These Are Special Times
1998 studio album by Celine Dion
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
These Are Special Times is the seventeenth studio album and sixth English‑language release by Canadian singer Celine Dion, as well as her first English‑language Christmas album. It was issued in Europe on 30 October 1998 by Columbia Records and in the United States on 3 November 1998 through Epic Records. The album includes covers of well‑known Christmas standards and several original songs, such as "I'm Your Angel" and "The Prayer". Dion collaborated primarily with producers David Foster and Ric Wake, who oversaw most of the project. These Are Special Times followed the major commercial success of her previous English‑language albums, Falling into You (1996) and Let's Talk About Love (1997).
- Avatar, Clinton Recording, The Dream Factory, Nervious Music, Right Track Recording, WTM (New York City)
- Chartmaker, Enterprise Recorders, The Record Plant, Sony Sound Stage (Los Angeles)
- Cove City Sound (Glen Clove)
- Criteria (Miami)
- Crystal Cathedral (Garden Grove)
- Le Studio (Morin-Heights)
- The Warehouse (Vancouver)
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| Released | 30 October 1998 | |||
| Recorded | 1998 | |||
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| Length | 64:35 | |||
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Upon release, These Are Special Times received generally positive reviews from music critics, who praised Dion's vocal performance and the album's polished production. It has been certified six times platinum by the RIAA for shipments of six million copies in the United States. In Canada, it sold one million copies and was certified diamond by the CRIA. With global sales exceeding 12 million copies, it ranks among the best‑selling Christmas albums of all time.
The album produced two singles. "I'm Your Angel" was released as the lead single on 16 November 1998 and reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100. "The Prayer", a duet with Andrea Bocelli, was issued as a promotional single on 1 March 1999 and won the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song at the 56th Golden Globe Awards. Both "I'm Your Angel" and "The Prayer" received nominations for the Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals at the 41st and 42nd Annual Grammy Awards, respectively. In 2021, Billboard ranked These Are Special Times as the eighth greatest holiday album of all time.[1]
Background
Dion released two French‑language Christmas albums early in her career: Céline Dion chante Noël (1981)[2] and Chants et contes de Noël (1983).[3] In 1993, she recorded "The Christmas Song" for David Foster's The Christmas Album.[4] The following year, Dion appeared on Alvin and the Chipmunks' rendition of "Petit Papa Noël" for their album A Very Merry Chipmunk.[5]
In 1996, she contributed a recording of "Brahms' Lullaby" to the charity compilation For Our Children Too, benefiting the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.[6] Both "The Christmas Song" and "Brahms' Lullaby" were later included on These Are Special Times in 1998.
Content
Dion collaborated on These Are Special Times with longtime partners David Foster and Ric Wake, who produced the majority of the album. The release features seven original compositions: "Don't Save It All for Christmas Day" (co‑written by Dion;[7] later covered by Avalon in 2000[8] and Clay Aiken in 2004[9]); "Another Year Has Gone By" (written and produced by Bryan Adams); a solo version of "The Magic of Christmas Day" (originally recorded as a 1999 duet with Rosie O'Donnell for the charity album A Rosie Christmas);[10] "The Prayer" (a duet with Andrea Bocelli, with each artist also recording a solo version for the 1998 Quest for Camelot soundtrack);[7] "Christmas Eve"; "These Are the Special Times" (written by Diane Warren and later covered by Christina Aguilera in 2000[11]); and "I'm Your Angel" (a duet with R. Kelly, written and produced by Kelly).
The album also includes new arrangements of Christmas standards such as "O Holy Night", "Blue Christmas" (featuring Diana Krall on acoustic piano), "Adeste Fideles", and "Ave Maria", as well as contemporary classics like "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" and "Feliz Navidad".[7] On "Feliz Navidad" and "Les cloches du hameau", Dion is joined by members of her family.[12]
In October 2007, These Are Special Times was reissued as a collector's edition, including a DVD of Dion's CBS television special of the same name.[12] In November 2022, the album was released as a 2‑LP limited edition opaque gold vinyl. Due to R. Kelly's legal issues, "I'm Your Angel" was omitted from this edition and replaced with "I Met an Angel (On Christmas Day)", originally issued as the B‑side to Dion's 1999 single "That's the Way It Is".[12] Digital editions of the album have also been updated to reflect this revised tracklist.
Promotion
Dion promoted These Are Special Times in the United States with a holiday television special that aired on CBS on 25 November 1998.[13] The program featured guest appearances by Andrea Bocelli, who joined Dion for a performance of "The Prayer", and Rosie O'Donnell, who duetted with her on "Do You Hear What I Hear?".[12] Dion also showcased selections from the album ("O Holy Night", "These Are the Special Times"), several of her chart‑topping hits ("The Power of Love", "Because You Loved Me", "My Heart Will Go On"), and fan favourites ("Let's Talk About Love", "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face").[12]
The special proved to be a major ratings success, ranking number one for the night[13] and drawing an audience of more than sixteen million viewers.[14] It went on to earn two Emmy Award nominations.[12]
Dion and Bocelli further promoted the album's signature duet with high‑profile live performances of "The Prayer" at the 41st Grammy Awards on 24 February 1999[15] and at the 71st Academy Awards on 21 March 1999.[16]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [17] |
| Billboard (Paul Verna) | positive[18] |
| Billboard (Chuck Taylor) | positive[19][15] |
| Entertainment Weekly | B−[20] |
| Yahoo Music UK | 7/10[21] |
These Are Special Times received generally positive reviews from music critics. Paul Verna of Billboard praised Dion's vocal maturity and the album's polished production.[18] He described the release as "a grade‑A effort" and "no ordinary holiday project," highlighting Dion's ease and creativity throughout the material.[18] Verna singled out the "grandiose versions" of standards such as "O Holy Night" and "Adeste Fideles", the "modern classics" like "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" and "Feliz Navidad", and the "thoughtfully produced" original songs including "Another Year Has Gone By" and "Don't Save It All for Christmas Day".[18] He also praised "The Prayer", calling Dion's duet with Andrea Bocelli "gorgeous," and highlighted the "Phil Spector‑esque" "Christmas Eve" and Dion's "sparkling" interpretation of "Ave Maria".[18]
Billboard critic Chuck Taylor also responded positively, particularly praising "I'm Your Angel", Dion's duet with R. Kelly.[19] He described the track as "wonderfully restrained" and noted its "elegant, epic instrumental base," featuring sweeping strings, a soulful choir, and subtle percussion.[19] Taylor highlighted the bridge as the song's emotional peak, where Dion and Kelly harmonize in a "gorgeous minor key".[19] Reviewing "The Prayer," he called it "breathtaking," "ultra‑lush," and "one of Dion's most radiant performances," noting that the duet with Bocelli "will send a half‑dozen chills up your spine".[15]
Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic wrote that "any fan of Dion, or of '90s adult contemporary pop in general, should find this album very enjoyable".[17] Although he felt that the production could be "too slick" at times and that Dion's vocals occasionally sounded "mannered," he concluded that the album is "very effective" due to its strong material and Dion's commitment to the songs.[17] Erlewine praised the album's balance of traditional carols ("Blue Christmas", "The Christmas Song", "Feliz Navidad"), original compositions ("I'm Your Angel", "Don't Save It All for Christmas Day"), hymns ("Adeste Fideles", "Ave Maria"), and spiritually themed pieces ("The Prayer", "O Holy Night").[17] Reviewers at Yahoo Music UK also responded favorably, awarding the album a score of 7 out of 10 and praising its strong song selection and Dion’s consistently assured vocal performances.[21]
Commercial performance
By the end of 1998, These Are Special Times had sold six million copies worldwide, including 738,000 in Canada.[22] It finished 1998 as the best‑selling holiday album of the year in both the United States and globally.[23] To date, the album has sold over 12 million copies worldwide, making it the second best‑selling holiday album by a female artist in history.[24][25][26]
United States
These Are Special Times debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200 with first‑week sales of 126,000 copies.[27] The following week, it became the chart's greatest gainer, rising to number three with sales of 163,000 units.[28] In its third week, the album sold 210,000 copies but slipped to number five.[29]
A major boost came in week four, when Dion's CBS television special aired, driving sales up by 94% to 409,000 copies and returning the album to number three.[13] One week later, it reached its peak position of number two on the Billboard 200 with sales of 366,000 units.[30] This achievement tied Amy Grant's Home for Christmas (1992) as the highest‑charting holiday album by a female artist.[31]
The album remained at number two for a second week, selling 413,000 copies.[32] In its seventh week, it posted its highest weekly sales—462,000 copies—while ranking at number three.[32] Its final week inside the top ten saw another strong frame of 461,000 copies, placing it at number five.[33] The album also dominated the Top Holiday Albums chart for nine consecutive weeks.[34]
With US sales of 2,684,000 copies in 1998, These Are Special Times was the year's best‑selling holiday album.[31] It also became the fastest‑selling holiday album by a female artist in its year of release.[31] On 16 November 2008, it became the first holiday album by a female artist to surpass five million copies in Nielsen SoundScan history.[35] It remains the highest‑selling Christmas album by an artist born outside the United States.[36] As of November 2019, it is the fourth best‑selling Christmas album of the SoundScan era, with 5.6 million copies sold in the US.[37][38][39][40][41] On 3 November 2022, the album was certified six times platinum by the RIAA for shipments of six million copies.[42]
Rest of the world
In Canada and Quebec, These Are Special Times reached number one.[43][44] It shipped one million copies and was certified diamond by the CRIA.[45]
In Japan, the album peaked at number four[46] and sold over 500,000 copies.[47] It also performed strongly across Australasia and Europe, reaching the top ten in most markets and hitting number one in Switzerland and Norway.[48]
Singles
"I'm Your Angel" was released as the album's lead single and became Dion's fourth number‑one on the US Billboard Hot 100.[29] It topped the chart for six consecutive weeks.[49] On 9 December 1998, the single was certified platinum by the RIAA for shipments of one million copies in the United States.[42] It also performed strongly internationally, reaching number three in the United Kingdom.[50]
In March 1999, "The Prayer" was serviced to US adult contemporary radio stations,[15] where it peaked at number twenty‑two on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart.[51] Dion later recorded a live duet version with Josh Groban for her 2008 CBS special Celine Dion: That's Just the Woman in Me.[52] Thanks to digital sales, the track entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number seventy.[53]
Accolades
These Are Special Times earned several major awards and industry recognitions. In 1999, it received the Japan Gold Disc Award for International Pop Album of the Year.[54] At the 56th Golden Globe Awards, Dion and Andrea Bocelli's duet "The Prayer" won the award for Best Original Song.[54]
Both "I'm Your Angel" and "The Prayer" received nominations for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals at the 41st[55] and 42nd Grammy Awards, respectively.[56] "The Prayer" was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 71st Academy Awards.[57]
In 2017, 24/7 Wall St. ranked These Are Special Times as the eighth greatest holiday album of all time, underscoring its enduring popularity and cultural impact.[58]
Impact and legacy
These Are Special Times has continued to influence artists and holiday music culture long after its release. In 2020, while recording her own version of "O Holy Night" for the album My Gift, Carrie Underwood cited Dion's rendition as a major inspiration, calling it "so beautiful and big and classic".[59]
Several tracks from the album have been revisited by other artists. Christina Aguilera recorded her own version of "These Are the Special Times",[60] while Patti Labelle performed a celebrated rendition of "Don't Save It All for Christmas Day".[61]
Dion's interpretations of holiday classics have also received notable recognition. Billboard listed her version of "Feliz Navidad" among the best covers of the song,[62] while Esquire included her rendition of "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" on its list of "The 65 Best Christmas Songs of All Time".[63] Parade ranked "These Are the Special Times" at number 44 among the "150 Best Christmas Songs of All Time".[64]
MTV praised the album as "one of the greatest Christmas albums to ever exist",[65] and Billboard ranked Dion's "O Holy Night" at number 68 on its list of the "100 Best Christmas Songs of All Time", calling it a "bombastically earnest performance".[66] It is the only rendition of the song included on the list.
Rankings
| Publication | Accolade | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prima | Top 10 Best Christmas Albums of All Time | N/A |
|
| House Beautiful | The 20 Best Christmas Albums of All Time | 9 |
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| Inside Edition | The 10 Best Christmas Albums of All Time | 8 |
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| 24/7 Wall St. | 50 Best Holiday Albums of All Time | 8 |
|
| Woman's Day | The 54 Best Christmas Albums | 53 |
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "O Holy Night" | Traditional | David Foster | 5:20 |
| 2. | "Don't Save It All for Christmas Day" | Wake | 4:38 | |
| 3. | "Blue Christmas" |
| Foster | 3:50 |
| 4. | "Another Year Has Gone By" | Adams | 3:25 | |
| 5. | "The Magic of Christmas Day (God Bless Us Everyone)" | Dee Snider | Wake | 4:24 |
| 6. | "Ave Maria" | Franz Schubert | Foster | 4:56 |
| 7. | "Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful)" | Traditional | Foster | 4:43 |
| 8. | "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" | Foster | 4:14 | |
| 9. | "The Prayer" (with Andrea Bocelli) | 4:30 | ||
| 10. | "Brahms' Lullaby" | Johannes Brahms | Foster | 3:34 |
| 11. | "Christmas Eve" | Wake | 4:16 | |
| 12. | "These Are the Special Times" | Diane Warren | Foster | 4:09 |
| 13. | "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" | Wake | 4:12 | |
| 14. | "I'm Your Angel" (with R. Kelly) | Kelly | Kelly | 5:31 |
| 15. | "Feliz Navidad" | José Feliciano | 3:41 | |
| 16. | "Les cloches du hameau" | Brahms | Wake | 3:12 |
| Total length: | 64:35 | |||
Notes
- ^a indicates an Italian translation
- ^b signifies a co-producer
- ^c signifies an additional producer
- The Japanese edition also includes an instrumental version of "My Heart Will Go On".
- The 2007 collector's edition features a bonus DVD containing the These Are Special Times television special.
- The 2020 revised edition replaces "I'm Your Angel" with "I Met an Angel (On Christmas Day)".
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from AllMusic.[72]
- Bryan Adams – arranger, bass, composer, guitar, producer, string arrangements
- Tawatha Agee – background vocals
- Steve Amerson – background vocals
- Morgan Ames – background vocals
- Randy Andos – trombone
- Jane Barnett – background vocals
- David Barratt – production coordination
- Tony Black – programming
- Juan Bohorquez – assistant engineer, mixing assistant
- Dick Bolks – background vocals
- Alfred Bosco – assistant engineer
- Jeff Bova – programming
- Robert Bowker – background vocals
- Jimmy Bralower – drum programming
- Troy Bright – background vocals
- Martin Briley – background vocals
- Chris Brooke – assistant engineer
- Alexandra Brown – choir, chorus
- Bridgette Bryant – choir, chorus
- Sharon Bryant – background vocals
- Bob Buckley – conductor, string arrangements
- Amick Byram – background vocals
- Bob Cadway – engineer
- Richie Cannata – tenor saxophone
- Johnnie Carl – arranger
- Elin Carlson – background vocals
- Patrick Carroll – drum programming, bass guitar, percussion
- Carmen Carter – choir, chorus
- Lafayette Carthon Jr. – conductor, keyboards, background vocals
- Sue Ann Carwell – background vocals
- John Chiodini – guitar, electric guitar
- Maria Christensen – composer, background vocals
- Dennis Collins – background vocals
- Crystal Cathedral Choir – choir
- Barry Danielian – trumpet
- Donna Davidson – background vocals
- Nathan Dean – mixing assistant
- Russ DeSalvo – guitar
- John Doelp – executive producer
- Chuck Domanico – bass
- Terence Dover – engineer
- Felipe Elgueta – engineer, programming
- Gary Falcone – choir, chorus
- David Foster – arranger, composer, keyboards, piano, producer
- Bob Franceschini – alto saxophone
- Simon Franglen – synclavier
- Roger Freeland – background vocals
- Yvonne Gage – background vocals
- Humberto Gatica – engineer, mixing
- Ayuana George – background vocals
- Stephen George – programming
- Diva Gray – background vocals
- Nikki Gregoroff – background vocals
- Don Hachey – mixing assistant
- Andy Haller – assistant engineer
- Jeff Hamilton – drums
- Brian Harding – assistant engineer, mixing assistant
- Linda Harmon – background vocals
- Bill Harris – alto saxophone
- Don Harris – trumpet
- Dan Hetzel – engineer
- Loris Holland – conductor, keyboards, Hammond organ, vocal arrangement, background vocals
- Jimmy Hoyson – assistant engineer
- Ronn Huff – arranger
- Nancey Jackson – background vocals
- Bashiri Johnson – background vocals
- Tony Kadleck – trumpet
- Shane Keister – arranger, handbell arrangement, piano, synclavier
- Khris Kellow – background vocals
- R. Kelly – arranger, composer, performer, producer
- Rick Kerr – engineer
- Curtis King – background vocals
- Darlene Koldenhoven – background vocals
- Diana Krall – piano
- John Kurlander – engineer
- Rick Logan – background vocals
- Susie Stevens Logan – background vocals
- Lisa Lougheed – background vocals
- Jeremy Lubbock – arranger, string arrangements
- Vito Luprano – executive producer
- Johnny Mandel – orchestral arrangements
- Ethan Mates – mixing assistant
- Rob Mathes – conductor, orchestral arrangements
- Paulette McWilliams – background vocals
- Ozzie Melendez – trombone
- Chieli Minucci – guitar
- Cindy Mizelle – background vocals
- Robert Moe – background vocals
- Jeffrey Morrow – background vocals
- Rob Murphy – assistant engineer, mixing assistant
- Jake Ninan – assistant engineer
- Rafael Padilla – percussion
- Bobbi Page – choir, chorus
- Shawn Pelton – drums
- Randy Phillips – choir, chorus
- Louis Price – choir, chorus
- Tom Rainer – synthesizer
- Jeffrey Ramsey – choir, chorus
- Anthony Ransick – background vocals
- Dave Reitzas – engineer
- Cathy Richardson – background vocals
- John "J.R." Robinson – drums
- Robin Robinson – background vocals
- Stevie Robinson – background vocals
- Olle Romo – programming
- William Ross – arranger, orchestral arrangements
- Kamil Rustam – acoustic guitar
- Johnny Rutledge – background vocals
- Larry Salzman – guitar
- John Scarpulla – baritone saxophone
- Al Schmitt – engineer
- David Shackney – engineer
- Don Shelton – background vocals
- Marc Shulman – guitar
- Ira Siegel – guitar
- Steve Skinner – arranger, drum programming, keyboard programming
- Ramón Stagnaro – acoustic guitar
- Randy Staub – engineer
- Aya Takemura – mixing assistant
- Chris Taylor – guitar
- David Taylor – bass trombone
- Vaneese Thomas – background vocals
- Michael Thompson – electric guitar
- Fonzi Thornton – background vocals
- UB Tirado – mixing assistant
- Terry Trotter – piano
- Rob Trow – background vocals
- Eric Troyer – background vocals
- Carmen Twillie – choir, chorus, background vocals
- Vancouver Orchestra – strings
- Gary Van Pelt – engineer
- Jeff Vereb – mixing assistant
- Frank Vilardi – drums
- Ric Wake – arranger, composer, producer
- Joan Walton – background vocals
- Spencer Washington – background vocals
- John West – background vocals
- Phil Western – engineer, keyboards, programming, string arrangements
- Brenda White-King – background vocals
- George Whitty – engineer, keyboard arrangements, synthesizer arrangements
- Cheryl Wilson – background vocals
- Elisabeth Withers – background vocals
- Steven Wolf – drums
- Thomas R. Yezzi – engineer
- Peter Zizzo – arranger, bass programming, composer, drum programming, guitar, keyboard programming
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
Decade-end charts
All-time charts
|
Certifications and sales
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[134] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
| Austria (IFPI Austria)[135] | Platinum | 50,000* |
| Belgium (BRMA)[136] | Platinum | 50,000* |
| Canada (Music Canada)[137] | Diamond | 1,000,000^ |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[138] | 3× Platinum | 60,000‡ |
| Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[139] | Gold | 44,678[139] |
| Germany (BVMI)[140] | Gold | 250,000^ |
| Italy (FIMI)[141] | Gold | 25,000‡ |
| Japan (RIAJ)[142] | 2× Platinum | 500,000[47] |
| Netherlands (NVPI)[143] | Gold | 50,000^ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[144] | 2× Platinum | 30,000^ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[145] digital |
Gold | 7,500‡ |
| Norway (IFPI Norway)[146] | 2× Platinum | 100,000* |
| Sweden (GLF)[147] | Platinum | 80,000^ |
| Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[148] | 2× Platinum | 100,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[149] | Platinum | 300,000* |
| United States (RIAA)[42] | 6× Platinum | 6,000,000‡ |
| Summaries | ||
| Europe (IFPI)[150] | Platinum | 1,000,000* |
| Worldwide | — | 12,000,000[151][26] |
|
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
Release history
| Region | Date | Label | Format | Catalog | Edition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Europe | 30 October 1998 | Columbia | COL 492730 2 | Standard | [152] | |
| Japan | 31 October 1998 | SMEJ | CD | ESCA-7390 | Japanese bonus track | [153] |
| United States | 3 November 1998 | Epic |
|
BK 69523 | Standard | [154] |
| Australia | 6 November 1998 | Columbia | 4926512 | [155] | ||
| Germany | 28 September 2007 | Sony Music | CD | 82876 86057 2 | Ihre schönsten Weihnachtslieder | [156] |
| United States | 2 October 2007 | Legacy Recordings | CD/DVD | 88697 15575 2 | Collector's edition bonus DVD | [157] |
| Europe | 2 November 2007 | [158] | ||||
| Japan | 21 November 2007 | EICP-882〜EICP-883 | [47] | |||
| Australia | 8 December 2007 | 88697 15575 2 | [155] | |||
| Various | 12 October 2018 | Columbia | LP | 1 90758 63851 5 | Standard | [159] |
| 6 November 2020 | Revised | [160] | ||||
| 25 November 2022 | LP | 1 9658703241 | [161] | |||
| 17 November 2023 | CD | 1 9658792692 | [162] |