It is a concept album which features thirteen songs written by influential female authors from France and Quebec, including: Françoise Dorin, Christine Orban, Nina Bouraoui, Marie Laberge, Lise Payette, Denise Bombardier, Nathalie Nechtschein, Jovette Alice Bernier, Janette Bertrand and George Sand.
D'elles received favourable reviews from music critics, some of whom noticed that it was Dion's most ambitious project in a long time.
[1] Ten prominent female writers from Quebec and France wrote the lyrics and a team of famous French composers worked on the music.
The lyrics were written by females only: Françoise Dorin, Christine Orban, Nina Bouraoui, Marie Laberge, Lise Payette, Denise Bombardier, Nathalie Nechtschein, Janette Bertrand, Jovette Alice Bernier and George Sand, and the themes throughout this album centre on "woman".
Music composers included: Erick Benzi, Jacques Veneruso, David Gategno and Gildas Arzel.
The first single "Et s'il n'en restait qu'une (je serais celle-là)", written by Françoise Dorin and David Gategno, was scheduled for release in Francophone countries on 14 February 2007.
[4] Dion's official website posted information that D'elles will be released in two special editions: a double digipak and a collectors box set.
[6] "Et s'il n'en restait qu'une (je serais celle-là)" premiered on 14 February 2007 and was sent to radio and released as a digital download on the same day.
[7] In a press release from 16 February 2007, celinedion.com announced that Dion is putting the finishing touches on D'elles, an album which celebrates womanhood.
[9][10] The "Et s'il n'en restait qu'une (je serais celle-là)" CD single was issued on 13 April 2007 in Francophone countries.
[15] Other songs include: "Je cherche l'ombre" with lyrics by Lise Payette who is a well-known Quebec author, an avid writer and a weekly columnist for Le Journal de Montréal, a television and radio personality, a politician and a strong advocate for women;[16] "La diva", a tribute to the famous opera singer Maria Callas, written by Denise Bombardier, an established journalist, novelist and media personality in Quebec who was honoured with the prestigious Legion of Honour and the National Order of Quebec (the song includes fragment of "Sì.
Mi Chiamano Mimì" from the opera La bohème performed by Callas);[17] "Femme comme chacune" whose lyrics are an adaptation of the poem "Ses yeux de clair de lune", by the late Quebec author, Jovette Alice Bernier;[18] "Si j'étais quelqu'un" which is a reflection on what society judges as being "normal" and whose lyrics are adapted from a poem written by Nathalie Nechtschein, a young French poet;[19] "Je ne suis pas celle" written by Christine Orban, a Moroccan-French novelist who has authored many books and describes herself as a romantic who treasures the female's ability to dream;[20] "Le temps qui compte" with lyrics by Marie Laberge, a Quebec author known in Canada for her literature, and in other Francophone countries for her plays; "Lettre de George Sand à Alfred de Musset", an adaptation of a letter exchanged between two lovers in the 19th century, written by George Sand;[21] and "Berceuse", a lullaby written for Dion's son René-Charles by Janette Bertrand, a famous writer and public personality in Quebec, winner of the 1990 Montreal Salon de la Femme 'Femme du Siècle' award.
[24][25] For the release of her new French-language album, Dion taped a two-hour television special about D'elles which was broadcast on 21 May 2007 on TVA in Canada.
It was hosted by Quebec television icon Julie Snyder and featured Dion and the female authors who wrote the song lyrics for the album.
Dion was interviewed and performed three songs from D'elles ("Et s'il n'en restait qu'une (je serais celle-là)", "A cause" and "Immensité") and also many duets: "Stayin' Alive" with Vitaa, Shy'm and Amel Bent, "Hymne à l'amour" with Maurane and Johnny Hallyday, "Blueberry Hill" with Johnny Hallyday, "The Show Must Go On" with Christophe Maé and David Hallyday, "My Heart Will Go On" with Lââm and Amel Bent, "Caroline" with MC Solaar and Nolwenn Leroy, "Être à la hauteur" with Merwan Rim and Christophe Maé, and "Caruso" with Florent Pagny.
[30][31][32] Dion performed "Et s'il n'en restait qu'une (je serais celle-là)" in French-speaking territories during her Taking Chances World Tour, which means the album was only supported by one song.
The first single, "Et s'il n'en restait qu'une (je serais celle-là)" was released as a digital download in Francophone countries on 14 February 2007.
[36] In Canada, D'elles shot to the top of the chart, selling 72,200 copies in its first week and making it the biggest debut of the year, according to data compiled by Nielsen SoundScan.
[39][40] In the third week, D'elles slipped to number three selling 11,000 units and on 12 June 2007, it was certified 2× platinum in Canada for shipping 200,000 copies.
The next week, D'elles fell to number four selling another 17,800 copies and on 21 June 2007, it was certified platinum for shipping 200,000 units.