Elvis and Celine Sing Duet on American Idol

"If I Can Dream" Wows Audience

Christine Bude Nyholm
Through the modern miracle of technology Elvis Presley and Celine Dion were able to sing a stunning duet on American Idol.

Even though it is going on thirty years since Elvis died, his image was resurrected to sing on stage with famous singer Celine Dion.

Elvis was a famous Las Vegas act over thirty years ago. Celine has a long-running singing engagement in Las Vegas at Caesar's Palace. .

The songbirds performed "If I Can Dream" together. The song is about peace, brotherhood, and hope for a better day. In the video, Celine is standing on a stage, while Elvis appears to be standing next to her. They even appear to be walking onto the stage together. They appear to be singing to, and interacting with each other. Reportedly, Celine rehearsed with an Elvis impersonator. The "Elvis" on the video is a virtual Elvis.

"If I Can Dream" was from Elvis's '68 Comeback Special. The producers used the magic of video editing and rotoscope technology so that the two could sing a duet together. It was a technological masterpiece..

The duet by Elvis and Celine wowed television viewers. It is the number one video download on iTunes, according to the Elvis website (elvis.com).

American Idol's "Idol Gives Back" is raising money to benefit children in the United States and in Africa

In the United States to money will will distributed via CPEF to organizations such as Save the Children, American's Second Harvest - The Nation's Food Bank Network, Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Children's Health Fund to deliver food, medical care and other assistance programs to children living in disadvantage areas in the United States.

In Africa, the money will be distributed via CPEF, focusing on delivering health and education programs. The organizations include U.S. Fund for UNICEF, The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Save the Children, NothingButNets.net and Malaria No More.

American Idol built anticipation about the event, by making it a mystery. They announced that Two of the most famous performers in history would e performing together for the event. The created speculation about who the performers would be. Later, Celine Dion's name was mentioned as one of the pair. This second half of the pair was left a mystery. Speculation about who the second singer would be included Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney.

The lyrics of "If I Can Dream" were considered especially appropriate, in light of the cause they were supporting. Following are the lyrics to "If I Can Dream" which was written by Brown, as printed in LyricsFreak (lyricsfreak.com):

"There must be lights burning brighter somewhere
Got to be birds flying higher in a sky more blue
If I can dream of a better land
Where all my brothers walk hand in had
Tell me why, oh why, oh why can't my dream come true.

There must be peace and understanding sometime
Strong winds of promise that will blow away
All the doubt and fear
If I can dream of a warmer sun
Where hope keeps sining on everyone
Tell me why, oh why, oh why won't that sun appear

We're lost in a cloud
With too much rain
We're trapped in a world
That's troubled with pain
But as long as a man
Has the strength to dream
He can redeem his soul and fly.

Deep in my heart there's a trembling question
Still I am sure that the answer gonna come somehow
Out there in the dart, there's a beckoning candle
And while I can think, while I can talk
While I can stand, while I can walkl
While I can dream, please let my dream
Come true, right now
Let is come true right now
Oh Yeah."

Resouces:
Americanidol.com
Elvis.com
lyricsfreak.com

Published by Christine Bude Nyholm

With over 5 million pages views Christine is one of the top 100 AC Contributors and Won Best of AC for Winter Travel Guides in 2008 and Best of Alternative Health in 2009. Christine's article Shop Around for...  View profile

  • Celine Dion has a long running engagement at Ceasar's Palace in Las Vegas.
  • Elvis Presley is a Rock and Roll legend.
  • Elvis and Celine sang a duet through the magic of technology.
Elvis fams will be commemorating the 30th anniversary of his death in August.

7 Comments

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  • Lonnette Harrell4/26/2008

    Amazing what can be done these days! Good article!

  • maria8/6/2007

    it was great to see...seemed he never left us

  • Herman Lyle7/10/2007

    In the lyrics, it's "dark" not "dart".

  • Tweak5/1/2007

    I saw this, and actually enjoyed it. Good article.

  • Christine Bude5/1/2007

    Mark: Good question. I bet the answer is yes!

  • Mark Rollins4/30/2007

    If they can do a virtual Elvis, can they do that with an actor?

  • Zac Wassink4/30/2007

    creepy...in so many ways

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