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Le Grand Blond
La Fureur
'A New Day Has Come' Special

Reviews of 'Le Grand Blond'

TeamCeline members participated in a special promotional giveaway to attend the taping of Céline's special appearance on the late night talk show 'Le grand blond avec un show surnois' in April 2002. We received a very enthusiastic response from Teamceline members all around the world. From the hundreds of entries, our panel of judges selected the best 40 and awarded them each a pair of tickets to the show.

On Tuesday, April 2 'Le grand blond avec un show surnois' was taped in front of a small studio audience of 150 people in Montreal, PQ. The entire show was dedicated to Céline and featured an off-beat interview with the innovative and witty talk show host Marc Labrèche. Céline also performed a few songs from her album, 'A New Day Has Come,' in the intimate studio setting. This special episode was broadcast on TVA in Canada.

In their own words, a few TeamCeline winners recount their experience of this memorable night...

La soirée du 2 avril 2002 fut mémorable pour moi, qui n'aura certes jamais plus la chance de voir Céline d'aussi près. On se serait cru dans un concert intime puisqu'il y avait peut-être au total 150 personnes. Des interprétations magistrales, une interview plutôt originale avec des questions que jamais on aurait eu les "guts" de demander à Céline et que Marc a osé, avec le potentiel qu'on lui connaît. Nous, les fans de Céline, avons donc reçu un super beau cadeau de la part de TeamCeline.

Simon Robitaille
Joliette, Qc

J'ai trouvé Céline resplendissante et pleine d'énergie. Les quatre chansons qu'elle a interprétées, étaient magnifiques comme sur son disque. Comme Céline était au naturel quand Marc Labrèche lui posait des questions. Le moment le plus fort c'est quand j'ai pu avoir un autographe de Céline. J'étais toute excitée et heureuse d'avoir assisté à cet enregistrement. Quel beau cadeau de Céline d'avoir interprété quatre chansons au lieu de trois comme convenu. J'ai trouvé ma soirée inoubliable.

Merci de m'avoir choisi pour assister à cette émission.

Lucie Charron

I couldn't believe it when I received the e-mail saying that I had won tickets to see Céline's appearance on Le Grand Blond avec un show sournois. I was so excited that I never even thought about the fact that the entire show was to be conducted entirely in French and that my conversational French skills are equivalent to that of a child. We're talking about seeing Céline Dion so close that you have to pinch yourself to make sure you're not dreaming. Language would not be an issue. This was an opportunity I could not pass up.

The day of the show I woke up in a panic having dreamt that I was 12 hours too late getting to Montreal and that I had missed everything. I was so relieved to realize that it was only a dream. I drove five hours to get to my parents house where my cousin would meet me and together we would make the hour long drive from their house to Montreal.

I must say that we had quite the adventure finding the studio. First we had to explain to the border crossing guard at Canadian Customs that Céline was taping a show that night in Montreal and not just La Fureur on Wednesday at the Molson Centre. I think he thought we had our dates mixed up but allowed us to enter the country just the same. We made our way into the city and found the studio where several people were lined up outside waiting to get inside. We still had an hour before we were supposed to be picking up our passes. Then we realized that there wasn't any place to park and after taking a few turns on surrounding streets we appeared to be lost. We finally found a parking place on a side street and then attempted to figure out just where the studio we had driven by twice actually was. It was snowing and we were quickly becoming cold and wet. We asked for directions and after walking more blocks than I can remember, we finally took a place at the end of the line outside the television studio. The time was 8:55 p.m. There was a sense of relief knowing that we had made it on time and that we were that much closer to seeing Céline.

As we waited outside for the doors to open the two guys in front of us started talking in French and when we explained that we didn't speak it well they started to talk in English. They were very cool in the fact that they didn't mind carrying on a conversation in English with us. We really appreciated it. They were very helpful in translating anything that we didn't quite understand and are a true testament to the kindness of Céline's fans. Well over an hour later we finally got to sit down inside the studio. Two women sat next to us who didn't speak a word of French and then two more sat behind us who understood very little as well. It was comforting to know that we would not be the only ones struggling to understand. Everyone was very friendly and I felt so comfortable amongst so many of Céline's fans even if I didn't speak the language fluently. Her music no matter what language seems to break down barriers. When the show began I was surprised that I actually understood most of the host's introductory monologue.

And then there she was. I was in complete and total awe. I had seen Céline three times in concert before including the Millenium Show but this time I didn't need binoculars and I didn't need to look at a large video screen usually present at a concert to see her clearly. Seeing her first take to the stage to sing will be the moment I will remember most. It was incredible! There she was-Céline Dion closer to me than I could have ever imagined. She sang "A New Day Has Come" which is one my favorite tracks from the new album. I was having the time of my life. She did a couple different interview segments and I could understand that she was talking about her son and her family in one segment and what she did during her hiatus. I think that she and her band were talking about memorable tour moments during another segment as well. I couldn't be completely sure but it was my best guess putting together the words I understood. At the end of the show she sang "I'm Alive" with such an energy that you really felt alive and wanting to stand up and sing and dance with her.

After the closing segment some of the crowd cleared out but some remained. I think perhaps hoping to get one more glimpse of Céline before leaving. Little did I know that a segment of the show was going to be re-taped because it ran longer than anticipated. And Céline was going to sing "I'm Alive" again. How cool that was I cannot express. After singing again and before re-taping the segment that needed to be shortened Céline ended up coming up into the audience and was signing autographs. I jumped out of my seat and tried my best to get near enough for one. It was a surreal feeling standing a few feet from Céline. I was two people away from her when she needed to return to the set. It was getting very late and I am assuming that the crew wanted to wrap up production as quickly as possible. At first I was a little disappointed that I wasn't lucky enough to be one of the few who got her autograph but the disappointment soon turned to happiness because I realized that I was lucky in the fact that I was there. When I stopped to compare the size of the studio audience to that of a large concert stadium I knew just how lucky I was. I knew that there were so many fans that would have loved to have been so close. It was special. Everyone in the room knew it. The show finally came to an end well after 2 a.m. Céline waved to everyone as she left the set.

I walked back out onto the streets of Montreal knowing that I had just experienced something I could have never have thought possible. I had been up for nearly 24 hours and was still running on the adrenaline rush of being there. I had logged nearly 12 hours of travel time by the time I pulled into my driveway the day following the show and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Of course I would to see Céline. Thank you to everyone at TeamCeline who made this possible and thank you to all of the wonderful people I encountered on my little adventure. It was so much fun!!!!!

Sincerely,
Kelli Hewson

La soirée à l'émission le Grand Blond avec un show sournois a été très spéciale. En effet, celle-ci était très intime et c'est ce que j'ai adoré. Céline était si proche de nous... Le questionnaire de "mère" qu'a fait passer Marc à Céline a été la partie la plus drôle de l'émission. Le fait qu'elle ait décidé de chanter une chanson de plus m'a fait très plaisir. La soirée a passé trop vite, même si elle s'est terminée tard!

Merci énormément de l'opportunité que vous nous avez offerte!

Nathalie Monette
Montréal, Qc

I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the wonderful opportunity to see Céline. It was a dream come true.

When I first found out that I won, I screamed, cried and shook all at the same time, because I never in a lifetime thought I could be so lucky to win tickets to see the greatest person and singer in the whole world. I have been a true fan for 12 years and nothing could have made me happier.
Even though I don't speak French, it was an experience of a lifetime to see her perform again. Her new CD is awesome. I was seated in the 4th row behind Céline's family. I got a chance to talk to Céline's brother and sister again and to give them pictures of us that I took the summer of 2000. At the beginning of the show, Céline came out sitting in a chair that came down a "roller coaster" track, and the expression on her face was priceless.

After the show was over, Céline came out to sing again. She also signed some autographs. Marc Labrèche was very funny when he went over to a pole and imitated Céline leaning on the tree on the cover of her new CD. There aren't enough words to tell you how much I enjoyed the evening. The highlight of the night was when I spoke to Céline and René and gave her the gifts I brought for her and René-Charles. René then surprised me with two tickets to "La Fureur" for Wednesday night at the Molson Centre.

This "experience of a lifetime" is one I will never forget and never stop talking about. Thank you so much Janice, TeamCéline, Sony Music Canada and Five Star Feelings Inc. for making it happen.

Merci beaucoup,

Debbie Boisvert

I won tickets to the taping of "Le grand blond avec un show sournois"! featuring Céline Dion. I took a bus all the way from Boston and skipped school. I have taken French in high school for five years so I could follow the conversations ok. Céline sang five of her new songs. My favorite was "I'm Alive." She also joked with the audience during the breaks. She is just the most incredible entertainer out there.

The best part of the night was after the show, about five people and I waited outside to see if she would come out and I bought her flowers to give to her. So after waiting for only about ten minutes, Céline came driving out of this garage with René. They pulled over and signed autographs for us and I told her we came all the way from Boston and so she gave us tickets to her show at the Molson Centre the next night. It was soooo amazing. She is as nice and as gorgeous as I always pictured her. The show at the Molson Centre was incredible also. She is back and better then ever!!! Thank You TeamCeline for making my dreams come true!!

Nisha
Boston, MA

J'ai été très privilégiée d'être assise dans le studio du Grand Blond. De plus, j'ai vraiment eu l'impression de "faire partie de l'Équipe Céline"avec toute l'atmosphère et la complicité qui y régnaient.

Le moment le plus comique fût lors de l'entrevue quand Marc a fait un blitz de questions étourdissant pour Céline. Mais elle s'en est très bien tirée... Toute l'émission fût très intéressante et amusante. Il est bien évident que les moments forts étaient lors des prestations de Céline, j'en garderai un souvenir impérissable. Céline, dans toute sa simplicité, a su nous transmettre son bonheur et nous faire vivre de merveilleux moments.

Merci mille fois!

Nancy Laroche

Même si l'émission a commencé très tard, j'ai été bien heureuse d'être présente à ce spécial Céline au Grand Blond. C'était la première fois que je participais à une émission de télé avec la participation de Céline. J'ai adoré l'expérience. J'ai été contente qu'ils nous laissent prendre des photos pendant les pauses, je vais pouvoir avoir de beaux souvenirs de cette soirée. Céline était magnifique, comme toujours. Nous avons eu droit à quatre chansons, en plus de la reprise d'une d'entre elles. C'était un rendez-vous assez intime, puisque le studio d'enregistrement est très petit. Je garderai cette soirée dans ma mémoire à jamais. En plus que mon anniversaire est le 3 avril, j'ai été choyée d'assister au Grand Blond et à la Fureur. Ça a été un superbe cadeau de fête. Je ne pouvais espérer mieux!

Véronique Cunche

C'était merveilleux de pouvoir se retrouver dans un climat aussi intime pour écouter Céline chanter, se confier et rire des questions irrévérencieuses de Marc Labrèche. Pour un admirateur comme moi, c'était réellement un moment magique. Même les segments à recommencer à cause d'erreurs techniques étaient merveilleux, car ils me permettaient de profiter d'une autre anecdote de tournée de Céline et de l'entendre chanter une autre fois. J'avais les yeux tout éblouis et suis resté sans voix quand je l'ai vu venir vers son frère Michel, assis juste derrière moi.

Ce qui est le plus touchant pour moi est de voir que Céline est toujours elle-même, qu'elle est réellement ce pour quoi on l'aime. Elle est drôle, touchante, pleine de simplicité et de générosité. Elle reste, encore plus aujourd'hui, pour moi, une véritable étoile.

Merci encore pour cette opportunité extraordinaire. J'en rêve encore.

Stéphane Gélinas