"If this "limited edition" only contained two new songs I would have given it 1 star and completely trashed Sony at this new attempt at ripping off their consumers. But since this album also has a DVD of the "I'm Alive" music video and behind the scenes of Celine's Vegas show I'll give it 5 stars. The songs on this album are flawless. It's one of Celine's greatest efforts. Songs like "I'm Alive", "I Surrender", "Prayer", and "Sorry For Love" are just some of the songs on this album that are some of the greatest songs Celine has ever recorded. "Goodbye's (The Saddest Word)" is the new single which is beautiful beyond the imagination. The music video and behind the scenes footage is worth the purchase if you already own the album and it is a MUST HAVE for anybody who does not already have the album. Buy it as a Christmas present or birthday gift or whatever for someone you love. They will love you more for it."
New Day Has Come
Adriana Hernandez | 11/25/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I purchased this cd/dvd when it was released becaused I wanted the video for her second song I'm Alive. The dvd included with the cd also contains two new songs that are not on the original cd as well as backstage footage of her coming up show in Vegas. Both of the songs on the dvd as well as the video are worth watching and you should buy it even if you have already purchased just the cd."
Celine's best work
Adriana Hernandez | Puerto Rico | 12/09/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Although I've always been a Celine Dion fan, only two of her previous albums I find excellent (Falling into You, All the Way). Well, let me tell you this is one of Celine's best works, if not the best. Songs like "I'm Alive", "When the Wrong One loves you Right","A New Day has Come(radio edit)" and "Ten Days" have a great tempo. On the other side, "The Greatest Reward", "Have you ever been in Love" and "I Surrender" are three of the most beautiful songs Celine has ever recorded. Acrtually, this record gets 4 1/2 stars if it wasn't that the 2 bonus songs are not included in the cd, but in the dvd. I would have put those and instead eliminated "Nature Boy", "At Last" and "Aun existe Amor", which are the weakest tracks to me. Buy this album; this is my advice."
A Great Enjoyment Of Soul!!
C. Chen | NY USA | 12/12/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This special edition is absolutly worth your money to buy, no matter whether you've already had it or not. The dvd provides an access to celine's much-anticipated las vegas show. In this album, most of the songs are very touching and emotional. Celine's voice is undeniable, it's beautiful.Every single song conveys different messages of life. Like "the greatest reward", "a new day has come", "goodbye's(the saddest word)"...etc. Under some circumstances, the songs made tears welled up in my eyes. Her music reminds me of some precious moments in my life. I believe people who enjoy celine's music have exprienced this sort of feeling...A lot of people criticize that celine records ballads all the time, althought varity is an essential element of a successful album, yet I would still like to say that ballads are the best access to people heart and inner emotion, so let celine's music inspire your heart,let it accompany with you through the good or hard times, let it help you see the positive and bright side of life.......why not?"
A new dawning for both of us
fabio-italy | milan, italy | 02/19/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This album by Celine means so much to me.
I bought the original version on its release date.
It was also the day Sakis and i called it quits.
My friends called me crazy buying a Dion album on such a traumatic moment, most thought her sad ballads would have brought me on the edge of a nervous breakdown (some other even thought i might commit suicide...).
Well, my dear anti-celine fans, the news is that i'm very much well and alive.
And the album is great as usual: SORRY FOR LOVE is the track that i relate to the most, due to the above-mentioned facts.
And the fact that is not a ballad, but a dance tune, made it all easier to cope with.
Celine hits such HIGH notes she really proves to be from another planet, and to really be in a small league of talented vocalists.
RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU is the other track i love, because is the one i relate to beginning my relationship with Wayne later on that same year.
Coincidentally both tracks have been co-penned by Kara DioGuardi, who's becoming fast my # 2 female songwriter after Diane Warren - who unfortunately is not present on this collection.
Also David Foster does not appear, although he was rumored - before the CD release - to have produced the boombastic ballad I SURRENDER.
It is instead produced by Foster's long-time collaborator Simon Frangler and written by another smashing duo: Sam Watters and Louis Biancanello.
WHEN THE ONE LOVES YOU RIGHT is produced by Rick Wake that once more brings out the dance side of Celine.
Not that she can't make you dance, I'M ALIVE is another feet-stomping track by Sweden's Andreas Carlsson and Kristian Ludlin.
The Raggae-influenced SUPERLOVE is a fun tune co-written by Shelly Peiken (favourite female songwriter # 3...) and Guy Roche, who also produced it.
And what about the Clapton-esque guitar in the rocking TEN DAYS? Just unbelievable!
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN LOVE is a smooth slowtempo, although the real gem of the album in terms of ballads comes with the Corey Hart-written, Walter Afanasieff-produced PRAYER: deep meaning, great orchestration and choir, amazing vocals by Celine.
You can't be moved by such style...the same style that comes through with the titletrack (presented in both radio and album version).
Of course there are bad moments - no album is perfect: RAIN, TAX is just unlistenable, AT LAST does not even come close to the Etta James original version or the great Gladys Knight cover version...and God knows why NATURE BOY was chosen to be made a remake???
The album is really worth it.
Now let me suggest you this one version i am reviewing...because you get a couple of extra songs in the first place: ALL BECAUSE OF YOU is a very nice ballad and COULDA WOULDA SHOULDA another Carlsson/Ludlin uptempo that could have replaced any of the "bad songs" i just wrote about.
Then you get the I'M ALIVE VIDEO (ok, not much of an extra, i would have preferred, say, the making of of the album, but whatever...).
And finally - but strictly for die-hard fans - there is a 15.00 minute preview of Celine's Las Vegas Show to start on march 25th.
And here comes Wayne again, surprising me to hell getting us tickets for when i am there this upcoming Summer!
He says he wants me to move on from the past and to make all my dreams come true if he can...
It is really true, a new day has come: Celine sings it right!"