CELINE The Authorized Biography
By Georges-Herbert Germain
Canadian chanteuse Celine Dion began recording her recording career at the age most of us are just going into high school. She sold 100 000 copies of that first effort and her sales just continued to rise. Celine has become a legend since then.
“CELINE The Authorized Biography” tells a wonderful, fairy story that just happens to be true. The problem with this book is the same problem all authorized biographies have. They are often cleaned up to present a version of the person that shows them in the best light.
The question then becomes where is all the dirt? Where is the sex, drugs, and rock and roll that most music biographies are made of? It would appear that there was none of that and there might be a reason for that.
Celine married a man nearly 30yrs her senior. This man became her manager and then her husband. They met when Celine was just 13yrs of age. At least she was a year older than the famed “LOLITA”. I know they spent the rest of his life together in married bliss but it does seem weird to me.
It would almost suggest a type of sexual grooming might have taken place. But no one wants to believe that kind of thing could happen right in front of their eyes. No one wants to believe such things. And besides, they stayed together until his death. Rene Angelil was born in 1942 and was perhaps the reason Celine became so famous. Rene was to Celine what Col. Tom Parker was to Elvis, without the sex.
Regardless of how creepy that made me feel there is no doubting Celine’s talent. Rene heard her voice and knew he could make her a star. Rene almost seduced her family into allowing him such control over her young life that it was astonishing.
Ok, on to the book. It’s fine. There are no startling revelations except that Celine’s first album was released when she was just 13. I was lucky to be able to tie my own shoes at 13 so there is no way I could have recorded anything at 13.
Not only that but she managed to sell 100000 copies of that debut album. She has continued to record and sell many millions of times that amount.
Rene was the mastermind behind the voice. It was he that decided that Celine must sing in English in order to sell records in the American market. So she did and the rest is music history.
This book is for diehard Celine Dion fans. I’m not certain that it’s entertaining enough to pull in the average reader. Also if you are just not a Celine fan why would you even come here to read a review? Sure, curiosity could have pulled you in.
I like to talk about the pictures in biographies and Georges-Herbert Germain certainly includes some in his book. They are fine. They represent Celine in all the phases of her career. Fans will like them.
Celine Dion and Rene Angelil have made history with her voice. Rene is as important to the story of Celine as Celine is. Sure Celine had the voice of an angel but Angelil molded and guided both her and her voice.
The names of many managers are not known. We know the names Brian Epstein and Col. Tom Parker because of how entrenched they were in the career of their protegees. Rene Angelil can be added to that list. He controlled her career at least as much as any manager has controlled any artist's career.
Rene died at the age of 73. Celine was not even 50 at that point. It’s sad she had to bury her husband while she was so young. But at least she has the titanic voice that launched a thousand ships and sunk at least one.
Fans of Celine should grab “Celine the authorized biography” because they will just eat it up. It’s all the Celine you could want and more. Learning about her early career was fascinating. Fans should love learning of Celine’s touring life at such an age.
This is one for the converted. If you love Celine you will love this book.
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