In 1994, Céline Dion released her highly successful French album D'eux, which was written and composed by Jean-Jacques Goldman, a prominent French musician and songwriter. Erick Benzi, a musician, arranger, and producer, played a key role in the album's creation as one of Goldman’s closest collaborators. The recording sessions were described as intimate, with only five people present in the studio: Goldman, Céline Dion, the sound engineer René, and Benzi. The process was unusually fast, with three songs recorded each day, completing the entire album in just a week—far quicker than the original plan of fifteen days.
Erick Benzi described his first experience working with Céline Dion as a "true shock," saying it marked a turning point in his career. He was particularly impressed by her ability to fully embody the songs and deliver deep emotion effortlessly. Benzi noted that while he had worked with other notable French singers like Patricia Kaas and Françoise Hardy, Céline's approach was unlike anything he had encountered before. He compared her voice to an "OVNI," a French term for an unidentified flying object, implying her vocal abilities were extraordinary and almost otherworldly.
Jean-Jacques Goldman worked closely with Céline to adapt her vocal style to fit the nuances of French music. He explained the differences between French and Anglo-Saxon singing traditions, encouraging Céline to simplify certain expressions. For instance, he suggested she use "je t'aime" instead of stretching the syllables in "je t'aiiiiiime," aligning her style more closely with the storytelling nature of French songwriting.
Benzi reflected on his later collaborations with Céline Dion, emphasizing the positive and joyful atmosphere during their sessions. He noted the absence of tension and credited Céline's ability to trust others as a key factor in their smooth working relationship. He also mentioned that their working habits and reflexes remained consistent even years after their initial collaboration. Recently, a new song titled Dansons, written by Goldman before the pandemic, was revisited by Céline during her illness, adding a deep emotional layer to the track.
Céline Dion's Early Collaborations with Erick Benzi and Jean-Jacques Goldman
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