These Are Special Times is Céline’s third Christmas album, the previous two having been released 15 and 17 years prior, at a time when her career was still in its infancy.
The album brings together such extraordinary talents as Andrea Bocelli, singing in a duet with Céline on The Prayer and producers David Foster and Ric Wake, two of Céline’s long-time collaborators, who give the album their masterly touch.
Keeping it special, Celine is joined by her family on Feliz Navidad, and Les cloches du hameau.
To this day, These Are Special Times is still among the top 5 bestsellers in the US in the "Christmas and Holiday album" category.
This album is also available as a Collector’s Edition that includes a DVD of her celebrated CBS television special for These Are Special Times, which received two Emmy Award nominations. This spectacular television event also captures a rarity, Celine’s beautiful rendition of the Roberta Flack classic, The First Time I Saw Your Face.
(Traditional)
O Holy night, the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
‘Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks, a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees
O hear the angel voices
O night divine!
O night, when Christ was born
O night divine!
O night, O night divine!
Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains He shall break, for the slave is our brother
And in His name, all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us praise His holy name
Christ is the Lord!
Their name forever praise we
Noel, Noel
O night, O night divine
Noel, Noel
O night, O night divine
Noel, Noel
O holy night
(Produced by David Foster for Chartmaker Inc.)
(Peter Zizzo, Ric Wake and Celine Dion)
Don’t get so busy that you miss
Giving just a little kiss
To the ones you love
Don’t even wait a little while
To give them just a little smile
A little is enough
How many people are crying
People are dying
How many people are asking for love
(Chorus)
So don’t save it all for Christmas Day
Find a way
To give a little love everyday
Don’t save it all for Christmas Day
Find your way
‘Cause holidays have come and gone
But love lives on
If you give on
Love...
How could you wait another minute
A hug is warmer when you’re in it
And Baby that’s a fact
And saying I love you is always better
Seasons, reasons, they don’t matter
So don’t hold back
How many people in this world
So needful in this world
How many people are praying for love
So don’t save it all for Christmas Day
Find a way
To give a little love everyday
Don’t save it all for Christmas Day
Find your way
‘Cause holidays have come and gone
But love lives on
If you give on
Love...
Let all the children know
Everywhere that they go
Their whole life long
Let them know love
Don’t save it all for Christmas Day
Find your way
To give a little love everyday
Don’t save it all for Christmas Day
Find a way
Everyone, everywhere
Don’t save it all for Christmas Day
Find your way
‘Cause holidays have come and gone
But love lives on
If you give on
Love...
Love........
(Jay Johnson and Bill Hayes)
I’ll have a blue Christmas without you
I’ll be so blue thinking about you
Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree
Won’t be the same, if you’re not here with me
And when those blue snowflakes start falling
And when those blue memories start calling
You’ll be doing all right, with your Christmas of white
But I’ll have a blue, blue, blue, blue Christmas
Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree
Won’t mean a thing, if you’re not here with me
I’ll have a blue Christmas that’s certain
And when that blue heartache starts hurting
You’ll be doing all right, with your Christmas of white
But I’ll have a blue, blue Christmas
(Produced and Arranged by David Foster for Chartmaker Inc. )
(Bryan Adams and Eliot Kennedy)
So many 25th's of December
Just as many 4th of July's
And we're still holding it together
It only comes down to you and I
I know you can still remember
Things we said right from the start
When we said that this could be special
I'm keeping those words deep down in my heart
Another year has gone by
And I'm still the one by your side
After everything that's gone by
There's still no one saying goodbye
Though another year has gone by
I've never been much for occasions
You never let a birthday go by
With announcing how much you love me
But the truth was always there -
right there in your eyes
And we're still holding hands when we're walking
Acting like we've only just met
But how could that be - when there's so much history
I guess that's how true lovers can get
Another year has gone by
And I’m still the one by your side
After everything that’s gone by
There’s still no one saying goodbye
Though another year has gone by
Another year has gone by
And I’m still the one by your side
After everything that’s gone by
There’s still no one saying goodbye
Though another year has gone by
(D. Snider)
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
It’s the season to be jolly
And be thankful for all that we have
All the lights and decorations
Put up in anticipation
Of the joyful celebration
That’s on its way
We’re counting the days
‘Til it’s time for Christmas day
Oh and God bless us everyone
The good and the bad
The happy; the sad
Oh and God bless us everyone
Here’s to family and friends
It’s good to be here again
On the streets there’s children laughing
People smile as they are passing
Christmas time is here, our waiting is done
Wishing it could last forever
Not just twelve days in December
Through the year let’s try to remember
That special way
That everyone feels
It’s the magic of Christmas day
Oh and God bless us everyone
The good and the bad
The happy; the sad
Oh and God bless us everyone
Here’s to family and friends
It’s good to be here again
So fill your heart with love and joy
And through the eyes of girls and boys
Share their wonder, live through their joy
It’s easy to do, just open your heart
The spirit will come to you
Oh and God bless us everyone
The good and the bad
The happy; the sad
Oh and God bless us everyone
Here’s to family and friends
It’s good to be here again
(Gounod)
Ave Maria!
Maiden mild!
Oh, listen to a maiden’s prayer
For thou canst hear amid the wild
‘Tis thou, ‘tis thou canst save amid despair
We slumber safely ‘til the morrow
Though we’ve by man outcast reviled
Oh, maiden, see a maiden’s sorrow
Oh, Mother, hear a suppliant child!
Ave Maria
Ave Maria, gratia plena
Maria, gratia plena
Maria, gratia plena
Ave, ave dominus
Dominus tecum
The murky cavern’s air so heavy
Shall breathe of balm if thou hast smiled
Oh, maiden, hear a maiden pleading
Oh, Mother, hear a suppliant child
Ave Maria
Ave Maria
(Produced by David Foster for Chartmaker Inc.)
(Traditional)
O come, all ye faithful
Joyful and triumphant
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem
O come, all ye faithful
Joyful and triumphant
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem
Come and behold Him
Born the King of Angels
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
Christ the Lord
Sing, choirs of angels
Sing, in exaltation
O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above
Glory to God
Glory in the Highest
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
Christ the Lord
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee
Born this happy morning
O Jesus, to Thee be all glory given
Word of the Father
Now in flesh appearing
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
Christ the Lord
(Produced by David Foster for Chartmaker Inc.)
(Mel Torme and Robert Wells)
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir
And folks dressed up like Eskimos
Everybody knows
A turkey and some mistletoe
Help to make the season bright
Tiny tots with their eyes all a-glow
Will find it hard to sleep tonight
They know that Santa’s on his way
He’s loaded lots of toys
And goodies on his sleigh
And every mother’s child is going to spy
To see if reindeer really know
How to fly
And so I’m offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety two
Although it’s been said Many times many ways
Merry Christmas to you
And so I’m offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety two
Although it’s been said
Many times many ways
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas to you
(Produced and Arranged by David Foster for Chartmaker Inc.)
(Carol Bayer Sager and David Foster)
Italian translation by Alberto Testa and Tony Renis
I pray you’ll be our eyes, and watch us where we go
And help us to be wise in times when we don’t know
Let this be our prayer, when we lose our way
Lead us to a place, guide us with your grace
To a place where we’ll be safe
La luce che tu hai
I pray we’ll find your light
Nel cuore resterà
And hold it in our hearts
A ricordarci che
When stars go out each night
L’eterna stella sei Nella mia preghiera
Let this be our prayer Quanta fede c’è
When shadows fill our day
Lead us to a place, guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we’ll be safe
Sogniamo un mondo senza più violenza
Un mondo di giustizia e di speranza
Ognuno dia la mano al suo vicino
Simbolo di pace, di fraternità
I pray we’ll find your light, and hold it in our hearts
When stars go out each night, remind us where you are
Let this be our prayer, when shadows fill our day
Lead us to a place, guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we’ll be safe
Sogniamo un mondo senza più violenza
Un mondo di giustizia e di speranza
Ognuno dia la mano al suo vicino
Simbolo di pace, di fraternità
La forza che ci dà
We ask that life be kind
È il desiderio che
And watch us from above
Ognuno trovi amor
We hope each soul will find
Intorno e dentro sé
Another soul to love
Let this be our prayer, let this be our prayer
Just like every child, just like every child
Need to find a place
Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we’ll be safe
È la fede che
Hai acceso in noi
Sento che ci salvera
(Produced by David Foster for Chartmaker Inc.)
(Johannes Brahms)
Lullaby and good night
In the sky stars are bright
Around your head flowers gay
Set your slumbers till day
Lullaby and good night
In the sky stars are bright
Around your head flowers gay
Set your slumbers till day
Close your eyes now and rest
May these hours be blessed
Close your eyes now and rest
May these hours be blessed
Bonne nuit cher enfant
Dans tes langes blanches
Repose joyeux en rêvant des cieux
Quand le jour reviendra
Tu te réveilleras
Quand le jour reviendra
Tu te réveilleras
Lullaby and good night
In the sky stars are bright
Around your head flowers gay
Set your slumbers till day
(Produced by David Foster for Chartmaker Inc.)
(Maria Christensen and Curt Frasca)
Snow falling gently to the ground
‘Tis the night before
And in my heart there is no doubt
That this is gonna be
The brightest holiday
‘Cause here you are with me
Baby, baby, I can’t wait
To spend this special time of year with someone who
Makes me feel the special way that you do, Oh yeeeaahhh.....
Walkin’ with you in a winter’s snow
Kissin’ underneath the mistletoe
People smiling everywhere we go
It’s Christmas Eve and they can see we’re in love
Ooh, you make the season bright
With the lights reflected in your eyes
All my dreams are comin’ true tonight
It’s Christmas Eve and I can see we’re in love
We’ll stay up late tonight
Decorate the tree
Just look into my eyes
And I will tell you truthfully
That I don’t need no Santa Claus
To hear my Christmas wish
I got you in my arms
And what could be a better gift
Than to spend my very favorite time of year
With the one I really love so near, Oh yeeeaahhh.....
Walkin’ with you in a winter’s snow
Kissin’ underneath the mistletoe
People smiling everywhere we go
It’s Christmas Eve and they can see we’re in love
Ooh, you make the season bright
With the lights reflected in your eyes
All my dreams are comin’ true tonight
It’s Christmas Eve and I can see we’re in love
And bells are ringing when I hear you say
My baby, we’ll do it all again on Christmas Day
Oh, I can’t wait
Walkin’ with you in a winter’s snow
Kissin’ underneath the mistletoe
People smiling everywhere we go
It’s Christmas Eve and they can see we’re in love
Ooh, you make the season bright
With the lights reflected in your eyes
All my dreams are comin’ true tonight
It’s Christmas Eve and they can see we’re in love
Walkin’ with you in a winter’s snow
Kissin’ underneath the mistletoe
People smiling everywhere we go
It’s Christmas Eve and they can see we’re in love
(Diane Warren)
In these moments, moments of our lives
All the world is ours
And this world is so right
You and I sharing this time together
Sharing the same dream
As the time goes by, we will find
These are the special times
Times we’ll remember
These are the precious times
The tender times we’ll hold in our hearts forever
These are the sweetest times
These times together
And through it all, one thing will always be true
The special times are the times I share with you
With each moment, moment passing by
We’ll make memories that will last all our lives
As you and I travel through time together
Living this sweet dream
And every day, we can say
These are the special times, these are the special times
Times we’ll remember
These are the precious times
The tender times we’ll hold in our hearts forever
These are the sweetest times
These times together
And through it all, one thing will always be true
The special times are the times I share with you, I do
These tender moments
When heaven is so close
These are the moments that I know
These are the special times, these are the special times
Times we’ll remember
These are the precious times
The tender times we’ll hold in our hearts forever
These are the sweetest times
These times together
And through it all, one thing will always be true
The special times are the times I share
The special times are the times we share
The special times are the times I share with you
The special times I share with you
(Produced and Arranged by David Foster for Chartmaker Inc.)
(John Lennon and Yoko Ono)
So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
A new one just begun
And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear ones
The old and the young
A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let’s hope it’s a good one
Without any fear
And so this is Christmas
For weak and for strong
The rich and the poor ones
The war is so long
And so happy Christmas
For black and for white
For yellow and red ones
Let’s stop all the fight
A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let’s hope it’s a good one
Without any fear
And so this is Christmas
And what have we done
Another year over
A new one just begun
And so happy Christmas
We hope you have fun
The near and the dear ones
The old and the young
A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let’s hope it’s a good one
Without any fear
And so this is Christmas
And what have we done
Another year over
A new one just begun
(Produced by Ric Wake for The W&R Group)
(José Feliciano)
Performed by Celine and her family
Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad
Próspero año y Felicidad
Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad
Próspero año y Felicidad
I want to wish you a Merry Christmas
I want to wish you a Merry Christmas
I want to wish you a Merry Christmas
From the bottom of my heart
We want to wish you a Merry Christmas
We want to wish you a Merry Christmas
We want to wish you a Merry Christmas
From the bottom of our heart
Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad
Próspero año y Felicidad
Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad
Próspero año y Felicidad
We want to wish you a Merry Christmas
We want to wish you a Merry Christmas
We want to wish you a Merry Christmas
From the bottom of our heart
We want to wish you a Merry Christmas
We want to wish you a Merry Christmas
We want to wish you a Merry Christmas
From the bottom of our heart
From the bottom of my heart
Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad
Próspero año y Felicidad
Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad
Próspero año y Felicidad
We want to wish you a Merry Christmas
We want to wish you a Merry Christmas
We want to wish you a Merry Christmas
From the bottom of our heart
We want to wish you a Merry Christmas
We want to wish you a Merry Christmas
We want to wish you a Merry Christmas
From the bottom of our heart
From the bottom of my heart
From the bottom of my heart
We want to wish you
From our heart
(Johannes Brahms)
Performed by Celine and her family
Les cloches du hameau
Chantent dans la campagne
Le son du chalumeau
Egaye la montagne
On entend, on entend
Les bergers, les bergers
Chanter dans les prairies
Ces refrains si legers
Qui charment leurs amies
Tra la la, Tra la la la la la
Tra la la la la la la la la la la
Tra la la, Tra la la la la la
Tra la la la la la la la la la la
C’est l’heure du retour
Et la jeune bergère
Voyant la fin du jour
Regagne sa chaumière
On entend, en entend
Les bergers, les bergers
Chanter dans les prairies
Ces refrains si legers
Qui charment leurs amies
Tra la la, Tra la la la la la
Tra la la la la la la la la la la
Tra la la, Tra la la la la la
Tra la la la la la la la la la la
Lorsque dans le rocher
La tempète tourmente
Autour du vieux foyer
Joyeusement l’on chante
On entend, en entend
Les bergers, les bergers
Chanter dans les prairies
Ces refrains si legers
Qui charment leurs amies
Tra la la, Tra la la la la la
Tra la la la la la la la la la la
Tra la la, Tra la la la la la
Tra la la la la la la la la la la
(Gary Haase / James Lowell / Keith Fluit)
Ooh Baby, hmmm
Listen up to what I gotta say
I found true love and it’s here to stay
Chapel bells are gonna ring in May
I met an angel on Christmas Day
Twenty-fourth of December
It was a cold and snowing night
I still can remember
Gazing at the stars and the moonlight
Fell asleep on a sofa bed
Dreams of Christmas in my head
But I awoke to my surprise
There he was right in front of my eyes
Listen up to what I gotta say
I found true love and it’s here to stay
Chapel bells are gonna ring in May
I met an angel on Christmas Day
I was stuffing the stockings
And hanging tinsel on the tree
When I heard him knocking
I opened the door in time to see
Carolers sing “Silver Bells” I saw his face, that’s when I fell
He was there bent on one knee
Santa sent him just for me
Listen up to what I gotta say
I found true love and it’s here to stay
Chapel bells are gonna ring in May
I met an angel on a Christmas Day
Yeah, yeah
And I know this love will grow
When flowers bloom in early spring
I’ll be his bride
I’ll wear his ring
So if you’re looking for an angel who,
Is gonna make your every dream come true
Just write a letter saying Santa hey,
I’ll need an angel next Christmas day
Yeah
Yeah, yeah baby
Ooh
Ding, ding, dong, ding
Listen up to what I gotta say, hey
I found true love and it’s here to stay
Chapel bells are gonna ring and ring in May
I met an angel on a Christmas Day
Ooh, listen up to what I gotta say
I found true love and it’s here to stay
Chapel bells are gonna ring
Chapel bells are gonna ring
I met an angel on a Christmas Day
Listen up to what I gotta say
True love and it’s on its way
I met an angel on a Christmas Day
Yeah
On a Christmas Day
Ooh
Ooh baby
