The Prayer (Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli song)
"The Prayer" | |
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Song |
"The Prayer" is a popular song written by David Foster, Carole Bayer Sager, Alberto Testa and Tony Renis. The song was originally recorded in two solo versions for Quest for Camelot: Music from the Motion Picture (1998), in English by Canadian singer Celine Dion and in Italian by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. A duet between Dion and Bocelli later appeared on their respective studio albums, These Are Special Times (1998) and Sogno (1999), and was released as an airplay single on 1 March 1999.[1] The song won the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1999 and a Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals in 2000.
History
Originally "The Prayer" was recorded as two separate solo versions, Dion's in English and Bocelli's in Italian. They appeared on the Quest for Camelot soundtrack in May 1998. The duet was included on albums by both artists, released a few months later on Sogno and These Are Special Times. Bocelli sung original Italian while Dion translated into English. The song won the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song from the 1998 film Quest for Camelot, the second win in a row for a Celine Dion song. In that film, Dion sang it as a solo with slightly different lyrics. It was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1999 and a Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals in 2000. Dion performed it with Bocelli at both ceremonies.
It was also featured on Dion's compilation The Collector's Series, Volume One (2000) and greatest hits My Love: Ultimate Essential Collection (2008). A re-recorded solo version by Celine Dion (renamed "A Mother's Prayer") appeared on her 2004 album Miracle. Dion performed "The Prayer" live during her Taking Chances Tour as a virtual duet with Bocelli on the screen; the performance was released in the Taking Chances World Tour: The Concert CD/DVD. The song appeared also on Bocelli's 2007 compilation The Best of Andrea Bocelli: Vivere. Dion joined Bocelli to perform the song in his Concerto: One Night in Central Park concert in 2011; the performance was subsequently released on CD and DVD. Both Dion and Bocelli have sung the song with other artists, and various other artists have recorded the song, either as a duet or a solo.
The original version of "The Prayer" failed to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100, but was very popular on the adult contemporary charts in both Canada and the United States, peaking at number 6 and number 22 respectively. It has also become popular during Christmas, weddings and, in some cases, funerals and religious services.
Critical reception
Paul Verna from Billboard called this song a "gorgeous duet."[2] Chuck Taylor from Billboard reviewed "The Prayer", calling it "a breathtaking, ultra-lush song, and the tour de force combination of Dion and Bocelli [which] will send a half-dozen chills up your spine." Although he felt that the song is "an unorthodox track for the radio," Taylor called it "affecting," "heartwarming," "absolutely exquisite" and "one of Dion's most radiant performances ever."[3]
Track listing
1999 North American promotional CD maxi single
- "The Prayer" (Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli) – 4:29
- "The Prayer" (Celine Dion) – 2:48
- "The Prayer" (Andrea Bocelli) – 4:10
Personnel
- Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli – vocals
- David Foster – arranger, composer, keyboards, piano, producer
- William Ross – arranger, orchestral arrangements
- Humberto Gatica – engineer, mixing
- Felipe Elgueta – engineer, programming
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Celine Dion and Josh Groban version
"The Prayer" | |
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Song |
Celine Dion first performed "The Prayer" live with Josh Groban in 1999, when then 17-year old Groban filled in for Andrea Bocelli at rehearsal for the 41st Annual Grammy Awards. T Later, the two performed the song during her CBS TV special That's Just the Woman in Me, aired on 15 February 2008. This version was released as a music download in the United States and Canada two days earlier. It proved to be much more successful than the original, entering the Billboard Hot 100 at number 70. It also appeared on a few other Billboard charts: Pop 100 at number 50, Hot Digital Songs at number 32 and Hot Digital Tracks at number 29. The single has sold 37,531 copies in its first week in the US. In Canada, the song peaked at number 37 on the Canadian Hot 100 and number 19 on the Canadian Top Digital Downloads.[10]
Track listing
2008 North American digital single
- "The Prayer" (Celine Dion and Josh Groban) (live) – 4:38
Charts
Chart (2008) | Peak position |
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Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[11] | 37 |
US Billboard Hot 100[12] | 70 |
US Pop 100 (Billboard)[13] | 50 |
Anthony Callea version
"The Prayer" | |
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Song |
Callea first performed this song during Australian Idol 2004, in the week of 'contestants choice'. He received a standing ovation for this performance and the "Grand Royal Touchdown" from judge Mark Holden. He would go on to be runner-up in this series.
At the completion of the show, Callea was signed to Sony BMG, and he released "The Prayer" as his debut single.
It was released in Australia on 19 December 2004 and debuted at number 1 on the ARIA Charts. It stayed there for five weeks and was certified 4x platinum by ARIA. It became the fastest-selling single by any Australian artist, and was the second highest selling single in Australia in the last decade overall, and for an Australian artist.[14][15] The song was included on Callea's debut album Anthony Callea.
Callea has performed "The Prayer" at numerous concerts as well as the Carols by Candlelight in Melbourne. In 2006, he performed the song in front of Queen Elizabeth at a Commonwealth Day Service [16] He also performed it as a duet with Tina Arena on her Symphony of Life CD/DVD, released in 2012.
Track list
"The Prayer" was released as a two-track CD single [17]
- The Prayer (4.16)
- The Prayer (Sterling remix) (4:03)
Video
The video includes excerpts of Callea recording the song and was released in 2004.[18]
Charts
Weekly charts
Chart (2004–05) | Peak position |
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Australia (ARIA)[19] | 1 |
Year-end charts
Chart (2004) | Position |
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Australia (ARIA)[20] | 82 |
Chart (2005) | Position |
Australia (ARIA)[21] | 1 |
Decade-end charts
Chart (2000–09) | Position |
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Australia (ARIA)[15] | 2 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA)[22] | 4× Platinum | 280,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Other notable versions
This section needs additional citations for verification. (November 2015) |
- 2002: Angie Stone with Josh Groban on the Josh Groban in Concert bonus DVD
- 2002: Charlotte Church and Josh Groban's duet is found on Church's album Enchantment and Groban's debut album, and it was performed as the closing song of the Winter Olympics closing ceremony
- 2002: Sissel Kyrkjebø with Josh Groban at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert
- 2003: Donnie McClurkin with Yolanda Adams' duet is found on McClurkins "Again" Album released on Christian label Verity records
- 2003: Daniel Rodríguez duet with Kristin Chenoweth on Rodríguez’s album "From My Heart” on Manhattan records[23]
- 2004: Sandi Patty recorded it as a duet with her husband Don Peslis on her album Hymns of Faith...Songs of Inspiration. They also recorded it live for her albums Christmas Live (2009) and Forever Grateful: Live From the Farewell Tour (2017).
- 2006: A version by Bocelli and Heather Headley was included on his Under the Desert Sky DVD/CD (live) (also 2007's Vivere Live in Tuscany DVD/CD)
- 2006: Katharine McPhee with Andrea Bocelli on American Idol – season five (also on David Foster's 2008 Hit Man CD/DVD)
- 2005: American Idol's Adam Lambert sang a live version with singer and actress Noa Dori at the "Celebration of Life" concert for slain Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin
- 2007: Adam Lambert with Ilysia Pierce at the Temple of the Arts in Los Angeles
- 2008: Chris M. Allport with Ariana Richards CD Single / Studio recording release
- 2008: Andrea Bocelli and Josh Groban at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards in dedication to Luciano Pavarotti who had died that previous year
- 2010: The Mormon Tabernacle Choir on the album Heavensong, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard charts for a crossover album[24]
- 2011: Michael Bolton and Lara Fabian sang the song live at the David Foster and Friends Concert.
- 2012: Charice and the Canadian Tenors sang a live version of the song.
- 2012: Christina Aguilera and Chris Mann performed the song on The Voice – season two; a studio recording was released, and entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart at No. 85, and No. 35 on the digital singles chart
- 2012: Opera duo Jonathan & Charlotte auditioned for Britain's Got Talent with their version of the song.
- 2013: Used for Typhoon Haiyan.
- 2014: South Korean singer Sohyang and Michael Bolton sung on his concert tour.
- 2015: In 2014, Libera performed the song at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, in Washington, D.C. The following year, a DVD and CD of that concert were released entitled Angels Sing: Libera in America.
- 2015: American Idol alumnus David Archuleta and Nathan Pacheco recorded a version of the song.
- 2015: Mark Mabasa, Lucky Robles and Lilibeth Garcia performed the song for the Ading Fernando Lifetime Achievement Award to Coney Reyes in the 29th PMPC Star Awards for Television at the Kia Theatre.
- 2016: Jessica Sanchez performed the song on American Idol – final season's finale, receiving critical acclaim.
- 2016: Marcelito Pomoy sang the song live on Wish 1075, singing both parts in a female and male voice, making the video viral online. He sang the song as his finale in the Philippine talent show Pilipinas Got Talent in the second season where he was declared winner. He later recorded an album version of the song.
- 2016: Tori Kelly performed the song with Bocelli two times, the first was his concert in Seattle and the second was in David Foster's Hollywood Bowl concert in Los Angeles, California.
- 2016: Laura Bretan performed the song on America's Got Talent at the Dolby Theatre.
- 2016: Teresa Carpio performed the song in China in the final of 跨界歌王 2016, with a special Mandarin part written by her student, actor and comedian Wong Cho Lam. [25]
References
- ^ Glatzer, Jenna (2005). Céline Dion: For Keeps. Andrews McMeel Publishing. ISBN 0-7407-5559-5.
- ^ Billboard - Google Książki. Books.google.com. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
- ^ Billboard - Google Książki. Books.google.com. 20 March 1999. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
- ^ a b Sam Jaspers (2006). Ultratop 1995-2005. Book & Media Publishing. ISBN 90-5720-232-8.
- ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 8130." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- ^ "Céline Dion & Andrea Bocelli – The Prayer". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
- ^ "Celine Dion Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
- ^ "Classical Digital Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
- ^ "RPM 1999 Top 100 Adult Contemporary". RPM. 13 December 1999. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ "Flo Rida Makes It Nine Straight Atop Hot 100". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 21 February 2008. Retrieved 21 February 2008.
- ^ "Celine Dion Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
- ^ "Celine Dion Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
- ^ "Celine Dion Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 24 January 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
{{cite web}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ Cashmere, Paul (29 January 2005)Anthony Callea Premature Sales Announcement.undercover.com.au. Archived from the original on 31 January 2005. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
- ^ a b ARIA’s End Of Decade Charts*(PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. 7 January 2010. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
- ^ "The Prayer Anthony Callea sings for Queen Elizabeth 2006". YouTube. 6 April 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
- ^ "iTunes - Music - The Prayer - Single by Anthony Callea". Itunes.apple.com. 19 December 2004. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
- ^ "Anthony Callea - The Prayer". YouTube. 9 August 2011. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
- ^ "Anthony Callea – The Prayer". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
- ^ "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2004". ARIA. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
- ^ "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2005". ARIA. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2004 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
- ^ "From My Heart - Daniel Rodriguez". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
- ^ "'Heavensong' hits No. 1 on Billboard's chart". Retrieved 22 June 2011.
- ^ 第四季最强大脑 (20 August 2016), 跨界歌王 第13期 20160820 王祖蓝, 杜丽莎 The Prayer, retrieved 16 February 2017
External links
- 1990s ballads
- 1999 singles
- 2008 singles
- Andrea Bocelli songs
- ARIA Award-winning songs
- Best Original Song Golden Globe winning songs
- Celine Dion songs
- Number-one singles in Australia
- Pop ballads
- Song recordings produced by David Foster
- Songs with lyrics by Alberto Testa (lyricist)
- Songs with music by Tony Renis
- Songs written by Carole Bayer Sager
- Songs written by David Foster
- Vocal duets
- 1998 songs
- Songs from animated films