Celine Dion's biggest songs and their meanings
She's had so many big hits!
Last updated 5th Jun 2026
Celine Dion is known by many as the Queen of the vocal ballads — having had 13 Top 10s in just the UK alone, with hits like 'Think Twice' and 'It's All Coming Back To Me Now'. She's also known for contributing music to some HUGE movies, like Titanic, Beauty and the Beast and of course, Bridget Jones' Diary.
Now, following the release of her latest song 'Dansons' — which went to Number 1 in her native Quebec — we take a look back at some of the monumental hits that Queen Celine has gifted us over the past four decades...
'My Heart Will Go On'
Recorded for 1997 blockbuster movie Titanic, there's no doubt that 'My Heart Will Go On' is Celine's most commercially successful release. It went to Number 1 in countries across the world, including in the UK — and has since been certified 4x Platinum here.
The song has won more awards than we could possibly list, but some of the most notable are an Academy Award and Golden Globe in 1998 for Best Original Song, and four GRAMMYs in 1999 for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or Television.
We probably don't need to tell you the lyrics, but they feature the iconic lines: 'Every night in my dreams / I see you, I feel you / That is how I know you go on / Far across the distance / And spaces between us / You have come to show you go on.
'Near, far, wherever you are / I believe that the heart does go on / Once more, you open the door / And you're here in my heart / And my heart will go on and on.'
The song was written especially for the film, which is about a love lost during the tragic sinking of The Titanic in 1912.
'Because You Loved Me'
Released in 1996 as part of her fourth English-speaking album 'Falling Into You', Celine's huge hit 'Because You Loved Me' went to Number 1 in countries across the world, but peaked at Number 3 here.
The song is now certified 2x Platinum in the UK and is largely remembered as one of her best. It's a love song, with the beautiful lyrics:'You were my strength when I was weak / You were my voice when I couldn't speak / You were my eyes when I couldn't see / You saw the best there was in me.
'Lifted me up when I couldn't reach / You gave me faith 'cause you believed / I'm everything I am / Because you loved me.'
'The Power of Love'
Another song that didn't quite make it to Number 1 here, but it did over in the US and Canada, is 'The Power of Love'. The 1993 Platinum single was recorded for Celine's 'The Colour of My Love' album, and peaked at Number 4 in the UK. Still an impressive feat.
The song was a cover of Jennifer Rush's 1984 version — but Celine has spoken in the past about what the song meant to her. She's reported to have been moved by the way it made you want to dive head-first into love, despite feeling terrified.
It's impossible to forget the lyrics:'Cause I'm your lady / And you are my man / Whenever you reach for me / I'll do all that I can / We're heading for something / Somewhere I've never been / Sometimes I am frightened / But I'm ready to learn / Of the power of love.'
Celine recorded the song around the time she announced her relationship with manager, René Angélil — so it's fair to say the song probably resonated somewhat with the singer. The couple married the following year, in 1994, and stayed together until his sad death 22 years later.
'It's All Coming Back To Me Now'
Next in order of success, is Celine's 1996 single, 'It's All Coming Back To Me Now', which was a cover of the 1989 Pandora's Box version.
The song went to Number 3 in the UK and has been certified 2x Platinum since. It's not a traditional love song — with dark themes of obsession and loss of control. The lyrics include: 'There were nights when the wind was so cold / That my body froze in bed / If I just listened to it right outside the window.
'There were days when the sun was so cruel / That all the tears turned to dust / And I just knew my eyes were drying up forever / I finished crying in the instant that you left / And I can't remember where or when or how / And I banished every memory you and I had ever made.
'But when you touch me like this / And you hold me like that / I just have to admit that it's all coming back to me / When I touch you like this / And I hold you like that / It's so hard to believe, but it's all coming back to me.'
It was later covered by Meatloaf and Norwegian singer Marion Raven.
'I'm Alive'
While many remember 'I'm Alive' from the soundtrack for Stuart Little 2, the song is actually reported to have been written about Celine's joy at becoming a mother. Her son, René-Charles, was born in 2001 — shortly before the song's release in 2002.
It includes the lyrics: 'I get wings to fly / Oh, oh, I'm alive / When you call on me / When I hear you breathe / I get wings to fly / I feel that I'm alive / When you look at me / I can touch the sky / I know that I'm alive.
'When you bless the day / I just drift away / All my worries die / I'm glad that I'm alive / You've set my heart on fire / Filled me with love / Made me a woman on clouds above / I couldn't get much higher / My spirit takes flight / 'Cause I am alive.'
It's no surprise though, that it made the perfect song for the family film about a little boy, his talking mouse and a model aeroplane, which was released the same year in 2002. It went to Number 17 in the UK and has been certified Platinum.
The song had a resurgence in 2024, when it was remixed with The Whispers' 'And The Beat Goes On' to become a dance track entitled 'Set My Heart on Fire (I'm Alive x And the Beat Goes On)'. DJ and producer Majestic worked on the remix after creator The Jammin Kid put it together for TikTok. The remix entered the Top 40 in the UK and even made Number 1 over in Quebec.
'That's The Way It Is'
Released in 1999, 'That's The Way It Is' was another hit for for Celine, landing at a respectable Number 12 in the UK (but hitting the Top 10 in countries around the world). It's since been certified Gold here.
The song is said to be about resilience and hope during difficult times — which you can hear in the lyrics: 'So don't surrender / 'Cause you can win / In this thing called love.
'When you want it the most / There's no easy way out / When you're ready to go / And your heart's left in doubt / Don't give up on your faith / Love comes to those who believe it / And that's the way it is / That's the way it is.'
'Think Twice'
1994's 'Think Twice' is about a relationship on the brink of a break up. Hitting the top spot in the UK charts on its release, the Platinum-selling song is made up of the powerful lyrics: 'Don't say what you're about to say / Look back before you leave my life / Be sure before you close that door / Before you roll those dice / Baby think twice.
'Baby think twice for the sake of our love, for the memory / For the fire and the faith that was you and me / Babe I know it ain't easy when your soul cries out for higher ground / 'Cos when you're halfway up, you're always halfway down / But baby this is serious / Are you thinking 'bout you or us.'
'All By Myself'
Originally written and released in 1975 by Eric Carmen, Celine covered 'All By Myself' in 1996 — and in it she reaches some pretty impressive vocal notes. The single went to Number 6 in the UK and has been certified Gold here.
Following its initial success (all by itself), the song was then used in the iconic opening scene of hit movie Bridget Jones' Diary in 2001 — and soon became an anthem for single women everywhere. Remember Bridget singing in her pyjamas?!
'A New Day Has Come'
Released in 2002, 'A New Day Has Come' is about finding strength again after difficult times. It's reported to be about Celine's baby boy René-Charles, who was said to be born following difficulty trying to conceive.
You can hear that in the lyrics: 'Let the rain come down and wash away my tears / Let it fill my soul and drown my fears / Let it shatter the walls for a new sun / A new day has come / A new day has come.
'Where it was dark, now there's light / Where there was pain, now there's joy / Where there was weakness, I found my strength / All in the eyes of a boy.'
'A New Day Has Come' went to Number 7 in the UK and has received Silver certification.
French-language songs
Of course, having hailed from Quebec in Canada, Celine is known for her many French language albums too. Here's a few of her French songs which made it into the hearts of fans:
'Pour que tu m'aimes encore'
The lead single from Celine's best-selling album 'Deux', 'Pour que tu m'aimes encore' was a HUGE success. Translating to 'so that you'll love me again', the song is about a relationship where one person has emotionally checked-out.
The lyrics translate to say: 'How things have changed / How flowers have wilted / How the time of before / Was the time of before / How if everything flashes by and grows tiresome / Love stories end too.
'It's necessary for you to know / I'll go searching for your heart / If you take it elsewhere / Evеn if in your dances / Others fill your hours / I'll go searching for your soul / In thе cold, in the flames / I will cast magic spells at you / For you to love me again / For you to love me again.'
Despite being sung in French, the song made it to Number 7 here in the UK, and has been certified Silver. An English version called 'If That's What It Takes' was recorded for her 'Falling Into You' album.
'Je sais pas'
'Je sais pas' was a smash hit across Europe in 1995, topping the charts in France and Belgium. But despite its success, it failed to enter the charts here in the UK. The song, from her French album 'Deux', was later recorded in English for her 'Falling Into You' album and given the translated title 'I Don't Know'.
The song is about learning to live without a loved one — and includes the lyrics: 'The winds of the heart can blow me down / But I get right up and I stand my ground / I've tasted fear, my share of pain / The wasted tears of love in vain / I've held you tight, pushed you away / Now with all my might, I beg you to stay / I'm sure I could face / The bitter cold / But life without you, I don't know.'
'Dansons'
Celine's most recent release is another French song. 'Dansons' — which translates to 'Let's Dance' — dropped on 17th April 2026. It didn't chart in the UK but when straight to Number 1 over in Quebec... and in the French digital chart.
The lyrics translate to: 'Let’s dance above the abyss / When the hostile universe stops us / Let’s spin, since the world no longer spins right / Let’s dance before your vertigo takes over / Before anyone cares / Despite everything, because we can only dance while standing.'
It's about dancing through difficult times. You can listen to it below 👇
Who has she worked with?
Celine is known for a number of big collaborations throughout her career, including with Andrea Bocelli, Stevie Wonder, the Bee Gees, Anastacia, Peabo Bryson and Barbra Streisand. Here's a few of the most succesful:
'Beauty and the Beast' with Peabo Bryson
In 1991, Celine worked with Disney legend Peabo Bryson to record the theme tune for Disney animation Beauty and the Beast. Although the version sang by Angela Lansbury (Mrs Potts) played during the movie's iconic ballroom scene, Celine and Peabo's version played over the end credits — and was released as a pop version for radio. It went to Number 9 in the UK and has been certified Silver.
It was, of course, about an unexpected romance — and included the lyrics: 'Tale as old as time / True as it can be / Barely even friends / Then somebody bends / Unexpectedly / Just a little change / Small to say the least / Both a little scared / Neither one prepared / Beauty and the Beast.'
You can listen to it below:
'Tell Him' with Barbra Streisand
Celine collaborated with legendary singer Barbra Streisand in 1997, to record 'Tell Him'. It shot up the charts to bag the Number 3 spot and featured on both of their November '97 albums — Celine's 'Let's Talk About Love' and Barbra's 'Higher Ground'. It's been certified Gold here in the UK and is about not letting love pass you by.
The lyrics begin: 'I'm scared / So afraid to show I care / Will he think me weak / If I tremble when I speak / Oooh - what if / There's another one he's thinking of / Maybe he's in love / I'd feel like a fool / Life can be so cruel / I don't know what to do.'
'Immortality' featuring Bee Gees
The following year, Celine joined forces with the Bee Gees to release 'Immortality'. It went to Number 5 in the UK on its release in June 1998 and has been certified Gold here.
The song is about keeping memories alive and processing grief. The lyrics include: 'And I will stand for my dream if I can / Symbol of my faith in who I am / But you are my only.
'And I must follow on the road that lies ahead / And I won't let my heart control my head / But you are my only / And we don't say goodbye / We don't say goodbye.
'And I know what I've got to be / Immortality / I make my journey through eternity / I keep the memory of you and me / Inside.'
Cover songs
As well as the covers we've already mentioned which had huge success, Celine has also recorded a number of other well-known cover songs in her career.
In 2003 she covered Cyndi Lauper's 'I Drove All Night' and in 2016 she recorded Queen's 'The Show Must Go On'. She's also recorded versions of other big hits like 'River Deep, Mountain High', '(You Make Me Feel) Like a Natural Woman', 'At Last' and 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face'.