Why has Celine Dion released her version of "L'hymne à l'amour" performed at the Olympics?
The Canadian singer Celine Dion surprised the world by releasing her show-stopping version of Edith Piaf’s “L’hymne à l’amour”. She last sang it at the opening ceremony of the Olympics.
Celine Dion provided one of the most iconic moments of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. No stranger to high showbiz, she had made a surprise comeback to sing the song from the top of the Eiffel Tower. Several weeks later, the Quebec singer announced in a post on X that her version of the song will be available to listen to this Friday, October 11.
Dion’s crippling illness will not stop her
Dion suffers from stiff person syndrome, a neurological disease that impacts her voice and led her to suspend her career. It was generally thought that Dion had retired from showbiz. The Paris event proved otherwise.
But why release “L’hyme à l’amour” and why on October 10? The answer lies in the singer’s admiration for Edith Piaf, who died on October 10, 1963, after years of decline through bad health and alcohol. She was only 48 years old.
Dion does not want to slip from view in the same way. She has said in interviews that the press is already acting as though she is dead, even though she is very much alive. The Olympic performance was one way of reminding the world; the release of this single is the second. She is currently going through therapy and hopes to sing again publicly, although she has to “learn this new voice” that her illness has given her.
A mjor documentary about the singer and her condition has been announced.
Other songs played during the Olympic Games are already available on the platforms. The version of Nightcall by Kavinsky, Angèle and Phoenix was released on September 20.