Where Does My Heart Beat Now

1990 single by Celine Dion
"Where Does My Heart Beat Now"
Single by Celine Dion
from the album Unison
Released1 October 1990 (1990-10-01)
Recorded1989
Studio
  • West Side Studios
    (London, England, United Kingdom)
Genre
  • Pop
  • soft rock
  • ballad
  • adult contemporary
Length4:33
Label
  • Columbia
  • Epic
Songwriter(s)
  • Robert White Johnson
  • Taylor Rhodes
Producer(s)Christopher Neil
Celine Dion singles chronology
"Unison"
(1990) 		"Where Does My Heart Beat Now"
(1990) 		"The Last to Know"
(1991)
Audio sample
"Where Does My Heart Beat Now"
  • file
  • help
Music video
"Where Does My Heart Beat Now" (US version) on YouTube

"Where Does My Heart Beat Now" is a song performed by Canadian recording artist Celine Dion for her ninth studio album and debut English-language album, Unison (1990). It was released by Columbia Records as the third single from Unison in Canada on 1 October 1990. It was also issued as the lead single in the United States in late 1990, and in other parts of the world in early 1991.[1] "Where Does My Heart Beat Now" was written by Robert White Johnson and Taylor Rhodes in 1988, and recorded by Dion one year later. The song was produced by Christopher Neil. Dion premiered the song at the Eurovision Song Contest 1989 in Switzerland, where she performed it along with her 1988 winning song, "Ne partez pas sans moi".

"Where Does My Heart Beat Now" received positive reviews from music critics, and won the ASCAP Pop Award. It was the most successful single from Unison, and became Dion's highest charting English-language single at the time. It reached number four on the US Billboard Hot 100, and Dion became the first French-Canadian artist to land a top-ten hit there.[2] It did even better on the Adult Contemporary chart, peaking at number two. "Where Does My Heart Beat Now" reached also the top-ten in Norway and Canada, peaking at number four and six, respectively. Two accompanying music videos for the song were filmed. In 2008, it was included on the North American edition of Dion's greatest hits compilation My Love: Essential Collection.

Background and release

In 1989, Dion was recording her first English-language album, Unison. One of the songs chosen for the album was "Where Does My Heart Beat Now", written by Robert White Johnson and Taylor Rhodes. On 6 May 1989, Dion performed "Where Does My Heart Beat Now" for the very first time during the Eurovision Song Contest in Lausanne, Switzerland. The song was then released as the third single from the album in Canada on 1 October 1990. It was also issued as the lead single from Unison in the United States in late 1990, and in early 1991 in the rest of the world.

Chart performance

In Canada, "Where Does My Heart Beat Now" entered the charts in October 1990 and reached number six on The Record's Retail Singles Chart on 8 April 1991. It also topped the RPM Adult Contemporary chart for two weeks in February 1991. In the United States, "Where Does My Heart Beat Now" debuted at number 80 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart dated 8 December 1990. It peaked at number four on 2 March 1991 and became Dion's first Billboard Hot 100 top ten single. She also became the first French-Canadian artist to land a top-10 hit there. The track entered Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart dated 27 October 1990, reaching number two on 2 February 1991. "Where Does My Heart Beat Now" was successful in Norway peaking at number four in March 1991, and also reached the top 40 in Ireland, France, Belgium, Netherlands and New Zealand. The song also charted in Australia and the United Kingdom.

Critical reception

American magazine Billboard complimented the song as a "lushly framed single".[3] Chicago Tribune editor Jan De Knock felt that Dion "shines brightest on torchy love songs", including "Where Does My Heart Beat Now".[4] A reviewer from Columbia Daily Tribune declared it as a "swelling ballad".[5] Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report commented, "Climbing the Adult Contemporary chart, this French-Canadian only learned to speak English three years ago—a surprising fact in light of the way she handles this stirring ballad".[6] Chris Roberts from Melody Maker wrote, "Whitney/Mariah epic slush/lust ballad of the week. By Christ these millionairesses know how to give a chorus some welly. Utterly f*** fantastic, makes me roll around in satin sheets like a proper girlie."[7] Pan-European magazine Music & Media praised it as a "slow-stepping emotional song, with an effective and dramatic build-up, brought to life by one of Canada's hottest singers of the moment."[8] A reviewer for Music Week called it "a tense ballad which finds her deep in Gloria Estefan territory."[9] Gene Sandbloom from The Network Forty said, "Truly an epic production, this huge ballad has everything but cannon fire and missile explosions. With the deep and sincere vocals of French-Canadian Celine Dion".[10] Newcastle Evening Chronicle remarked its "slow measured tempo on a sensually dramatic ballad."[11] The Orlando Sentinel viewed it as a "splashy pop-gospel ballad".[12]

Retrospective response

About.com ranked "Where Does My Heart Beat Now" number five in their list of "Top 10 Celine Dion Songs" in 2017.[13] In an 2020 retrospective review, Matthew Hocter from Albumism named it the standout track of the Unison album and "the one that truly brought Dion to the masses".[14] AllMusic senior editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine picked it as an album standout along with "(If There Was) Any Other Way".[15] Talk About Pop Music's Christopher Smith described the song as a "power ballad", which showcases Dion's "vocal power".[16]

Music video

Three versions of the music video exist: a black and white Canadian version for the Canadian market (released in October 1990), a color performance version for the US promotion (November 1990) directed by David Phillips, and a black-and-white version mixed with the performance version made for the Unison home video (July 1991). The latter version was later published on Dion's official YouTube channel in February 2013. It has amassed more than 17.3 million views as of October 2021.[17]

Live performances

Dion first performed "Where Does My Heart Beat Now" at the Eurovision Song Contest 1989, along with the previous year's winning song, "Ne partez pas sans moi". She then sang it on various Canadian and US television shows in 1990 and 1991, like The Tonight Show, Good Morning America, Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, Into the Night with Rick Dees and Super Dave. Dion also performed it on television in Norway and the Netherlands in 1991 and during the Juno Awards of 1991. She performed it during her Unison Tour, Celine Dion in Concert, The Colour of My Love Tour, D'eux Tour, Falling Into You Around the World Tour, and her 2013 Sans attendre Tour. Live performances are currently available on the DVD, The Colour of My Love Concert recorded in 1993, and À l'Olympia CD from 1994.[18][19] Dion also performed "Where Does My Heart Beat Now" in her 2011-19 Las Vegas residency show, Celine between 2011-2018.[20]

Awards and accolades

On 13 May 1992, "Where Does My Heart Beat Now" received an ASCAP Pop Award for the most-performed ASCAP song during the 1991 survey year (1 October 1990 – 30 September 1991).[21] Additionally, Dion's performance of "Where Does My Heart Beat Now" at the Juno Awards of 1991 was nominated for the Gemini Award in category Best Performance in a Variety Program or Series.[22]

Track listing and formats

  • Australian 7-inch, cassette, CD / Canadian and US cassette / European 7-inch, cassette, CD, mini CD / Japanese mini CD single
  1. "Where Does My Heart Beat Now" – 4:33
  2. "I Feel Too Much" – 4:09
  • European 12-inch and CD maxi single
  1. "Where Does My Heart Beat Now" – 4:33
  2. "I'm Loving Every Moment With You" – 4:08
  3. "I Feel Too Much" – 4:09

Credits and personnel

Recording
  • Recorded at West Side Studios, London
Personnel
  • Celine Dion – lead vocals
  • Christopher Neil – producer, backing vocals
  • Robert White Johnson – songwriter
  • Taylor Rhodes – songwriter
  • Phil Palmer – guitar
  • Andy Duncan – drums, percussion
  • Wix – keyboards, bass
  • Simon Hurrell – engineer

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Where Does My Heart Beat Now"
Chart (1990–1993) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[23] 62
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[24] 23
Canada (The Record Retail Singles Chart)[25] 6
Canada (The Record Contemporary Hit Radio)[26] 23
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[27] 22
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[28] 1
European Hot 100 Singles (Music & Media)[29] 85
European Hit Radio (Music & Media)[30] 10
France (SNEP)[31] 20
Ireland (IRMA)[32] 13
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[33] 24
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[34] 24
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[35] 36
Norway (VG-lista)[36] 4
Quebec (ADISQ)[37] 1
UK Singles (OCC)[38] 72
US Billboard Hot 100[39] 4
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[40] 2

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "Where Does My Heart Beat Now"
Chart (1990) Position
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[41] 70
Chart (1991) Position
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[42] 9
European Hit Radio (Music & Media)[43] 89
Norway Winter Period (VG-lista)[44] 15
US Billboard Hot 100[45] 37
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[45] 7

All-time charts

All-time chart performance for "Where Does My Heart Beat Now"
Chart (1975–2000) Position
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[46] 89

Release history

"Where Does My Heart Beat Now" release history
Region Date Format Label
United Kingdom[47] 4 February 1991
  • 7-inch
  • 12-inch
  • cassette
  • CD
 Epic
Japan[48] 21 February 1991 Mini CD SMEJ
United Kingdom[49] 8 March 1993
  • 7-inch
  • 12-inch
  • cassette
  • CD
(re-release) 		Epic

See also

References

  1. ^ Glatzer, Jenna (2005). Céline Dion: For Keeps. Andrews McMeel Publishing. ISBN 0-7407-5559-5.
  2. ^ Billboard
  3. ^ "Album Reviews: New & Noteworthy" (PDF). Billboard. 29 September 1990. p. 84. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  4. ^ Celine Dion Unison (Epic)
  5. ^ "Celine Dion wants her career to go on and on". Columbia Daily Tribune. 6 September 1998.
  6. ^ Sholin, Dave (2 November 1990). "Gavin Picks > Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. No. 1831. p. 60. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  7. ^ Roberts, Chris (16 March 1991). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 33. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  8. ^ "Previews: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 1 December 1990. p. 18. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  9. ^ "Mainstream: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 16 February 1991. p. 8. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  10. ^ Sandbloom, Gene (2 November 1990). "Top 40: Music Meeting" (PDF). The Network Forty. p. 26. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  11. ^ "Albums/Singles". Newcastle Evening Chronicle. 13 August 1991. page 33.
  12. ^ "Canada's Celine Dion Joins Houston, Carey Atop Charts". The Orlando Sentinel. 1 March 1991.
  13. ^ Lamb, Bill (24 November 2017). "Top 10 Celine Dion Songs". About.com. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  14. ^ Hocter, Matthew (1 April 2020). "Céline Dion's 'Unison' Turns 30: Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  15. ^ Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
  16. ^ Smith, Christopher (12 October 2019). "Review: 'Unison' – Celine Dion". Talk About Pop Music. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  17. ^ "Céline Dion - Where Does My Heart Beat Now (Official Video)". YouTube. 9 February 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  18. ^ "Colour of My Love Live Concert Video". allmusic. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  19. ^ "Listen Now! A l'Olympia". allmusic. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  20. ^ "Dion has grown into her diverse new Colosseum showcase". lvrj.com. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  21. ^ "Billboard 30 May 1992". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media LLC. 30 May 1992. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  22. ^ "Canada's Awards Database: Best Performance in a Variety Program or Series, 1992". Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  23. ^ "Issue 923" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  24. ^ "Céline Dion – Where Does My Heart Beat Now" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  25. ^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 13 April 1991. p. 65. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  26. ^ Nanda Lwin (1999). Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide. Music Data Canada. ISBN 1-896594-13-1.
  27. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9085." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  28. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 1424." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  29. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 6 April 1991. p. 37. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  30. ^ "European Hit Radio Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. 13 April 1991. p. 28. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  31. ^ "Céline Dion – Where Does My Heart Beat Now" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  32. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Where Does My Heart Beat Now". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  33. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 10, 1991" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  34. ^ "Céline Dion – Where Does My Heart Beat Now" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  35. ^ "Céline Dion – Where Does My Heart Beat Now". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  36. ^ "Céline Dion – Where Does My Heart Beat Now". VG-lista. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  37. ^ "Palmarès de la chanson anglophone et allophone au Québec" (in French). BAnQ. Archived from the original on 27 January 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  38. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  39. ^ "Celine Dion Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  40. ^ "Celine Dion Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  41. ^ "Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of 1990". RPM. 22 December 1990. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  42. ^ "RPM 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of 1991". RPM. 21 December 1991. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  43. ^ "EHR Year-End Top 100" (PDF). Music & Media. 21 December 1991. p. 20. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  44. ^ "Topp 20 Single Vinter 1991" (in Norwegian). VG-lista. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  45. ^ a b "The Year in Music: 1991" (PDF). Billboard. 21 December 1991. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  46. ^ Lwin, Nanda (1 July 2000). "Top 100 Cdn. Singles of all time". Jam!. Archived from the original on 12 August 2004. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  47. ^ "New Releases" (PDF). Music Week. 2 February 1991. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  48. ^ "セリーヌ・ディオンの作品" (in Japanese). Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  49. ^ "New Releases" (PDF). Music Week. 6 March 1993. p. 17. Retrieved 29 December 2022.

External links

  • "Where Does My Heart Beat Now" (Canadian music video) on YouTube
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