Concert Review
Celine Dion
KeyBank Center
Buffalo, NY
Thursday December 5, 2019
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto
It’s not everyday that Celine Dion comes to town, in fact it had been eleven years since the last time she performed at the arena. Since that time the venue changed its name twice and Dion has also released four studio albums. Courage is her latest album released a few weeks ago and debuted at #1 on the album charts. Dion performed a great mix of songs throughout her career to the nearly sold-out Buffalo crowd Thursday evening.
The show kicked off appropriately with “It’s All Coming Back To Me Now”. Dion was in fine voice throughout the show. She was backed by a huge band that delivered the goods during her two hour performance, I could see why she never introduced them as it would have taken another fifteen minutes to do so.
One of the main highlights featured lead backing vocalist Barnev Valsaint and his amazing duet with Dion on “Beauty and the Beast”. “Here’s one that is gonna take you way back in time” Dion announced as she introduced “If You Asked Me To”, a gem from her 1992 self-titled album which peaked at #4 on the Billboard singles chart. Oddly enough as big a hit it was she rarely ever played it live over the years. The biggest song of the night from crowd reaction was “All By Myself”. The Eric Carmen cover saw many of the patrons on the floor stand up where they would remain for much of the remainder of the show.
Dion performed a medley of songs to end the main set. While some of the songs were all right, to me this was perhaps the only part of the show I would have done something else to perhaps end on a higher note before the encores.
Dion encored with one of her best in “My Heart Will Go On”. As she spoke to the crowd you could tell how emotional she was feeling as if almost taken back by the reception she received. You could tell how much she enjoyed performing. She mentioned how she sang about love, hope and courage so it was only fitting to end with the John Lennon cover of “Imagine”. “Imagine” is the true song about hope and peace.
Celine Dion is without a doubt one of the most influential artists of our time. She has really done all there is to do in the music business. While her career is far from over, if it were to end today I think she would truly be satisfied with the legacy she has built and would leave behind. She is a unique artist, one of a kind that we will never see another like her again. For anyone who has yet to see her in concert make it a point to do so as you will regret it if you don’t.
Set List
It’s All Coming Back to Me Now
That’s the Way It Is
I’m Alive
If You Asked Me To
The Power of Love
Love Can Move Mountains
Beauty and the Beast
You’re the Voice
Tous les blues sont écrits pour toi
To Love You More
Courage
All by Myself
Imperfections
The Prayer
Because You Loved Me
Let’s Dance / Another One Bites The Dust / Flying On My Own / Kiss / River Deep, Mountain High / Lady Marmalade
Encore
My Heart Will Go On
Imagine
