Tell Him (Barbra Streisand and Celine Dion song)

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“Tell Him”
“Tell Him” cover
Single by Barbra Streisand and Céline Dion
from the album Higher Ground and Let's Talk About Love
Released November 3, 1997
Format CD single
Recorded Wallyworld, Record Plant Studios, The Hit Factory, Chartmarker Studios, Paramount Studios, Masterphonics
Genre Pop
Length 4:51 (Album Version)
4:53 (Radio Edit)
Label Columbia, Epic
Writer(s) Linda Thompson, Walter Afanasieff, David Foster
Producer David Foster, Walter Afanasieff
Certification Platinum (Belgium, Netherlands)
Gold (Australia, France, Norway, Switzerland, United Kingdom)
Barbra Streisand singles chronology
"I Finally Found Someone"
(1996)
"Tell Him"
(1997)
"If You Ever Leave Me"
(1999)


Céline Dion singles chronology
"Dreamin' of You"
(1997)
"Tell Him"
(1997)
"Be the Man"
(1997)

"Tell Him" is a duet between Barbra Streisand and Céline Dion. It was released as the first single from Dion's Let's Talk About Love and Streisand's Higher Ground album, on November 3, 1997.

On March 24, 1997 Céline Dion became the first artist ever to perform twice on the same Academy Awards night. In addition to singing "Because You Loved Me," she also sang "I Finally Found Someone" from the movie The Mirror Has Two Faces (recorded by Barbra Streisand and Bryan Adams). Streisand preferred not to perform that night and Natalie Cole had been scheduled to sing her song instead. But Cole pulled out and two days before the Oscar night, Céline Dion was asked if she could do it. Although nervous, she accepted and managed to perform on the night.

A few days later, Streisand sent Dion flowers and a note: "I watched the tape afterwards, you sang my song beautifully and I regret I wasn't in the room to hear you, next time let's make one together. I really wish your song would have won, you are a wonderful singer." That note wasn't left without an answer and René Angélil called up David Foster to write a song for them, and the result was "Tell Him."

On October 7, 1997 "Tell Him" had its first runs on the United States radio waves. This duet was rejected however by non-Adult Contemporary radio stations. Even if the song was a large Adult Contemporary hit, Sony Music cancelled the U.S. single release, because it didn't have a broad enough support to put the song on top of the charts. However, "Tell Him" was a huge hit outside the U.S.

Dion and Streisand in the "Tell Him" music video (1997).
Dion and Streisand in the "Tell Him" music video (1997).

The music video was directed by Scott Floyd Lochmus and premiered on VH1, on October 24, 1997. It was included as a bonus on the Au cœur du stade DVD.

The radio edit and album version of the song are the same tracks.

"Tell Him" peaked at #1 in the Netherlands, #2 in Ireland, #3 in Belgium, Europe, France and the United Kingdom, #4 in Italy and Switzerland, and was a top ten hit in many other countries. The single has sold very well around the world, receiving platinum awards in the Netherlands (75,000), Belgium (50,000), and gold in the United Kingdom (400,000), France (400,000), Australia (35,000), Switzerland (25,000) and Norway (10,000).

"Tell Him" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals in 1998.

Céline Dion performed this song as a virtual duet with Barbra Streisand during the Let's Talk About Love Tour.

"Tell Him" was later included on both artists' compilations: Dion's The Collector's Series, Volume One and Streisand's The Essential Barbra Streisand.

[edit] Formats and track listings

3-track CD-single - (EU, AU, JP)

  1. "Tell Him" (radio edit) – 4:53
  2. "Everything Must Change" – 4:05
  3. "Where Is the Love" – 4:55

[edit] Charts

Chart (1997) Peak
position
Argentinian Airplay Chart 6
Australian Singles Chart 9
Austrian Singles Chart 23
Belgian Flanders Singles Chart 3
Belgian Flanders Airplay Chart 4
Belgian Wallonie Singles Chart 3
Belgian Wallonie Airplay Chart 9
Canadian Singles Chart 12
Canadian Adult Contemporary Chart 4
Canadian Contemporary Hit Radio Chart 37
Dutch Top 40 Chart 1
Dutch Mega Top 50 Chart 1
Dutch Mega Single Top 100 Chart 2
European Singles Chart 3
Chart (1997) Peak
position
French Singles Chart 4
German Singles Chart 25
Irish Singles Chart 2
Italian Singles Chart 4
Norwegian Singles Chart 8
Polish Radio 3 Chart 10
Spanish Singles Chart 4
Swedish Singles Chart 27
Swiss Singles Chart 4
UK Singles Chart 3
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Airplay 58
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks 5
U.S. ARC Weekly Top 40 21
World Singles Chart 7

[edit] References

Languages