During an emotional live performance in Central Park, New York, Celine Dion and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli sang their well-known duet “The Prayer” together once more.
Due to their collaboration, it was inevitable that there would be an incredible amount of vocal firepower onstage, and both the Italian superstar and the Queen of Power Ballads did an incredible job in their respective roles.
Elizabeth Taylor passed suddenly shortly after the concert, and Bocelli dedicated the song to the legendary Hollywood star.
Music fans were drawn to the two singers’ live chemistry, and their video—which has had 199 million views—became the second most popular upload on Bocelli’s YouTube channel.
The song’s principal lyricist, David Foster, introduced “The Prayer” on Bocelli’s behalf. Bocelli modestly acknowledged that his understanding of English was lacking.
The Canadian composer said, “Andrea and Elizabeth Taylor had a great love affair together, although not literally,” to much laughter from the audience. He stated, “Elizabeth wanted to dedicate this song this evening in her honor because he had such a great love for Andrea.”
Dion has played the song live in Los Angeles with Josh Groban in addition to numerous performances with Bocelli; the video is below.
Dion has already performed the song alongside a well-known artist. “The Prayer” returned to the US and Canadian charts when the two re-released the song as a duet in 2008.
Ever since the initial release of the song, Groban has been linked to David Foster.
When Dion was getting ready to perform “The Prayer” at the Grammy Awards, 1998, composer Bocelli recommended that Groban, who was only 17 at the time, cover for him.
Foster has said many times that Bocelli has “the most beautiful voice in the world,” so it’s hard to top, but the younger American singer sounds fantastic nonetheless.
Given that Elizabeth Taylor has long been a fan of Bocelli, it is obvious that she has a deep connection to the song.
Taylor rose to fame over the years by making infrequent public appearances to watch Bocelli sing live.
Even though she was sick and in a wheelchair at the age of 77, she managed to catch up with him at the Hollywood Bowl.
Since the song’s original 1999 release, Taylor has been linked to “The Prayer.”
The famous person praised “The Prayer,” telling renowned gossip reporter Liz Smith, “This is such a powerful, wonderful song.” It deserves an Oscar nomination!
“The Prayer” received nominations for both the Grammy and Academy Awards, however it did not win Best Original Song at the Oscars. However, it did win that category at the Golden Globes.
The Dion and Bocelli duet was a huge hit in the US Classical chart but did not appear in the Billboard Top 100. Even so, the Dion and Groban rendition managed to make it, reaching its highest position on the Top 100 at #70.
