Love Can Move Mountains

Summary

"Love Can Move Mountains" is a song by Canadian singer Celine Dion, recorded for her second English-language studio album, Celine Dion (1992). Written by Diane Warren and produced by Ric Wake, it was released as the fourth single in October 1992.[1] It is an up-tempo pop song drawing influence from gospel and dance music, and its lyrics detail the abilities that love has as an emotion. "Love Can Move Mountains" was later included on Dion's greatest hits albums, All the Way... A Decade of Song in 1999 and My Love: Ultimate Essential Collection in 2008.

"Love Can Move Mountains"
Single by Celine Dion
from the album Celine Dion
B-side"Cry Just a Little"
Released27 October 1992 (1992-10-27)
RecordedCove City Sound Studios
Genre
Length4:53 (Album Version)
4:04 (Remix)
Label
Songwriter(s)Diane Warren
Producer(s)Ric Wake
Celine Dion singles chronology
"Nothing Broken but My Heart"
(1992)
"Love Can Move Mountains"
(1992)
"Water from the Moon"
(1993)
Music video
"Love Can Move Mountains" on YouTube

Commercial performance edit

"Love Can Move Mountains" was a hit on the club charts in the US, reaching number five on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. The single hit number two in Canada and reached number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. It enjoyed a moderate success in the rest of the world.

The B-side, an unreleased track "Cry Just a Little", produced by Ric Wake, and written by the songwriting team of Lotti Golden and Tommy Faragher, is a cover of a song from E. G. Daily's 1989 album Lace Around the Wound. It is the second cover of Daily that Dion recorded as in 1987 she did a French adaptation of "Love in the Shadows" called "Délivre-moi".

"Love Can Move Mountains" was remixed for the clubs by Tommy Musto (Tommy Musto's 7" Edit, Club Mix, Underground Vocal Mix, Underground Instrumental, Club Dub, Underground Dub), Ric Wake and Richie Jones (Wake & Jones Dub), and by Daniel Abraham (Daniel Abrahams 7" Edit).

"Love Can Move Mountains" (Club Mix) won the Juno Award for Dance Recording of the Year and the original version was nominated for the Juno Award for Single of the Year.[2]

Critical reception edit

AllMusic editor Jose F. Promis gave the song three out of five stars, noting that there are two remixed radio edits of "Love Can Move Mountains", "one bouncy and the other sleek, and two housey club versions, similar to most dance music from the early '90s in that it seemed to possess a since-lost elegance and a since-lost innocence".[3] Another editor, Stephen Thomas Erlewine, named the song a standout, along with "If You Asked Me To" and "Beauty and the Beast".[4] Larry Flick from Billboard complimented it as a "delicious, gospel-influenced pop/dance anthem with open arms" and a "uplifting, rousing gem". He noted that Dion "takes advantage of the opportunity to cut loose with a big, belted vocal-though she wisely keeps her usual penchant for melodrama down to a minimum".[5] Randy Clark from Cashbox felt the "upbeat, gospel-flavored" single "proves once again this Canadian import is a force to be reckoned with in the '90s." He added, "Celine is now expanding her commerciality with this soulful, yet danceable track on which she is backed with a rich choir."[6]

Chicago Tribune editor Jan DeKnock called it "an effective journey into gospel".[7] Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report wrote that producer Ric Wake is best known for his work with Taylor Dayne, "but this time he adds just the right edge to Celine Dion's powerful vocal approach. It's evident that she was pouring every ounce of emotion possible into this Diane Warren song, giving it a gospel-like quality. Since she's best known for her stirring ballads, "Love Can Move Mountains" will acquaint the public with yet another side to this wonderfully gifted and very versatile songstress".[8] A reviewer from Music & Media called it a "gospel-framed song set to modern beats".[9] Parry Gettelman from Orlando Sentinel felt that Dion "really excels", on a dance track "in the Lisa Stansfield mold".[10]

Music video edit

The accompanying music video for "Love Can Move Mountains", which shows Dion singing the song in a county fair, was made for the Daniel Abraham's 7" edit, by director Jeb Brian and released in November 1992. It appeared on Dion's DVD video collection All the Way… A Decade of Song & Video (2001).

Live performances edit

"Love Can Move Mountains" has been a part of every one of Dion's tours since 1992. Dion performed this song also five nights a week during her show A New Day... at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas and during her BST Hyde Park concert in London on 5 July 2019.

Dion performed the song during the halftime show at the 1992 Grey Cup game in Toronto.

Live versions of "Love Can Move Mountains" can be found on the 1994 À l'Olympia CD, the Taking Chances World Tour: The Concert DVD/CD, and the Céline une seule fois / Live 2013 DVD/CD.

In 1998, Dion re-recorded "Love Can Move Mountains" with a gospel group God's Property, for the soundtrack of the popular CBS-TV drama Touched by an Angel. She also appeared as herself on one episode of the series, titled Psalm 151, and performed the song.[11]

Track listing edit

Charts edit

Release history edit

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States 27 October 1992
  • CD
  • cassette
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • 7-inch vinyl
Epic [34][unreliable source]
Japan 1 November 1992 Mini CD SMEJ [35]
United Kingdom 2 November 1992
  • CD
  • cassette
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • 7-inch vinyl
Epic [36]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Glatzer, Jenna (2005). Céline Dion: For Keeps. Andrews McMeel Publishing. ISBN 0-7407-5559-5.
  2. ^ "Awards: Artist Summary". CARAS. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  3. ^ Review by Jose F. Promis
  4. ^ Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
  5. ^ Flick, Larry (14 November 1992). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 80. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  6. ^ Clark, Randy (21 November 1992). "Music Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Cashbox. p. 5. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  7. ^ Celine Dion Celine Dion (Epic) (STAR)(STAR)(STAR) 1/2...
  8. ^ Sholin, Dave (30 October 1992). "Gavin Picks > Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. No. 1929. p. 40. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  9. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 12 December 1992. p. 8. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  10. ^ Gettelman, Parry (10 April 1992). "Celine Dion". Orlando Sentinel.
  11. ^ Céline Dion, bouleversée, lance sa tournée hommage à René (VIDÉOS)
  12. ^ Gavin Ryan (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  13. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1839." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  14. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 1845." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  15. ^ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 1831." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  16. ^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 30 January 1993. p. 56. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  17. ^ Nanda Lwin (1999). Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide. Music Data Canada. ISBN 1-896594-13-1.
  18. ^ "European Hit Radio Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media. 16 January 1993. p. 18. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  19. ^ "Céline Dion – Love Can Move Mountains" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  20. ^ "Palmarès de la chanson anglophone et allophone au Québec" (in French). BAnQ. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  21. ^ "National Airplay: Sweden" (PDF). Music & Media. 12 December 1992. p. 24. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  22. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  23. ^ "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 14 November 1992. p. 26. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  24. ^ "Celine Dion Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  25. ^ "Celine Dion Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  26. ^ "Celine Dion Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  27. ^ "Celine Dion Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  28. ^ "Celine Dion Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  29. ^ "The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1992" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 56, no. 25. 19 December 1992. p. 8. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  30. ^ "The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1993". RPM. 18 December 1993. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  31. ^ "The RPM Top 100 AC Tracks of 1993". RPM. 18 December 1993. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  32. ^ "The RPM Top 50 Dance Tracks of 1993". RPM. 18 December 1993. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  33. ^ a b "The Year in Music: 1993" (PDF). Billboard. 25 December 1993. pp. 46–53. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  34. ^ "Celine Dion – Love Can Move Mountains". Discogs. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  35. ^ "セリーヌ・ディオンの作品" (in Japanese). Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  36. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 31 October 1992. p. 21.

External links edit

  • "Love Can Move Mountains" on YouTube