Celine Dion and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli performed their beloved duet “The Prayer” together one more during a moving live show in Central Park, New York.
The Italian superstar and the Queen of Power Ballads collaborated, thus it was to be expected that there was an astounding amount of vocal firepower onstage, and both performers did an amazing job in their respective roles.
Soon after the performance, Elizabeth Taylor passed away, and Bocelli dedicated the song to the late Hollywood icon.
The synergy between the two singers live attracted a lot of attention from music lovers, and the video—which has 199 million views—became the second most popular upload on Bocelli’s YouTube account.
David Foster, the primary songwriter, introduced “The Prayer” on behalf of Bocelli, who humbly remarked that his command of English was inadequate.
The audience laughed as the Canadian composer remarked, “Andrea and Elizabeth Taylor had a great love affair together, although not literally.” “Elizabeth had such a great love for Andrea, and he wanted to dedicate this song this evening in her honor,” he said.
Along with multiple performances with Bocelli, Dion has performed the song live with Josh Groban in Los Angeles, which you can watch below.
Dion has performed the song with a well-known performer before. When the pair re-released the song as a duet in 2008, “The Prayer” made a comeback on the US and Canadian charts.
Since the song’s first release, Groban has been associated with David Foster.
When Bocelli became unwell in 1998, the composer suggested that Groban, who was only 17 at the time, cover for him when Dion was getting ready for the Grammy Awards’ “The Prayer.”
Foster has frequently referred to Bocelli as having “the most beautiful voice in the world,” so it’s challenging to duplicate, but the younger American singer does an amazing job.
Elizabeth Taylor clearly has a strong connection to the song because she has been a longstanding fan of Bocelli.
Taylor has become well-known throughout the years by making rare public appearances to see Bocelli perform live.
She caught up with him at the Hollywood Bowl despite being unwell and needing a wheelchair at the age of 77.
Taylor has been associated with “The Prayer” since the song’s initial release in 1999.
The celebrity called well-known gossip journalist Liz Smith and said, “This is such a powerful, wonderful song,” praising “The Prayer.” It ought to be nominated for an Oscar!
“The Prayer” was not the winner of Best Original Song at the Oscars, but it was nominated for both the Grammy and Academy Awards. But at the Golden Globes, it did win that category.
The Dion and Bocelli duet peaked at the US Classical chart and was a great critical hit, but it did not make the Billboard Top 100. Nevertheless, the Dion and Groban version was able to make it, peaking at #70 on the Top 100.
