Posted October 15, 200717 yr Celine Dion gets repackaged http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2007-10/33155504.jpg Evanescence guitarist Ben Moody and collaborator David Hodges attempt to get Celine Dion back onto Top 40 radio. By August Brown, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer October 14, 2007 IS it time to reconsider Celine Dion? With her Vegas show, "A New Day," wrapping up in December after a 4 1/2 -year run as an indisputable hit, the popular 33 1/3 book series is planning a respectful treatise on her role in popular culture and her forthcoming album, "Taking Chances" (due Nov. 13), features compositions by recent pop-chart stalwarts Linda Perry and Ne-Yo. The most unlikely writing credit on "Chances" may be the one for former Evanescence guitarist Ben Moody. Moody has written tracks for Avril Lavigne and Kelly Clarkson, but those artists are at least vaguely based in rock music. What would he do with a Francophone diva best known for Titanically weepy ballads? "She's one of the most amazing vocalists alive, her recordings and live performances are flawless," Moody said. "To me it's all just music, I don't care what the format is." The format may be an unlikely attempt to get Dion back onto Top 40 radio. Moody (along with frequent writing collaborator David Hodges) contributed writing and production to two songs on "Chances." One, a cover of Heart's "Alone," gets a slightly creepy makeover from tinkling pianos and enveloping strings, suggesting that Dion's intentions when she gets you alone may not be as wholesome as planned. But Moody and Hodges' original song, the anti-domestic-violence plea "This Time," is unusual for all parties. Dion has rarely ventured out of safe, power-of-love territory lyrically, and erstwhile metal-guitarist Moody isn't on anyone's list of go-to writers for a female empowerment anthem. "She doesn't usually do political songs," Moody admits. "But it's just the direction it took. I had the idea for the phrase 'this time,' and the story just got laid out in front of me." Judging by the unexpectedly sexed-out cover of "Taking Chances" (think tasteful cleavage and windblown tresses), the collaboration is part of a significant repackaging of Dion that may or may not stick on pop radio. But for Moody, working with her was infinitely easier than some 19-year-old MySpace find. "With certain artists, if they want to be [difficult], they've at least earned the right," Moody said. "Of all people, [Dion] had the right to be full of herself, but she wasn't like that at all. She was so unbelievably classy." august.brown@latimes.com Sorce
October 15, 200717 yr that was agreat read and its great reading how nice it was to work with celine,she has always reiamned down to earth and like kylie they are both megastars and its great that they dont all let it go to there heads like people such as mariah carey and j lo
October 15, 200717 yr when artists get all cocky and demanding it really puts me off buying any of there material
October 15, 200717 yr thats a great read. good to know that peeps like ben moody like peeps like celine :lol: If u know what i mean :lol:
October 15, 200717 yr id love to meet her also,celine and kylie i think would be amazing to meet,i would have love dto have met jon bon jovi but i have read he is very arrogant to meet
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