Loved Me Back to Life
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Loved Me Back to Life
Studio album by
Celine Dion
Released1 November 2013 (2013-11-01)
Recorded2012–2013
Studios
  • Abbey Road, Eg White (London)
  • Brandon's Way Recording, Chalice Recording, Newman Scoring Stage (Los Angeles)
  • Echo Beach (Jupiter)
  • Larrabee (North Hollywood)
  • Oceanway, Top Floor Studios (Nashville)
  • RMV (Stockholm)
  • At the Palms (Las Vegas)
  • Triangle Sound East (Atlanta)
  • Triangle Sound West (Encino)
  • WallyWorld (Burbank)
GenrePop
Length51:23
LabelColumbia
Producers
Celine Dion chronology
Sans attendre
(2012) 		Loved Me Back to Life
(2013) 		Céline une seule fois / Live 2013
(2014)
Singles from Loved Me Back to Life
  1. "Loved Me Back to Life"
    Released: 3 September 2013
  2. "Incredible"
    Released: 14 February 2014

Loved Me Back to Life is the twenty-fifth studio album and eleventh English-language album by Canadian singer Celine Dion, released by Columbia Records on 1 November 2013. It was preceded by the lead single and title track, "Loved Me Back to Life", issued on 3 September 2013. Loved Me Back to Life marked Dion's first English-language studio album since Taking Chances (2007). It was produced by Emanuel Kiriakou, Babyface, Tricky Stewart, Aaron Pearce, Kuk Harrell, Eg White, Play Production, Ne-Yo, and Walter Afanasieff, among others. The album includes two duets: "Incredible" with Ne-Yo, and "Overjoyed" with Stevie Wonder. Loved Me Back to Life received positive reviews from music critics and has sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide.

Background

[edit]

In June 2012, Dion's official website announced that during April and May, she had begun recording songs for her next English and French albums, which were planned for release in fall 2012.[1] The English album was planned to include studio versions of previously unreleased songs from Dion's Las Vegas show, Celine, as well as several new tracks.[1] In August 2012, celinedion.com confirmed that a cover of Journey's "Open Arms", which opens Dion's Las Vegas show, would appear on the upcoming English album.[2] In September 2012, it was also revealed that "Ne me quitte pas" would be included on the English album.[3] Eventually, "Ne me quitte pas" was released on the deluxe edition of Sans attendre, and "Open Arms" appeared only on the Japanese edition of the English album.[4]

Le Journal de Montréal reported that the English album would include songs written by Eg White, who had worked with Adele on 19 and 21, tracks produced by Babyface, and a duet with Stevie Wonder on "Overjoyed", which Dion performed during her Las Vegas show.[5] In March 2013, Ne-Yo confirmed earlier information from Dion's website that the two had recorded a duet.[6][7] He described the collaboration as challenging and said it made him question his vocal ability.[7] The pair had previously worked together on 2007's Taking Chances, with Ne-Yo co-writing and co-producing "I Got Nothin' Left".[7] Another new track, "Unfinished Songs", written by Diane Warren, was included in the British-German film Song for Marion.[8][9] When the film's soundtrack was released in February 2013, it did not include Dion's recording, which was held for her upcoming album.[10] A recording session for "Unfinished Songs" was posted on Dion's website in July 2013.[11]

On 14 September 2012, celinedion.com announced that Dion's new English album, titled Water and a Flame, would be released in November 2012.[9] However, on 26 September 2012, Sony Music postponed the release to 2013.[12] In March 2013, René Angélil explained that the delay was due to a change in the album's concept.[13] Instead of an equal split between original songs and covers, the decision was made to focus primarily on original material.[13] Angélil stated that the album had originally been planned to include six covers and six original songs.[14] After further discussion, they chose to include two covers from Dion's Las Vegas show: "At Seventeen" and "Overjoyed".[14] A behind-the-scenes video of Dion recording "At Seventeen", produced by Babyface, was posted on her website in April 2013.[15] "Overjoyed", with a new arrangement by Stevie Wonder, was co-produced by Tricky Stewart.[14] In April 2013, celinedion.com also shared a behind-the-scenes look at Dion and producer Eg White recording "Water and a Flame".[16] The remainder of the album was planned to include original songs, including two co-written by Audra Mae.[14] The album was scheduled for release in October 2013.[13] In July 2013, it was announced that the title had been changed to Loved Me Back to Life.[17] Dion performed the title song live for the first time during the Céline... une seule fois concert in Quebec City on 27 July 2013, and two days later her website announced that the album would be released in November 2013.[18]

Content

[edit]

On 29 August 2013, Billboard announced that the album Loved Me Back to Life would be released in North America on 5 November 2013, with the lead single, "Loved Me Back to Life", arriving on 3 September 2013.[19] The publication described the album as Dion's "edgiest record to date -- just not in the ways you might think".[19] It praised tracks such as "Water and a Flame", originally recorded by Daniel Merriweather and Adele, which presents Dion's lower, grainier vocal register.[19] The lead single, written by Sia and produced by Sham and Motesart, was noted as "a different kind of power ballad for Dion", sung in a minor key and supported by a chorus with a beat drop reminiscent of dubstep.[19]

The album includes two songs written by Ne-Yo, among them the duet "Incredible", which Billboard suggested could suit the Olympic Committee for the 2014 Winter Games.[19] Additional collaborators include Babyface, Tricky Stewart, and Swedish trio Play Production, who produced the beat‑driven "Somebody Loves Somebody", co‑written by the group and Audra Mae.[19] The album also contains two covers from Dion's Las Vegas show Celine – Janis Ian's "At Seventeen" and a rendition of "Overjoyed", performed as a duet with Stevie Wonder.[19] The deluxe edition adds two more songs from her Las Vegas performances, "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?" and "Lullaby (Goodnight, My Angel)", along with four collector postcards.[20] Loved Me Back to Life also includes "Unfinished Songs", written by Diane Warren for the film Song for Marion.[21]

The album was also issued on a vinyl LP and includes "Save Your Soul", which contains a rap interlude by Malcolm David Kelley of MKTO.[22] This two-disc 180-gram edition includes an eight-page booklet with exclusive photos and imagery, as well as a CD of the full album.[23] The Japanese edition includes "Open Arms", produced by Fraser T Smith, who also co-wrote and produced Adele's "Set Fire to the Rain".[24] The album additionally contains "Breakaway", written by Audra Mae, Johan Fransson, Tim Larsson, and Tobias Lundgre, and previously recorded by German singer Ivy Quainoo for her 2012 album Ivy.[25] On 29 October 2013, Billboard reported that "Always Be Your Girl" was the first original song selected for the album.[26] Written by Dana Parish and Andrew Hollander after they watched Dion's 2011 documentary 3 Boys and a New Show on OWN, the song holds personal significance for Dion, who associates its lyrics with her sons.[26]

Singles

[edit]

The first single, "Loved Me Back to Life", was released on 3 September 2013.[19] In the United States, it debuted at number 26 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart, becoming Dion's 40th entry on this list.[27] "Loved Me Back to Life" peaked on the AC chart in its third week, reaching number 24.[28] The song sold 23,000 downloads in its first week, enabling its debut on Pop Digital Songs at number 19 and on Hot Digital Songs at number 63.[29] It also reached number three on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart.[30] In Canada, "Loved Me Back to Life" earned the Hot Shot Debut on the Canadian Hot 100, entering at number 26. It became Dion's best debut to date on the chart and her second-highest peak, behind 2007's "Taking Chances".[26] In the United Kingdom, "Loved Me Back to Life" reached number 14, becoming Dion's highest-charting single there since "A New Day Has Come" peaked at number seven in 2002.[31]

"Breakaway" was released as the second, promotional-only single in the United Kingdom on 5 December 2013, and in France on 22 January 2014.[32][33] On 14 February 2014, "Incredible" (a duet with Ne-Yo) was digitally released as the second single in most European countries (except France and the United Kingdom), as well as in Australia and New Zealand.[34] The song was also sent to Adult Contemporary radio stations in the United States on 24 February 2014, where it reached number 25.[35] On the Canadian Hot 100, "Incredible" peaked at number 44.[36] The music video for "Incredible" premiered on 4 June 2014.[37] Although scheduled for commercial release in the United Kingdom on 24 March 2014, "Water and a Flame" became the third, radio-only single there.[38]

Promotion

[edit]

After limited promotion of the first single, "Loved Me Back to Life", in the United States in September 2013, another new track, "Somebody Loves Somebody", premiered on 17 October 2013.[39][40] The official audio of "Somebody Loves Somebody" was released on Dion's Vevo channel on 22 October 2013.[41] On 29 October 2013, the official audio of "Incredible" (a duet with Ne-Yo) was also released.[42] On 5 November 2013, two additional tracks were uploaded to Vevo: "Water and a Flame" and "At Seventeen".[43][44] On 3 December 2013, the audio of "Breakaway" was added.[45] Several behind-the-scenes videos were also posted on Vevo.[46][47][48][49][50][51][52]

Dion began promoting the album in the United States. On 28 October 2013, she performed "Somebody Loves Somebody" and "Water and a Flame" on The Today Show, and "Loved Me Back to Life" on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.[53][54] She also performed "Loved Me Back to Life" on The View on 30 October 2013.[55] Additionally, Dion gave an intimate club performance at the Edison Ballroom in New York City on 29 October 2013, which was broadcast on 1 November 2013 on QVC.[56] She performed older hits and several new songs, including "Loved Me Back to Life", "Water and a Flame", and "At Seventeen", and the concert received positive reviews.[57] On 6 November 2013, Dion performed "Somebody Loves Somebody" on The Dr. Oz Show.[58] In Canada, she performed "Loved Me Back to Life" and "Incredible" with Ne-Yo on Le Banquier on 3 November 2013.[59]

In Europe, Dion performed "Loved Me Back to Life" on Wetten, dass..? in Germany on 9 November 2013, and on The X Factor in the United Kingdom on 10 November 2013.[60][61] She also recorded a performance of "Breakaway" for Strictly Come Dancing, which was broadcast on 15 December 2013.[62][63] Dion also performed "Loved Me Back to Life", "At Seventeen", and older hits on C'est votre vie in France on 16 November 2013.[64] She also performed "Loved Me Back to Life" and "Water and a Flame" during her European Tour 2013, which began in Belgium on 21 November 2013.[65] Later in France, Dion performed "Loved Me Back to Life" on Les chansons d'abord on 1 December 2013, Vivement Dimanche on 8 December 2013, Les disques d'Or on 18 December 2013, and Ce soir on chante on 3 January 2014.[66][67][68][69] Her concert Céline... une seule fois was broadcast on three European channels: RTS Deux in Switzerland on 24 December 2013, D8 in France on 25 December 2013, and La Une in Belgium on 31 December 2013.[70]

Dion returned to the United States in mid-December 2013 and performed "Incredible" with Ne-Yo during the grand finale of The Voice on 17 December 2013.[71][72] The next day, she performed "Loved Me Back to Life", "Incredible" with Ne-Yo, and "Didn't Know Love" during the CBS 15th annual A Home for the Holidays television special, which celebrates adoption by sharing stories from foster care to raise awareness for the cause.[73] On 30 December 2013, Dion returned to performing her show Celine in Las Vegas and recorded "Loved Me Back to Life" especially for the Canadian Global Television Network as part of the ET Canada New Year's Eve at Niagara Falls broadcast.[74] On 31 December 2013, Ne-Yo surprised Dion by appearing onstage to perform "Incredible" during the New Year's Eve performance of Celine in Las Vegas.[75]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic65/100[76]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarHalf star[77]
Contactmusic.comStarStarHalf star[78]
Daily ExpressStarStarStarStarStar[79]
Daily NewsStarStarStar[80]
The GazetteStarStarStar[81]
The GuardianStarStarStar[82]
IdolatorStarStarStarHalf star[83]
The Oakland PressStarStarStar[84]
Slant MagazineStarStarStar[85]
USA TodayStarStarStar[86]

Loved Me Back to Life received generally positive reviews from music critics. According to the review aggregator Metacritic, the album holds a score of 65/100, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[76] AllMusic awarded the album three and a half out of five stars, describing it as "a record that flirts with new ideas but never hooks up. Yet, that flirtation counts for something: it means the album is livelier, less self-conscious, less beholden to the expected, and quick-footed enough to not seem mired in show biz glitz". Reviewer Stephen Thomas Erlewine added that "there's nothing here that screams big hit, but it's something better: the work of a diva who is comfortable in her own skin".[77]

In a positive review for The New York Times, Jon Caramanica noted Dion's long-standing affinity for melodrama and grandeur, writing that "she is the iceberg, destroying all Titanics". He praised her willingness to evolve on Loved Me Back to Life, her first English-language album in six years, calling it "positively peppy" compared with her usual ballad-driven style. Caramanica praised subtle influences of contemporary R&B and hip hop, including production by Tricky Stewart, and mentioned the rap interlude by Malcolm David Kelley on the vinyl edition of "Save Your Soul". He also pointed to the album's embrace of modern dance-pop on the title track, co-written by Sia. Caramanica concluded that Dion sings "with more rhythm, if not more clarity, than usual".[87] An unusually favorable review came from Rolling Stone, where editor Dave Dimartino (writing for Yahoo Music) described the album as "a damned fine, polished thing, exactly what you'd want to release when you're renowned as the highest-grossing touring artist in the world from 2000 to 2010, and a solid listen through and through".[88]

Elysa Gardner of USA Today gave the album three out of four stars, noting Dion's use of "softer, grittier vocals and more nuanced drama than previous power ballads". She added that "a subtler, more subdued Celine Dion may be interesting in theory, but bright shades still suit this diva best".[86] The Oakland Press critic Gary Graff also awarded the album three out of four stars, writing that it "finds Dion creatively frisky and exploring new sonic environments for the muscular voice that helped sink the Titanic, at least on film". He praised contributions from producers including Hasham Hussain, Emanuel Kiriakou, and the Swedish team Play Production. Graff described the title track, co-written by Sia, as featuring a "stuttering vocal hook and dubstep-style beats" that would not sound out of place on a Rihanna album. He concluded that "it's not a wholesale reinvention, but Loved Me Back to Life will make fans look at Dion a little differently, and might even bring some new folks in from the sidelines".[84]

Slant Magazine offered a more mixed assessment. Although giving the album three out of five stars, critic Eric Henderson argued that Dion's shift toward contemporary material felt unconvincing, comparing her to "every awkward soccer mom" attempting to appear current. He wrote that the album aims "to pass for contemporary", but praised Dion's rendition of Janis Ian's "At Seventeen", calling it a highlight that succeeds when she embraces her established style.[85] Steve Morse of The Boston Globe criticized the album as "littered with syrupy, easy-listening, trite-lyric ballads that undersell her talent". He argued that Dion's attempts at a more gravelly vocal approach feel "stiff and mechanical", lacking the warmth for which she is known.[89] RenownedForSound.com praised the album, awarding it four stars and stating that "Celine Dion has released something delightful for old and new fans, with a mixture of songs that have both a pop/RnB focus and her adult contemporary-pop roots".[90]

Commercial performance

[edit]

Loved Me Back to Life debuted within the top 10 in at least 20 countries worldwide.[91]

Canada

[edit]

In Dion's native Canada, Loved Me Back to Life debuted at number one with 106,000 units sold.[92] It became her 13th number-one album in the SoundScan era and 11th to debut at the top of the chart.[92] Loved Me Back to Life also marked the strongest one-week sales for any release in Canada since 2008, when AC/DC's Black Ice sold 119,000 units.[92] It was Dion's best one-week sales total since the 152,000 copies sold during the first week of 2002's A New Day Has Come.[92] In its second week, the album remained at number one with 31,000 units sold.[93] After these two weeks, Loved Me Back to Life ranked number nine on the Billboard Year-End chart of Top Canadian Albums.[94] For the next three weeks, it held the number two position on the Canadian Albums Chart, selling 15,000, 19,000, and 19,000 copies.[95][96][97] The album then fell to number six with 13,000 units sold, and in its seventh week rose to number four with 19,000 copies sold. In the final week of 2013, it dropped to number six with 10,000 units sold, bringing total sales to 231,000 copies.[98] It became the second best-selling album in Canada in 2013, behind Eminem's The Marshall Mathers LP 2, which sold 242,000 units.[98] In December 2013, the album was certified four-times platinum by Music Canada for shipments of 320,000 copies.[99]

United States

[edit]

In the United States, Loved Me Back to Life debuted at number two with 77,000 copies sold in its first week, becoming Dion's highest-charting album since One Heart also debuted at number two in 2003.[100] In the next two weeks, the album fell to number 13 and number 26, selling 25,000 and 13,000 units.[101][102] In its fourth week, it rose one spot to number 25 with 30,000 copies sold (up 132%).[102] It later dropped to number 35 with 16,000 units sold, and then to number 38 with another 16,000 copies sold.[102] In its seventh week, boosted by Dion's performance on the finale of The Voice and the CBS special A Home for the Holidays, the album climbed to number 26 with 28,000 units sold (up 72%).[103] In the final week of 2013, it fell to number 31 with 19,000 copies sold, bringing total sales to 224,000 units.[104] As of June 2014, it has sold over 300,000 copies in the US.[105]

United Kingdom

[edit]

In the United Kingdom, Loved Me Back to Life debuted at number three with 53,000 copies sold, becoming Dion's highest-charting album since the 2002 chart-topper A New Day Has Come.[106] On 22 November 2013, it was certified silver for sales exceeding 60,000 copies.[107] In its second week, it fell to number four with 28,000 units sold, and in the third week slipped to number eight with another 28,000 copies sold.[108][109] On 6 December 2013, it was certified gold for sales exceeding 100,000 units.[107] In the next two weeks, it remained at number eight with sales of 34,000 and 44,000 copies.[110][111] In its sixth week, following Dion's performance on Strictly Come Dancing, the album rose to number seven with 64,000 units sold (its highest weekly total, up 45%).[112] The following week, it fell to number 13 with 33,000 copies sold, bringing total sales to 283,000 units.[113] After seven weeks in 2013, it placed at number 23 on the UK Year-End Albums Chart.[114] As of 2 February 2014, the album had sold over 300,000 copies, and five days later it was certified platinum.[107] By June 2014, total UK sales reached 350,000 units.[105]

France

[edit]

In France, Loved Me Back to Life entered the chart at number three with 31,000 copies sold.[115] In the following weeks, it charted at number five (17,000 units), number six (19,000), number seven (17,000), number 10 (20,000), and number 11 (24,000).[116][117][118][119][120][121] In the seventh week, the album rose to number 10 with its highest weekly sales of 34,000 copies (up 40%).[122] In the final week of 2013, it climbed to number nine with 25,000 units sold, bringing total sales to 186,000 copies.[123] On 18 December 2013, Loved Me Back to Life was certified double platinum by SNEP for shipments of 200,000 units.[71][124] As of 1 June 2014, it had sold over 215,000 copies in France.[105][125][126][127]

Rest of the world

[edit]

The album achieved similar success internationally, reaching number one in the Netherlands, number two in Belgium and Taiwan, number three in Switzerland, Ireland, and South Africa, number four in Austria, Hungary, and China, number seven in Norway, number eight in the Czech Republic and South Korea, number nine in Germany, Australia, and Croatia, and number 10 in New Zealand.[71] It also reached the top 20 in Denmark, Italy, Poland, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Sweden, and Finland.[71] Loved Me Back to Life was certified gold in Belgium, Switzerland, Poland, Hungary, and South Africa, and has sold 1.5 million copies worldwide.[71]

Accolades

[edit]

Thanks to Loved Me Back to Life, Dion received four nominations at the Juno Awards of 2014: Artist of the Year, Fan Choice Award, Album of the Year, and Adult Contemporary Album of the Year.[128] She was also nominated for six 2014 World Music Awards, including World's Best Female Artist, World's Best Album (Loved Me Back to Life), and World's Best Song ("Incredible").[129] In 2014, she also received two nominations at the Félix Awards: Anglophone Album of the Year (Loved Me Back to Life) and Artist of the Year Achieving the Most Success Outside Quebec, but lost both categories to Arcade Fire.[130][131]

Controversy

[edit]

Loved Me Back to Life was originally intended to be titled Water and a Flame, named after another track on the album, "Water and a Flame", written by Australian singer-songwriter Daniel Merriweather and British musician Eg White, and first performed by Merriweather and Adele. In an April 2013 interview on The Katie Couric Show to promote the album, Dion played a recording of her cover of "Water and a Flame". Before introducing the song, Katie Couric asked Dion and her husband and manager, René Angélil, about the then title of the album: "where did 'Water and a Flame' come from?" Angélil replied, "It's, you know, the opposites". Dion added, "It's the name of the song".[132]

Musician Samantha Ronson, a friend of Merriweather, wrote a blog post that included the video of the interview and the comment: "Dear Celine Dion, when you cover someone else's song- you might want to give them credit".[133] In June 2013, Merriweather shared Ronson's post on his Facebook page and criticized Dion, writing, "This song has every ounce of my heartache and pain in it and she pretends as if she wrote it herself".[134] Two days later, Dion's management responded on her website, stating that although Dion often does not mention songwriters during interviews, "she has been very vocal about the fact that she does not write her own songs," that no harm was intended, and that all writers and producers were credited in the liner notes.[135] On 25 July 2013, her website confirmed that the album had been re-titled Loved Me Back to Life.[17]

Track listing

[edit]
Standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Loved Me Back to Life"
  • Sham & Motesart
  • Hussain[a]
3:50
2."Somebody Loves Somebody"
  • Johan Fransson
  • Tim Larsson
  • Tobias Lundgren
  • Audra Mae
Play Production3:40
3."Incredible" (with Ne-Yo)
Kiriakou3:55
4."Water and a Flame"
White3:42
5."Breakaway"
  • Fransson
  • Larsson
  • Lundgren
  • Mae
Play Production4:37
6."Save Your Soul[b]"Daniel Murcia
3:47
7."Didn't Know Love"
White3:35
8."Thank You"S. Smith
3:58
9."Overjoyed" (with Stevie Wonder)Wonder
4:03
10."Thankful"
  • Dana Parish
  • Andrew Hollander
Kiriakou3:55
11."At Seventeen"Janis IanBabyface4:28
12."Always Be Your Girl"
  • Parish
  • Hollander
4:13
13."Unfinished Songs"Diane Warren
3:40
Total length:51:23
Deluxe edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
14."How Do You Keep the Music Playing"
  • Stewart
  • Pearce
  • Harrell[a]
4:21
15."Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)"Billy JoelBabyface4:18
Total length:60:02
Japanese edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
16."Open Arms"
Fraser T. Smith3:08
Total length:63:10

Notes

[edit]
  • ^a signifies a vocal producer
  • ^b features rap by Malcolm Kelley on the vinyl edition of the album
  • ^c signifies an additional producer
  • ^d signifies a co-producer
  • The US limited edition includes a bonus disc with "Loved Me Back to Life" (Dave Audé radio mix) and four songs from Dion's previous albums.

Charts

[edit]

Certifications and sales

[edit]
Certifications
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Belgium (BRMA)[187] Gold 15,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[188] 4× Platinum 320,000^
France (SNEP)[189] 2× Platinum 200,000*
Hungary (MAHASZ)[190] Gold 1,000^
Poland (ZPAV)[191] Gold 10,000*
South Africa (RISA)[71] Gold 20,000*
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[192] Gold 10,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[193] Platinum 350,000[105]
United States — 300,000[105]
Summaries
Worldwide — 1,500,000[71]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Release history
Region Date Label Format Catalog
  • Austria
  • Germany
  • Switzerland[194]
 1 November 2013 Columbia
88697137152 (standard CD),
88883788312 (deluxe CD),
88697137151 (vinyl LP)
France[194] 4 November 2013
5 November 2013
Australia[194] 8 November 2013
United Kingdom[194] 11 November 2013
Japan[195] 4 December 2013 SMEJ SICP-3912

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Loved Me Back to Life

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Loved Me Back to Life is the eleventh English-language and twenty-fifth overall studio album by Canadian singer Celine Dion, released on November 5, 2013, by Columbia Records.[1] Featuring 13 tracks on the standard edition—including duets with Ne-Yo on "Incredible" and Stevie Wonder on "Overjoyed"—the album marks Dion's return to English-language music after a six-year hiatus since Taking Chances (2007).[1] It blends pop, R&B, and adult contemporary styles with contemporary electronic influences, such as dubstep elements in the title track co-written by Sia.[2] The album was produced by a diverse team of collaborators, including Babyface, Tricky Stewart, Emanuel Kiriakou, and the Swedish production group Play Production, among others.[3] Notable tracks also include covers like Janis Ian's "At Seventeen" and Michel Legrand and the Bergmans' "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?" on the deluxe edition, alongside original songs addressing themes of love, resilience, and gratitude.[1] The lead single, "Loved Me Back to Life," was released digitally on September 3, 2013, and later remixed for club play, peaking at number 17 on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.[4] Commercially, Loved Me Back to Life debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 77,000 copies in its first week, and topped the Canadian Albums Chart.[5] It also reached number one on iTunes in 44 countries and entered the top five in numerous territories, including France, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.[5] By the end of 2013, the album had sold approximately 1.7 million copies worldwide, with total sales exceeding 1.5 million.[6] Critically, the album was met with generally positive reception, with reviewers praising Dion's commanding vocal delivery and the album's fresh, modern sound while noting its balance of ballads and uptempo tracks.[2][7] Publications highlighted standout moments like the title track's innovative production and the emotional depth of songs such as "Unfinished Songs," from the film Unfinished Song.[2] Overall, it was seen as a successful reinvention for Dion, showcasing her versatility in the evolving pop landscape.[8]

Background and development

Conception

Loved Me Back to Life is the eleventh English-language studio album by Canadian singer Celine Dion and her twenty-fifth studio album overall. Released on November 5, 2013, by Columbia Records, it marked Dion's return to English-language music after a six-year hiatus since Taking Chances in 2007.[9][1] Following the success of her French-language album Sans attendre in November 2012, Dion expressed a desire to reconnect with her pop roots while incorporating contemporary sounds for the new project. This shift aimed to blend her signature vocal style with modern production elements, reflecting a deliberate effort to appeal to both longtime fans and a younger audience.[10] The album's conception was shaped by Dion's personal life events, including her focus on family during an extended career break, which allowed for a renewed creative perspective. Having welcomed twins in 2010, Dion balanced motherhood with her professional commitments, using the time away to recharge emotionally and artistically. In 2012, she began initial discussions with Sony Music executives to define the album's vision, scope, and target demographic, setting the stage for a collaborative development process.[11][10]

Title selection

The album title Loved Me Back to Life was derived from the lead single of the same name, a power ballad co-written by Sia Furler, Hasham Hussain, and Denarius Motes, which served as the project's thematic anchor. The song's lyrics depict love as a force capable of reviving someone from emotional numbness, likening it to awakening from a coma and restoring vitality, a motif that resonated with Dion personally as she associated it with her family life.[12] This choice emphasized themes of renewal and empowerment, aligning with Dion's return to English-language music after a six-year hiatus.[1] The album artwork featured Dion in a striking, arms-outstretched pose wearing a form-fitting black gown, set against a dark, ethereal backdrop evoking a sense of cosmic drama and personal triumph, photographed by Alix Malka during a 2012 session.[13][14] This visual branding underscored themes of empowerment and artistic return, with art direction by María Paula Marulanda, positioning Dion as a revitalized icon.[15]

Recording and production

Studios and sessions

The recording of Loved Me Back to Life took place at various studios including Abbey Road Studios and Eg White Studio in London, Brandon's Way Recording and Chalice Recording Studios in Los Angeles, as well as The Studio at the Palms in Las Vegas, spanning from early to late 2013.[16] Pre-production commenced in early 2013, allowing for initial track development amid Celine Dion's ongoing commitments, while the core recording phase intensified mid-year before mixing wrapped in September 2013.[10] Sessions utilized state-of-the-art digital recording equipment to capture high-fidelity audio, focusing on preserving the natural timbre of Dion's voice with minimal reverb and effects for an authentic, earthy quality.[17] Dion followed rigorous vocal preparation routines, including extended warm-ups and iterative takes to refine phrasing and emotional delivery, adapting her technique to explore a raspier, more vulnerable style compared to her prior polished performances.[17] Logistical challenges arose from coordinating international collaborators—such as producers and songwriters based in the U.S. and U.K.—while Dion balanced these efforts with her demanding Las Vegas residency at Caesars Palace, which required frequent travel and schedule adjustments to maintain performance quality.[17] Key producers like Tricky Stewart contributed to sessions at Chalice Recording Studios, overseeing vocal tracking for several tracks.[16]

Key collaborators

Christopher "Tricky" Stewart served as a primary producer on several tracks, including "Overjoyed" and "Unfinished Songs," bringing his expertise in crafting chart-topping R&B and pop hits, such as Beyoncé's "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" and Mariah Carey's "Touch My Body."[18][19] This marked Stewart's first collaboration with Dion, infusing the album with contemporary urban influences to modernize her sound.[20] Shaffer "Ne-Yo" Smith co-produced and co-wrote "Incredible," a duet featuring his vocals, drawing on his background as a prolific R&B songwriter and producer known for works like his own "So Sick" and Rihanna's "Take a Bow."[15] Ne-Yo had previously collaborated with Dion on her 2007 album Taking Chances, co-writing "I Got Nothin' Left," which helped establish a rapport for blending soulful pop elements.[21] Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds produced the cover of "At Seventeen," leveraging his renowned production style evident in hits for Whitney Houston and Toni Braxton to deliver an intimate, piano-driven arrangement suited to Dion's vocal range.[22] This was their inaugural joint project, emphasizing emotional balladry within the album's diverse palette.[21] Emanuel "Eman" Kiriakou handled production on tracks like "Thankful" and co-produced "Incredible" alongside Ne-Yo, contributing his pop-rock sensibilities honed through collaborations with artists like Demi Lovato on "La La Land."[22] The Swedish production team Play Production, consisting of Johan Fransson, Tim Larsson, and Tobias Lundgren, worked on "Breakaway" and "Save Your Soul," programming electronic beats and strings to add a Euro-pop edge, as seen in their prior work with Alcazar.[22] Among songwriters, Sia Furler co-wrote the title track "Loved Me Back to Life" with Hasham Hussain and Denarius Motes, infusing it with her signature introspective lyricism from hits like Rihanna's "Diamonds."[23] This was Sia's first writing credit for Dion, selected for its empowering theme aligning with the album's revival narrative.[24] Diane Warren penned "Unfinished Songs," a poignant ballad reflecting her history of crafting Oscar-nominated anthems, including Dion's earlier "Because You Loved Me" from 1996.[22] Audra Mae contributed to two originals, "Somebody Loves Somebody" and "Water and a Flame," drawing on her folk-pop roots as a relative of Judy Garland to explore relational themes.[21] Session musicians included guitarist Michael Thompson on "Overjoyed" and "Unfinished Songs," known for his work with artists like Michael Jackson, providing layered electric textures.[22] Michael Ripoll handled guitar duties on "At Seventeen," adding subtle acoustic warmth.[22] String sections featured cellists Jessie Anne Richardson, Richard Harwood, and Rowena Calvert on multiple tracks, enhancing the orchestral depth, while programmers like Andrew Goldstein and Danny Mercer shaped the synth-driven elements on pop-oriented songs.[25] Celine Dion played a pivotal role in selecting material to merge pop, R&B, and ballad styles, curating a mix that reflected her evolution while honoring her vocal strengths, as she collaborated closely with producers to refine arrangements during sessions.[1]

Musical content

Genres and styles

Loved Me Back to Life is primarily a pop album incorporating elements of R&B, dance, and adult contemporary music, reflecting 2010s trends such as electronic beats and synth-driven arrangements.[26][8][27] The album blends contemporary pop structures with R&B-infused grooves and dance-oriented rhythms, as seen in the title track's marching drum beats and dubstep influences, which provide a modern, upbeat foundation for Dion's vocals.[28][2] Specific tracks exemplify these styles: "Breakaway" features an upbeat dance-pop vibe with swooping vocal techniques emphasizing emotional intensity, while "Unfinished Songs" delivers a lithe power ballad in the adult contemporary tradition.[28][2] The title track adopts a mid-tempo R&B feel with layered vocals and electronic production, contrasting more sensual R&B elements in songs like "Didn't Know Love."[8][28] Production techniques include synth-heavy arrangements for a polished, contemporary sound, along with layered vocals that enhance Dion's delivery, though Auto-Tune is applied heavily in places to integrate her voice with modern pop aesthetics.[8][2] Compared to Dion's prior works, Loved Me Back to Life marks a shift toward edgier, youth-oriented production, moving away from the bombastic power ballads of albums like Let's Talk About Love (1997) and embracing rawer, more diverse influences post her Las Vegas residency.[28][8] This evolution, influenced by collaborators like Sia and Ne-Yo, aligns the album with 2010s pop trends akin to those of Katy Perry and Justin Timberlake, while retaining adult contemporary roots.[20][2][8]

Themes and song analysis

The album Loved Me Back to Life centers on themes of love, resilience, and personal rebirth, which mirror Celine Dion's life experiences as a mother to her three children and her sustained career spanning over three decades.[11] These elements underscore a narrative of emotional renewal following personal hiatuses, with Dion describing the title track as a "very powerful message" about being revived through love after periods of introspection and family focus.[11] Recurring motifs highlight empowerment in relationships, particularly in the title track "Loved Me Back to Life," where lyrics depict love as a transformative force pulling the narrator from emotional isolation and "catatonia" toward vitality and strength.[29] Vulnerability in loss emerges in "Unfinished Songs," a Diane Warren composition originally penned for the film Song for Marion,[30] portraying life and connections as incomplete yet full of potential, urging listeners to embrace ongoing possibilities amid endings.[31] Celebration of intimate bonds, albeit bittersweet, appears in "Water and a Flame," a cover of Daniel Merriweather's track that laments irreconcilable differences while evoking the intensity of shared passion.[32] Song structures across the album adhere to conventional verse-chorus builds, with ballads like "Unfinished Songs" escalating to emotional crescendos through layered orchestration and Dion's dynamic phrasing, while pop-oriented tracks such as "Loved Me Back to Life" incorporate rhythmic hooks and electronic drops for infectious momentum.[15] This format allows for gradual intensity in introspective pieces and immediate engagement in upbeat ones, enhancing thematic depth without deviating from accessible pop conventions. Dion's artistic intent involves blending autobiographical reflections—such as her post-motherhood return to music—with universally relatable appeals, aiming to expose a more restrained vocal style beneath her signature power to foster broader emotional connections.[2] By collaborating with songwriters like Sia and Ne-Yo, the album seeks to reinvent her sound subtly, prioritizing heartfelt narratives over bombast to resonate with listeners facing similar trials of love and renewal.[2]

Singles

"Loved Me Back to Life"

"Loved Me Back to Life" served as the lead single from Celine Dion's eleventh English-language studio album of the same name, released digitally on September 3, 2013, by Columbia Records.[33] The track was written by Sia Furler, Hasham Hussain, and Denarius Motes, with production handled by Hussain and Motes.[33] It marked Dion's return to English-language music after a six-year hiatus since her previous studio album, Taking Chances (2007), and showcased her collaboration with contemporary songwriters to blend her signature vocal style with modern production.[34] Musically, "Loved Me Back to Life" is an upbeat pop and dance-pop power ballad clocking in at 3:48, performed in the key of C-sharp major at a tempo of 144 beats per minute.[35] The song explores themes of romantic revival and emotional rejuvenation, with lyrics depicting love as a force that resurrects the spirit after hardship, exemplified in lines like "A million words couldn't say this much" that emphasize rediscovered passion.[36] Its arrangement features pulsating electronic beats and a building chorus, aligning with adult contemporary and synth-pop influences to create an anthemic feel suitable for radio play. On the charts, the single debuted at number 26 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 and spent five weeks there, reflecting strong home-country support.[37] In the United States, it reached number 14 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and number 34 on the Dance Club Songs chart, underscoring its appeal to mature and club audiences. The track earned a gold certification in Canada from Music Canada for sales exceeding 40,000 units, highlighting its commercial viability despite not achieving widespread pop crossover success. Internationally, it charted modestly in regions like the UK and France, where it benefited from Dion's established fanbase. Critics praised Dion's vocal performance on "Loved Me Back to Life" for its power and range, noting how her emotive delivery elevated the contemporary production.[38] Reviewers highlighted her ability to infuse the ballad with raw intensity, describing it as a "vocal revival" that reaffirmed her status as a powerhouse singer. While no official studio music video was produced, a live performance version filmed during Dion's Céline residency in Las Vegas on August 31, 2013, and directed by Jean Lamoureux, captured dramatic staging with spotlight effects and audience interaction, later released as the promotional visual.[39] This live rendition emphasized the song's theatrical energy and contributed to its promotional impact.

"Incredible"

"Incredible" is a duet recorded by Canadian singer Celine Dion and American singer-songwriter Ne-Yo, serving as the second single from Dion's eleventh English studio album, Loved Me Back to Life. The track was written by Ne-Yo, Emanuel Kiriakou, and Andrew Goldstein.[40] It was released digitally on February 14, 2014, aligning with Valentine's Day to capitalize on its romantic theme.[41][42] The song is a mid-tempo ballad blending pop and R&B elements, with a runtime of 3:55, and explores the theme of an unbreakable love that defies challenges.[43] Its composition features soaring vocals from Dion and Ne-Yo trading verses and choruses, emphasizing emotional resilience in relationships. Following the lead single's chart success, "Incredible" marked a shift to a more intimate style, highlighting Dion's vocal range alongside Ne-Yo's smooth R&B delivery. On the charts, "Incredible" reached number 44 on the US Billboard Hot 100. In the US, the single surpassed 100,000 digital downloads, contributing to its radio airplay on adult contemporary formats. The music video, directed by Zach Merck and premiered on June 5, 2014, depicts Dion and Ne-Yo performing on a Los Angeles rooftop, intercut with real-life couples showcasing their bonds, lending a personal and relatable touch.[44] Reception for "Incredible" was mixed, with praise for the duo's chemistry but criticism for its predictable ballad structure and formulaic lyrics.[45] Some reviewers noted it as a solid but unremarkable addition to Dion's catalog of love anthems.

Promotion

Marketing strategies

The marketing campaign for Celine Dion's album Loved Me Back to Life began building anticipation in late August 2013 with teaser videos shared on Dion's official website and social media platforms, featuring in-studio footage of her recording the title track to generate early buzz ahead of the single's September 3 release.[46][47][48] To drive physical sales, Columbia Records partnered with QVC for an exclusive bundle in October 2013, offering a two-disc edition of the album with bonus content during a dedicated on-air presentation, targeting Dion's loyal fanbase through the retailer's home shopping format.[49][50] Advertising efforts included television spots in the United States starting in late October 2013, promoting the album's November 5 release and tying into retail partners like Barnes & Noble, with additional spots airing in the UK around the November 11 international launch to highlight the album's themes of renewal.[51][52][53] Digital promotion emphasized pre-order incentives on platforms like iTunes, where fans could access the lead single "Loved Me Back to Life" immediately upon pre-ordering the full album, encouraging early digital engagement and streaming previews.[18] Internationally, the campaign featured tailored efforts in Europe, including media appearances and promotional events aligned with Dion's French-language album Sans attendre tour, while Asian markets saw fan-focused activations such as meet-and-greets to capitalize on her established popularity in the region.[54]

Live performances

Celine Dion first performed the title track "Loved Me Back to Life" live on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on September 11, 2013, marking a key promotional debut for the album.[20] She followed this with another rendition on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on October 28, 2013, where she showcased the song's contemporary pop elements to a late-night audience.[20] Songs from Loved Me Back to Life were integrated into Dion's ongoing Celine residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, beginning with the title track added to the setlist on December 30, 2013.[55] This inclusion extended through 2014 performances, where tracks like "Incredible" also featured, enhancing the show's blend of new material and classic hits.[56] The residency drew sold-out crowds and grossed $12.9 million in 2013 from Las Vegas performances attended by over 250,000 fans, reflecting strong audience engagement.[57]

Critical reception

Contemporary reviews

Upon its release in November 2013, Loved Me Back to Life received generally favorable reviews from music critics, earning a Metacritic score of 65 out of 100 based on five aggregated reviews, reflecting divided but mostly positive initial opinions on the album's blend of pop accessibility and vocal delivery.[58] AllMusic awarded the album 3.5 out of five stars, commending Dion's vocal prowess and the record's approachable pop elements, noting that she sings "with more rhythm, if not more clarity, than usual," which highlighted her adaptability to contemporary production styles.[26] Similarly, Billboard praised the modernity of the production, describing it as featuring some of Dion's "most vocally challenging and artistically rewarding performances yet," positioning the album as a confident return for the singer after a six-year hiatus from English-language releases.[7] Mixed critiques emerged in other outlets, with The Guardian assigning three out of five stars and pointing to formulaic ballads like the Ne-Yo duet "Incredible" as reverting to type, though it acknowledged the album's near-reinvention through tracks like the dubstep-infused title song and the retro-soul "Water and a Flame."[2] The Boston Globe gave a lower score of 50 out of 100, critiquing the over-polished tracks and experiments with a gravelly vocal style as feeling "stiff and mechanical," lacking Dion's characteristic warmth.[59] Across reviews, common praises centered on Dion's enduring voice and its emotional power, particularly on ballads like the cover of "At Seventeen," while criticisms often focused on a perceived lack of innovation relative to her 2007 album Taking Chances, with some tracks seen as overly familiar in structure despite modern flourishes.[2][58]

Retrospective assessments

In the 2020s, retrospective views have positioned Loved Me Back to Life as a transitional work in Céline Dion's career, blending her established balladry with contemporary pop production to signal an evolution in her sound. A 2019 analysis of her subsequent album Courage reflected on Loved Me Back to Life as offering a "tantalizing suggestion" of Dion venturing beyond adult contemporary confines into fresher, more modern territory with innovative collaborators.[60] Scholarly examinations of Dion's oeuvre have included the album in discussions of her remarkable longevity as a female pop artist, spanning over 35 years and culminating in honors like the 2016 Billboard Icon Award for her global impact, emphasizing how her sustained relevance defies typical pop career trajectories through vocal prowess and cross-cultural appeal. The album has garnered a dedicated following among LGBTQ+ communities, where Dion's emotive delivery resonates deeply, with tracks like "Incredible" celebrated for their themes of unbreakable bonds and personal strength. This appreciation aligns with Dion's broader status as an overlooked gay icon, her music providing empowerment and escapism amid cultural shifts.[61][62] By 2025, Loved Me Back to Life has seen renewed interest via streaming, accumulating over 138 million streams on Spotify as of November 2025, reflecting its enduring accessibility in the digital era despite initial commercial hurdles.[63]

Commercial performance

Chart achievements

In the United States, Loved Me Back to Life debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart in the issue dated November 16, 2013, marking Celine Dion's highest-charting studio album since 2007's Taking Chances.[64] The album's first-week performance included 77,000 equivalent album units, primarily driven by pure sales.[64] It spent a total of 13 weeks on the chart.[65] The album achieved number one on the Billboard Canadian Albums Chart upon release, becoming Dion's 13th chart-topping album in her home country during the Nielsen SoundScan era.[5] It also topped the year-end Top Canadian Albums chart for 2013, underscoring its dominance with 231,000 units sold that year.[66] Internationally, Loved Me Back to Life reached number one in France and Quebec, while peaking at number three in the United Kingdom, number nine in Australia, number two in Switzerland, number three in Austria and Belgium (Wallonia), number five in Germany, number one in the Netherlands, and number six in Italy.[5][65][67] The album's strong digital performance propelled it to number one on the iTunes albums chart in 44 countries, including Austria, Belgium, Finland, Luxembourg, Poland, and South Africa.[5]
Country/RegionPeak PositionSource
Canada1Billboard
France1SNEP via Sony
Quebec1ADISQ via Sony
Switzerland2Sony
Austria3Sony
Belgium (Wallonia)3Sony
United Kingdom3Official Charts Company via Sony
Australia9[http://www.celinedioncharts.com/albums/lovedmebacktolife.htm]
Germany5GfK via Sony
Italy6FIMI via Sony
Netherlands1[https://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=C%C3%A9line+Dion&titel=Loved+Me+Back+To+Life&cat=a]

Sales and certifications

Loved Me Back to Life has sold approximately 1.7 million equivalent album units worldwide as of 2025, according to Chartmasters' Comprehensive Sales Plus Consumption (CSPC) analysis, which incorporates physical sales, downloads, and streaming equivalents.[6] In the United States, the album achieved sales of around 300,000 pure copies by 2018, with no RIAA certification awarded as it did not reach the 500,000-unit threshold for Gold status.[68] In Canada, it performed strongly with 320,000 units shipped, earning a 4x Platinum certification from Music Canada in December 2013, where each Platinum denotes 80,000 units. Combined, North American sales totaled approximately 620,000 units. The album received a Platinum certification in the United Kingdom from the BPI in 2021 for 300,000 units (updated threshold), having initially been certified Gold for 100,000 units in 2013.[69] In France, it was certified 2x Platinum by SNEP for 200,000 units shipped as of December 2013. European sales reached about 600,000 units, including additional Gold certifications in countries like Belgium (15,000 units), Poland (10,000 units), Switzerland (10,000 units), and Hungary (1,000 units).[70] While physical and download sales were modest outside North America and Europe, totaling around 100,000 units in Asia and other regions, streaming has contributed significantly to the album's effective totals, adding an estimated 500,000 equivalent units through platforms like Spotify by the 2020s as part of the CSPC methodology.[6]
RegionEstimated Sales (Units)Key Certifications
North America620,000Canada: 4x Platinum (320,000); US: None
Europe600,000UK: Platinum (300,000); France: 2x Platinum (200,000); Others: Gold in Belgium, Poland, Switzerland, Hungary
Asia & Others100,000None reported
Worldwide1,700,000 (equiv.)-

Accolades

Awards

Loved Me Back to Life garnered recognition through Celine Dion's broader achievements in 2014, particularly as the album's release and promotion aligned with her ongoing Las Vegas residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, which saw extensions announced in late 2013 to include additional shows through 2014.[5] Dion won the Artist of the Year award at the 2014 CBC Music Awards, a fan-voted honor reflecting the album's contribution to her commercial success and international presence that year.[71][72] These accolades underscore the album's role in sustaining Dion's global appeal, though specific wins for the project itself were limited.

Nominations

Loved Me Back to Life and Celine Dion garnered four nominations at the 2014 Juno Awards, recognizing the album's impact in the Canadian music industry. The album itself was nominated for Album of the Year and Adult Contemporary Album of the Year, while Dion received nods for Artist of the Year and Juno Fan Choice Award.[73] Dion also received several nominations at the 2014 World Music Awards, including for World's Best Female Artist and World's Best Live Act, highlighting her global presence. These nominations underscored the album's international appeal without any wins in the event. Overall, Loved Me Back to Life contributed to nominations across major ceremonies, affirming its commercial respect in the industry.

Controversy

Title dispute

The album Loved Me Back to Life was initially announced under the title Water and a Flame on September 14, 2012, with a planned release in November 2012, but was delayed to 2013.[1] Drawing its name from a cover of the 2009 song by Australian artist Daniel Merriweather featuring Adele, which appeared on his debut album Love & War.[19] The song, co-written by Merriweather, Adele, and producer Eg White, became a point of contention when Dion performed her version on The Katie Show in April 2013 and mistakenly attributed the writing solely to Adele, prompting Merriweather to publicly accuse her of attempting to "pass off" the track as Adele's on social media.[74][75] Merriweather's team raised concerns about potential consumer confusion arising from the album sharing the exact title of his established song, leading to discussions with Dion's label, Sony/Columbia Records.[76] To avoid escalation and resolve the matter amicably, the label opted to retitle the album Loved Me Back to Life—after its Sia-penned lead single—in late July 2013, with the change officially confirmed in August.[77][78] Dion's representatives responded to the initial uproar by affirming their respect for the song's creators, noting that full writing credits would appear in the album packaging and emphasizing Dion's long-standing practice of properly attributing songwriters throughout her career.[79] Merriweather later apologized for his heated comments, acknowledging that Dion had not intended to diminish his contributions.[80] The title alteration resulted in only a minor delay to the album's artwork production but did not postpone the overall release schedule, which proceeded as planned on November 1, 2013, internationally and November 5 in the United States.[10][1] This episode underscored broader intellectual property challenges in the music industry, particularly around title similarities that could dilute an existing song's brand recognition despite no formal trademark infringement claim being filed.[74]

Track listing and formats

Standard edition

The standard edition of Loved Me Back to Life comprises 13 tracks, primarily original material with covers including Stevie Wonder's "Overjoyed" and Janis Ian's "At Seventeen". The album runs for a total of 50:01 and was released worldwide on CD and digital download formats on November 5, 2013.[1][14]
No.TitleLength
1."Loved Me Back to Life"3:50
2."Somebody Loves Somebody"3:42
3."Incredible" (featuring Ne-Yo)3:56
4."Water and a Flame"3:42
5."Breakaway"4:38
6."Save Your Soul"3:48
7."Didn't Know Love"3:36
8."Thank You"3:59
9."Overjoyed" (featuring Stevie Wonder)4:04
10."Thankful"3:56
11."At Seventeen"4:29
12."Always Be Your Girl"4:14
13."Unfinished Songs"3:39
The sequencing begins with the energetic title track, produced by Tricky Stewart and The-Dream, and progresses through duets like "Incredible," co-produced by Ne-Yo, to a reflective closer in "Unfinished Songs," produced by Walter Afanasieff, creating a dynamic arc from pop-driven anthems to intimate ballads.[81][15]

Deluxe and special editions

The deluxe edition of Loved Me Back to Life expands upon the standard 13-track release by including two additional bonus tracks, bringing the total to 15 songs. These bonuses are "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?", a studio recording of the 1982 song originally written by Alan and Marilyn Bergman with Michel Legrand for the film Best Friends, and "Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)", a studio rendition of Billy Joel's 1993 ballad from his album River of Dreams. Both are songs Dion performed during her Las Vegas residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. The added tracks contribute an extra runtime of approximately 8:39 to the album's overall length of about 58:40. This edition was available in physical CD format through major retailers such as Target in the United States, where it was promoted as an exclusive with the bonus content, and included enhanced packaging featuring a 24-page booklet with additional photographs, complete lyrics, and four collectible postcards not present in the standard version.[1][82] Special editions of the album offered further variations tailored to regional markets. The Japanese release, issued by Sony Records Int'l on December 13, 2013, contains 16 tracks, incorporating the deluxe edition's bonuses along with an exclusive third bonus track, "Open Arms", a cover of the 1981 Journey hit co-written by Steve Perry and Jonathan Cain. This version totals around 62:17 and features obi strip packaging typical of Japanese CDs, with a booklet including lyrics in both English and Japanese translations.[83][84] In the United Kingdom, HMV stores carried the deluxe edition with similar enhanced packaging, though no unique tracks were added.[82]

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