Happy 30th Anniversary to Céline Dion’s ninth studio album and first English-language album Unison, originally released April 2, 1990.
Back in late 2013 on my way to Brazil, I decided to stop over in Las Vegas with my family. The city that never sleeps also happened to be home to Céline Dion’s long term residency at Caesars Palace. With my parents’ birthdays just days apart and fast approaching, the gift of Dion live in concert was too good to pass up. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life and one that only went on to affirm not only my love for the singer herself, but also the fact that she sounds as good live as she does in studio, if not better.
This fascination for all things “Céline” began back in 1990 with the release of her first English album Unison. There is no denying that this album was the one that caught the world’s attention and rightly so. Set to an intrinsically ‘80s sound, Unison manages to capture the power balladry that was so prevalent in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, something that would go on to be forever synonymous with Dion.
Although this album marked an entrance into the English-speaking market for the Quebec-born Dion, eight studio albums came before this, all in French. In 1988, Dion was given the opportunity to represent Switzerland at the Eurovision contest held in Dublin, Ireland. The then 20-year-old Dion won the contest with “Ne partez pas sans moi,” which garnered her attention throughout Europe. With this newfound interest in the singer, an attempt to crack the ever elusive and lucrative American market proved timely and successful, when the legendary David Foster became involved in the project.
With the initial album budget of a paltry $25,000 being offered to the then relatively unknown Dion, Foster’s influence and star power took this figure to around $600,000, allowing for Dion’s English-speaking debut to receive some serious production value. Foster’s sonic touch can be heard throughout Unison as he produced/co-produced five of the album’s tracks and co-wrote the soft rock ballad “Love By Another Name.”
Given that Dion was only twenty-one years old when the recording of this album took place and with very limited English, the French Canadian singer managed to bring a maturity and vocal prowess that belied her youth. From the album opener and lead single “(If There Was) Any Other Way,” it’s nearly impossible to imagine the aforementioned age and language barriers as Dion sings about leaving a relationship to be with her lover. From the get-go it is clear that Dion’s age plays nothing more than numerics. Her life experiences, whilst probably limited at the time, don’t create a barrier with her innate ability to tap into an emotional depth that usually comes with age.
There are so many beautiful moments on this album, vocally and musically. This album was smartly given the radio-friendly, adult contemporary feel, a sound that Dion has become all too familiar with over the years and in many ways, has made her own. The album’s second track “If Love Is Out Of The Question,” epitomizes this sound and infuses pop rock for a little more depth. But there is no denying that the standout track on this album and the one that truly brought Dion to the masses, is the chart-topping power ballad “Where Does My Heart Beat Now,” helmed by another legendary producer, Christopher Neil (Sheena Easton, Mike + The Mechanics).
The subtle yet delicious influence of R&B on this album must not be overlooked too. The album’s fourth single and cover of Easton’s “The Last To Know” and “I’m Loving Every Moment With You” bring a soulful and sophisticated element to Unison that smooths things out beautifully. Things get turned up a notch to create a funky little groove with “Love By Another Name” which also provides a brilliant segue into the even funkier discoesque “Unison,” the album’s namesake and second single. The single’s remix includes a rap by Frankie Fudge and backing vocals by Ruth Pointer of The Pointer Sisters.
“I Feel Too Much” is no doubt the album’s most rock-indebted track, complete with synths, heavy drums and guitar solo, this is pure ‘80s and one of the album’s more infectious tracks. Returning to Dion’s signature balladry, “If We Could Start Over” could have easily been released as a single and Foster’s production on this track is incredibly evident via his usage of piano and that infamous power ballad aesthetic he has become renowned for.
Unison closes with more balladry by way of the Angela Clemmons cover “Have A Heart,” which was also the fifth and final single to be released from the album. Dion first covered the song in French for her Incognito album (1987), but it was her live performance of the song (in English) at the Juno Awards in 1987 that ended up catching the attention of Foster and giving way for the aforementioned larger budget, allowing for this landmark album to be made to its fullest potential.
Unison may not be to everyone’s taste given its heavy ‘80s feel, but what it does perfectly well is showcase a then very young Dion who was only just finding her feet in a new language and new musical landscape. Her voice and artistry is beyond perfection, especially given her youth, and the production quality and value of this album is exemplified by all those that joined Dion and her late husband René Angélil in creating a piece of music history that has truly stood the test of time.
LISTEN: