Joe Walsh and Celine Dion were a strange combination when they appeared together in 2008 as part of Dion’s live television special, “Celine Dion: That’s Just The Woman In Me.” Canadian singer-songwriter Celine Dion is most known for her sorrowful, beautiful ballads like “My Heart Will Go On” and “Think Twice,” while multi-instrumentalist Joe Walsh is more well-known for his guitar work with the rock group The Eagles. Put simply, there was a stark contrast between the two.
Ultimately though, the two proved to be a match made in heaven, producing an incredibly delicate rendition of the George Harrison song “Something,” which was issued as a double A-side by The Beatles in 1969. Celine channeled Shirley Bassey’s earlier rendition of the song by adding a feminine touch while singing with a carefree elegance that made her appear almost heavenly. Celine was wearing a fluffy white dress and gorgeous thigh-high black boots.
Rich and melodic guitar lines by Joe Walsh, on the other hand, complemented Celine’s vocals without ever overpowering them. Later, he launched into the song’s well-known solo, adding more of a country rock vibe to it while drawing inspiration from the original album. The combination of these two very different artists’ approaches produced a cover that was incredibly powerful and beyond the expectations of many of its watchers. One admirer referred to it as “a masterclass by two legends in respect of a third.”
Meanwhile, you should listen to The Beatles’ original rendition of “Something” right away if you haven’t already. The band’s guitarist George wrote the song, which went on to become the number one hit in several nations across the world, about his ex-wife Patti. It was dubbed “the greatest love song of the past 50 years” when it was first released. Encapsulated by its charming melody, exquisite guitar arrangements, and poignant lyrics, it is without a doubt one of the numerous timeless tracks present in The Beatles’ career.
Celine and Joe’s 2008 rendition of “Something,” considering the song’s legendary history, might have gone horribly wrong or even been treated with disapproval by the live audience of the show. But as Olivia Harrison, George’s widow, who was in the Celine audience that night, proudly and gratefully stated, the duet was not only beautifully sung, but it also did honor to the original rendition because of the two artists’ obvious talents.
