Tag: Cher

Go Behind the Scenes With Our New Podcast, ‘Spotify: For the Record’

August 13, 2020

For the past two years, For the Record has shared big Spotify moments with you. Now, we’re taking listeners even deeper behind the scenes with our new podcast, Spotify: For the Record. This new series features interviews with Spotify employees and industry experts as we dive into major moments in music, podcasting and tech. We’ve already seen that what’s happening in the world is reflected on Spotify; with this podcast, we take that one step further as we discuss cultural events, listening trends, the tech behind our platform, and more.

Our first three episodes are already live. In the latest one, we talked to Katy Perry, as well as Ariel Rechtshaid, Wesley Bunch, and Ben Jaffe, to see how they’re staying connected to their fans and their music during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Learn more about our episodes below.

Artists & Creativity During COVID-19 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, artists, producers, and venue owners are looking for—and finding—creative solutions to stay connected with fans. Katy Perry gives us a peek behind the curtain on how she adapted to deliver her new album, Smile, while producer Ariel Rechtshaid reveals what happens when the recording studio is silent. Wesley Bunch, lead singer of the Philadelphia-based indie band, Suburban Living, shares the impact of not being on the road. And we hear from Ben Jaffe, who runs Preservation Hall in New Orleans, on his mission to save the venue and support his fellow jazz musicians.

Podcasts: The Medium of the Moment

Podcasting is fast becoming the medium of the moment, with more than 1.5 million shows now on Spotify—half of which launched this year alone. Household names such as Joe Rogan, Kim Kardashian, and now Michelle Obama are attracting millions of new fans to the already booming podcasting world. Spotify’s commitment to all things audio is driving financial results too. In this episode, hear from CEO Daniel Ek and CFO Paul Vogel as they outline the key roles podcasting is playing in the company’s strategy. 

https://open.spotify.com/episode/12CG1dcTe0QUu1lcbj2Uyf?si=6PbjHacBRiuXgT50byHXsQ

Supporting the Black Community

In this episode, we discuss how cultural moments are often reflected in the music we listen to, zeroing in on the racial justice movement of today. Cohosted by Xavier “X” Jernigan, Head of Cultural Partnerships at Spotify, and Shanon Cook, Spotify’s Culture and Trends Expert, we’ll hear from members of the Spotify team including Safiya Lambie-Knight, Artist & Label Partnerships Lead, Dawn Ostroff, Chief Content Officer, and Cherise Bernard, Senior Recruiter and Head of Spotify’s employee resource group BLK. In this episode, we discuss what we’ve seen on our platform and what Spotify is doing to elevate Black voices and support the Black community, both inside and outside our walls. 

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2j7oFO9YqMEPelug3KTrx3?si=xKCGJiYOSWCuq9SgXX9hsg

Be sure to follow the show so you’re in the loop when new episodes drop. And check out The Spotify News Hub for additional podcasts and playlists showcasing our news and views.

 

The “Podcasts: The Medium of the Moment” and “Supporting the Black Community” episodes are no longer available as of November 2021, however you can get more great stories and news delivered audibly by following our podcasts, Spotify: For the Record, Spotify: Mic Check, and Spotify: Discover This.

Céline Dion on Her New Album, ‘Courage,’ and How She Chose the Songs for Her Spotify Singles

February 26, 2020

You probably know Céline Dion’s iconic song “My Heart Will Go On” from the 1997 movie, Titanic. But what many may not know is that the French-Canadian singer has seen a music career that goes on… and… on.

Céline was discovered at just 12-years-old when her brother, Michel—one of her 13 siblings—sent a tape of her singing to Artist Manager René Angélil. As a teenager, she released several French-language albums throughout the 1980s that gained traction all over the world. She started recording her first English studio album, Unison back in 1990. Since then, she’s created hit songs like “Because You Loved Me,” “Taking Chances,” “Miracle,” and consistently recorded new albums.

This past November, Céline released her latest album, Courage. But she also recorded some personal firsts—two Spotify Singles—including a new take on her own “Imperfections” and a cover of Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game.” Listen to them now, only on Spotify. 

Can’t get enough of the Canadian creator? We sat down with Céline to get an inside look at her Spotify Singles and new album Courage.

When you were approached to record the Spotify Singles, how did you select your song “Imperfections,” and then the cover of “Wicked Game” by Chris Isaak featuring Chris on backing vocals?

I chose “Imperfections” because at first, when the song was proposed to me, it was more simple than the production that ended up on the album. I wanted to kind of give fans a bit of the album, but make it more the way that I heard the song the first time.

I chose “Wicked Game” [for my Spotify Singles] because it’s one of my favorite songs of all time for many, many, many reasons. But also I love the black and white music video for the song, of Chris Isaak and Helena Christensen on the beach. It makes me think the whole world wants to be them.

What should your fans be looking for in your cover that’s different than the original “Wicked Game?”

Sometimes you take a song that’s not yours and you make it your own. But sometimes you decide not to. I’ve loved this song so much for so long that I decided to not change it much, I wanted to just respect the original version, which I still think is perfection.

What are you hoping that Chris Isaak’s reaction is going to be like? What about your fans’? 

I hope he’s going to like it. And I hope my fans are going to like it. Obviously I sing for myself because I love it, but at the end of the day, I sing for my fans.  

Why are you especially proud of your new album, Courage? 

I was so involved in the creation and the creativity of it. I’ve never taken so long to record an album, and the new writers, songwriters, and producers were all phenomenal. It’s the same Celine, but there are some different sounds and I’m trying different things that might be new for fans.

What’s your go-to karaoke song?

I don’t really do karaoke much, but I have to admit that during sound check, when I’m trying to get myself comfortable on stage, I like to make people laugh and just laugh myself. So I pick a Cher song, usually “Believe,” to sing during that.

Take a listen to Céline Dion’s Spotify Singles and latest album Courage, below.