The RMSTitanicmay have been referred to as “The Ship of Dreams” in the 1997 movie, but it took a little coaxing to getCéline Dionon board with the soundtrack — and she has no regrets.In a Monday night chat withAndy Cohenon his late-nightBravotalk series,Watch What Happens Live, the legendary songstress, 51, admitted she wasn’t initially a fan of “My Heart Will Go On,” — the song that is now famously linked to the film and to her iconic career.“It is true,” she confirmed to Cohen, 51, and his audience members, after being asked about her original thoughts on the song, adding that she’s “glad they didn’t listen to me” and recorded the song anyway.The song, whichdebuted at No. 1on theBillboardHot 100 chart on Feb. 28, 1998, propelledtheTitanicsoundtrackto a 16-week run at No. 1 and sold more than 15 million copies worldwide. It went on to win Best Original Song at the 1998Academy Awards, and theGrammy Awardfor record of the year.“It didn’t appeal to me. I was probably very tired that day —verytired,” Dion continued. “My husband [the lateRené Angélil] said, ‘Let’s hold on.’ He talked to the writer and he said, ‘Let’s try to make it, like, a little demo.'”Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Céline Dion in the music video for “My Heart Will Go On”.“I sang the song once and they built the orchestra around it. I never re-sang it for the recording. So the demo is the actual recording,” she recalled, joking, “Butafter that, I’ve sang it aboutthree gazillion times.”James Horner(whodied in 2015 in a plane crashat the age of 61) famously composed “My Heart Will Go On” in secret, afterTitanicdirectorJames Cameronwas initially hesitant about the idea of including a pop tune in his maritime blockbuster.In what has since become a heralded snippet of cinema lore, Horner — working with lyricist Will Jennings — decided to takethe film’s most memorable musical strainand commit words to it. The song ultimately came together in a vivid burst of creativity in the spring of 1997, just as Horner was wrapping up the orchestral tapestry that would eventually become the film’s soundtrack.Finding a voice for the melody proved to be a no-brainer for Horner. “For me, the only person that could do it was Céline,” he once toldBillboard.Céline Dion.Adrian Edwards/GC ImagesRELATED VIDEO: Kate Winslet Reveals Her Most Special Memory From The Set of TitanicDion celebrated the song’s 20th anniversary in May 2017, when she took the stage in a stunning white gown and sang the famous ballad at the2017 Billboard Music Awards. The performance was particularly poignant, asDion lost husband Angélilto a years-long battle with throat cancer in January 2016.It was a return to the Billboard Music Awards for the singer, who has won seven previous trophies at the show — including six in 1998 after “My Heart Will Go On” was released.“This song means a lot to me, and it has played such a huge role in my career,”she said in a statement priorto the ceremony that year. “I’m so grateful to the late James Horner, and to Will Jennings, for writing it and creating the opportunity for me to be part ofTitanic —an amazing film whose legacy will continue for generations to come.”Dion, who recently released her new album,Courage, previously toldCosmopolitan, “When I was ready to sing the song, I had tears in my eyes, and I could feel my knees shaking because I was getting very emotional. … Singing the theme was a magic moment for me.”
The RMSTitanicmay have been referred to as “The Ship of Dreams” in the 1997 movie, but it took a little coaxing to getCéline Dionon board with the soundtrack — and she has no regrets.
In a Monday night chat withAndy Cohenon his late-nightBravotalk series,Watch What Happens Live, the legendary songstress, 51, admitted she wasn’t initially a fan of “My Heart Will Go On,” — the song that is now famously linked to the film and to her iconic career.
“It is true,” she confirmed to Cohen, 51, and his audience members, after being asked about her original thoughts on the song, adding that she’s “glad they didn’t listen to me” and recorded the song anyway.
The song, whichdebuted at No. 1on theBillboardHot 100 chart on Feb. 28, 1998, propelledtheTitanicsoundtrackto a 16-week run at No. 1 and sold more than 15 million copies worldwide. It went on to win Best Original Song at the 1998Academy Awards, and theGrammy Awardfor record of the year.
“It didn’t appeal to me. I was probably very tired that day —verytired,” Dion continued. “My husband [the lateRené Angélil] said, ‘Let’s hold on.’ He talked to the writer and he said, ‘Let’s try to make it, like, a little demo.'”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Céline Dion in the music video for “My Heart Will Go On”.
“I sang the song once and they built the orchestra around it. I never re-sang it for the recording. So the demo is the actual recording,” she recalled, joking, “Butafter that, I’ve sang it aboutthree gazillion times.”
James Horner(whodied in 2015 in a plane crashat the age of 61) famously composed “My Heart Will Go On” in secret, afterTitanicdirectorJames Cameronwas initially hesitant about the idea of including a pop tune in his maritime blockbuster.
In what has since become a heralded snippet of cinema lore, Horner — working with lyricist Will Jennings — decided to takethe film’s most memorable musical strainand commit words to it. The song ultimately came together in a vivid burst of creativity in the spring of 1997, just as Horner was wrapping up the orchestral tapestry that would eventually become the film’s soundtrack.
Finding a voice for the melody proved to be a no-brainer for Horner. “For me, the only person that could do it was Céline,” he once toldBillboard.
Céline Dion.Adrian Edwards/GC Images
RELATED VIDEO: Kate Winslet Reveals Her Most Special Memory From The Set of Titanic
Dion celebrated the song’s 20th anniversary in May 2017, when she took the stage in a stunning white gown and sang the famous ballad at the2017 Billboard Music Awards. The performance was particularly poignant, asDion lost husband Angélilto a years-long battle with throat cancer in January 2016.
It was a return to the Billboard Music Awards for the singer, who has won seven previous trophies at the show — including six in 1998 after “My Heart Will Go On” was released.
“This song means a lot to me, and it has played such a huge role in my career,”she said in a statement priorto the ceremony that year. “I’m so grateful to the late James Horner, and to Will Jennings, for writing it and creating the opportunity for me to be part ofTitanic —an amazing film whose legacy will continue for generations to come.”
Dion, who recently released her new album,Courage, previously toldCosmopolitan, “When I was ready to sing the song, I had tears in my eyes, and I could feel my knees shaking because I was getting very emotional. … Singing the theme was a magic moment for me.”
source: people.com
