Joe Walsh and Celine Dion made an unusual pairing when they performed together in 2008 as part of Dion’s live television special, “Celine Dion: That’s Just The Woman In Me.” Celine Dion, a Canadian singer-songwriter, is best known for her melancholy, beautiful songs “My Heart Will Go On” and “Think Twice.” At the same time, multi-instrumentalist Joe Walsh is more renowned for his guitar work with the rock band The Eagles. Simply put, the two were in sharp contrast.
In the end, they demonstrated a remarkable sensitivity in their rendition of George Harrison’s song “Something,” a double A-side released by The Beatles in 1969. Celine emulated Shirley Bassey’s previous interpretation of the song, adding a feminine touch and singing with a carefree grace that made her look almost divine. Celine wore a fluffy white dress and stunning thigh-high black boots.
On the other hand, Joe Walsh’s rich and melodic guitar lines enhanced rather than overshadowed Celine’s voice. Later, he went into the song’s well-known solo, giving it a more country rock flavor and borrowing inspiration from the original record. The confluence of these two very different artists’ methods resulted in a cover that was highly compelling and beyond the expectations of many viewers. One fan described it as “a masterclass by two legends in respect of a third.”
Meanwhile, if you haven’t already, listen to The Beatles’ original version of “Something” right away. George, the band’s guitarist, penned the song, which became a number-one hit in various countries across the world, about his ex-wife Patti. The original publication dubbed it “the greatest love song of the past 50 years.” It is undeniably one of The Beatles’ many immortal songs, encapsulated by its beautiful melody, excellent guitar arrangements, and tragic lyrics.
Given the song’s famous history, Celine and Joe’s 2008 performance of “Something” might have gone tragically wrong or even received disdain from the show’s live audience. However, Olivia Harrison, George’s widow, who was present in the Celine audience that night, proudly and gratefully noted that the duet not only performed wonderfully, but also paid homage to the original performance due to the two performers’ great skills.