Posted at 6:00 a.m.
After covering songs by Ginette Reno, Guylaine Tanguay devotes an album to the work of Celine Dion as part of her series My way. Interview with the one who succeeds in her bet: to be recognized for her talent as a singer beyond country.
PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, THE PRESS
Guylaine Tanguay for the release of her album in tribute to Celine Dion.
As Guylaine Tanguay says so well to Claudette Dion in the virtual launch show for her 17and album, offered this Friday: “You have to have a forehead all around your head to sing Céline in Quebec. »
This is nevertheless what Guylaine Tanguay dares for the second album of his series My way. “That Céline comes back into my life when I’m about to be 50, it’s no coincidence,” she confides. She always accompanied me and she gave me gas to move forward. »
As the youngest of the Dion family, the singer with country roots grew up in a modest environment. “The first Céline LP I got was like gold. I had had a record player as a present, with a boom box and a microphone, and I was screaming Celine in my room. My brothers were no longer capable! »
Guylaine Tanguay learned to sing with Céline Dion by trying to reach the same notes as her, but her idol above all allowed her to dream.
Céline and I are three years apart. I was already singing when she started. For me, who lived in Girardville, a small village in Lac-Saint-Jean, dreaming of becoming a professional singer was almost unreal. How did you want me to access it? We didn’t have any money, we didn’t know anyone in show business.
Guylaine Tanguay
Guylaine Tanguay had some pitfalls and took longer than Charlemagne’s diva before finding “her” René Angélil, but she has been able to count on Carl Bazinet for nearly 25 years, who was – as was the case for Céline and René – her impresario before becoming her lover.
Nine songs in French
Of the 11 songs chosen by Guylaine Tanguay on Celine – My Way, there are 9 in French. “We’re a lot into old Céline, plus a few hits that we couldn’t rule out. My strongest memories of Céline are in her early days. »
Guylaine Tanguay has mostly chosen ballads, including It was just a dream, my friend left me, Love still exists Where First, what is love?
Guylaine Tanguay takes on Celine Dion more with restraint than exuberance. Especially on my heart Will Go On and The Power of Lovewhere the singer nevertheless shows all the accuracy and power of her voice.
It is pointed out to Guylaine Tanguay that the parts Incognito and Of love or friendship lend themselves particularly well to country arrangements. ” With Incognito, it’s happening so much! », opines Guylaine Tanguay.
In her interpretation, she did not want to imitate Celine Dion, but she had to find her comfort zone. “The first day, I gave too much. I was like too pissed off and wanted to give it my all. The next day, I sat down instead of standing to be calmer. I just assumed I had nothing to prove. »
Finally, Guylaine Tanguay is delighted with the result. “It’s the first time that I like to listen to my voice again. At 50, it was time! »
Guylaine Tanguay indeed has a golden voice. It is no coincidence that his fans asked him at the start of the pandemic to cover Ginette Reno, Céline Dion and great French songs (which will be the subject of the third and final album in his series My way).
Support from Claudette Dion
The show-launch of Celine – My Waywhich will be online for 10 days, is hosted by none other than Claudette Dion, with whom Guylaine Tanguay was to meet Celine Dion for the first time (before the star canceled shows due to muscle spasms).
It will be a postponement, but for Guylaine Tanguay, “having the go” for Claudette Dion – as she had done with Ginette Reno – was important. In fact, it’s like she got Celine’s blessing too.
Claudette Dion also shares precious memories with Guylaine Tanguay during the launch show. Among other things, she recounts the moment when her mother, Thérèse, made sure with Céline that she really loved René Angélil.
A singer, period
Like Celine Dion, Guylaine Tanguay is renowned for her professionalism. Everyone will tell you that working with her is pleasant. “What I want isn’t success, it’s respect,” she often says.
Guylaine Tanguay has another wish now that she is covering Celine Dion classics. “To assert myself as a singer, and not just as a country singer. »
Let’s take it for granted.
The virtual launch show of Celine – My Way is available from May 6 to 16. The tour will be presented in the fall throughout Quebec, including November 18 and 19 at the Casino de Montréal.
Ranee Lee: “Céline is untouchable”, although…
Ranee Lee will release on Friday May 13 an album titled Because You Loved Me, which she will also present at the Monument-National as part of the Jazz Festival. And to think that the 79-year-old singer refused (even several times!) to reinterpret Celine Dion songs…
PHOTO OLIVIER PONTBRIAND, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Singer Ranee Lee, during a performance in Montreal in 2013
“Céline is untouchable,” she says. There is only one Celine. »
When Ranee Lee was offered by Jim West of his label Justin Time to do a jazz-style album of Celine Dion covers, she refused. Several times !
The grande dame of the jazz scene thought her refusal was unequivocal, but she believed in the project when she saw the collective Snarky Puppy performing in New York three years ago. The group’s energy, its emotionality and its fusion of several styles… “I finally felt the arrangements”, she says.
If taking over Celine Dion is very intimidating, Ranee Lee put things into perspective.
PHOTO MICHAEL SLOBODIAN, SUPPLIED BY THE ARTIST
Jazz singer Ranee Lee
Songs are songs. These are stories about melodies. The interpretation is individual.
Ranee Lee
Ranee Lee says that she and Céline Dion – respectively member and companion of the Order of Canada – have already crossed paths in the late 1980s during a telethon. Otherwise, she remembers that René Angélil had already given her a phone call to request her services as a chorister.
Like Céline Dion, Ranee Lee lost the man of her life and her great professional accomplice, Richard King, to cancer in 2018. “It’s a continual loss… I have a lot of empathy for Céline. It is difficult to mourn a person with whom we are also involved in many aspects of our life. »
“Richard is always on my mind. He is my muse. I know he would be delighted with this project. »
“That’s why I titled the album Because You Loved Me, emphasizes Ranee Lee. This also guided the choice of songs. I think of him singing every word. » Especially in My Heart Will Go On, The Power of Love and All By Myselfshe points out.
A few surprises
As we said earlier, Ranee Lee wanted the arrangements of his reinterpretations to be inspired by the Snarky Puppy groove. She entrusted this task to pianist and director Taurey Butler. In addition, the singer was able to count on her renowned musicians, including bassist Dave Watts, drummer Jim Doxas, guitarist Carlos Jiménez and violinist Kate Bevan-Baker, who does a superb solo on NatureBoy.
Why do we find nature boy, great classic of Nat King Cole? You should know that Céline covered this piece on her album A New Day Has Come, released in 2002. It was actually the bonus song. “I grew up with this song. Kate’s solo makes me cry. Like Dave’s solo on The Prayer “says Ranee Lee.
On this cover of Celine Dion’s duet with Andrea Bocelli, Ranee Lee admits that singing in Italian was a challenge as it was when she sang in French on I thinkwhich she mixed with… The House of the Rising Sun Animals! “I saw similarities there and I allowed myself this freedom. »
And it works ! Otherwise, we fall for his version upbeat ofAll By Myself with a Latin twist. I’m alive also hits the mark in jazz format.
A show and paintings
With Because You Loved MeRanee Lee releases her 14and album with Montreal record label Justin Time. The 79-year-old artist – born in Brooklyn and a Montrealer since 1970 – has been quite active during the pandemic. She performed at the special fall edition of the last Jazz Festival and gave a few shows at the Upstairs.
Ranee Lee will present the show Ranee Lee Swings Celine Dion at the Jazz Festival on the Monument-National stage on July 9. “I have lots of ideas for the show. »
Also a painter in her spare time, Ranee Lee adds that she made a painting for each song of Because You Loved Me. For All By Myself, she painted a flamingo black. She will probably have a vernissage in a gallery, she also announces.
To say that she almost refused to touch Celine’s universe.