Dion's real international breakthrough came when she paired up with Peabo Bryson to record the title track to Walt Disney Pictures animated film Beauty and the Beast (1991). The song captured a musical style that Dion would utilize in the future: sweeping, classical and soft rock influenced ballads with soft instrumentation. Both a critical and commercial smash, the song became her second United States top 10 hit, and also won many awards. As with Dion's earlier releases, the album had an overtone of love.
Dion worked with a new team of writers and producers on her eponymous album. Five songs were written by Diane Warren. "With This Tear" was a gift from Prince who wrote the song especially for Dion.[1] The tracks were produced mainly by Walter Afanasieff, Ric Wake and Guy Roche.
By 1992, the release of her previous English-language album Unison (1990) and Celine Dion, as well as various media appearances, had propelled Dion to superstardom in North America. She had achieved one of her main objectives: wedging her way into the anglophone market and establishing fame. Apart from her rising success, there were also changes in Dion's personal life, as René Angélil would make the transition from manager to lover. However, the relationship was kept a secret as both feared that the public would find the twenty-six-year difference between their ages incongruous.
The European version of Celine Dion includes "Where Does My Heart Beat Now" as a bonus track. The album was re-released on 7 September 1992 in Australia with a bonus disc containing four songs which had been previously released as singles from Unison.
"Send Me a Lover" was a "leftover" from the recording sessions of the Celine Dion album and it was released in 1994 on the charity compilation Kumbaya Album 1994.
The album has received varied reviews. Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic wrote that "Celine Dion's self-titled follow-up to her successful American debut is even stronger and more accomplished."[2] Arion Berger from Entertainment Weekly commented, "She hits all the notes on Prince's graceful, desperate "With This Tear", but clearly she has more voice than heart".[6] Music critic Robert Christgau called it the "worst album of the year—that I can remember".[5] Jan DeKnock of Chicago Tribune said that the album "is even better, because the young singer-only 24-has developed enough confidence in her second language to really deliver the emotional nuances of a lyric, especially in the ballads that dominate this album. [...] Dion has clearly joined Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston as one of the premier voices on the pop scene".[4] Parry Gettelman from the Orlando Sentinel felt that Dion "really excels" on the three dance tracks "in the Lisa Stansfield mold"; "Love Can Move Mountains", "Did You Give Enough Love" and "Little Bit of Love".[7]
Commercial performance
The album has sold over five million copies worldwide.[9][10] As of May 2016, Celine Dion has sold 2,400,000 copies in the United States according to Nielsen SoundScan,[11] with an additional 624,000 units sold at BMG Music Club.[12] SoundScan does not count albums sold through clubs like the BMG Music Service, which were significantly popular in the 1990s.[13] It was certified 2× Platinum in the United States and reached number 34 on the Billboard 200 chart.[14] Dion's popularity was also showing in Canada where the album topped the chart in Quebec for six weeks, peaked at number three on the Canadian Albums Chart and was certified Diamond for one million copies sold.[15][16]
In other regions of the world, Celine Dion peaked at number 15 in Australia, number 31 in New Zealand, number 59 in Japan, and number 70 in the United Kingdom. It was also certified Platinum in Australia and Gold in the UK and Japan.[17] Dion received her first World Music Award for Best Selling Canadian Female Recording Artist of the Year.
^As of May 2016, Celine Dion has sold 2,400,000 copies in the United States according to Nielsen SoundScan,[11] with an additional 624,000 units sold at BMG Music Club.[12] SoundScan does not count albums sold through clubs like the BMG Music Service, which were significantly popular in the 1990s.[13]
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