D'Elles (meaning From Them) is the title of Céline Dion's most recent French language album. It was released on May 18, 2007 in certain European countries (including Austria, Belgium and Switzerland), May 21, 2007 in others (including France and Poland) and May 22, 2007 in Canada. It was also released on June 1, 2007 in Germany and Italy, and June 4, 2007 in the United Kingdom. It is her twenty-third French album, and thirty-fourth if counting all longplays. The lyrics were written by ten prominent female writers from Quebec (Jovette Alice Bernier, Janette Bertrand, Denise Bombardier, Marie Laberge, Lise Payette) and France (Nina Bouraoui, Françoise Dorin, Nathalie Nechtschein, Christine Orban, George Sand). Jean-Jacques Goldman made a lyrics selection and chose only the best ones. Seven out of thirteen songs planned for the album were recorded on December 20th and 21st 2006 at the Piccolo Studios, Montreal. A second version of "A Cause," called "On S'est Aimé à Cause" was recorded in New York, in early February 2007. This one was produced by Tino Izzo (the first version by Jacques Veneruso). The title is a spin-off of that of Dion's 1995 album D'eux. Both can be translated as About Them, with D'Elles being specifically the feminine version. The song "La Diva" was recorded also in Italian and English, but these versions remain unreleased. The first single "Et S'il N'en Restait Qu'une (Je Serais Celle-là )" written by Françoise Dorin and David Gategno, premiered on February 14, 2007 on radiostations in Francophone countries. It was released commercially on April 13, 2007 and debuted at #1 on the French Singles chart. The second single "Immensité" written by Nina Bouraoui and Jacques Veneruso was sent the radio on April 25, 2007. "Le Temps Qui Compte" was released as the third single in Poland only. It premiered on the radio on May 18, 2007. The artist will visit France in mid-October 2007 to promote her album. Céline Dion was in Montreal on May 11-12, 2007 to tape two TV-Specials dedicated to the issue of her album D'Elles: one for the French TV-network TF1 and one for the Quebecer TVA. During the first taping for TF1, Dion sang live several songs with French singers: "Stayin' Alive" with Vitaa, Shy'm and Amel Bent, "Hymne a l'amour" with Maurane and Johnny Hallyday, "Blueberry Hill" with Johnny Hallyday, "The Show Must Go On" with Christophe Maé and David Hallyday, "My Heart Will Go On" with Lââm and Amel Bent, "Caroline" with MC Solaar and Nolween Leroy, "Être à la hauteur" with Merwann Rim and Christophe Maé, "Caruso" with Florent Pagny and then she sang in playback three songs from D'Elles: "Et S'il N'en Restait Qu'une (Je Serais Celle-là )," "A Cause" and "Immensité." During the second taping for TVA, Dion sang many new songs in playback: "Et S'il N'en Restait Qu'une (Je Serais Celle-là )," "Immensité," "Je Cherche l'Ombre," "Berceuse," "La Diva," "Le Temps Qui Compte" and "On S'est Aimé A Cause." They also showed the recording sessions for "Femme Comme Chacune," "Lettre De Georges Sand A Alfred De Musset" and "Si J’étais Quelqu’un" and few footages taken from the A New Day... DVD, which is scheduled to be released worldwide at the end of 2007 (footages of "River Deep, Mountain High" and more footages from "behind the scenes" and "A New Day... in the life of Céline." The Quebecer TV-Special was broadcasted on May 21, 2007 and the French one on June 9, 2007. D'Elles was released in three formats: standard CD double digipack (includes CD, "making of" DVD titled "Céline Parle D'elle(s)," a booklet of Dion photos, and a booklet including song lyrics and Dion's personal notes about each song) collector's edition (includes CD, "making of" DVD titled "Céline Parle D'elle(s)," a mini-booklet of Dion photos and her personal notes about each song, a mini-booklet with song lyrics, and 4 postcards) Dion will be promoting D'Elles during her forthcoming world tour in 2008. D'Elles shot to the top of the Canadian album charts, selling 72,200 copies (including 69,285 in Quebec) in its first week, making it the biggest debut of the year, according to data compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. It marked her tenth No. 1 album in the SoundScan era, and her eighth to debut at the top position. Dion's high-water mark for Canadian sales remains 1997's Let's Talk About Love, which had opening week sales of 230,212 - a record debut which still stands to this day. In Canada, the album has been certified 2x platinum and has shipped half a million units worldwide on the first week of sales. D'Elles debuted also at No. 1 in France, selling 55,244 copies and reached the top in Belgium shipping 25,000 copies (gold certification). |