Music critic Carl Wilson was decidedly not a fan of Céline Dion. Then the Globe and Mail writer decided to spend a year immersed in the world of the pop phenomenon in an effort to understand why she has millions of fans and at least as many detractors.
The Quebec singer has sold 220 million records, but it seems just as many people choose to loathe rather than love her music and public image.
Wilson wrote about his quest for musical understanding in Let's Talk About Love: A Journey to the End of Taste (Continuum). Ian Brown and guests in turn dissect Wilson’s reaction to the pop music phenomenon on CBC Radio’s Talking Books.
In his book, Wilson explores popular taste, the nature of fandom, music economics and Quebec nationalism. He proposes that Dion’s completely uncynical approach to music and her rags-to-riches life story are irresistible to some and far too sugary sweet for others.
Wilson runs the music blog Zoilus.com and is part of Trampoline Hall, Toronto’s popular series of nightclub lectures by non-experts.
On Talking Books, Noreen Golfman, Jonathan Garfinkel and Beatrice Hausner discuss the paradoxical nature of the star’s appeal with host Ian Brown. Along the way, one of the panelists reveals her conversion to the cult of Céline Dion after attending a performance in Las Vegas surrounded by an audience of adoring Quebecers.
Listen to their conversation here.
Originally aired Dec 29, 2007 on Talking Books. [runs 25:49]
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Comments
I live in Quebec and I have to tell you that among allophones we do not like her at all, we think she is a perfect oportunist and everything involves $$$$$ of course, nothing for nothing, we think she is a fake; her mannerisms on stage seems like she is always imitating the more very famous...in her upcoming concert in this city will be nothing like Paul McCartney's. She is certainly over exposed, but this is the way her husband and manager sells her.
Posted by: Dina Linares | July 29, 2008 08:22 AM
I love her.
Posted by: Magali | July 29, 2008 11:41 AM
Well I am an allophone from Quebec and I love Celine Dion and so do many of my friends. She is not a fake like Dina puts it. Dina thinks Celine is all about money but what about the millions of dollars that Celine donates to various charities around the world (without telling everyone about it??). Celine deserves to be the world's best selling female artist. She didn't get there by sitting on her (lovely) butt. She works REALLY hard compared to many divas out there and she deserves every cent she earns. I suggest to Dina to go see a Madonna concert and you'll see who CAN sing live and who doesn't. And you'll also find out who's real and who's fake... Au revoir!
Posted by: John | July 29, 2008 01:35 PM
Dina, what are "Allophones"? Anyway, just to comment on Celine I must admit she's a paradox. But as far as her singing and music not many can match her. I'll just leave it at that.
Posted by: royfree | July 29, 2008 04:50 PM
I think Celine embodies talent , something rare in todays music industry .
she doesnt need the trash clothing or sex image to get her message across and sell records.
Its sad that people dislike her, but i can assure you that that population spend their time listening to the artificial music you hear today, drowning quality .
It shows in her sales figures that people like her...i mean com'on 220 million album sales and over 80 million single sales....Think about it!
people love to dislike her because she sings about "boring love" ,something her haters lack.
im no big celine fan but i respect the woman she has become and the legacy she leads.
Posted by: Mike | July 29, 2008 05:22 PM
dear Words At Large administrator, upon checking the Merriam/Webster site i can say with certainty the "detractors" is spelled with an "ors" at the end, not "ers". if you are unsure of anything and don't trust the MS spellcheck (very sketchy) you can go here (http://www3.merriam-webster.com/opendictionary/). it's completely okay to do this.
Posted by: chris | July 30, 2008 01:10 AM
I think that Celine Dion is one of the biggest things that has ever happened to Quebec. It put both the city and province on the international map where u have people who don't speak a single word of french singing in our language, while the people of our country can barely speak a few...
Maybe Celine was overexposed as some point in time, but what do people like about her...Its many things. Her ETHICS is a major one. Her work ethic is amazing and very inspiring to many people.
Celine did not wake up one day and become an international star. She worked and she worked hard.
She never conveyed to her fans that drugs, smoking and alcohol are ok..She was never sexual in her music.
Everything that she had done was positive so far and her rag-to-riches story is definitely a lesson to all...that if you believe in something , you can do it...
I am a fan of Celine and watching her through the years, I learned that ethic from her...that if you want something really bad, hard work does pay off...
How did it pay off for me? im 100 lbs lighter and modeling...
Who inspired me? Celine
Who do I owe it all to? Celine
She has touched the lives of many without knowing it...
That's why people love her because she brought out the good in them, and the vulnerable in them...
For those who dislike her, that's a matter of taste...but do me a favor, don't ever say that she is fake or pretentious because every single thing about that woman is genuine...
I know people who have worked with her one on one and she has changed them and changed the way they look at the industry...
She is loyal to her fans and to the people she works with. Look at how many quebecers went with her to Vegas...look at how many went on tour with her ?
Does that tell you something ?
Celine...You've made a diffrence...
Vous etes vraiment la femme au destin exceptionel. . .
Posted by: Robert Masri | July 30, 2008 09:00 AM
Good discussion. Thank you. Wilson's book is well worth reading.
For those interested in 'learning' more about how to develop good taste, I refer to it in this article here:
http://www.getguerilla.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=118&Itemid=1
Posted by: Nigel Beale | July 30, 2008 11:47 AM
dina, you need to grow up and realize that not everyone shares the same opinion and that just because you and the people around you think one way - not everyone in your entire province would agree. Your type of thinking is typical of simple and close minded country folks. In actuality, although Celine Dion is an international superstar - the place she is BIGGEST by far would be her hometown of Quebec. So obviously you are talking major BS. Of course not everyone likes her, NO ONE can please everyone. But even the dumbest person can surmise her most strongest and loyal fanbase has always been the people back in Canada, specifically in Quebec.
And by the way? opportunist? Pfft. So what? Are you jealous? Did she make money illegally? the girl came from a poor family of 14 kids, she deserves every cent she has today.
Posted by: faceo | July 30, 2008 02:14 PM
Well, I'm from Montreal and an allophone. As far as I am concern, allophones just love Celine Dion because she's a great singer.
for sure, on her upcoming concert here...ticket will be sold out! Yayy! Can't wait!!!
Posted by: Miriam A. | July 30, 2008 04:36 PM
Imitating the more famous? Which one? What's that all about?lol Céline IS the best selling female singer in the world today and she did not achieved this by imitating others for sure. Ridiculous... I don't have problems with people who don't like her music but I hate when they write comments which shows lack of cultural knowledge.
Posted by: Lio | July 31, 2008 02:52 AM
Who care's about Celine. You guys are all missing the point. The book isn't about Celine, it's about taste, aesthetics, culture, criticism. Celine is the subject but not the object. She's a jumping off point. That's why the book is valuable. If it was just about Celine it wouldn't matter. Have you guys who are having this discussion actually read Wilson's book???
Posted by: Mike | August 3, 2008 03:55 PM
At the risk of being hunted down and murdered (kidding of course) my opinion of Celine Dion is she's as phony as a $3.00 bill most of the time. She's always going on and on about her family and that Old Fart complulsive gambler husband of her's. Of course she makes no reference to this fact.
This alone doesn't make her odd, however she should just stick to being a singer entertainer, not some french Canadian Guru who knows whats best for all.
She probably is a nice person, but I wold encourage her to eat a bit of humble pie now and again and to not attempt to be someone she is not.
Her husband is an extremely fortunate "old" man who has a beautiful wife that seems to dote on him. However I think we have not heard the last of men in her life as she's just too good looking and young to not experience desires for others as she is exposed to the worst of the very best that her industry provides.
Those who might agree with me just a little will know full well what I'm saying here.
As I think my opinion of her is faire, I'm sure there are those who will disagree with my assessment.
Posted by: Barry Campbell | August 3, 2008 04:15 PM
the book is lame DONT BUY IT
Clearly Celine was used in this book due to her amazing success, the book is not one by celine and is completely a waste of time and money
Its awful that people think shes phony (those poor judges of character )
Celine may not appeal to all but still loved by the majority of music listeners
She glows as an individual
shes pure
shes real
shes genuine
she powerful
she a perfect role-model
of course people would hate and envy .thats a no brainer
so...respect people who truly deserve it and hate the haters not the good people
Try God , dont hate , peace
Posted by: Brian | August 9, 2008 01:29 AM
You are not right.
Posted by: mynameisgoor | August 15, 2008 03:20 AM
celine dont even write her songs at least madonna do write her songs come on people this a joke let alone paul mccartney thank
Posted by: dean | August 21, 2008 11:01 AM
I - LOVE - HER !
Totally.
I'm from Quebec, I'm a francophone.
And I really don't understand how you can HATE that amazing woman. She's so generous, and so nice, and so sweet and funny ! Plus, she's the best performer ever !!!
She was my idol when I was 5, and it didn't change, and it never will.
Céline, je t'aime tant ! :)
Tu es une femme exceptionnelle.
xo
Elyann, 18 ans.
Shawinigan.
Posted by: Elyann Quessy | October 5, 2008 08:00 PM
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