Taking Chances

About

Taking Chances is an English language studio album by Canadian singer Céline Dion, released on November 7, 2007 on CD and CD/DVD. It's her 13th English album and 35th in total. The collector's edition which includes CD, DVD and perfume in special package, was released in December 2007 in North America and February 2008 in Europe. On April 21, 2008, a new deluxe version was digitally released in Europe (except France), containing "Immensité, "Map to My Heart" and "Taking Chances (I-Soul extended remix)" as bonus tracks. Céline Dion worked with many different producers for this album, mainly on pop and rock songs. The tracks were recorded mostly during Dion's summer holiday, between July 2 and August 15, 2007. The first single, "Taking Chances" was written by Kara DioGuardi and David A. Stewart from Eurythmics, and produced by Grammy Award-winner John Shanks. It was recorded in April 2007. Shanks also produced five other songs on Taking Chances. "Alone" is a power ballad written by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly, and originally recorded by American band Heart. It became a worldwide hit in 1987. Dion's cover version was produced by Ben Moody, ex-member of Evanescence. It was released as the second single in Europe and North America, and third in the United Kingdom. Moody also co-wrote and co-produced "This Time," which is about breaking free from a partner's abuse, an atypical subject for Dion's songs. "Eyes on Me" is a Middle Eastern-flavored song written by Kristian Lundin, Savan Kotecha and Australian singer Delta Goodrem, and produced by Lundin. It was released as the second single in the UK and third in some European countries. The new version of "A World to Believe In," recorded as a duet with Yuna Ito was issued in January 2008 as the second single in Japan. Linda Perry wrote and produced two songs on Taking Chances. "My Love" was written especially for Dion, but "New Dawn" is a gospel track originally recorded by Perry on her After Hours album. Dion worked also on two songs with R&B producers: American singer Ne-Yo co-wrote and co-produced "I Got Nothin' Left." He also co-wrote Beyoncé Knowles' hit song "Irreplaceable." "Skies of L.A." was co-written by The-Dream and co-produced by Christopher 'Tricky' Stewart and Kuk Harrell. These three are responsible for Rihanna's 2007 hit "Umbrella" among others. "Right Next to the Right One" was originally written and recorded by Tim Christensen in 2002 and became a hit in Denmark. Dion's cover version was produced by Christopher Neil. Although not released as a single, it entered the Danish Singles Chart on November 23, 2007 at number 13, due to strong digital downloads. "That's Just the Woman in Me" is a blues-flavoured track recorded by Katrina and the Waves, written by Kimberley Rew in the 80s, which remained unreleased until 2003. Dion's version was produced by John Shanks. "Map to My Heart" and "The Reason I Go On" are two bonus tracks included on the Japanese CD and iTunes version of Taking Chances. "Let Me Be Your Soldier" was also recorded during the Taking Chances sessions but wasn't included on the album. It was retitled "There Comes a Time" and included on the next project My Love: Essential Collection. At the Juno Awards of 2008 Dion was nominated in categories: Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Pop Album of the Year and Fan Choice Award. The next year, at the Juno Awards of 2009 her song "Taking Chances" was nominated as a Single of the Year and again she was nominated in category Fan Choice Award. Two tracks, "Alone" and "Taking Chances" were covered in the 2009 television series Glee and included on the Glee: The Music, Volume 1. "Alone" was performed on the series as a duet between characters portrayed by Kristin Chenoweth and Matthew Morrison while "Taking Chances" was performed by Lea Michele's character.

via Last.fm