / "Respect" / "I Got the Feelin'" (by band and background vocalists)
25. "It's a Man's Man's Man's World"
26. "That's Just the Woman in Me"10
27. "Love Can Move Mountains"
28. "River Deep, Mountain High" (encore)
29. "My Heart Will Go On" (encore)


1 performed in South Africa, Japan and South Korea
2 performed in South Africa (selected concerts), Japan, United Kingdom, Netherlands and Sweden
3 performed in South Africa (selected concerts), South Korea and Australia
4 performed in South Africa, Malaysia, United Kingdom, Australia (Brisbane), and Ireland
5 performed in Japan
6 performed in South Korea on March 18, 2008
7 performed at all dates from South Korea onwards
8 performed in Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, and Berlin, Germany
9 performed in Sweden
10 performed at all dates up to and including Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

[edit] Francophone set list

1. Video introduction: "I Drove All Night" (remix)
2. "I Drove All Night"
3. "J'irai où tu iras" (with Marc Langis)
4. "The Power of Love"
5. "Destin"
6. "Taking Chances"
7. "Et s'il n'en restait qu'une (je serais celle-là)"
8. Instrumental: "New Mego's Flamenco"
9. "Eyes on Me"
10. "Ziggy"
11. "Dans un autre monde"
12. "All by Myself"
13. Interval video: "My Heart Will Go On" (remix)
14. "I'm Alive" (remix)
15. "Je Sais Pas"
16. "My Love"
17. "S'il suffisait d'aimer"
18. "Alone"
19. "Tout l'or des hommes"1
20. "On ne change pas"1
21. "We Will Rock You"
22. "The Show Must Go On"
23. Medley: "Sex Machine" / "Soul Man" / "Lady Marmalade" / "Respect" / "I Got the Feelin'" (by band and background vocalists)
24. "It's a Man's Man's Man's World"
25. "Love Can Move Mountains"
26. "River Deep, Mountain High" (encore)
27. "My Heart Will Go On" (encore)
28. "Pour que tu m'aimes encore" (encore)


1 performed in Belgium on May 13, 2008

[edit] Personnel

[edit] Band

  • Musical director, keyboards: Claude Lemay
  • Drums: Dominique Messier
  • Bass: Marc Langis
  • Guitars: André Coutu
  • Violin, guitars: Jean Sebastien Carré
  • Keyboards: Yves Frulla
  • Percussion: Nanette Fortier
  • Background Vocals: Élise Duguay, Mary-Lou Gauthier, Barnev Valsaint
  • Dancers: Amanda Balen, Melissa Garcia, Kemba Shannon, Addie Yungme, Zac Brazenas, Dominic Chaiguang, Aaron Foelske, Miguel Perez

[edit] Show

  • Manager: René Angélil
  • Tour director: Denis Savage
  • Tour manager: Michel Dion (talent)
  • Tour manager: Patrick Angélil (production, logistics and media relations)
  • Production manager: Rick Mooney
  • Assistant production manager: Shari Weber
  • Stage manager: Alexandre Miasnikof
  • Artist’s personal security: Nick Skokos
  • Tour rigger: Cindy Beaumariage
  • Lighting director: Yves “Lapin” Aucoin
  • Front of house engineer: Francois “Frankie” Desjardins
  • Monitor engineer: Charles Ethier
  • Audio system engineer: Mario St-Onge
  • RF engineer: Marc Theriault
  • Assistant lighting director/lighting head: Karl Gaudreau
  • Video director: Veillet Mireille
  • Head back-line tech: Jeff Dubois
  • Head video: Martin Perreault
  • Production assistants: Sharie Weber, Stephanie Duval
  • Tour accountant: Sylvia Hebel
  • Director: Jamie King
  • Tour director: Jim Allison, Concerts West
  • Production director: Lonnie McKenzie
  • Lighting, audio, video vendor: Solotech, Montreal

[edit] Tour dates

Date City Country Venue
Africa
February 14, 2008 Johannesburg South Africa Coca Cola Dome[17]
February 16, 2008 Pretoria South Africa Loftus Versfeld Stadium[17]
February 17, 2008 Pretoria South Africa Loftus Versfeld Stadium[17]
February 20, 2008 Durban South Africa Kings Park Stadium[17]
February 23, 2008 Cape Town South Africa Vergelegen Estate[17]
February 24, 2008 Cape Town South Africa Vergelegen Estate[17]
February 27, 2008 Port Elizabeth South Africa EPRFU Stadium[17]
February 29, 2008 Johannesburg South Africa Montecasino[17]
March 1, 2008 Johannesburg South Africa Montecasino[17]
Asia
March 5, 2008 Dubai United Arab Emirates Rugby Club[17]
March 8, 2008 Tokyo Japan Tokyo Dome[17]
March 9, 2008 Tokyo Japan Tokyo Dome[17]
March 11, 2008 Osaka Japan Osaka Dome[17]
March 12, 2008 Osaka Japan Osaka Dome[17]
March 15, 2008 Macau
 China Venetian Arena[17]
March 18, 2008 Seoul South Korea Olympic Gymnasium Stadium[17]
March 19, 2008 Seoul South Korea Olympic Gymnasium Stadium[17]
Australia
March 31, 2008 Brisbane Australia Brisbane Entertainment Centre[17]
April 2, 2008 Melbourne Australia Rod Laver Arena[17]
April 5, 2008 Sydney Australia Acer Arena[17]
April 6, 2008 Sydney Australia Acer Arena[17]
April 8, 2008 Perth Australia Members Equity Stadium[17]
Asia
April 11, 2008 Shanghai China Shanghai Stadium[17]
April 13, 2008 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Stadium Merdeka[17]
Europe
May 2, 2008 Manchester United Kingdom Manchester Evening News Arena[18]
May 3, 2008 Manchester United Kingdom Manchester Evening News Arena[18]
May 6, 2008 London United Kingdom The O2[18]
May 8, 2008 London United Kingdom The O2[18]
May 10, 2008 Birmingham United Kingdom National Indoor Arena[18]
May 13, 2008 Antwerp Belgium Sportpaleis Merksem[18]
May 14, 2008 Antwerp Belgium Sportpaleis Merksem[18]
May 16, 2008 Antwerp Belgium Sportpaleis Merksem[18]
May 19, 2008 Paris France Palais omnisports de Paris-Bercy[18]
May 20, 2008 Paris France Palais omnisports de Paris-Bercy[18]
May 21, 2008 Paris France Palais omnisports de Paris-Bercy[18]
May 24, 2008 Paris France Palais omnisports de Paris-Bercy[18]
May 25, 2008 Paris France Palais omnisports de Paris-Bercy[18]
May 27, 2008 Paris France Palais omnisports de Paris-Bercy[18]
May 30, 2008 Dublin Ireland Croke Park[18]
June 2, 2008 Amsterdam Netherlands Amsterdam ArenA[18]
June 5, 2008 Copenhagen Denmark Parken Stadium[18]
June 7, 2008 Stockholm Sweden Globe Arena[18]
June 9, 2008 Helsinki Finland Hartwall Areena[18]
June 12, 2008 Berlin Germany Waldbühne[18]
June 14, 2008 Frankfurt Germany Commerzbank-Arena[18]
June 16, 2008 Stuttgart Germany Schleyerhalle[18]
June 18, 2008 Cologne Germany Kölnarena[18]
June 20, 2008 Hamburg Germany Color Line Arena[18]
June 22, 2008 Munich Germany Olympic Stadium[18]
June 24, 2008 Zürich Switzerland Hallenstadion[18]
June 26, 2008 Prague Czech Republic O2 Arena[18]
June 28, 2008 Kraków Poland Błonia Park[18]
July 1, 2008 Vienna Austria Wiener Stadthalle[18]
July 3, 2008 Milan Italy Datch Forum di Assago[18]
July 5, 2008 Nice France Palais Nikaia[18]
July 7, 2008 Arras France Grand Place[18]
July 9, 2008 Geneva Switzerland Stade de Genève[18]
July 11, 2008 Monte Carlo
 Monaco Sporting Club[18]
July 12, 2008 Monte Carlo
 Monaco Sporting Club[18]
North America
August 12, 2008 Boston United States TD Banknorth Garden[19]
August 13, 2008 Boston United States TD Banknorth Garden[19]
August 15, 2008 Montreal Canada Bell Centre[19]
August 16, 2008 Montreal Canada Bell Centre[19]
August 18, 2008 Montreal Canada Bell Centre[19]
August 20, 2008 Montreal Canada Bell Centre[19]
August 23, 2008 Montreal Canada Bell Centre[19]
August 25, 2008 Montreal Canada Bell Centre[19]
August 27, 2008 Toronto Canada Air Canada Centre[19]
August 28, 2008 Toronto Canada Air Canada Centre[19]
August 31, 2008 Montreal Canada Bell Centre[19]
September 1, 2008 Montreal Canada Bell Centre[19]
September 3, 2008 Buffalo United States HSBC Arena[19]
September 5, 2008 Philadelphia United States Wachovia Center[19]
September 6, 2008 Mashantucket United States Foxwoods Resort Casino[19]
September 8, 2008 Washington United States Verizon Center[19]
September 10, 2008 Newark United States Prudential Center[19]
September 12, 2008 Newark United States Prudential Center[19]
September 13, 2008 Uniondale United States Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum[19]
September 15, 2008 New York City United States Madison Square Garden[19]
September 16, 2008 New York City United States Madison Square Garden[19]
September 18, 2008 Uniondale United States Nassau Coliseum[19]
September 20, 2008 Atlantic City United States Boardwalk Hall[19]
September 22, 2008 Columbus United States Jerome Schottenstein Center[19]
September 24, 2008 Cleveland United States Quicken Loans Arena[19]
September 26, 2008 Detroit United States The Palace of Auburn Hills[19]
September 27, 2008 Toronto Canada Air Canada Centre[19]
September 29, 2008 Milwaukee United States Bradley Center[19]
October 14, 2008 Sacramento United States ARCO Arena[19]
October 16, 2008 Portland United States Rose Garden arena[19]
October 18, 2008 Tacoma United States Tacoma Dome[19]
October 20, 2008 Vancouver Canada General Motors Place[19]
October 21, 2008 Vancouver Canada General Motors Place[19]
October 24, 2008 Edmonton Canada Rexall Place[19]
October 25, 2008 Edmonton Canada Rexall Place[19]
October 27, 2008 Winnipeg Canada MTS Centre[19]
October 28, 2008 Winnipeg Canada MTS Centre[19]
October 30, 2008 Minneapolis United States Target Center[19]
November 4, 2008 Chicago United States United Center[19]
November 9, 2008 Indianapolis United States Conseco Fieldhouse[19]
November 11, 2008 St. Louis United States Scottrade Center[19]
November 13, 2008 Tulsa United States BOK Center[19]
November 15, 2008 Kansas City United States Sprint Center[19]
November 17, 2008 Omaha United States Qwest Center Omaha[19]
November 19, 2008 Denver United States Pepsi Center[19]
November 21, 2008 Salt Lake City United States EnergySolutions Arena[19]
November 23, 2008 San Jose United States HP Pavilion[19]
November 29, 2008 Anaheim United States Honda Center[19]
December 2, 2008 Los Angeles United States Staples Center[19]
December 6, 2008 Phoenix United States Jobing.com Arena[19]
January 5, 2009 Dallas United States American Airlines Center[19]
January 7, 2009 San Antonio United States AT&T Center[20]
January 9, 2009 Houston United States Toyota Center[20]
January 10, 2009 New Orleans United States New Orleans Arena[20]
January 13, 2009 Nashville United States Sommet Center[20]
January 15, 2009 Birmingham United States BJCC Arena[20]
January 17, 2009 Atlanta United States Philips Arena[20]
January 20, 2009 Raleigh United States RBC Center[20]
January 23, 2009 Miami United States American Airlines Arena[20]
January 28, 2009 Tampa United States St. Pete Times Forum[20]
January 30, 2009 Fort Lauderdale United States BankAtlantic Center[20]

[edit] References

  1. ^ La tournée mondiale de Céline Dion 2008-2009 - 5 continents - 85 villes - 101 spectacles. Retrieved November 7, 2007.
  2. ^ Celine Dion announces highly anticipated 2008-09 North American tour. Retrieved November 7, 2007.
  3. ^ Cap sur l'Afrique. Retrieved February 9, 2008.
  4. ^ Céline Dion: quatre Centre Bell en 35 minutes!. Retrieved November 18, 2007.
  5. ^ Céline Dion: un huitième spectacle ajouté . Retrieved February 9, 2008.
  6. ^ Additional Concert Announced in Edmonton!. Retrieved November 16, 2007.
  7. ^ New USA Concert Dates Announced - TeamCeline Ticket Pre-sale Begins Monday. Retrieved February 7, 2008.
  8. ^ Second Show Date in London and Manchester Just Announced!!. Retrieved November 16, 2007.
  9. ^ [http://www.celinedion.com/celinedion/english/whatsgoinon_pr.cgi?id=43 Celine Dion's Taking Chances Tour, 'on a roll' across Europe! ]. Retrieved June 6, 2008.
  10. ^ Additional Concert Announced in Sydney, Australia - TeamCeline Tickets On Sale Now!. Retrieved January 23, 2008.
  11. ^ Céline brings her own dentist on tour to SA. Retrieved January 19, 2008.
  12. ^ http://www.celinedion.com/celinedion/english/whatsgoinon.cgi
  13. ^ Celine Dion cancels concert due to illness. Retrieved March 26, 2008.
  14. ^ Sydney Celine Dion concert cancelled. Retrieved March 28, 2008.
  15. ^ [1]. Retrieved April 4, 2008.
  16. ^ Celine Dion, Taking Chances Tour DVD. Retrieved March 15, 2008.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x La tournée mondiale de Céline Dion 2008-2009 - 5 continents - 85 villes - 101 spectacles. Retrieved November 7, 2007.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai La tournée mondiale de Céline Dion 2008-2009 - 5 continents - 85 villes - 101 spectacles. Retrieved November 7, 2007.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay La tournée mondiale de Céline Dion 2008-2009 - 5 continents - 85 villes - 101 spectacles. Retrieved November 7, 2007.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j La tournée mondiale de Céline Dion 2008-2009 - 5 continents - 85 villes - 101 spectacles. Retrieved November 7, 2007.
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