Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0886970811422
Label: Sony
Manufacturer: Sony
MPN: 708114
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: Sony
Release Date: 2007-11-13
Studio: Sony

Brand new 14-song studio album featuring such songwriters and producers as John Shanks, Ben Moody (formerly of Evanescence), Linda Perry, and Ne-Yo.
Taking Chances is not without its daring moments--we'll get to those--but the first order of business in any review of this much-hyped record, on which Celine Dion is said to have slunk away from her songbird instincts in favor of embracing her inner rock & roll wild child, should be fan reassurance. Therefore: fear not. Taking Chances has its share of poignant, pretty ballads (both "A Song for You" and "Right Next to the Right One" are goosebump-raisers) and love songs (the hopeful, heartfelt title track, which unfolds into an anthemic power ballad midway through, may be the best one). As far as standard Celine fare goes, in fact, Chances is likely her strongest non-French outing since 2002's A New Day Has Come; nobody unfolds a lyric with more care or nuance. And, as the subtle "My Love" deftly proves, any early-career instincts to over-sing have gone poof along with her '90s-era, sweet-natured-kook persona. Because it's a generous 16 songs long, it may even be possible to ignore the non-Celine-like moments on Taking Chances and just enjoy the more fan-faithful tracks. But that wouldn't be any fun, would it? There are songs here--"Can't Fight the Feelin'," "Fade Away," "That's Just the Woman In Me"--that will astound diehards and make fans of those who've dissed her for more than a decade. If you didn't think the diva behind Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" had it in her to screech from the bottom of her soul, a la Janis Joplin, flip to track 15 and guess again. --Tammy La Gorce

Celine Dion Photos

More from Celine Dion

Celine Dion	One Heart	All The Way...A Decade of Song	Let's Talk About Love
A New Day Has Come	These Are Special Times	The Colour of My Love	A New Day...Live In Las Vegas w/Bonus DVD

Customer Rating:
Summary: Not as good as the original
Comment: While Celine again delivers a wonderful performance, I think everyone needs to listen to the original version of 'Taking Chances' as performed by Platinum Weird. Find it on ITunes. It is amazing.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Decent Effort Derailed By Too Much Filler
Comment: Celine Dion's first proper English language studio effort in over four years feels alot like her previous "comeback" effort after an extended hiatus, 2002's A NEW DAY HAS COME. Whereas that set announced her return after taking time out to start a family, TAKING CHANCES returns her to the buying public at the near-end of a five year stay at Caesar's in Las Vegas. The time away has allowed the singer(or maybe more knowingly her handlers) to take stock at the shift in musical tastes as well as current radio demographics since her last record, and much like ANDHC and even LET'S TALK ABOUT LOVE, she tries to cover as much musical ground as possible with varying results. In doing so, however, that nasty filler problem that's crept up in many of her records has again surfaced, with the album being 3 or 4 tracks too long(cutting out tracks 6-10, all dispensible, would be a good start). The title track is a decent riff on the Kelly Clarkson/Pink pop/rock hybrid, and both "Shadow of Love" and "Fade Away" have a nice yet subtle electronic vibe to them. And those looking for "Power of Love" 2.0 will be disappointed to find nothing here that reaches those melodramatic heights(and she had the chance here too with a cover of Heart's "Alone" that comes off as fairly pedestrian); in fact, the singer goes the opposite route and delivers some of her most beautifully measured vocal work to date(particularly on the gorgeous "I've Got Nothin' Left" and "My Love"). Overall, not Dion's best effort, but by no means her worst.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Disappointing CD
Comment: Taking Chances is a very disappointing CD. Celine Dion choose to go in a new direction with her music. The songs and style are geared for a new audience of younger listeners. Such a waste of an awesome talent. I played the CD once and now it just sits. Save your money.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: See the Tour
Comment: Saw the Taking Chances show this week...It was a great mix of "old" favorites and new songs with an global flavor...Awesome...amazing...drop everything and buy tickets NOW!

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Among the greatest letdowns I've ever listened to.
Comment: I have been an off and on fan of Celine Dions for over 16 years as of writing this review and was somewhat excited about the news of Celine's then-new album entitled "Taking Chances". Though I blinked and have not heard "Miracle" as of this writing, I have enjoyed parts of if not most of her previous albums but I find it very hard to say but "Taking Chances" ultimately has wound up being among the most dissapointing releases that I've heard in quite a long time. Even the album cover looks tacky to me.

I am all in favor of artists taking chances with new sounds or shifting away from what defined earlier releases. Though some will disagree, I felt it worked well on "One Heart" with some more dance/pop elements with Reveal, and Coulda Shoulda Woulda. Yet instead, our beloved Quebecois chanteuse declines considerably into bland top 40-sounding pop/rock that lacks any unique qualities and the entire album sounds dry, bland and completely bloodless. Most of this album sounds like something that was recorded in someone's garage in a couple weeks. There isn't a single track on this entire album that caught my ears in any way that kept me interested in listening to the rest. Though a couple songs towards the end were at lease somewhat standouts, it was simply too late for me to care and I returned it to the library within a matter of days.

Though I will certainly maintain my overall likeness of Celine's music, I'm looking forward to whenever her next release, in the hope that it is an improvement over this disaster of a release. Even a "One Heart II" would be an improvement over this! Not recommended at all.

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