Customer Reviews

S'Il Suffisait d'Aimer

5 star:		(73)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

This album proves that Céline Dion is one of the most talented musicians of our time. This album, though entirely in French, is a must have for anyone interested in Céline. It covers the artistic side of her voice. This album is by far her best to date. You don't have to know French to understand the pure emotions of these songs. In "Je Crois Toi"("I Believe You"), Céline portrays uncertinity and fear of the world. "Zora Sourit"("Zora Smiles") is a great song that follows in Céline's styles from previous albums. "On ne change pas"("We Don't Change")is a very beautiful song. "Je Chanterai"("I'll sing") is an excellent track that is one of the best on the album. "Terre"("Earth") shows a different side of Céline's musical range. "En Attendant Ses Pas"("Waiting For His Steps"), is very fragile at start but picks up tempo to be one of the best tracks. "Papillion"("Butterfly") is a very slow song that shows off Céline's voice in all it's majesty. "L'Abandon" is one of my favourites on the album. With its calypso beat and irresistable rhythm it is a masterpiece. "Dans Une Autre Monde"("In Another World") is a fun song that is really upbeat. "Sur Le Meme Bateau"("On The Same Boat") is a masterpiece. It is about the rich and the poor aboard a cruise. When a catasrophe takes place, they all have to face death, despite their social status (which could have been on the "Titanic" soundtrack). Céline gives her all in "Tous Les Blues Sont Ecrits Pour Toi"("All Of The Blues Are Written For You"), a showstopping blues song. Closing with "S'il Suffisait D'Aimer"("If Only Love Could Be Enough") this song is by far the best track. In the is song, Céline expresses her dream for an end to violence and hate. The lyrics and the music are so moving.

Many people criticize Céline's music for being too sappy and gushy-- this album proves that she is not and that she has an amazing gift.

I am not a Celine Dion fan - in English, that is. THIS is how she was meant to be heard! It isn't just "Celine singing in French" (a language I barely understand), it is Celine singing better songs, and singing them better. She offers none of the hyper-emotional power-belting so typical of her mega-hits, but well-inflected vocals that cover a range of emotions and musical styles. It's flat-out better music, thanks in no small part to the exquisite arrangements of Jean-Jacques Goldman.

Two tracks lead the pack: "Je Crois Toi" (I Believe You), Track 1, and On Ne Change Pas (People Don't Change), Track 3. They are so gorgeous, they alone make this a CD worth having. If I've had a rough day, I often put on these two songs and everything is better - they're that good. In "Je Crois Toi", Celine is alternately gentle, coaxing, emphatic, teasing and just plain thrilling. It is (to borrow a French phrase) a tour de force - a remarkable display of what she can do vocally. In the last minute of the song her voice flutters in tight little trills that send chills up my spine. "On Ne Change Pas" is a delightfully happy and melodic tune that builds gradually and then seems to bud, blossom and then take flight as the key changes suddenly in the middle of the song.

There are other songs I enjoy on the CD, notably the bluesy "Terre", "L'abandon" and "Dans Un Autre Monde". There are others that don't do much for me (hence the lack of a 5th star), but my overall comment is that THIS collection turned me into a Celine Dion fan.

I love Celine doing what she does best in her native language. I don't know what all the words mean but, for an Englishman fluent in only his own language, a literal translation would surely spoil the flow of this excellent composition.

In my opinion the album is very much along the same lines as D'eux (1995). Both are a collaberation with Jean-Jacques Goldman. Both have a collection of good background listening songs with the odd one or two that stand out as truly superb. On ne change pas is my particular favourite, but looking at other reviews it seems we all have a particular favourite.

Overall a good addition to your collection if either you are an avid Celine fan, like French music or if you see it on special over Xmas.

Those who think of Las Vegas neon when Celine Dion is mentioned, would be surprised to find that her work in French is more like candlelight...and a moonlit serenity in songs like the brilliant "Je crois toi" and the final exquisite "S'il suffisait d'aimer". This album is a terrific collaboration with Jean-Jacques Goldman, who wrote 10 of the 12 tracks, and the other two, "Terre" and "Papillon" (one of my favorites) were composed by arranger Erick Benzi, whose orchestrations are also lovely and complimentary to Celine's voice.

The power and range of Celine's voice is extraordinary, but it is not used in a flashy way here, only to enhance and accentuate the music; the musicianship from everyone involved in this recording is exceptional, giving us a thoroughly satisfying CD for all Celine fans, those of us who mostly prefer her in French, and those who might be converted upon listening to this wonderful CD.

There are some big, lavish songs like the fabulous, "Tous les blues sont ecrits pour toi", but most have a delicacy to them, with Celine singing in a pure style with few flourishes.

Jean-Jacques Goldman, who has attained much popularity in France since the mid-'80s as a solo artist has a large body of work to his credit, alone and with other artists, and his work with Celine is stellar. The booklet insert has all the lyrics (only in French), the sound sparkles with clarity, and total playing time is 51'46.

Okay. Let me put this simply...

I had been a HUGE fan of Céline's from the very first time I heard her voice well over a decade ago. I grew in awe as she grew in fame... until she became so popular, and so sappy..that I just got bored. I still bought her music, as a fan would. After not listening to this album for well over a year(if not two), I JUST decided to pop it in my cd player.

WHAT WAS I THINKING !? How could I have ignored this album for so long. I am absolutely stunned at the majority of the songs here - despite having heard them before.

Some favourites ? S'il Suffisait D'aimer , Je Crois Toi, Papillon, L'abandon.

People ! I kid you not - if you don't have this album...you're in serious loss of a side of Céline not enough people know. I really wish that Sony would push her French music MUCH harder. She's much more frail, humble, feeling, warm in her native tongue... Not so in-your-face, and cheesy...

Good Lord! BUY this cd!

Michael
New Orleans

Céline is the best singer ever. She makes the best albums, than any artist does! And that is saying alot. S'il Suffisait D'Aimer is the most beautiful French album by Céline and her other French album which is called "The French Album/D'Eux" is beautiful too. But S'il Suffisait D'Aimer is better. But my opinion is that I love both, it's just that S'il Suffisait D'Aimer is better. I also have "Dion Chante Plamondon" that one isn't as moving as these 2 though, but it is beautiful too. The songs that are fast ones on "S'il Suffisait D'Aimer" are... On Ne Change Pas (We Don't Change), Terre (Earth, En Attedant Ses Pas (Waiting For His Steps), L'Abandon (The Abandament), Dans Une Autre Monde (In Another World). "L'Abandon" is my favorite song on this cd. It is a very very beautiful song. I'm learning French right now at School, and Celine's French music is helping me learn French alot, I already know much French from her French music, and I'm still learning at school too. So if you're a
Céline fan, then I recommend this cd. It's worth every red single cent of your money. Au Revoir!!!! **J'Aime Céline**

I do wish, however, that there were translations in the program notes. That's a small gripe on my part though. I have three of her other albums and this is the first of her French albums that I've added to my collection. I quite enjoy and value it. One can relax and listen and feel the emotion, and much of the meaning just by her singing. I don't yet have any true favorites because each one is very enjoyable. Highly recommended for her fans, and for those who enjoy the French feeling of the music.

I have listened to Céline since the 1980s and love all of her albums (but the French albums are much better). Céline's previous album with Jean-Jacques Goldman, D'eux (the French Album in the United States) contained several beautiful songs but it was not one of my favourites.

However, Céline's second collaboration with Goldman on S'il suffisait d'aimer has track after track of standout lyrics and vocals. It's hard to pick a favourite song from such an accomplished album (4 000 000 albums sold worldwide), but here are some of my absolute favourites: On ne change pas, Terre, Tous les blues sont écrits pour toi, and Je crois toi.

The moods range from energetic to bluesy to soft ballads to wistful. Céline is in top form. Instead of singing in a register only dogs can hear (à la Mariah Carey), her voice is softer and breathier on this album, especially on "S'il suffisait d'aimer." More often than not her voice is a soft croon instead of belting notes out like she tends to do on her English albums. This is one of my favourite francophone albums in recent years. Pick up a copy and hear for yourself! This is a perfect gift for that Céline fan on your list, a good introduction to her works in French.

This album is splendid!!! Celine Dion truly has the best singer when it comes to french.... even though iam learning french in high school but this album helps me with my french...... Great album! My favorite is Sil Suffisait Daimer ( if only love could be enogh) I would truly recommend this album to anyone even if they dont speak french!!!

J`adore Celine Dion et puisque je parle francais et anglais, je peux vous dire qu`elle est vraiment meilleure en francais. Et ce dernier " S`il suffisait d`aimer" est un des albums les plus fantastiques qu`elle aie fait. La chanson " Tous les blues sont ecris por toi" me fait vibrer a chaque fois que je l`ecoute. elle est sublime. je ne crois pas qu`il y aie qqn qui aie achete l`album et qui ne l`aie pas adore. IL est juste divin!