Born to a large impoverished family, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record. In 1990, she released the anglophone album Unison, establishing herself as a viable pop artist in North America and other English-speaking areas of the world.
Dion had first gained international recognition in the 1980s by winning both the 1982 Yamaha World Popular Song Festival and the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest.Following a series of French albums in the early 1980s, she signed on to CBS Records Canada in 1986. During the 1990s, with the help of Angélil, she achieved worldwide fame after signing with Epic Records and releasing several English albums along with additional French albums, becoming one of the most successful artists in pop music history. However, in 1999 at the height of her success, Dion announced a temporary retirement from entertainment in order to start a family and spend time with her husband, who had been diagnosed with cancer.She returned to the top of pop music in 2002 and signed a three-year (later extended to almost five years) contract to perform nightly in a five-star theatrical show at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas.
After performing in 25 countries during the Taking Chances World Tour which ended in February 2009 (one year after it began) she took another 2 year hiatus, focusing on expanding her family. After 6 in-vitro tries she gave birth to twin boys Nelson and Eddy in October 2010. In the meantime she announced her return to Vegas, her new show simply named "Céline" premièred on March 15th 2011 to spectacular reviews by media and audience.
Dion's music has been influenced by genres ranging from rock and R&B to gospel and classical. While her releases have often received mixed critical reception, she is renowned for her technically skilled and powerful vocals. Dion is the best selling Canadian artist of all time; and her album D'eux is the best selling francophone album of all time. Dion is regarded as one of pop music's most influential voices. Linda Lister describes Dion as a reigning Queen of Pop for her influence over the record industry during the 1990s. On a cultural level, Dion is credited for introducing francophone music to many non-francophone countries around the globe. Dion is also credited for both revitalizing and revolutionizing the entertainment scene in Las Vegas with the gargantuan successes of her residencies there. She managed to re-popularize the Las Vegas "residency" as a desirable way for top artists to essentially tour in place, letting their fans come to them. Over the years, fellow established icons such as Britney Spears, Elton John, Bette Midler, Rod Stewart, Cher and Shania Twain followed suit.
D'amour ou d'amitié
Céline Dion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Et son sourire me ment pas quand il vient me chercher (quand il vient me chercher)
Il aime bien me parler des choses qu'il a vues
Du chemin qu'il a fait et de tous ses projets
Je crois pourtant qu'il est seul et qu'il voit d'autres filles (et qu'il voit d'autres filles)
Je ne sais pas ce qu'elles veulent ni les phrases qu'il dit (ni les phrases qu'il dit)
Je ne sais pas ou je suis quelque part dans sa vie
Il est si près de moi pourtant je ne sais pas
Comment l'aimer
Lui seul peut décider qu'on se parle d'amour
Ou d'amitié
Moi je l'aime et je peux lui offrir ma vie
Même s'il ne veut pas de ma vie
Je rêve de ses bras oui mais je ne sais pas
Comment l'aimer
Il a l'air d'hésiter entre une histoire d'amour
Ou d'amitié
Et je suis comme une île en plein océan
On dirait que mon cœur est trop grand
Rien à lui dire il sait bien que j'ai tout à donner (que j'ai tout à donner)
Rien qu'à sourire, à l'attendre, à vouloir le gagner (à vouloir le gagner)
Mais qu'elles sont tristes les nuits le temps me paraît long
Et je n'ai pas appris à me passer de lui
Il est si près de moi pourtant je ne sais pas
Comment l'aimer
Lui seul peut décider qu'on se parle d'amour
Ou d'amitié
Moi je l'aime et je peux lui offrir ma vie
Même s'il ne veut pas de ma vie
Je rêve de ses bras oui mais je ne sais pas
Comment l'aimer
Il a l'air d'hésiter entre une histoire d'amour
Ou d'amitié
Et je suis comme une île en plein océan
On dirait que mon cœur est trop grand
(D'amour ou d'amitié)
(D'amour ou d'amitié)
(D'amour ou d'amitié)
In Celine Dion's song "D'amour ou d'amitié," the singer is in a confusing and uncertain relationship with a man. While she knows he thinks of her and sees her (as evidenced by his genuine smile when he comes to get her), she suspects he is also seeing other women. Despite this, she loves him and is willing to offer him her life, even if he only sees her as a friend. The singer dreams of being with him but is unsure of how to love him or how he feels about her. She is like an island in the middle of an ocean - disconnected and isolated in her feelings. Despite these emotions, she cannot let go and continues to wait for him, uncertain of where she stands in his life.
The lyrics take the listener on a journey of insecurity, doubt, and longing. The singer's emotions are relatable, expressing the ambiguity of relationships and the pain of not knowing where one stands with a loved one. The contrast between the singer's feelings and the man's intentions is highlighted by the repetition of the title phrase "D'amour ou d'amitié" (meaning "Of Love or of Friendship"). This reinforces the uncertainty of their bond and the singer's need for clarity.
Overall, "D'amour ou d'amitié" showcases Celine Dion's ability to convey powerful emotions through her voice and lyrics. It's a poignant and moving song that resonates with those who have experienced similar uncertainty in their relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Il pense à moi, je le vois, je le sens, je le sais (je le sens, je le sais)
I can see and feel that he's thinking of me, and I know it for sure.
Et son sourire me ment pas quand il vient me chercher (quand il vient me chercher)
His smile tells the truth when he comes to pick me up.
Il aime bien me parler des choses qu'il a vues
He enjoys talking to me about the things he's seen.
Du chemin qu'il a fait et de tous ses projets
About his journey so far, and all the plans he has.
Je crois pourtant qu'il est seul et qu'il voit d'autres filles (et qu'il voit d'autres filles)
I believe, however, that he's single and seeing other girls.
Je ne sais pas ce qu'elles veulent ni les phrases qu'il dit (ni les phrases qu'il dit)
I don't know what those girls want or the things he says to them.
Je ne sais pas ou je suis quelque part dans sa vie
I don't know where I stand in his life.
Si je compte aujourd'hui plus qu'une autre pour lui
Whether I matter more to him than anyone else today.
Il est si près de moi pourtant je ne sais pas
He's so close to me, but I still can't figure out.
Comment l'aimer
How to love him.
Lui seul peut décider qu'on se parle d'amour
Only he can decide if we should talk about love.
Ou d'amitié
Or just be friends.
Moi je l'aime et je peux lui offrir ma vie
But I love him and would give him my life.
Même s'il ne veut pas de ma vie
Even if he doesn't want my life.
Je rêve de ses bras oui mais je ne sais pas
I dream of being in his arms, but I still don't know.
Comment l'aimer
How to love him.
Il a l'air d'hésiter entre une histoire d'amour
He seems to be indecisive between a love story.
Ou d'amitié
Or just being friends.
Et je suis comme une île en plein océan
And I feel like an island in the middle of an ocean.
On dirait que mon cœur est trop grand
It's like my heart is too big for me to handle.
(D'amour ou d'amitié)
(Love or friendship)
(D'amour ou d'amitié)
(Love or friendship)
(D'amour ou d'amitié)
(Love or friendship)
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Eddy Marnay, Jean Pierre Lang, Roland Vincent
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind