Celine Dion: On an even keel

You were so touched by meeting Nelson Mandela on your last South African tour that you named one of your twins after him. Why did you do that?

Celine Dion (CD): Because he changed our lives, and not only that, he became and will always remain such a beautiful, emotional, balanced, positive, strength. I can’t think of any other name that would reflect so much. When I was carrying life, and we were expecting life, I had just finished this world tour, and South Africa and Nelson Mandela made such a huge impact on me.
But we were expecting twins.

Now we had a problem because I couldn’t name them both Nelson. But we found another way to include another hero. My second boy was going to be named Eddie, after Eddie Morne, who is a French lyricist. He wrote all my French songs, and became my dad in the industry. He is somebody who is in heaven, who reflects so much positivity and strength and love and so much knowledge as well. And we needed and wanted a hero name, so Nelson and Eddie are our boys, and Renee Charles, my first born, is named after my grandfather and my husband, so we’re covered.

We have hero names in the family and we feel good about it.

So much has changed since that Taking Chances tour, for you personally and in the world. You have your Las Vegas residency, which has broken records and set new trends. Did you even think that you were capable of achieving so much?

CD: Of course not. You always hope, when you have a career, to get as many great opportunities as possible, and you always hope to pick a great song, record a great album and give a great performance. I just try to serve my music as best as I can. It’s a privilege to perform on stage.

I can sing four nights a week and give my shows to my fans. And I have amazing musicians and we have an amazing show. So I feel, as a singer, very lucky.

And as a mother, I have three boys. I’m busy, but the reward that it brings, that’s the most important.
On your new album Loved Me Back To Life, you do a duet with Ne-Yo. 

CD: Working with new people, you want to get their flair, you want to get their sense, and you always want to keep your music fresh. After more than 20 years in the industry, I don’t want to reinvent myself, but I want to sing something that makes me feel fresh and I want to look forward to singing my new songs.

I love going back in the recording studio and I have such a good time with new producers and working with their new sounds and flavours.

Your first single and the title track, Loved Me Back To Life was written by Sia. 

CD: I’m very honoured because I love Sia very much and for her to consider me is a privilege – I don’t write my songs.  My son, Renee Charles, thought it was a mistake. He said “What, what? Sia wrote you a song? That’s not possible.” He’s 12 years old, and he knows that she writes for artists like Rihanna, so she couldn’t write for his mother.

Where to from here? You sold over 200 million albums; won five Grammys…

CD: I go nowhere; I don’t go. I’m with my kids at the house. I go swimming, we play monopoly, we have a good time. Or I’m on stage performing. I’m very busy, but I choose what I want do.

Is there still anything you want to tick off life’s box? Anything you still want to do?

CD: Acting – I’d love to do some movies. Maybe I’ll do it in 10 years, maybe never, but it’s definitely something I’d love to do.

You’ve always said it’s important to have the right people behind you. That it’s not just about talent.

CD: The more I go through life, the truer that becomes. Talent is not enough. Success is a team effort, the record company, the people who believe in you.  And then you also have to be a hard worker, be disciplined and you have to trust people. I feel that lately people have a hard time trusting people, and I don’t blame them. I’m so happy that I don’t have to start my career today – it’s getting harder and harder for the kids.

Today people are demanding a lot. It’s almost like Top Model: your face must be pretty, you have to be that tall, you’re not big enough … They want you to have everything. Nobody has everything.