| You don't sell over 150 million albums without adapting to the times and consistently producing top-notch material. And here Celine Dion once more does both--One Heart finds her collaborating with some of the hottest talent around. Beginning with a pumping Euro-version of "I Drove All Night", the album then switches into Max Martin mode with Celine, her voice nasal over the punchy orchestration, playing the Britney card. And it works, because Dion, unlike Whitney Houston, never attempts an all-out (and thus unconvincing) reinvention of herself, just draws upon the sounds and styles of others while keeping her own image intact. This image, of course, is that of a Big Love Balladeer--innocent, yearning and tossed upon turbulent oceans of passion. And there's plenty of that here. "In His Touch" and "Stand By Your Side" are both aching love-songs, while "Have You Ever Been in Love" (cowritten by Daryl Hall) and "I Know What Love Is" are the kind of huge, piano-led festivals of emotion that Dion's fans expect. Elsewhere, there's the excellent Euro-pop of the Cathy Dennis-penned "Reveal", and the sassy, rock-tinged "Coulda Woulda Shoulda", surely a guaranteed US chart smash. So, that'll be at least 170 million albums, and counting… --Dominic Wills |
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