Pre-superstar Céline Dion was a force of nature onstage. A gorgeous rarity of Céline singing live on Swedish television in 1992 has been unearthed recently, and her chemistry with Tommy Körberg on “Beauty and the Beast” is a joy to see. Tommy dropped some surprise powerhouse belting mid-song, catching Céline completely off guard, as he kept his vocals more low-key during the rehearsals. Céline looked truly stunned, but she quickly recovered and continued trading delectable vocals with the Swedish talent.
“Beauty and the Beast” was the perfect choice for Céline and Tommy to sing together. The vibe is so sweet and romantic, accentuated by a surprise rose from Tommy – ever the charmer. This performance was scarcely heard since its original broadcast in 1992, but thanks to a fan upload, music lovers were able to hear this one-of-a-kind performance from early in Céline’s career. The Music Man has to say Céline brings something special to the stage in every era!
Céline and Tommy’s duet gave such a memorable take on her early English language hit. Fans loved the throwback, and added comments such as “This is my favorite version. Tommy’s voice was incredible. The performance was so sweet, especially with the surprise rose” and “Best performance ever. Tommy and Céline = match made in heaven!”
Céline always brings the right stuff with her duets. The Canadian star delivered another classic moment when she sang “Beauty and the Beast” with Brian McKnight. Rather than Tommy’s bombastic approach, Brian brings the soul here, delivering some truly sublime melodies. You can really tell that Céline is a big fan, and it adds a comfy warmth to the duet. Talk about a duo of vocal giants!
Céline Dion released “Beauty and the Beast” as a duet with Peabo Bryson on October 28, 1991. Disney asked her to record a pop rendition of the song to help promote the film. Céline’s version is different from the Broadway-style rendition that Angela Lansbury, who played Mrs. Potts, recorded for inclusion in the film. While she was active as a French-language artist throughout the ‘80s, the Disney collab marked her entrance as a major commercial force. The Music Man readers may recall that “Beauty and the Beast” was Céline’s first major international hit in any language. The ballad hit the top 10 in the US, UK, and Canada. It also marked her first certification in the US and UK, going Gold and Silver in those markets, respectively.