Falling into You
1996 studio album by singer Celine Dion
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Falling into You is the fourteenth studio album and fourth English‑language release by Canadian singer Celine Dion. Issued on 11 March 1996 by Columbia Records and Epic Records, the album marked a major artistic and commercial milestone in Dion's career. Following the global success of The Colour of My Love (1993) and the record‑breaking French‑language album D'eux (1995), Falling into You broadened her musical palette through an ambitious range of collaborators, styles, and production approaches.
- Capitol (Hollywood)
- Compass Point (Nassau)
- Cove City Sound
- Hum Inc. Productions
- L.I. New York
- MEGA
- Dream Factory (New York)
- Hit Factory (New York)
- Power Station (New York)
- Record Plant (Los Angeles)
- Westlake (Los Angeles)
| Falling into You | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 11 March 1996 | |||
| Recorded | 1995–1996 | |||
| Studio |
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| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 75:54 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer | ||||
| Celine Dion chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Falling into You | ||||
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The album features contributions from 14 producers, reflecting a deliberate effort to expand Dion's sound. Among the most prominent were Jim Steinman, who wrote and produced the sweeping power ballad "It's All Coming Back to Me Now", and David Foster, who oversaw several tracks including the international hit "Because You Loved Me", written by Diane Warren. The project blends pop, soft rock, and contemporary adult influences, incorporating work from an array of international songwriters and musicians.
Falling into You received widespread critical acclaim and earned numerous major awards. At the 39th Grammy Awards, it won both Album of the Year and Best Pop Album, with Dion performing during the ceremony. In April 1997, she received three World Music Awards—World's Best‑Selling Artist of the Year, World's Best‑Selling Pop Artist of the Year, and World's Best‑Selling Canadian Artist of the Year. The album is also included on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's Definitive 200 list.[1]
Commercially, Falling into You became Dion's best‑selling album and one of the best‑selling albums of all time, with global sales exceeding 32 million copies. It has been certified diamond, multi‑platinum, platinum, or gold in numerous territories. In the United States, it sold over 12 million copies; in the United Kingdom, more than two million; and in Germany, France, Canada, and Australia, over one million each. Across Europe, cumulative sales surpassed nine million units. The album topped charts worldwide—including in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia—and ranked among the best‑selling albums of both 1996 and 1997 in multiple markets.
The album generated a series of successful singles, with release strategies varying by region. Five singles were issued in Europe, four in Australia, and three in North America. The most commercially prominent were "Because You Loved Me", the theme song for the film Up Close & Personal starring Robert Redford and Michelle Pfeiffer (number one in the United States and Australia; number two in Canada and Ireland); "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" (number one in Canada and the Flanders region of Belgium; number two in Ireland and the United States); and Dion's cover of Eric Carmen's "All by Myself", which reached the top 10 in several countries, including number four in the United States.
Conception and composition
Falling into You was conceived at a moment when Dion had reached the height of her international popularity, and the album reflects a deliberate evolution in her musical direction. Its production embraces a wide spectrum of stylistic elements, incorporating ornate orchestral arrangements, African‑influenced vocal textures, and an eclectic palette of instruments—including violin, Spanish guitar, trombone, the cavaquinho, saxophone, and expansive string sections. This diversity created a richer and more adventurous sonic landscape than on her previous English‑language releases. The singles likewise span multiple genres: "Falling into You" (originally recorded by Marie-Claire D'Ubaldo) and Dion's cover of "River Deep – Mountain High" by Ike & Tina Turner foreground percussive, rhythm‑driven arrangements, while "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" (first recorded by Pandora's Box) and her rendition of Eric Carmen's "All by Myself" retain their soft‑rock foundations but are elevated by classical piano passages and dramatic orchestration.
The ballad "Because You Loved Me", written by Diane Warren, served as the theme song for the 1996 film Up Close & Personal. The album also includes English adaptations of three songs from Dion's French‑language album D'eux: "If That's What It Takes" ("Pour que tu m'aimes encore"), "I Don't Know" ("Je sais pas"), and "Fly" ("Vole"). Several regional editions feature additional material: outside North America, the album includes a cover of Carole King's "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman"; the Asian edition adds the Japanese hit "To Love You More"; non‑US editions include "Your Light", written and produced by Aldo Nova; and Spanish‑language markets received "Sola Otra Vez", a Spanish adaptation of "All by Myself".
Dion collaborated with an extensive team of producers and arrangers, most notably Jim Steinman, David Foster, Ric Wake, Jean-Jacques Goldman, and Humberto Gatica. Their combined contributions shaped an album that blended mainstream pop with theatrical, classical, and international influences, reinforcing Dion's reputation as one of the decade's most versatile and expressive vocalists.[2]
Singles
Two singles were issued in February 1996 to launch the album: "Falling into You" in Europe and Australia, and "Because You Loved Me" in North America, South America, and Asia. In May 1996, "Because You Loved Me" was also released as the second single in Europe and Australia. "Falling into You" topped the chart in Spain, reached number eight in Norway and number 10 in the United Kingdom, and entered the top 40 in several other territories. Considerably greater global success followed with "Because You Loved Me", which reached number one in the United States, Canada, and Australia, and secured top‑10 positions in numerous markets worldwide, including number five in the UK. It earned triple‑platinum certification in Canada, double‑platinum certifications in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, platinum in New Zealand and Denmark, and gold in Germany and Spain.
"It's All Coming Back to Me Now" was released as the second North American single in July 1996. It became a major hit, topping the chart in Canada and peaking at number two in the United States. In September 1996, the song was issued as the third single in most European countries and in Australia, while in France and Germany it served as the fourth single in early 1997. Internationally, it reached number one in Belgium and achieved top‑10 placements in several markets, including number three in the UK. It was certified triple platinum in Canada, double platinum in the United States and the United Kingdom, platinum in New Zealand, and gold in Australia, Denmark, and Belgium.
"All by Myself" was released as the third single in France and Germany in October 1996. Across the rest of Europe, it followed as the fourth single in December 1996, after "It's All Coming Back to Me Now". It was also issued as the fourth single in Australia in February 1997 and as the third single in North America in March 1997. The song became another international success, reaching number four in the United States and entering the top 10 in several other countries, including number six in the United Kingdom. It achieved platinum status in Canada, gold in the United States, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand, and silver in France. The fifth European single, "Call the Man", was released in June 1997, peaking at number eight in Ireland and number 11 in the UK, with modest success elsewhere.
Asian editions of Falling into You included "To Love You More", a 1995 hit that topped the chart in Japan and sold 1.3 million copies there. Editions released outside North America featured "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman", which had been issued as a promotional single in several countries from Tapestry Revisited: A Tribute to Carole King in November 1995. Limited Australian and Asian editions of Falling into You with a bonus disc also included "The Power of the Dream", performed by Dion at the opening ceremony of the 1996 Summer Olympics. "The Power of the Dream" was released as a single in Japan in August 1996, where it reached number 30 and was certified gold. Additionally, three further promotional singles were issued from the album: "Dreamin' of You" in Mexico, "Make You Happy" in Brazil, and "River Deep, Mountain High" in France.
Promotion
Dion supported Falling into You with the extensive Falling into You: Around the World tour, which began in Perth, Australia, on 18 March 1996 and concluded in Zürich, Switzerland, on 26 June 1997. The tour underscored her growing global stature, spanning multiple continents over fifteen months. It included dates in Australia in March 1996, Canada in May and June, the United States between July and August, and Europe from September to November. Dion returned to Canada in December 1996, performed in Asia in February 1997, toured the United States again in March and April, revisited Canada in May, and closed with additional European dates in June 1997. One of the concerts was recorded and released on VHS in selected countries as ...Live in Memphis 1997.
Dion also promoted the album extensively on television, particularly in the United States. She performed "Because You Loved Me" on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the Blockbuster Entertainment Awards, and Live with Regis and Kathie Lee in March 1996. She sang the song on the Late Show with David Letterman in April, and on Good Morning America and The Oprah Winfrey Show in May. Dion introduced her next US single, "It's All Coming Back to Me Now", on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in July 1996 and on The Rosie O'Donnell Show in September. On 19 July 1996, she delivered a live performance of "The Power of the Dream" at the opening ceremony of the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States.
In December 1996, Dion performed her third US single, "All by Myself", at the Billboard Music Awards and again on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. She also sang it at the 39th Annual Grammy Awards on 26 February 1997. Additional promotional appearances included "Seduces Me" on The Rosie O'Donnell Show in January 1997 and "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" on the Late Show with David Letterman in February. In March 1997, Dion performed "Because You Loved Me" and "Fly" on The Oprah Winfrey Show, and later that month she sang "Because You Loved Me" and "I Finally Found Someone" at the 69th Academy Awards.
International promotion was equally extensive. Dion performed "Falling into You" at the Sanremo Music Festival in Italy in March 1996, and "Because You Loved Me" on the Dutch programs Vijf TV Show and Tros in April. In May, she performed "Because You Loved Me" at the World Music Awards in Monte Carlo, Monaco, and on the German show Verstehen Sie Spaß?, as well as "Falling into You" on the French program Dimanche Martin.
In November 1996, Dion performed "All by Myself" at the Bambi Awards in Germany, and later that month sang both "All by Myself" and "River Deep, Mountain High" on Taratata in France. In December, she performed "All by Myself" on the French television show Les Années Tubes. In March 1997, Dion sang "To Love You More" with violinist Taro Hakase at the Juno Awards, and in April she performed the song again with Hakase on the Japanese program Music Fair, as well as "Call the Man" at the World Music Awards in Monte Carlo.
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| Billboard (Paul Verna) | positive[4] |
| Billboard (Larry Flick) | positive[5][6] |
| Entertainment Focus | positive[7] |
| Entertainment Weekly | B[8] |
| Le Journal de Montréal | positive[9] |
| Los Angeles Times | [10] |
| Music Week | [11] |
| The New York Times | mixed[12] |
| Yahoo Music | mixed[13] |
Falling into You received generally positive critical reception, with many reviewers praising Dion's vocal mastery, the album's ambitious production, and its blend of contemporary pop, soft rock, and dramatic balladry.
Billboard offered some of the strongest praise for the album, with two of the magazine's senior critics highlighting different aspects of its appeal. Editor Paul Verna described Falling into You as a "deep" and confident work that reaffirmed Dion's status as one of the world's leading pop vocalists. He praised the album's ambitious production and singled out several tracks as standouts, including the chart‑topping "Because You Loved Me", the theatrical "It's All Coming Back to Me Now", the relaxed title track, the upbeat "Make You Happy", the sultry "Seduces Me", and the energetic "Declaration of Love".[4]
Larry Flick, also writing for Billboard, echoed Verna's enthusiasm in multiple reviews throughout 1996. He lauded "Because You Loved Me" for its "grand romance" and "larger‑than‑life production", calling its climactic build "the musical equivalent of 4th of July fireworks".[5] Flick also praised Dion's performance on "It's All Coming Back to Me Now", noting that while Jim Steinman's bombastic production could easily overwhelm a lesser vocalist, Dion "rises to the occasion" with "deliciously theatrical flair", delivering one of the album's most commanding moments.[6]
Senior editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic awarded the album four out of five stars. Although he considered it formulaic, he praised its polished execution, strong melodies, and Dion's "natural vocal charm". He singled out ballads such as "Because You Loved Me" and the "mock epic" "It's All Coming Back to Me Now", arguing that Dion's elegance and vocal control elevate even the weaker material, making the album "a remarkably well‑crafted set of adult contemporary pop" and her strongest release to date.[3]
Entertainment Weekly critic Chuck Eddy gave the album a B, praising the "compelling eccentricity" of its arrangements, which incorporate Spanish guitars, African‑influenced vocals, and ornate orchestration. He highlighted Dion's rendition of "All by Myself" and the "brutal blues‑mama dance" of "Declaration of Love", writing that the latter "kicks like Bonnie Raitt and Wynonna only wish they could".[8]
Some publications offered more reserved or critical perspectives. Elysa Gardner of the Los Angeles Times felt that Dion occasionally returned to "polite, predictable schmaltz",[10] while The New York Times critic Stephen Holden described parts of the album as "formulaic romantic bombast", though he praised "Because You Loved Me" and Dion's interpretation of "All by Myself".[12] Dan Leroy of Yahoo Music viewed Dion's collaborations with Steinman as bold but felt the results were similar to her previous work.[13]
Commercial performance
Falling into You became one of the defining commercial triumphs of the 1990s and remains among the best‑selling albums of all time. With more than 32 million copies sold worldwide,[14] it was the best‑selling album of 1996 globally[15] and stands as the fourth best‑selling album by a woman in history. Its commercial impact solidified Dion's position as one of the world's most successful recording artists.
Canada
In Canada, Falling into You reaffirmed Dion's superstar status, becoming her second number‑one album after The Colour of My Love. It was certified diamond in November 1996 and has sold 1.6 million copies. Remarkably, it became her second diamond‑certified release in the country—following The Colour of My Love—with her 1992 self‑titled album later joining them in 1998. Falling into You also dominated the Quebec chart for 14 weeks.[16]
United States
In the United States, Falling into You debuted at number two in March 1996 with first‑week sales of 193,000 copies.[17] It reached number one on the Billboard 200 in its 28th week and spent three non‑consecutive weeks at the top.[18] The album remained in the top 10 for an extraordinary 61 weeks, underscoring its enduring appeal.
Falling into You was the second best‑selling album of 1996 in the US, with six million copies sold,[19] and the eighth best‑selling album of 1997 with an additional three million copies.[20] It finished the decade as the fifth best‑selling album of the 1990s in the United States, with 10,224,282 copies sold.[21]
As of November 2019, Falling into You has sold 10.9 million copies in the US according to Nielsen SoundScan,[22][23] with an additional 987,000 units sold through the BMG Music Club.[24] It was certified diamond by the RIAA in December 1997 and twelve times platinum in 2021 for shipments exceeding 12 million copies.[25]
UK, France and Germany
In the United Kingdom, Falling into You debuted at number one, becoming Dion's second chart‑topping album after The Colour of My Love. In January 1998, it was certified seven times platinum by the BPI for sales of 2.1 million copies. In France, the album topped the chart for five non‑consecutive weeks, became Dion's second number‑one album after D'eux, and was certified diamond by the SNEP with 1.2 million copies sold. In Germany, it peaked at number five and earned five‑times gold certification from the BVMI for sales of 1.3 million units. Across Europe, Falling into You was awarded a nine‑times Platinum Europe Award by the IFPI for sales exceeding nine million copies.
Australia and rest of the world
In Australia, the album debuted at number one and spent four non‑consecutive weeks at the top, becoming Dion's second chart‑topping release there. It was certified thirteen times platinum by the ARIA and has sold one million copies in the country. Falling into You also topped charts across numerous international markets and received diamond, multi‑platinum, platinum, and gold certifications worldwide. It sold more than 17 million copies globally between March and December 1996 alone—a remarkable nine‑month span that underscored the album's unprecedented momentum.[26]
Accolades
At the 39th Annual Grammy Awards, Falling into You earned two of the ceremony's highest honors, winning both Album of the Year and Best Pop Album.[27] "Because You Loved Me" received major nominations for Record of the Year, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, and Song of the Year, and won the Grammy Award for Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or Television. Dion's global success was further recognized at the World Music Awards in 1997, where she received three awards: World's Best Selling Artist of the Year, World's Best Selling Pop Artist of the Year, and World's Best Selling Canadian Artist of the Year. She was also honored at the American Music Awards, earning nominations for Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist and Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist in both 1997 and 1998, and winning Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist in January 1998.
At the Juno Awards of 1997, Dion received the Juno Award for Female Vocalist of the Year and the International Achievement Award. Falling into You won the Juno Award for Best Selling Album (Foreign or Domestic)[28] and was nominated for Album of the Year, while "Because You Loved Me" earned a nomination for the Juno Award for Single of the Year.
Dion and Falling into You also received a wide range of international honors, including the IRMA Award for Best International Female Artist Album,[28][29] the Bambi Award for Top International Pop Star of the Year, the Amigo Award for Best International Female Artist, the VH1 Award for Artist of the Year, and multiple NARM Best Seller Awards including Artist of the Year, Recording of the Year, Pop Recording of the Year, and Alternative Recording of the Year.[30] She also received Félix Awards for Artist of the Year Achieving the Most Success Outside Quebec and Artist of the Year Achieving the Most Success in a Language Other Than French in both 1996 and 1997. Further recognition came from the Pop Corn Music Awards (Best Female Singer of the Year and Best Album of the Year), the Malta Music Awards (Best Selling International Artist), the National TV 2 Award (Best International Female Artist), the South African Music Awards (Best Selling International Album), the Coca-Cola Full Blast Music Award (Most Popular International Artist), the FM Select Diamond Award in Hong Kong (Top Female International Artist), and the International Achievement in Arts Award in the United States (Entertainer of the Year). "To Love You More", included on the Asian editions of Falling into You, won the International Single Grand Prix at the Japan Gold Disc Awards in 1996.
Dion received numerous nominations at the Billboard Music Awards in 1996 and 1997, including Top Pop Artist, Top Billboard 200 Album Artist, Hot 100 Singles Artist, Hot Adult Contemporary Artist, and Hot Adult Top 40 Artist. "Because You Loved Me" earned nominations for Hot 100 Singles, Hot 100 Singles Airplay, Hot Adult Contemporary Singles & Tracks, and Hot Adult Top 40 Singles & Tracks, while Falling into You was nominated for Top Billboard 200 Album. She also received nominations at the Blockbuster Entertainment Awards for Favorite Female Artist – Pop and Favorite Song from a Movie ("Because You Loved Me"). At the 1997 BRIT Awards, Dion was nominated for Best International Female, and she received two nominations for Echo Awards for International Female Artist of the Year and two for the Danish Music Awards for Best International Female Singer. She was also nominated for the MuchMusic Video Award for Peoples Choice: Favourite International Artist.
"Because You Loved Me" earned nominations for both the Academy Award for Best Original Song and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song. It also received an ASCAP Film and Television Music Award for Most Performed Song from Motion Picture and ASCAP Pop Awards for Most Performed Song in 1997, 1998, and 1999. "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" won a BMI Pop Award for Song of the Year, while both that song and "All by Myself" received BMI Pop Awards for Most Performed Songs. "The Power of the Dream", included on limited 2‑CD editions of Falling into You, won a BMI Film & TV Award in the category Special Recognition: The Olympic Tribute Award and was nominated for the Emmy Award for Outstanding Music and Lyrics.
Cultural impact
Elle Canada praised Falling into You as an album that "changed pop music forever", highlighting how it "helped shape the genre trends of the era and affirmed the lasting power of the heartfelt power ballad in a musical landscape often skeptical of emotion". The publication emphasized that Dion, particularly through Falling into You, revitalized the power‑ballad tradition for the 1990s and inspired a new generation of major vocalists, including Adele, Jennifer Hudson, Lady Gaga, and Ariana Grande.[31]
Reader's Digest Canada included Falling into You among the 25 Greatest Canadian Albums of All Time, ranking it at number 22 and celebrating it as "the most complete summation of her gifts as an entertainer: stylish, catchy and unabashedly emotional".[32]
In 2014, Richard Dunn recorded a humorous and heartfelt video on his iPhone while stranded overnight at the Las Vegas airport, using Dion's 1996 rendition of "All by Myself" as the soundtrack. The clip quickly went viral, demonstrating the enduring emotional resonance and cultural familiarity of Dion's performance.[33]
The Colombian magazine Shock listed Dion among the most memorable musical performers in the history of Olympic Games ceremonies.[34] USA Today ranked her performance of The Power of the Dream at the Atlanta Games as the second‑best Olympic theme song of all time.[35] On 19 July 1996, Dion performed the song during the Opening Ceremony for an estimated global audience of 3.5 billion viewers, a moment widely recognized as reinforcing her status as one of the world's most celebrated vocalists.[36]
In early 2022, Dion's classic hit "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" enjoyed a joyful resurgence on TikTok, inspiring a wave of enthusiastic and often humorous viral videos. High‑profile participants included Michael Buble,[37] Mandy Moore,[38] Amanda Holden,[39] Jordin Sparks,[40] and Viola Davis.[41]
In August 2024, Falling into You became Dion's first studio album to surpass one billion streams on Spotify, underscoring its lasting popularity across generations of listeners.[42]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" | Jim Steinman |
| 7:37 |
| 2. | "Because You Loved Me" | Diane Warren | David Foster | 4:33 |
| 3. | "Falling into You" |
| 4:18 | |
| 4. | "Make You Happy" | Andy Marvel | Ric Wake | 4:31 |
| 5. | "Seduces Me" |
| 3:46 | |
| 6. | "All by Myself" | Foster | 5:12 | |
| 7. | "Declaration of Love" |
| Wake | 4:20 |
| 8. | "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" | Foster | 3:40 | |
| 9. | "Dreamin' of You" |
| Nova | 5:07 |
| 10. | "I Love You" | Nova | Foster | 5:30 |
| 11. | "If That's What It Takes" |
|
| 4:12 |
| 12. | "I Don't Know" |
|
| 4:38 |
| 13. | "River Deep, Mountain High" |
| 4:10 | |
| 14. | "Your Light" | Nova | Nova | 5:14 |
| 15. | "Call the Man" | 6:08 | ||
| 16. | "Fly" |
|
| 2:58 |
| Total length: | 75:54 | |||
Notes
- ^a signifies a co‑producer
- "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" was omitted from the US, Canadian, and Japanese editions.
- "Your Light" was omitted from the US, Latin American, standard Asian (excluding Japanese), and certain Spanish editions, but included on the limited Asian edition.
- "To Love You More" was included on the Asian editions.
- "Sola Otra Vez" appeared on the Latin American and selected Spanish editions.
- "The Power of the Dream" was included on the limited Asian and Australian editions.
Personnel
Credits are adapted from AllMusic.[43]
- Celine Dion – lead vocals, background vocals
- Alain Couture – background vocals
- Alanna Capps – background vocals
- Aldo Nova – composer, drums, guest artist, guitar, percussion, synthesizer, background vocals
- Alex Brown – background vocals
- Andre Coutu – guitar
- Andy Hill – composer
- Andy Marvel – arranger, composer, drums, guitar, keyboards
- Andy Tarr – assistant engineer
- Angela Clemmons-Patrick – background vocals
- Antoine Russo – trumpet
- Arnaud Dunoyer de Ségonzac – piano
- Audrey Martells – background vocals
- Audrey Wheeler – background vocals
- Bashiri Johnson – percussion
- Basil Leroux – guitar
- Becky Bell – background vocals
- Bernie Schmitt – engineer
- Billy Porter – background vocals
- Billy Steinberg – composer, producer
- Bob Cadway – engineer
- Brandon Harris – assistant engineer
- Bridgette Bryant-Fiddmont – background vocals
- Camille Henry – production coordination
- Carl Carwell – vocal arrangement, background vocals
- Carole Fredericks – background vocals
- Charles Clouser – drum programming
- Charles Vasoll – assistant producer
- Christopher Deschamps – drums, saxophone
- Chris Brooke – assistant engineer, assistant producer, mixing assistant
- Chris Garcia – drum programming
- Chris Taylor – guitar
- Christian Martinez – trumpet
- Christophe Nègre – saxophone
- Claude Gaudette – composer
- Claude Lemay – keyboards
- Curt Bisquera – cymbals, hi-hat
- Curtis King – background vocals
- Dan Hetzel – mixing
- Dan Hill – composer, producer
- Dave Reitzas – engineer
- David Barratt – production coordination
- David Boruff – saxophone
- David Foster – arranger, guest artist, keyboards, piano, producer, vocal arrangement
- David Shackney – assistant engineer
- Denis Chartrand – piano, strings
- Denis Leloup – trombone
- Diane Warren – composer
- Dominique Messier – drums
- Don Ketteler – production coordination
- Dug – assistant engineer
- Eddie Martinez – guitar
- Elaine Caswell – background vocals
- Ellie Greenwich – composer
- Eric Benzi – engineer, Synclavier programming
- Eric Carmen – composer
- Eric Troyer – background vocals
- Felipe Elgueta – engineer
- Fonzi Thornton – background vocals
- G.W. Horn Machine – horns
- Gary Hasse – arranger, bass, conductor, producer
- George Bodnar – photography
- George Whitty – horns, keyboards
- Glen Burtnik – background vocals
- Glen Marchese – assistant engineer, mixing assistant
- Greg Pinto – assistant engineer, engineer
- Humberto Gatica – engineer, mixing, producer
- Jamie Muhoberac – keyboards
- Jay Anderson – acoustic bass
- Jean McClain – vocals
- Jean-Jacques Goldman – composer, producer
- Jeff Barry – composer
- Jeff Bova – arranger, bass, keyboards, producer, programming
- Jeff Pascetto – vocals
- Jeff Smallwood – acoustic guitar
- Jim Steinman – arranger, composer, guest artist, producer
- Jimmy Bralower – arranger, drums, percussion
- Johanne Gair – make-up
- John Genna – assistant engineer
- John Jones – engineer, producer, programming
- John Sheard – composer
- Jon Avnet – executive producer
- Josh Melville – assistant engineer
- Kasim Sulton – bass, background vocals
- Kenny Aronoff – drums
- Kofi – background vocals
- Kurt Lundvall – engineer
- Kyle Bess – assistant engineer
- Larry Schalit – assistant engineer
- Laura Harding – production coordination
- Louis Héchter – hair stylist
- Luis Conte – guest artist, percussion
- Manu Guiot – assistant engineer
- Maria Vidal – background vocals
- Marie Claire D'Ubaldo – composer, background vocals
- Mark Agostino – assistant engineer
- Mark Langis – bass
- Matthew "Boomer" La Monica – engineer
- Maxayn Lewis – background vocals
- Michael Jay – composer
- Michael Thompson – guitar
- Mickey Curry – drums
- Myriam Naomi Valle – background vocals
- Nancy Donald – art direction, design
- Nathan East – bass
- Neil Jason – bass
- Osie Bowe – assistant engineer
- Ottmar Liebert – guest artist, acoustic guitar
- Patrice Tison – guitar
- Paul Boutin – assistant engineer, engineer
- Paul Buckmaster – conductor, string arrangements
- Paul Bushnell – bass
- Paul Picard – percussion
- Pete Lorimer – drum programming
- Peter Barbeau – composer
- Peter Doell – assistant engineer
- Peter Sinfield – composer
- Phil Galdston – composer
- Phil Spector – composer
- Phillip Ingram – background vocals
- Randee Saint Nicholas – photography
- Rev. Dave Boruff – saxophone
- Ric Wake – producer
- Rick Hahn – producer, programming, strings
- Rick Kerr – mixing
- Rick Nowels – composer, guitar, keyboards, producer
- Robbie Buchanan – keyboards
- Robbyn Kirmsse – background vocals
- Rory Dodd – background vocals
- Roy Bittan – piano, piano arrangement, producer
- Russ DeSalvo – guitar
- Scott Young – assistant engineer
- Sharon Bryant-Gallaway – background vocals
- Sheila E. – guest artist, percussion
- Shelton Becton – background vocals
- Simon Franglen – programming, Synclavier programming
- Sisaundra – background vocals
- St. Jacques – bass, keyboards
- Steve Buslowe – bass
- Steve Churchyard – engineer
- Steve Farris – cavaquinho
- Steve Ferrone – drums
- Steve MacMillan – mixing
- Steve Rinkoff – engineer, producer
- Steve Skinner – keyboards
- Steve Wolf – drums
- Sue Ann Carwell – guest artist, vocal arrangement, background vocals
- Sylvain Beuf – saxophone
- Sylvain Bolduc – bass guitar
- Tawatha Agee – background vocals
- Terence Dover – engineer
- Terry Bradford – background vocals
- Thibault Vabre – make-up
- Tim Pierce – guitar
- Russ Powell – guitar
- Todd Rundgren – guest artist, vocal arrangement, background vocals
- Tony Phillips – mixing
- Vaneese Thomas – background vocals
- Vivian Turner – stylist
- Wil Wheaton – background vocals
- William Ross – string arrangements
- Yannick Hardouin – bass
- Yves Frulla – keyboards
- Yvone Jones – background vocals
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
Decade-end charts
All-time charts
|
Certifications and sales
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina (CAPIF)[111] | Platinum | 75,000[112] |
| Australia (ARIA)[113] | 13× Platinum | 1,000,000[114] |
| Austria (IFPI Austria)[115] | 2× Platinum | 100,000* |
| Belgium (BRMA)[116] | 4× Platinum | 200,000* |
| Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[117] | Gold | 200,000[118] |
| Canada (Music Canada)[119] | Diamond | 1,600,000[120] |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[121] | 8× Platinum | 160,000‡ |
| Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[122] | Platinum | 51,952[122] |
| France (SNEP)[123] | Diamond | 1,000,000* |
| Germany (BVMI)[124] | 5× Gold | 1,250,000^ |
| Hungary (MAHASZ)[125] | Gold | |
| Iceland | — | 10,996[126] |
| Italy | — | 150,000[127] |
| Japan (RIAJ)[128] | 4× Platinum | 800,000^ |
| Malaysia | — | 250,000[129] |
| Netherlands (NVPI)[130] | 6× Platinum | 600,000^ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[131] | 12× Platinum | 180,000^ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[132] digital |
Gold | 7,500‡ |
| Norway (IFPI Norway)[133] | 3× Platinum | 150,000* |
| Poland (ZPAV)[134] | Platinum | 100,000* |
| Portugal (AFP)[135] | 2× Platinum | 80,000^ |
| Singapore | — | 120,000[136] |
| South Africa | — | 600,000[137] |
| Spain (Promusicae)[138] | 2× Platinum | 200,000^ |
| Sweden (GLF)[139] | 2× Platinum | 200,000^ |
| Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[140] | 3× Platinum | 150,000^ |
| Taiwan (RIT)[141] | 12× Platinum+Gold | 633,518[141] |
| Turkey (Mü-Yap)[142] | Gold | 20,000[142] |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[143] | 7× Platinum | 2,193,998[144] |
| United States (RIAA)[25] | 12× Platinum | 12,000,000‡ |
| Summaries | ||
| Europe (IFPI)[145] | 9× Platinum | 9,000,000* |
| Worldwide | — | 32,000,000[146] |
|
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
Release history
| Region | Date | Label | Format | Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia[147] | 11 March 1996 | Epic | 483792 | |
| Europe,[148] United Kingdom[149] | Columbia, Epic |
| ||
| United States[150] | 12 March 1996 | 550 Music |
|
67541 |
| Canada[151] | Columbia | 33068 | ||
| Japan[152][153] | 14 March 1996 | SMEJ | CD | ESCA-6410 |
| 30 May 2018 | Blu-spec CD2 | SICP-31167 | ||
| Various[154] | 12 October 2018 | Columbia | LP | 1-90758-63861-4 |
See also
- Grammy Award for Album of the Year
- Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album
- Juno Award for International Album of the Year
- List of best-selling albums
- List of best-selling albums by women
- List of best-selling albums in Australia
- List of best-selling albums in Europe
- List of best-selling albums in France
- List of best-selling albums in Germany
- List of best-selling albums in the Netherlands
- List of best-selling albums in New Zealand
- List of best-selling albums in the United States
- List of best-selling albums in the United States of the Nielsen SoundScan era
- List of best-selling albums of the 1990s in the United Kingdom
- List of Billboard 200 number-one albums of 1996
- List of Diamond-certified albums in Canada
- List of European number-one hits of 1996
- List of number-one albums from the 1990s (New Zealand)
- List of number-one albums in Australia during the 1990s
- List of number-one albums of 1996 (Canada)
- List of top 25 albums for 1996 in Australia
- List of top 25 albums for 1997 in Australia
- List of UK Albums Chart number ones of the 1990s