Celine Dion at the Olympics #MusicMonday

Magical.

The reactions have been pouring in from Celine Dion’s performance at the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony on Friday. ICYMI, go catch it on YouTube. It’ll be at the top of the search I am sure as it will likely be at the top of your reels on IG and TikTok etc. It’s been everywhere all weekend. As has been her entry to Paris when she arrived at her hotel, greeting her fans who were waiting for her, which looks to be much to her surprise.

Magical.

Sure, her live performance of "Hymne à l'amour," a song written and sung by French super star Edith Piaf in 1949, was nothing short of stunning as was the dress from French fashion designer Dior as was the stage on the Eiffel Tower as was the light show.

But it’s her comeback story that makes it …. Magical.

And if I’m being honest, I didn’t realize how personally I would take it all. If you know Celine’s story of fighting through the rare condition of Stiff-Person Syndrome then you know that it has knocked her down for several years. But she has vowed to come back on stage. She has been determined to sing again … she has fought through the obstacles to rise again to the top of her craft.

So seeing her so triumphant on that Olympic stage was quite personal for me. To see her at her age and at this stage of her career and after the battle she is still fighting is quite personal because we are all fighting something to stay relevant in our own lives and in our own careers in our own stages of life. It hit me so personally to see her so confident and so on top of her game.

Just like the athletes at the Olympic games, fighting through obstacles to get to the top of their craft. I hope those Olympic athletes get some of their own magical moments these two weeks in Paris too, which is why I think Celine was there to close out the opening ceremony in this particular way. To wish them well. To send them love and hope. That was her mission. Accomplished!

Plus it’s a love song. A love song to Paris. A love song to the athletes. To her fans. And to life itself. That too hit me personally as I think of all those I love in my life at this stage of my life.

“If the sky should fall into the sea

And the stars fade all around me

And the time that we have known, dear

I will sing a hymn to love”

And get a load of this … the last line of the song: “He unites all those who loved before.” This was also a love song to her husband. Wow!

If you have not seen her documentary then make sure you check it out. It’ll put her performance in proper perspective for sure.

Celine, you are an inspiration.

What’s your experience? JIM

What’s your experience? JIM