At the height of her fame, Celine Dion threatened to leave Sony Music when she learned that the record company was planning to offer Lara Fabian a contract to launch her career in the United States.
This is what Vito Luprano, the former right hand of Rene Angelil, says. It all comes back to me… From my humble beginnings to the real story of Celine Dion's career. a book that will be published on January 12 and the contents of which would be approved by Celine Dion's lawyers.
“If that happens, I won't record for Sony anymore,” Celine Dion reportedly said in 1997 during a conference call that also included Luprano, then vice president of A&R at Sony Music Canada, René Angélil and Polly Anthony, president of 550 Music, a subsidiary of Sony Music that wanted to sign the Belgian-Quebec singer.
After this ultimatum, Sony Music executives sided with Celine Dion, and Lara Fabian ultimately never got the opportunity to try to seduce the American market.
“She was evil”
According to Vito Luprano, Celine Dion was hurt by Lara Fabian's remarks after the Eurovision final in 1988. Under the Swiss flag, the Quebecer won this prestigious competition, while her opponent, representing Luxembourg, finished in fourth place.
Celine Dion at Eurovision in 1988.
Photo archives
Lara Fabian then said that she sang better than Celine, Vito Luprano reports in his book.
“She was really mean to Celine for no reason. Renee and I were told to ignore it, but it broke Celine's heart,” Mr. Luprano tells the magazine. Magazine.
Sony Music asked him to intercede with Celine Dion, but he said he refused. “She was right to do that. They called me to convince her, I said, no, I can't convince her.”
No war, Lara said.
This story appears to contradict statements made by Lara Fabian to European media and Magazine which date back to 2024. She denied that there was any rivalry between the two singers.
“I don't believe in this war that the media made up. I don't put all the media in one bag, but there are two or three creators of this story that have hurt not only her or me, but all the people who love us and who felt obligated to choose,” she said, in part. Magazine.
Saying she was a big fan of Celine Dion, Lara Fabian also said she had long hoped to sing a duet with her, a dream she still clings to to this day.
In It All Comes Back to Me… From My Humble Beginnings to the Real Story of Celine Dion's Career Vito Luprano talks about the phenomenal rise of Celine Dion, which he experienced with the singer, her manager and husband Rene Angelil. Over the course of 23 years, Vito Luprano participated in the recording of 21 Celine albums as an executive producer.
Photo courtesy of Vito Luprano.
