After a lengthy break on the bench, ‘TGJ Replay’ is back!

Designed much like our ‘Retro Rewind’ and ‘From the Vault’ segments, ‘Replay’ is That Grape Juice‘s newest retrospective segment – a written quest, if you will, to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday.

Unlike its ‘Rewind’ and ‘Vault’ predecessors, ‘Replay’ looks to dust off and showcase entire albums (and eras) from a library of pop and Urban pop music hits.  As this weekend will bring with it the 51st birthday of Pop icon Celine Dion, there’s no better time to revisit her ‘calm before the storm’ self-titled effort released in 1992.

Join us inside:

While not quite a household name in the United States by the turn of 1991, there was no doubt – based on the critical and commercial response to efforts from 1990’s ‘Unison’ (her debut English album featuring the top 5 hit ‘Where Does My Heart Beat Now’) – that greater was to come from the then 22-year-old.  Evidence of such was presented when Dion teamed with R&B legend Peabo Bryson to re-record the ‘Beauty and the Beast’ theme song for the Disney animated feature of the same name.  Soaring to the Billboard Hot 100’s top 10 in 1991, the song quickly exceeded the popularity of its Angela Lansbury-led predecessor, but also captured ‘Best Original Song’ honors at the 1992 Academy Awards and Golden Globes respectively.

The success not only confirmed her commercial viability but also hoisted the young singer’s name alongside the more established Whitney Houstons and Mariah Careys of the day as one of Pop’s leading balladeers.   Those accomplishments would prove a double-edged sword as Dion faced increased anticipation for her sophomore English album.  To answer the call, the singer’s team (helmed by manager/then-fiance Rene Angelil) assembled an all-star ensemble of writers and producers including the likes of  Walter Afanasieff (best known for the work he’s contributed to Mariah’s catalog), Ric Wake, Diane Warren, Guy Roche, and more.  Together, they crafted the ‘Celine Dion’ album.

Released March 30, 1992 (her birthday), the eponymous effort spawned five official singles in the United States (following the release of the tune ‘Beauty and the Beast’).

“If You Asked Me To”

Hot 100 Peak: #4

“Nothing Broken But My Heart”

Hot 100 Peak:  #29

“Love Can Move Mountains”

Hot 100 Peak:  #36

“Water from the Moon”

Hot 100 Peak:  n/a

“Did You Give Enough Love”

Hot 100 Peak:  n/a

*****

When the dust settled, the LP – albeit critically acclaimed – did not get much attention from the Recording Academy (only scoring a nomination in the ‘Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female’ category at the 1993 ceremony).  However, momentum from the project overall – fueled by the ongoing award season domination of ‘Beauty of the Beast’ – did see the songstress accept ‘Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal’ honors alongside a host of other awards the tune collected in songwriting and composition categories.

Going on to secure double platinum status in the U.S. for sales exceeding 2 million, ‘Celine Dion’s worldwide sales currently hover over the 5 million mark.  A prized contribution to her historic discography, the LP was undoubtedly the “calm before the storm” and a springboard to the singer’s unmatched accomplishments to follow through the rest of the 90’s.

As we press play on our jam, ‘Water From the Moon,’ look below two tell us:

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