Celine Dion Posts Two Best-Selling All-Time Female Songs In U.K. Top 10

Happy International Women's Day, whatever the hell that is (deemed an annual celebration of the

economic, political and social achievements of women's rights across the globe)... The U.K.'s OfficialCharts.com has shared the 40 best-selling singles from female singers—and Celine Dion is the only artist to have two songs among the top 10. Well-done, Brits!

The chart reveals that Cher's "Believe" tops them all, selling 1.79 million copies and spending seven weeks at No. 1 in 1998. Next in line is Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" from 1992. Below the video are the top 10:

 1. "Believe," Cher (1998)
 2. "I Will Always Love You," Whitney Houston (1992)
 3. "...Baby One More Time," Britney Spears (1999)
 4. "My Heart Will Go On," Celine Dion (1998)
 5. "Someone Like You," Adele (2011)
 6. "The Power of Love," Jennifer Rush (1985)
 7. "Wannabe," Spice Girls (1996)
 8. "Think Twice," Celine Dion (1994)
 9. "We Found Love," Rihanna f/Calvin Harris
10. "Never Ever," All Saints (1997)
11. "Call Me Maybe," Carly Rae Jepson (2012)
12. "Hallelujah," Alexandra Burke (2008)
13. "Price Tag," Jessie J (2011)
14. "Can't Get You Out of My Head," Kylie Minogue (2001)
15. "Saturday Night," Whigfield (1994)
16. "Torn," Natalie Imbruglia (1997)
17. "Poker Face," Lady Gaga (2009)
18. "2 Become 1," Spice Girls (1996)
19. "Only Girl In the World," Rihanna (2010)
20. "I Feel Love," Donna Summer (1977)

Celine Dion Pays Tribute To Whitney: 'The Greatest Love Of All'

Watching Celine Dion sing Whitney Houston's "The Greatest Love of All" on Friday's We Will Always Love You tribute telecast on CBS was a complete sensory overload, cool cats. Before she performed, Celine sang a bit of "Saving All My Love for You" a capella. I was slayed right there.

Before launching into "Greatest Love," she offered, "I can't sing it like you, Whitney, but if I may, in celebration of everything you did for me and so many other artists by setting the bar so high, I'd like to sing one of my truly favorite Whitney songs..."

What was particularly surprising to me is that, with Celine now 44 years old, I am beginning to hear tonal differences in her voice. As is typical with most female singers, age brings a deeper richness to the low notes... Listen carefully as she sings the verse line "and if by chance that special place/that you've been dreaming of..." (at the 3:40 mark). So rich, with a new timbre that could only come with the maturing of her vocal talents.

Unfortunately, the other side of vocal maturation is that it can be dangerous for a singer—like Celine—renowned for scorching the clouds with high notes. My other fave vocalist Sheena Easton, whose soprano was always quite high, in fact, lost much of her upper range as she approached 50. God bless her, Sheena has had to reinterpret many of her hits when she performs live... For example, imagine the peak of "We've Got Tonight" where she sings, "Still here we are..." In other cases, she has dropped an octave to avoid the "screechy" effect...

For now, Celine has the best of both worlds. As she sings the peak notes (at 3:12), her voice remains masterful and signature-ready, thank god... (awesome little grunt at 2:35!)

In other Celine news: The Best of David Foster and Celine Dion has been released as an import collection. Good stuff. Hard to fathom that the pair has collaborated on as many as 17 songs...

And of course, Celine's French-language album Sans Attendre ("Without Waiting") was released November 2—her first Frenchie album in five years—and promptly debuted at No. 1 in Canada, France and Belgium. I'm still absorbing what appears to be a very restrained collection. Stand by for a review!

Meanwhile, the CBS special is being released on DVD December 18, just in time for holiday gift-giving! *
More screen shots from Celine below!!!

TONIGHT!! CBS' Whitney Houston Tribute With Celine Dion!

Tonight's the night! At 10 p.m., CBS is airing a one-hour tribute special, "We Will Always Love You: A Grammy Salute to Whitney Houston," with Grammy superstars Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson, Yolanda Adams, CeCe Winans and Usher performing. The special was taped October 11 at L.A.'s Nokia Theatre.

I'm a bit surprised that Celine was not drafted to sing "I Will Always Love You." Instead, according to USA Today, the show kicks off with Hudson charging through an upbeat medley of "I'm Every Woman," "How Will I Know" and "I Wanna Dance With Somebody." Usher tackles "I Believe in You and Me" from The Preacher's Wife... And Celine's The Greatest Love of All is intercut with clips of a version Dion sang in 1987. Winans and Adams close the show with a soaring rendition of Waiting to Exhale's "Count on Me."

Rare footage includes Houston's TV debut on The Merv Griffin Show, where her mother can be seen through the translucent curtain frantically directing the band to quicken the tempo, with video flashbacks belting the National Anthem at the 1991 Super Bowl and "I Will Always Love You" on 1994's Grammy Awards.

Tributes come from the likes of Britney Spears, Halle Berry, LL Cool J, Tariji P. Henson and Clive Davis, seated in the audience with Houston's daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown and her fiancé Nick Gordon.

Whitney, of course, died in February, at the age of 48. A new hits compilation I Will Always Love You: The Best of Whitney Houston was released Tuesday. *

Now THIS Is A Whitney Houston Tribute!

After posting yesterday that I find the notion of a new Whitney Houston Greatest Hits package rather distasteful, there's mightily more respectful news to report. CBS will air a one-hour tribute special on November 16, with top-notch vocalists Celine Dion and Jennifer Hudson performing. Usher will also sing... (How'd you like my little Usher dig there? Get it?)

It's going to be fascinating to hear what Celine might sing. Few vocalists could dare take Whit's signature "I Will Always Love You," and yet both Hudson and Dion could nail that baby. Apparently, Jenn has previously performed it in tribute to Houston, so perhaps it will be handed to Celine. Man, I'll be crying like a baby over that performance.

"We Will Always Love You: A Grammy Salute to Whitney Houston" will tape October 11 at the Nokia Theatre in L.A. The special will also include Houston’s “most memorable performances” and interviews with various artists. More performers will be announced. Bravo! Whitney died in February. The new compilation will be released November 13. *

Do We Need Another Whitney Houston Greatest Hits Album?

Tribute or opportunism? Whitney Houston already has the definitive best-of collection: her 2000 two-album The Greatest Hits, released as her career was just about to run its course. Now, according to RCA, "the legacy of Whitney Houston continues with the first-ever definitive single disc collection" of hits, coming November 18, just in time for fourth-quarter holiday sales.

I Will Always Love You: The Best Of Whitney Houston contains 18 songs and two "new" cuts: “Never Give Up” from Jermaine Dupri, Bryan-Michael Cox & Johnta Austin; and a "duet version" of previous flop single "I Look To You" with the song's writer R. Kelly stripped on as her singing partner and a different vocal take from Whitney.

Most disturbing is Kelly oozing, "We love you Whitney. Rest in peace" at the end of the song, which is not only gruesome but just plain gratuitous. It made me a little sick to my stomach.

Clive Davis claims, "The duet version of 'I Look To You' between Whitney and R. Kelly is purely and simply a knockout. I believe that everyone will remember the first time they heard it and I think a new classic is being born." With all respect to Mr. Davis, I believe that unfortunately, the song is as non-monumental as it was the first time it was released and simply unnecessary. I'd love nothing more than to hear something fresh and new from the Houston archives. This is not it.

Last week, I was browsing through the aisles of a retailer in Downtown Brooklyn and Whitney's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" came on the radio. There must have been four women I passed who were singing along with Whitney, quietly, to themselves but audibly, with happiness in their hearts. Now that is a tribute. The release of another greatest hits that offers nothing new just to put some more bucks in the bank? No thank you. *

Luscious ST Cover For Jordin Sparks/Whitney Houston's 'Sparkle'

Whitney Houston's final flick Sparkle heads to theaters August 17. Meanwhile, the film soundtrack hits July 31 from RCA. The movie is a remake from 1976 (which starred a pre-Fame Irene Cara), and stars Jordin Sparks as one of three daughters during Detroit's Motown era vying for musical fame, with Whitney playing their single mama.

The 13-song soundtrack includes the (alleged) final recordings from Whit, as well as new songs from Jordin Sparks and—ugh—Cee Lo Green. The first single is a wondrous, life-affirming uptempo duet between Houston and Sparks (produced by R. Kelly), "Celebrate." Listen to the full track here! RCA will also release Houston's take on the gospel classic "His Eye Is On The Sparrow." Hear the track here. The film is directed by Sam O'Steen (The Graduate, High Risk, Kids Don't Tell). *

Movie Trailer Released For Whitney Houston's 'Sparkle'

On Monday, NBC's Today show revealed the movie trailer for Whitney Houston's upcoming movie role in Sparkle, a remake of a 1976 flick that is scheduled to hit theaters August 17. (The YouTube version without commercials is below.)

The film stars Houston as the mother of three girls who form a singing group and struggle with fame and drug addiction.

The trailer below shows the daughters performing, including American Idol winner Jordin Sparks, who plays the title character. Houston is prominent throughout, at one point singing the classic gospel song "His Eye Is on the Sparrow." * See other versions of The Smoking Nun's collage below the jump...

April 2012 Magazine Cover Round-Up

And then... there's this. This has to be the most embarrassing Billboard cover I have ever seen. I get the intention, but it's an absolute sham that a magazine that once was regarded as the Bible of the music industry is now playing the fool. I am embarrassed for the legacy that once was. *

The Week In Music: Meet History-Making U.K. Boy Band One Direction

So sorry, Boss. After a single week atop the Billboard 200 albums chart with Wrecking Ball, spanking new U.K. boy band One Direction supplants Bruce Springsteen at No. 1 by achieving the seeming impossible: The vocal quintet makes history as the first U.K. group ever to bow at the summit with a debut album. Its Up All Night sold 176,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

While most grown-ups are likely saying, “Who?” SYCO/Columbia has engineered a marketing blitz to saturate the group with its intended tween and teen audience. The pretty boys have appeared at numerous album-signing events in shopping malls over the past month, and attracted 10,000 screaming fans for an NBC Today appearance March 12, its first live TV performance in America.

One Direction also recently wrapped a 10-date stateside tour, opening for Big Time Rush. They are scheduled to appear April 7 on Saturday Night Live. One Direction mania will maintain center stage into the summer. Wednesday it was announced they will headline a first-ever North American Tour, starting May 24 in arenas and large theaters in New York, Toronto, L.A. and points in between.

Formed on the 2010 U.K. version of X Factor (which also spawned No. 1 album artist Leona Lewis in the States), One Direction comprises Brits Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson, and Irishman Niall Horan—four of whom are still in their teens. The act has scored three top three U.K. singles and its debut album hit No. 2 last November. Meanwhile, in the U.S., debut single “What Makes You Beautiful,” is No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 this week. Their album is also No. 1 on the Digital Albums tally.

Elsewhere on the Billboard 200’s top 10, Adele holds tight at No. 2—her 16th week in the runner-up position, alongside 23 No. 1 weeks; Guns N' Roses catapults from No. 31 to No. 3 with its 2004 collective Greatest Hits (after being priced at 25 cents at Google Play and AmazonMP3 one day last week); while last week’s No. 1, Wrecking Ball from Springsteen dissipates to No. 4, with a whopping 71% decline in sales, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The set has spawned no hit singles on the Hot Digital chart. Whoops.

Passion’s White Flag live set debuts at No. 5 and also launches at No. 1 on Top Christian Albums; Whitney Houston's The Greatest Hits holds at No. 6; as does Drake's Take Care at No. 7; while the Now 41 compilation falls 5 to No. 8; Gotye's Making Mirrors climbs 16-9; and fun.'s Some Nights, returns to the top 10, up from No. 13, despite a 2% decline in sales. Their single “We Are Young,” featuring Janelle Monae, spends a third week atop the Billboard Hot 100.

Next week: The appetite for Hunger Games mania is likely to gobble up the top spot for its soundtrack on the Billboard 200 album chart. It includes new tracks from Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert, The Decemberists, Maroon 5, Kid Cudi and Arcade Fire.

Also debuting is the first album for Esperanza Spalding since she unexpectedly won the Best New Artist Grammy in 2011. The fringe artist’s new Radio Music Society jazz-pop-funk-soul template is allegedly gunning to take the artist more mainstream. Evidence: The first single is called “Radio Song.”

This story originally appeared on Radio-Info.com.

The Week In Music: It's All About Adele & Whitney (Again)

Prince, watch your back, baby. Adele’s Grammy-winning “21” logs a 23rd astonishing week atop the upcoming Billboard 200 album chart for March 17, 2012. That makes it the longest-running chart-topping set since “Purple Rain” from Prince & The Revolution spent 24 weeks at No. 1 in 1984 and 1985—some 27 years ago. Sales for “21” this year alone have now reached 2.07 million, according to Nielsen SoundScan, easily making it the best-selling album for the first quarter of 2012.

Next in line: Whitney Houston's "Whitney: The Greatest Hits," at 527,000 (which is this week’s No. 2 album). Further attesting to Adele’s unstoppable momentum, it’s been nine years since an album sold 2+ million copies this early in the year, with 50 Cent's "Get Rich Or Die Tryin'." Meanwhile, Adele’s debut “19” endures at No. 7 on the album chart.

But don’t expect a 24th week for Adele when the next chart hits. Bruce Springsteen’s 17th studio album “Wrecking Ball,” was released Tuesday, March 7. Given its typically venerating reviews, it’s hard to imagine that Bruuuuce won't debut at No. 1 next week.

In other Whitney Houston news, her death Feb. 11 continues to conjure sentimentality. In addition to “The Greatest Hits” at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, "The Bodyguard" soundtrack rises a rung to No. 5; while debut "Whitney Houston" falls one to No. 10. She has a total of nine albums on that chart in the coming week, also ringing up Nos. 13, 21, 31, 32, 50 and 80. The last time one act had as many as nine among the week's top 100 sellers was October 2009, when the Beatles drained 11 out of the top 100. In addition, Houston is one of only six artists to have three or more of the 10 best-selling albums in the U.S. since August 1963, alongside The Beatles, Peter, Paul & Mary, Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, Simon & Garfunkel and Michael Jackson. She is the only woman to achieve the feat.

On the singles side, Fun becomes the first rock band in more than 10 years to launch its debut track to the top of Billboard Hot 100, as "We Are Young," featuring Janelle Monae, rises 3-1. The song is also on top of the Digital Songs chart for a third week. Last time a debut rock song accomplished the same was December 2001/January 2002, when Nickelback spent four weeks at No. 1 with "How You Remind Me.” Fun was featured in a Super Bowl ad for Chevrolet's Sonic, explaining its radio and retail combustion. In all, the song has sold 1.1 million downloads.

At Nos. 2 and 3 are two former chart-toppers: First is "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" from Kelly Clarkson, followed by Adele's "Set Fire to the Rain."

Next week: Will The Monkees return to the charts, following the untimely death of Davy Jones at age 66? And one more tidbit to demonstrate that no matter what, the world keeps turning: On Friday, March 2, Grammy-winning rocker Jon Bon Jovi turned 50. *

This piece originally appears on Radio-Info.com.

Jason Mecier's Whitney Houston Portrait: Collage Of Prescription Pills

Now that Whitney Houston has been buried, bless her heart, it's appropriate for the reverent tributes to be supplanted with a little tough love... We all know that despite her wondrous gifts, Whit has been a mess for more than a decade and that Celine Dion is right: Ultimately, drugs killed the 48-year-old singer.

And so... how brilliant is this? Artist Jason Mecier, who creates celebrity collages from unexpected materials—circuit boards for Lady Gaga, bathroom notions for Carol Channing, household doodads for Tina Fey—has come up with a series of homages to those that left us too soon, including Michael Jackson, Amy Winehouse, Heath Ledger and now, Whitney Houston. Her portrait is constructed out of brightly colored prescription pills. Genius. *

Whitney's Daughter Caught Getting High Hours After Mama Was Buried

Talk about utterly stupefyingly stupid. Whitney Houston’s daughter Bobbi Kristina was caught getting high hours after her mother’s funeral. According to The Daily Beast, after leaving the New Hope Baptist Church in New Jersey Saturday, the 18 year old dodged a family dinner to spend "time alone" at a nearby hotel, where she was nabbed doing drugs.

Her habit has apparently become a persistent problem for the entitled brat. Before her mama's funeral Saturday, the family had a serious discussion about shipping away Bobbi Kristina to rehab as soon as Whitney was laid to rest. How in god's name could this girl be so asinine, seeing what such a habit ultimately leads to?

Stupid is as stupid does? Utterly unbelievable. *