Celine Dion announced the Courage World Tour and album on April 3, 2019 during a special live streamed event in LA. Courage marks Dion's first english-language studio album in six years when Loved Me Back To Life was released in 2013.
Six years is a long time to wait for fans but if you've been paying attention to Dion in 2019, then you already know she's been delivering bops with the lead single "Flying On My Own" coming in hard with big diva anthem energy. The following promo singles "Imperfections," "Courage" and "Lying Down" were released on September 18, the day of the tour kickoff, and only solidified just what a promising and stunning collection of songs Courage would hold.
With twenty tracks appearing on this record, it's quite the feat for an artist these days when the trend has been a singles-focused industry. The album opener "Flying On My Own" soars with its club-ready chorus and production that still lends itself to the adult-contemporary format, making it a safe entry to the Courage era. Dion brings the sass with "Lovers Never Die," edgy top-line melodies and the sharp-penned lyrics pack the song with attitude yet once the chorus hits we're given a bit of vulnerability.
One of the highlights of this era was and still remains the album-title track, "Courage." A delicate Dion opens up about the loss of love and the power to push through when all seems hopeless. The hook here brings signature Dion to the table as she belts "cause it's not easy, when you're not with me, this world of madness, goes faster now" in a truly stunning display of her vocal abilities.
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Songs like "Imperfections," and "Change My Mind" showcase Dion's modern touch, the vocal-chop trend that took over mainstream radio in recent years is put to use on Dion's terms, done tastefully, the songs manage to avoid feeling like a desperate plea for relevance. Even on "Say Yes" where the vocal manipulation in the opening and throughout the track has a "coolness" about it, it doesn't overpower the moment in any of its presence, allowing Dion to keep front and center. Quite a feat to marry such modern elements like that with an artist like Celine Dion and keep it authentic.
On songs like "The Chase," "How Did You Get Here" and "Best of All" we get a '90s-nostalgic mood and yet they fit completely comfortable on the body of Courage. The versatility of this album is astonishing and on another level.
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Packing 20 songs in total, Courage comes through on all fronts, songs like "Heart of Glass" deliver big anthemic hooks while tracks like "Baby" serve as a refreshing moment for Dion to pull back and just enjoy the ride and then you have "Look At Us Now" which takes a dive into more soulful territory. The album may not be packed with Top 40 hits but it's an absolute reminder that Dion is in a league of her own and doesn't need a cheap trick to keep on top of her game. Courage is a triumphant collection of songs that will go down as a worthy contribution to Dion's discography.
