Top 45 Best Songs By Celine Dion

Celine Dion is one of the most recognizable and successful singers in music history. Whenever you hear a song with her voice, you know it’s her the moment she utters the first syllable. 

Even if it’s in a language you don’t understand, Celine Dion’s voice is unmistakable. Funny enough, this is quite likely since she’s recorded in English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, and Japanese.

Early Life

Celine was born in Charlemagne, Quebec, and is the youngest of fourteen children. Music was a big part of her life from an early age because she performed with her siblings in a piano bar owned by her parents. 

As a teen, she became a star in her native Canada with a string of hit albums, all in French. Celine got her first international recognition in the early eighties by winning both the 1982 Yamaha World Popular Song Festival and the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest, where she represented Switzerland.

Canadian Powerhouse

Dion is one of the best-selling artists in music history, having sold more than 200 million copies. She is the recipient of five Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year and Song of the Year. Additionally, she has received two honorary doctorates in music from two different universities. 

She is the best-selling international artist in South Africa. And in 2009, she was named the highest earning artist of the decade by the Los Angeles Times, with a revenue of 748 million dollars. 

Now that you know all about her, here are my picks for the best songs by Celine Dion.

Top 45 Best Songs By Celine Dion

1 Only One Road 

Album: The Color of My Love

“Only One Road” comes from musician, writer, and actor Peter Zizzo. The track was produced by Grammy and Oscar winner Ric Wake. It was included on the 1993 Love album but was only released as a single in October of 1994. The Color of My Love was Celine’s third English language album. 

This track can be seen as a snapshot of Dion at a very important point in her career. From here on in, things would turn into gold for her. Not only is her voice already a world wonder on this track, but she begins to “become” the characters needed to imbue the performances with endearing believability. 

“Only One Road” was rewarded with a brilliant black and white music video directed by Greg Musuak in 1995. It managed to climb to #1 on the Canadian Adult Contemporary Chart. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the track was a Top 10 hit making it to #8. 

2 If You Asked Me To

Album: Celine Dion 

Originally written by songwriter and producer Diane Warren. The song was recorded by “The Godmother of Soul” Patti LaBelle and included in her ninth studio album, Be Yourself, released in 1989. The song was also part of the James Bond film “Licence to Kill.” 

Fast forward some years where Celine is busy with her second self-titled studio album. Celine’s cover of “If You Asked Me To” was released as the second single to the album. Once again, we have Celine partnered with a fantastic writer and producer, Guy Roche. 

With any good cover, what you’re aiming for is to make the song your own. And this track is a fine example of an artist doing so. Like Hendrix did with Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower,” this is one of Celine Dion’s most popular cover songs.

A powerful rendering…

Celine’s voice and performance gave this track the emotional power it needed to become such a huge power pop ballad. Despite being a cover, this track can easily be ranked as one of her best ballads and was ranked as Celine Dion’s best song on About.com’s 10 Best Celine Hits list. 

“If You Asked Me To” spent three weeks on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was a huge hit in Celine’s native Canada, reaching #1 on both the Canadian Adult Contemporary and Canadian Top Singles charts.  

3 That’s The Way It Is

Album: All the Way… A Decade of Song 

The idea of taking three guys who are used to writing up-tempo dance hits and love ballads for “Boy Bands” and asking them to write a song for one of the world’s biggest contemporary singers may have seemed far out back in 1999. But it sure paid off in the end. 

“That’s The Way It Is” was the product of Swedish producers and writers Andreas Carlsson, Max Martin, and Kristian Lundin. These three had previously worked with artists like Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, and NSYNC. 

This was a good dose of experimentation for Celine. And, like most of her endeavors, she pulled it off with the kind of grace that makes it look like she could do it all the time. The production on the track is very detailed, even down to a key change in the second chorus. 

International success…

“That’s The Way It Is” was a Top 10 hit in Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, and Switzerland. 

In the United States and Canada, it topped the Adult Contemporary charts and was listed as one of the Greatest Songs of 1999 by Billboard. If you are looking for one of the best songs by Celine Dion, this is a good place to start.

4 Where Does My Heart Beat Now

Album: Unison 

Songs that have historical importance to an artist’s career are always welcome on these lists, and this is one of the best picks I could find. The song was written by Robert White Johnson and Taylor Rhodes (who worked with legendary rockers Aerosmith) and produced by Christopher Neil.

Launching her worldwide career…

One of the great moments of Celine’s career came quite early when she represented Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest in Lausanne. She chose one of her performances at this contest to debut this song. 

Dion would go on to win the contest that year; however, her winning song was another French track. But, “Where Does My Heart Beat Now” retained its importance since it was released as the lead single to her Unison album both in the US and Canada.

When it came out, it was Celine Dion’s highest-selling single at the time and by far the most successful track of the entire album. When the track peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100, Celine Dion became the first French-Canadian to have a Top 10 hit in the United States. 

5 A New Day Has Come

Album: A New Day Has Come

This track was written by Canadian musician, producer, and guitarist extraordinaire Aldo Nova. And, Grammy-nominated writer, producer, and composer Stephan Moccio. It was produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Walter Afanasieff. It was the lead single from the album that bears its name.

Celine revealed to one interviewer that she was inspired to write “A New Day Has Come” by the birth of her child. The song carries a strong and uplifting message like many of Dion’s songs. But, somehow, the extra personal nature of this one adds a very warm and innocent quality to it. 

As with all great lyrics…

A song can have immense universal meaning. Celine said, “For me, this represents the birth of my child. Nothing can ever come close to that. But it can mean different things for anyone who has to find strength again. I think it’s very positive.”

“A New Day Has Come” was an international smash hit. It was #1 in Canada and the Czech Republic. It was a Top 10 hit on both the UK Singles and Canadian Singles charts and in many other countries in Europe as well. 

In the US, it peaked at #22 on the Billboard Hot 100 while remaining on the top of the Hot Adult Contemporary Chart for an incredible 21 weeks. As a result, it is one of Celine Dion’s most well known songs.

6 It’s All Coming Back To Me Now

Album: Falling Into You 

This smasher of a power ballad was written by the late great Jim Steinman. And, despite being begged by Meatloaf, Steinman did not allow the Rock ‘n Roll legend to record “It’s All Coming Back To Me Now.” 

Steinman had a reputation for being very sentimental and protective of his writing. Furthermore, he had intended for the song to be sung by a woman from the start. Meatloaf would eventually get his chance to record the song. But, it was Steinman’s group, Pandora’s Box, that would record it first for their concept album, Original Sin. 

Enter a Canadian Queen…

Celine recorded her version for 1996’s Falling Into You with Steinman producing. Todd Rundgren, Eric Troyer, Rory Dodd, Glen Burtnick, and Kasim Sulton, who had worked on Bat Out Of Hell with Steinman, provided backing vocals. 

The original version that appeared on Celine’s album was over seven minutes long. It is quite simply a masterpiece of production, songwriting, and artistry. Steinman could probably not have pictured a more perfect performance in all the years he had held on to the tune. 

While the shorter radio edit is still great, I’d stick to the longer one for the full experience. The song peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and managed to stay there for five weeks.

7 Beauty and the Beast (feat. Peabo Bryson)

Album: Beauty and The Beast OST 

Many things make up a great singer, and one of them is the ability to perform with others. Celine, of course, never needs any backup. But, this beautiful duet with Peabo Bryson showcases her ability to fit into an arrangement rather than having one crafted around her. 

Producers felt that the original recording by the actress Angela Lansbury was not right for radio. Paige O’Hara, who voiced the character of Belle in the film, also wanted to sing the pop version of “Beauty and the Beast.” 

However, Disney felt her performance would be too much like that of a Broadway star. Apparently, the management ended up “settling” for Celine Dion, unbelievable as that might sound. 

It wasn’t meant to be a duet…

Thankfully, the producers felt it needed another voice to carry it properly. Peabo Bryson was brought on board, and recording commenced. The performance is perhaps not Dion’s most dynamic, but the refined and almost held-back sound becomes soothing the more you listen. 

Celine and Peabo’s voices compliment each other beautifully, and the production was fantastic. No one can deny this is one of the most memorable Celine Dion songs ever recorded. 

8 The Power Of Love

Album: The Color of My Love

As mentioned, an artist’s ability to take an existing tune and make it their own so much so that they can have massive success with it is a rare talent. Celine has done this multiple times, and this is probably one of the best and most known examples. 

Of course, a large part of the success of this tune has to do with the incredible production done by sixteen-time Grammy Award winner David Foster. He managed to not only get the sound of the recording to its peak but also push an artist as successful as Dion even further. 

The subsequent success of Dion’s cover version speaks to the effort they put into this recording. Without a doubt, it has become one of Celine Dion’s signature songs. 

In 1994… 

“The Power of Love” became the best-selling single by a female artist with over 900,000 copies sold. It was Celine Dion’s first #1 in the United States, where it managed to stay on the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks. 

Also, it was her first #1 in Australia. It has been certified platinum in the US, with more than 1.5 million copies sold to date. “The Power of Love” won many awards, including an ASCAP Pop award for the Most Performed Song in the United States.

9 Because You Loved Me

Album: Falling Into You 

We’ve featured a song written by Diane Warren and recorded by Celine on this list of the best songs by Celine Dion. Likewise, we also featured tunes where she worked with legendary Canadian producer David Foster. 

So, when we have a song written by Diane Warren (about her father, no less), produced and arranged by Foster, and sung by Celine Dion, we know it’s going to be a smasher. 

And what a smash it was…

This song was included on the soundtrack for the 1996 film “Up Close And Personal.” And, when you listen to it within that context or not, you cannot help but get a sense of deep-felt sincerity being imparted. Again, this is thanks to Celine’s ability to become the person she needs to be for a song. Just like an actor becomes a character. 

“Because You Loved Me” is one of Celine Dion’s biggest hits ever. It reached #1 in the US, the UK, and Australia, as well as being a Top 10 hit in many other countries. In the US alone, the song has sold over two million copies and is the second most streamed song in the country. 

Did I mention it was a smashing success?

The song earned a Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media and was nominated for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. 

It also earned Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for Best Original Song. When the track became available internationally, it sold more than five million copies in its first week. 

10 Falling Into You

11 That’s the Way It Is

12 The Prayer (with Andrea Bocelli)

13 I Surrender

14 Taking Chances

15 Immortality (feat. Bee Gees)

16 The Show Must Go On

17 The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face

18 The Colour of My Love

19 Love Can Move Mountains

20 Breakaway

21 Us

22 Goodbye’s (The Saddest Word)

23 I Want You to Need Me

24 When I Fall in Love (feat. Clive Griffin)

25 If That’s What It Takes

26 Just Walk Away

27 Water from the Moon

28 If Walls Could Talk

29 Love Doesn’t Ask Why

30 I’m Your Angel (with R. Kelly)

31 Call the Man

32 That’s the Way It Is (Dance Remix)

33 It’s Hard to Say Goodbye

34 Prayer

35 I Knew I Loved You

36 Don’t Save It All for Christmas Day

37 The Last to Know

38 If You Could See Me Now

39 Halfway to Heaven

40 God Bless America

41 Save Your Soul

42 Little Bit of Love

43 When the Wrong One Loves You Right

44 Miracle

45 I Got Nothin’ Left

Want More Amazing Songs?

We can help with that. Take a look at our detailed articles on the Best Alanis Morissette Songs of All Time, the Best Tina Turner Songs of All Time, the Best Sarah McLachlan Songs of All Time, the Best Rihanna Songs of All Time, and the Best Sia Songs of All Time for more great song selections.

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Best Songs By Celine Dion – Conclusion

Whether you like her or not, Celine Dion is as popular as Coca-Cola. Perhaps even more considering how many of us have watched “Beauty and The Beast.” As a performer, she will go down as one of the greatest in history, with a voice unlike any other. As a person, she has been and always will be adored.

Until next time, happy listening.