Celine Dion Live 2018

{{Infobox concert

| concert_tour_name = Celine Dion Live 2018

| image = Celine Dion Live 2018 Official Photo.jpg

| image_size = 220px

| type = Special

| location = {{hlist|Asia|Oceania}}

| caption = Promotional poster for the tour

| album = The Best So Far... 2018 Tour Edition

| artist = Celine Dion

| start_date = 26 June 2018

| end_date = 14 August 2018

| number_of_legs = 2

| number_of_shows = 22

| gross = $56.5 million

| last_tour = Celine Dion Live 2017
(2017)

| this_tour = Celine Dion Live 2018
(2018)

| next_tour = Courage World Tour
(2019–20)

}}

Celine Dion Live 2018 was the fourteenth concert tour by Canadian singer Celine Dion to support her greatest hits album, The Best So Far... 2018 Tour Edition (2018). It marked Dion's first concerts in Asia and Oceania since the Taking Chances World Tour in 2008. The tour began on 26 June 2018 in Tokyo, Japan and concluded on 14 August 2018 in Auckland, New Zealand, making a total of 22 concerts performed. The tour was sold-out and grossed $56.5 million.

Background

The initial Asia Tour was planned to support the English language album Loved Me Back to Life and was scheduled to take place in October and November 2014.{{cite web|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/celine-dion-halts-concerts-asia-tour-due-to-husbands-health|title=Celine Dion halts concerts, Asia tour due to husband's health|publisher=straitstimes.com|date=14 August 2014|accessdate=14 August 2018}} Several dates were planned in Japan, the Philippines, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Malaysia and Thailand. On 13 August 2014, Dion announced that the tour has been cancelled due to ongoing illness of her husband and manager, René Angélil, and family issues.

On 10 January 2018, Dion held a press conference at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, where she announced the tour to the journalists.{{cite web|url=http://celinedionjkt.com/|title=Celine Dion Live 2018|publisher=celinedionjkt.com|accessdate=12 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180112042437/http://celinedionjkt.com/|archive-date=12 January 2018|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://tw.entertainment.appledaily.com/daily/20180112/37900727/|title=席琳狄翁7月瘋台灣睡7晚唱《茉莉花》宣告攻蛋 - 蘋果日報|work=蘋果日報 |publisher=tw.appledaily.com Limited|date=12 January 2018|accessdate=12 January 2018}} She said she will visit Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, China and the Philippines.{{cite web|url=https://www.nownews.com/news/20180112/2681403|title=席琳狄翁向「他」邀歌被狠拒自爆兒子聽她唱歌就爆哭|publisher=NOWnews.com|date=12 January 2018|accessdate=12 January 2018}} Except for Japan and China, it was Dion's first time in these countries. On 25 January 2018, a third date was added in Taipei due to overwhelming demand.{{cite web|url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3347524|title=300,000 fans crash ticket system for Celine Dion concerts in Taipei, more shows possible|work=Taiwan News|author=Keoni Everington|date=23 January 2018|accessdate=23 January 2018}} On 12 February 2018, a second date was added in Manila.

On 1 February 2018, the Australia and New Zealand leg was announced.{{cite web|url=https://pacific.epeak.in/2018/02/01/celine-dion-australia-tour-announced-when-tickets-are-on-sale/#q0o44R4wpueyT5L8.99|title=Celine Dion Australia tour announced: When tickets are on sale|publisher=pacific.epeak.in|date=1 February 2018|accessdate=1 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201193319/https://pacific.epeak.in/2018/02/01/celine-dion-australia-tour-announced-when-tickets-are-on-sale/#q0o44R4wpueyT5L8.99|archive-date=1 February 2018|url-status=dead}} On 14 February 2018, more dates in Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland were added. On 19 February 2018, an additional date in Brisbane was added. On 11 March 2018, it was announced that Dion would be performing a third date in Auckland on 14 August 2018.

Critical reception

The tour received positive reviews. Nick Bond from news.com.au wrote that Dion was heartbreaking and hilarious, and that her surprise inclusion of the Australian classic "You're the Voice" made the Sydney show.{{cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/tours/celine-dions-sydney-concert-the-8-most-ridiculous-amazing-moments/news-story/60bf44c34d87db397bcd4bcd6f22b427|title=Celine Dion's Sydney concert: The 8 most ridiculous, amazing moments|publisher=news.com.au|date=30 July 2018|accessdate=9 August 2018}} He also praised the performance of "All by Myself", calling it a raw emotion. According to Jade Kops from BroadwayWorld.com, a decade since Dion's last Sydney visit, she did not disappoint.{{cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/australia-melbourne/article/BWW-REVIEW-Cline-Dion-Delights-Sydney-Fans-With-An-Incredible-Return-To-The-Sydney-Stage-On-Her-2018-Australia-and-New-Zealand-Tour-20180729|title=BWW Review: Céline Dion Delights Sydney Fans With An Incredible Return To The Sydney Stage On Her 2018 Australia and New Zealand Tour|publisher=BroadwayWorld.com|date=29 July 2018|accessdate=9 August 2018}} He praised her voice and wrote that she delivered a stadium concert that was surprisingly intimate, sharing songs and stories from her 30+ year career. Kops also noted that Dion's cover of Janis Ian's "At Seventeen", supported by an intimate string quartet, was given a wonderful restraint in her phrasing expressing an honesty and connection to the work. In another review, Jane Armistead from The Sunday Times wrote that Dion raised the roof rolling out hit after hit at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.{{cite web|url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/entertainment/confidential/celine-dion-brisbane-review-vocal-powerhouse-sings-youre-the-voice-ng-74088971c17f1fbbfa4ca4edaeb841d8|title=Celine Dion Brisbane review: Vocal powerhouse sings You're the Voice|work=The Sunday Times|date=31 July 2018|accessdate=9 August 2018}} Armistead also noted that it wasn't without its emotion as Dion sang "Recovering", a track written for her by Pink after Angélil's death in 2016.

Ross McRae from The West Australian gave the concert in Perth four stars and highlighted "Think Twice" (rocked out by Dion and her guitarist), "All by Myself" (Dion's signature power ballad complete with its goosebump-inducing vocal finale) and a poignant medley of "At Seventeen", "A New Day Has Come" and "Unison".{{cite web|url=https://thewest.com.au/entertainment/music/celine-dion-raises-the-roof-at-perth-arena-ng-b88918104z|title=Celine Dion raises the roof at Perth Arena|work=The West Australian|date=5 August 2018|accessdate=9 August 2018}} McRae also noted that unlike most pop singers, Dion uses an old school corded microphone as she works the stage, which adds a dramatic effect that emphasises she is singing live. Another reviewer, Michael Lallo from The Age stated that Dion is deeply uncool, and that's what makes her great.{{cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/music/celine-dion-is-deeply-uncool-and-that-s-what-makes-her-great-20180808-p4zw73.html|title=Celine Dion is deeply uncool. And that's what makes her great|work=The Age|date=8 August 2018|accessdate=9 August 2018}} During her Melbourne concert Dion sang covers which she made her own, including "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" in which she demonstrated the undimmed strength of her voice. Allo noted that all the hits were there, including show-stopping "My Heart Will Go On" and that Dion promised to come back sooner to Australia than the last time.

Commercial reception

Dion brought her 2018 summer tour to a close with grosses of $56.5 million.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8474119/celine-dion-summer-tour-56-million-grosses|title=Celine Dion Wraps Summer Tour With $56 Million in the Bank|author=Eric Frankenberg|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=9 September 2018|date=7 September 2018}} Played across 22 shows in Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, she has sold 259,443 tickets. The biggest engagement of the tour was a three-night stay at Taiwan's Taipei Arena with over $10.7 million grossed, though her one show at the Tokyo Dome delivered the biggest attendance tally, at 42,748.

On 12 July 2019, it was announced, that Dion's Live 2018 tour was nominated at the Helpmann awards, for best International Contemporary Concert.

Broadcasts and recordings

The first concert of the tour which took place in Tokyo was recorded and broadcast on 25 August 2018. "Falling into You" and "Pour que tu m'aimes encore" were not included in the broadcast. There has been no confirmation regarding possible CD/DVD release. The performance of "You're the Voice" with John Farnham was recorded and part of it aired on Channel Ten's The Project.{{cite web | url=https://startsat60.com/news/celebrity/celine-dion-the-voice-john-farnham-duet | title=Unseen footage shows the emotional moment Celine Dion met John Farnham | date=12 August 2018 }}

Band

{{cite web |url=http://www.celinedionweb.com/en,band.html |title=Celine Dion |website=CelineDionWeb.com |date=14 January 2016 |accessdate=14 January 2016 |archive-date=21 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171121035049/http://www.celinedionweb.com/en,band.html |url-status=dead }}

Musical Director, Piano: Scott Price
Drums: Dominique Messier
Bass: Yves Labont
Guitars: Kaven Girouard
Keyboards: Guillaume Marchand
Percussion: Paul Picard
Tin whistle: Andrea Corr (“My Heart Will Go On”)
Background Vocals: Barnev Valsaint, Dawn Cumberbatch, Élise Duguay
Violins: Philippe Dunnigan, Jenny Elfving
Viola: Jerome Gordon
Cello: Judy Kang
Woodwinds: Eric Tewalt, Kendall Louis Armstrong
Trumpets: Matt Fronke, Kail Graham, Jay Martin
Trombone: Nathan Tanouye

Set list

{{hidden

| titlestyle = background: #ccccff; font-size: 100%; width: 65%; text-align:center;

| bodystyle = text-align: left; font-size: 100%; width: 75%;

| title = Tokyo, Macau, Singapore, Jakarta, and Taipei (11 July)

| content =

"The Power of Love"
"That's the Way It Is"
"I'm Alive"
"Because You Loved Me"
"It's All Coming Back to Me Now"
"Beauty and the Beast" (duet with Barnev Valsaint)
"Ashes"
"Think Twice"
"Falling into You"
"The Reason"
"Pour que tu m'aimes encore"
"Recovering"
"All by Myself"
String Medley: "At Seventeen/A New Day Has Come/Unison"
"To Love You More"
Medley: "Uptown Funk/Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough/We Are Family/Groove Is in the Heart/Sex Machine" (by backup singers)
Medley: "Kiss/Purple Rain"
"Love Can Move Mountains"
"River Deep, Mountain High"
"My Heart Will Go On"

}}

{{hidden

| titlestyle = background: #ccccff; font-size: 100%; width: 65%; text-align:center;

| bodystyle = text-align: left; font-size: 100%; width: 75%;

| title = Taipei (13–14 July), Manila, and Bangkok

| content =

"The Power of Love"
"That's the Way It Is"
"I'm Alive"
"Because You Loved Me"
"It's All Coming Back to Me Now"
"Beauty and the Beast" (duet with Barnev Valsaint)
"Ashes"
"Think Twice"
"Falling into You"
"The Reason"
"Pour que tu m'aimes encore"
"Recovering"
"All by Myself"
String Medley: "At Seventeen/A New Day Has Come/Unison"
"To Love You More"
Medley: "Uptown Funk/Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough/We Are Family/Groove Is in the Heart/Sex Machine" (by backup singers)
Medley: "Kiss/Purple Rain"
"Love Can Move Mountains"
"River Deep, Mountain High"
"My Heart Will Go On"
"Can't Help Falling in Love" (acapella)

}}

{{hidden

| titlestyle = background: #ccccff; font-size: 100%; width: 65%; text-align:center;

| bodystyle = text-align: left; font-size: 100%; width: 75%;

| title = Australia and New Zealand

| content =

"The Power of Love"
"That's the Way It Is"
"I'm Alive"
"Because You Loved Me"
"It's All Coming Back to Me Now"
"Beauty and the Beast" (duet with Barnev Valsaint)
"Ashes"
"Think Twice"
"Falling into You"
"Pour que tu m'aimes encore"
"You're the Voice"
"Recovering"
"All by Myself"
String Medley: "At Seventeen/A New Day Has Come/Unison"
"To Love You More"
Medley: "Uptown Funk/Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough/We Are Family/Groove Is in the Heart/Sex Machine" (by backup singers)
Medley: "Kiss/Purple Rain"
"Love Can Move Mountains"
"River Deep, Mountain High"
"My Heart Will Go On"
"Can't Help Falling in Love" (acapella)

}}

Notes

On 8 and 9 June 2018 Dion completely changed the setlist of her Las Vegas show in order to rehearse for her Live 2018 tour. Additionally, the rehearsals included "I Drove All Night" and the order of "That's the Way It Is" and "I'm Alive" was reversed.
"Can't Help Falling in Love" was added as the final encore since Taipei, 13 July 2018
"You're the Voice" replaced "The Reason" since Sydney on 27 July 2018
John Farnham joined Dion for her last Australian concert to perform "You're the Voice" together in Melbourne on 8 August 2018

Tour dates

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
scope="col" style="width:12em;"\| Date (2018) ! scope="col" style="width:10em;"\| City ! scope="col" style="width:10em;"\| Country ! scope="col" style="width:18em;"\| Venue ! scope="col" style="width:10em;"\| Opening act ! scope="col" style="width:10em;"\| Attendance ! scope="col" style="width:10em;"\| Revenue
+ List of concerts{{cite web\|url=http://www.celinedion.com/tour?=tour\|title=Celine Dion - In Concert - Tour\|publisher=celinedion.com\|accessdate=25 January 2018}}{{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/biz/current-boxscore\|title=Current Boxscore \| Billboard\|magazine=Billboard\|accessdate=9 September 2018\|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907181319/https://www.billboard.com/biz/current-boxscore\|archivedate=7 September 2018 \|url-status=dead}}{{cite web\|url=https://www.pollstar.com/article/concert-pulse-the-carters-land-stateside-queen-celine-returns-slayer-continues-farewell-136201\|title=Concert Pulse: The Carters Land Stateside, Queen Celine Returns, Slayer Continues Farewell\|author=Ryan Borba\|publisher=Pollstar\|date=29 August 2018\|accessdate=30 August 2018}}
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|26 June \|Tokyo \|Japan \|Tokyo Dome \| rowspan="22" \|Véronic DiCaire \|42,748 / 42,748 \|$5,784,430
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|29 June \|colspan="2" rowspan="2"\|Macau \|rowspan="2"\|Cotai Arena \|rowspan="2"\|19,809 / 19,809 \|rowspan="2"\|$4,017,395
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|30 June
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|3 July \|colspan="2" rowspan="2"\|Singapore \|rowspan="2"\|Marina Bay Sands Grand Ballroom \|rowspan="2"\|12,516 / 12,516 \|rowspan="2"\|$4,203,989
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|4 July
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|7 July \|Bogor{{efn\|Promoted as Jakarta}} \|Indonesia \|SICC \|8,248 / 8,248 \|$2,899,348
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|11 July \|rowspan="3"\|Taipei \|rowspan="3"\|Taiwan \|rowspan="3"\|Taipei Arena \|rowspan="3"\|35,765 / 35,765 \|rowspan="3"\|$10,702,924
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|13 July
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|14 July
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|19 July \|rowspan="2"\|Pasay{{efn\|Promoted as Manila}} \|rowspan="2"\|Philippines \|rowspan="2"\|Mall of Asia Arena \|rowspan="2"\|16,373 / 16,373 \|rowspan="2"\|$3,956,459
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|20 July
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|23 July \|Pak Kret{{efn\|Promoted as Bangkok}} \|Thailand \|IMPACT Arena \|10,223 / 10,223 \|$2,543,340
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|27 July \|rowspan="2"\|Sydney \|rowspan="7"\|Australia \|rowspan="2"\|Qudos Bank Arena \|rowspan="2"\|27,275 / 27,275 \|rowspan="2"\|$6,079,202
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|28 July
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|30 July \|rowspan="2"\|Brisbane \|rowspan="2"\|Brisbane Entertainment Centre \|rowspan="2"\|18,055 / 18,055 \|rowspan="2"\|$3,782,363
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|31 July
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|4 August \|Perth \|Perth Arena \|13,311 / 13,355 \|$2,240,214
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|7 August \|rowspan="2"\|Melbourne \|rowspan="2"\|Rod Laver Arena \|rowspan="2"\|24,342 / 24,342 \|rowspan="2"\|$4,650,884
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|8 August
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|11 August \|rowspan="3"\|Auckland \|rowspan="3"\|New Zealand \|rowspan="3"\|Spark Arena \|rowspan="3"\|30,778 / 30,778 \|rowspan="3"\|$5,616,343
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|12 August
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|14 August
colspan=5\| Total ! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" \|259,443 / 259,487 ! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" \|$56,476,891

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

scope="col" style="width:12em;"| Date (2018)

! scope="col" style="width:10em;"| City

! scope="col" style="width:10em;"| Country

! scope="col" style="width:18em;"| Venue

! scope="col" style="width:10em;"| Opening act

! scope="col" style="width:10em;"| Attendance

! scope="col" style="width:10em;"| Revenue

+ List of concerts{{cite web|url=http://www.celinedion.com/tour?=tour|title=Celine Dion - In Concert - Tour|publisher=celinedion.com|accessdate=25 January 2018}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/biz/current-boxscore|title=Current Boxscore | Billboard|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=9 September 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907181319/https://www.billboard.com/biz/current-boxscore|archivedate=7 September 2018 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.pollstar.com/article/concert-pulse-the-carters-land-stateside-queen-celine-returns-slayer-continues-farewell-136201|title=Concert Pulse: The Carters Land Stateside, Queen Celine Returns, Slayer Continues Farewell|author=Ryan Borba|publisher=Pollstar|date=29 August 2018|accessdate=30 August 2018}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|26 June

|Tokyo

|Japan

|Tokyo Dome

| rowspan="22" |Véronic DiCaire

|42,748 / 42,748

|$5,784,430

scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|29 June

|colspan="2" rowspan="2"|Macau

|rowspan="2"|Cotai Arena

|rowspan="2"|19,809 / 19,809

|rowspan="2"|$4,017,395