My Heart Will Go On
Encyclopedia
"My Heart Will Go On" is the theme song/love theme of the 1997 blockbuster film
Titanic
. With music by James Horner
, lyrics by Will Jennings
, and production by Simon Franglen, James Horner
and Walter Afanasieff
,, it was recorded by Céline Dion
. Originally released in 1997 on the Titanic soundtrack album and then on Dion's album Let's Talk About Love
, the song went to number 1 all over the world, including the United States, United Kingdom and Australia. "My Heart Will Go On" was released in Australia and Germany on December 8, 1997, and in the rest of the world in January and February 1998. It became Dion's biggest hit, and one of the best-selling singles of all time, and was the world's best-selling single of 1998.
had originally composed the song as an instrumental motif that is used in several scenes during Titanic
. He then wanted to make a full vocal song out of it, for use in the end credits of the film. Director James Cameron
did not want such a song, but Horner went ahead anyway and got Jennings
to write the lyrics. When Dion
originally heard the song, she did not want to record it.. Horner showed the piano sketch to Simon Franglen, who was working with him on electronic textures and synthesizers for the film score. Franglen had worked with Celine Dion for several years on many of her major hits to date . He programmed and arranged an extensive demo to take to Dion. It was her manager and husband, René Angélil
, who convinced her to sing on this demo version, which was something she hadn't done for many years. Horner waited until Cameron was in an appropriate mood before presenting him with the song. After playing it several times, Cameron declared his approval, although worried that he might be criticised for "going commercial at the end of the movie." Cameron also wanted to appease anxious studio executives and "saw that a hit song from his movie could only be a positive factor in guaranteeing its completion."
The original Horner/Franglen produced version of the ballad appears on the Titanic soundtrack and has an extended ending with longer, segmented vocalizations by Dion. Franglen mixed the final film and soundtrack version, expanding on the demo and adding orchestra to the final chorus. The single also played over the ending credits of the film. When the single was to be released to radio, it was produced further by Walter Afanasieff
who added string and electric guitar, as well as rearranged portions of the song. This version appears on the 4-track maxi single as well as on Dion's album, Let's Talk About Love.
In the Let's Talk about Love album booklet, the lyrics of the song contain an additional line between a second chorus and the final verse. The words, "There is some love that will not go away", are not performed by Dion in any available version of the song, however, they are still included on Dion's official site.
The music video was directed by Bille Woodruff
and released at the end of 1997. It was included later on the All the Way… A Decade of Song & Video
DVD.
In addition to Dion's Let's Talk About Love
and the Titanic
soundtrack, "My Heart Will Go On" appears on several other albums, including Au cœur du stade, All the Way… A Decade of Song, A New Day... Live in Las Vegas
, Complete Best
, My Love: Essential Collection
, and Taking Chances World Tour: The Concert
. It was also included on the following DVDs: Au cœur du stade, All the Way… A Decade of Song & Video
and Live in Las Vegas - A New Day...
.
At the height of the song's popularity, some radio stations in the US and the UK played an edited version of the song, that had dramatic moments of dialog from the Jack and Rose lead characters in the film inserted in between Dion's vocal lines. It was included later on the Back to Titanic
second soundtrack album. In France, "My Heart Will Go On" was released as a double A-side single with "The Reason
."
, with sales of 360,000 copies, where it stayed for two weeks. In addition, the song spent ten weeks at number-one on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay, and was number one for two weeks on the Hot 100 Singles Sales
. As a testament to the popularity of the song on the radio, the song broke the record for the then-largest radio audience ever, garnering 117 million listeners in February 1998. The single was eventually certified gold in the United States. Ask Billboard reported that the digital copy of the single has sold 871,000 since being available bringing total sales to 1.5 million copies sold in the US.
In addition "My Heart Will Go On" reached number one in several other U.S. charts, including, Billboard's Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
, Top 40 Mainstream, Hot Latin Pop Airplay, and Hot Latin Tracks. For the latter, the single became the first English-language song to top the Hot Latin Tracks chart, to which Dion was given a Billboard Latin Music Award
for that achievement.
Internationally the song was phenomenally successful, spending many weeks at the top position in various countries, including 17 weeks on the Eurochart Hot 100 Singles
, 15 weeks in Switzerland, 13 weeks in France and Germany, 11 weeks in the Netherlands and Sweden, ten weeks in Belgium Wallonia, Denmark, Italy, and Norway, seven weeks in Belgium Flanders, six weeks in Ireland, four weeks in Australia and Austria, two weeks in Spain and the United Kingdom, and one week in Finland.
In Germany, "My Heart Will Go On" was certified 4x platinum for selling over two million copies, and was ranked as one of the most popular singles ever released, there. It sold over 1.2 million copies in France, being certified 2x platinum and diamond. Additionally, the song was certified 3x platinum in Belgium, 2x platinum in Australia, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland, platinum in Greece, and gold in Austria. "My Heart Will Go On" was released twice in Japan. The regular edition from January 1998 sold 210,000 and was certified 2x platinum, for 200,000 copies sold. The remixed edition released in June 1998 sold 115,000 copies and was certified gold for 100,000 copies sold, due the fact that maxi-singles are treated as an album.
In the United Kingdom the song sold over 1 million copies, which was Dion's second single to do so. This made her the only solo female artist to have two million-selling singles in the UK, a record which still stands.
Academy Award for Best Original Song
. It dominated the Grammy Awards of 1999
, winning Record of the Year
, Song of the Year
, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
and Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or Television
. "My Heart Will Go On" won also the Golden Globe Award for "Best Original Song-Motion Picture" in 1998.
The song also won a Japanese Gold Disc Award, for Song of the Year, as well as a Billboard Music Award
for Soundtrack Single of the Year.
In a 2006 poll for a program on Five called Britain's Favourite Break-up Songs, "My Heart Will Go On" was voted tenth. It has been named one of the Songs of the Century
. It is one of the best-selling singles ever in the UK
, selling over a million copies, the second single released by Dion to do so. She is the only female artist to date to have released two million-selling singles in Britain. It was ranked at number 14 on AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs, celebrating the 100 greatest songs in American film history. In April 2010, the UK radio station Magic 105.4 voted the single the "top movie song of all time" after listeners' votes. In December 2007, the song peaked #21 on VH1
's "100 Greatest Songs of the 90's."
Due to the song's widespread popularity when it was released, it is considered to be Céline Dion's signature song
. Today, along with two other songs from film soundtracks, Whitney Houston
's "I Will Always Love You" from The Bodyguard
and Bryan Adams
' "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You
" from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
, it is considered one of the biggest love ballads of the 1990s.
's "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing
" from Armageddon and Faith Hill
's "There You'll Be
" from Pearl Harbor
. Each followed in the footsteps of the "Titanic" theme, a love ballad for a tragedy. Although those two songs became hits, they did not achieve the success of "My Heart Will Go On."
Horner himself repeated the formula of making a song from his film themes with films such as A Beautiful Mind
, Bicentennial Man
, The Perfect Storm
, and Avatar.
European CD single #2
French CD single
French CD single #2
French CD single #3
Japanese CD single
UK cassette single
US CD single
Australian/Brazilian/European/UK/Korean CD maxi single
Australian CD maxi single #2
Brazilian CD maxi single #2
European CD maxi single #2 / UK 12" single
Japanese/Korean CD maxi single
UK CD maxi single #2
|-
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
Titanic
Titanic (1997 film)
Titanic is a 1997 American epic romance and disaster film directed, written, co-produced, and co-edited by James Cameron. A fictionalized account of the sinking of the RMS Titanic, it stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Jack Dawson, Kate Winslet as Rose DeWitt Bukater and Billy Zane as Rose's fiancé, Cal...
. With music by James Horner
James Horner
James Roy Horner is an American composer, orchestrator and conductor of orchestral and film music. He is noted for the integration of choral and electronic elements in many of his film scores, and for frequent use of Celtic musical elements...
, lyrics by Will Jennings
Will Jennings
Wilbur H. "Will" Jennings is an American songwriter who is popularly known for writing the lyrics for "My Heart Will Go On", the theme for the film Titanic .-Life and education:...
, and production by Simon Franglen, James Horner
James Horner
James Roy Horner is an American composer, orchestrator and conductor of orchestral and film music. He is noted for the integration of choral and electronic elements in many of his film scores, and for frequent use of Celtic musical elements...
and Walter Afanasieff
Walter Afanasieff
Walter Afanasieff is a multiple Grammy-award-winning record producer and songwriter. He is best known for his long association with Mariah Carey, for whom he was producer and co-writer for several years, beginning in 1990...
,, it was recorded by Céline Dion
Celine Dion
Céline Marie Claudette Dion, , , is a Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record...
. Originally released in 1997 on the Titanic soundtrack album and then on Dion's album Let's Talk About Love
Let's Talk About Love
Let's Talk About Love is an album by Canadian singer Céline Dion, released on November 18, 1997. It is her fifth English-language album and twenty-third in total. Let's Talk About Love remains one of the best-selling albums in history with over 31 million copies sold worldwide...
, the song went to number 1 all over the world, including the United States, United Kingdom and Australia. "My Heart Will Go On" was released in Australia and Germany on December 8, 1997, and in the rest of the world in January and February 1998. It became Dion's biggest hit, and one of the best-selling singles of all time, and was the world's best-selling single of 1998.
History
HornerJames Horner
James Roy Horner is an American composer, orchestrator and conductor of orchestral and film music. He is noted for the integration of choral and electronic elements in many of his film scores, and for frequent use of Celtic musical elements...
had originally composed the song as an instrumental motif that is used in several scenes during Titanic
Titanic (1997 film)
Titanic is a 1997 American epic romance and disaster film directed, written, co-produced, and co-edited by James Cameron. A fictionalized account of the sinking of the RMS Titanic, it stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Jack Dawson, Kate Winslet as Rose DeWitt Bukater and Billy Zane as Rose's fiancé, Cal...
. He then wanted to make a full vocal song out of it, for use in the end credits of the film. Director James Cameron
James Cameron
James Francis Cameron is a Canadian-American film director, film producer, screenwriter, editor, environmentalist and inventor...
did not want such a song, but Horner went ahead anyway and got Jennings
Will Jennings
Wilbur H. "Will" Jennings is an American songwriter who is popularly known for writing the lyrics for "My Heart Will Go On", the theme for the film Titanic .-Life and education:...
to write the lyrics. When Dion
Celine Dion
Céline Marie Claudette Dion, , , is a Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record...
originally heard the song, she did not want to record it.. Horner showed the piano sketch to Simon Franglen, who was working with him on electronic textures and synthesizers for the film score. Franglen had worked with Celine Dion for several years on many of her major hits to date . He programmed and arranged an extensive demo to take to Dion. It was her manager and husband, René Angélil
René Angélil
René Angélil, OQ is a Canadian singer and manager. He is the husband and manager of singer Celine Dion.-Early life:Angélil was born in Montreal, Québec, Canada of a father of Syrian descent and a Canadian mother of Lebanese origin...
, who convinced her to sing on this demo version, which was something she hadn't done for many years. Horner waited until Cameron was in an appropriate mood before presenting him with the song. After playing it several times, Cameron declared his approval, although worried that he might be criticised for "going commercial at the end of the movie." Cameron also wanted to appease anxious studio executives and "saw that a hit song from his movie could only be a positive factor in guaranteeing its completion."
The original Horner/Franglen produced version of the ballad appears on the Titanic soundtrack and has an extended ending with longer, segmented vocalizations by Dion. Franglen mixed the final film and soundtrack version, expanding on the demo and adding orchestra to the final chorus. The single also played over the ending credits of the film. When the single was to be released to radio, it was produced further by Walter Afanasieff
Walter Afanasieff
Walter Afanasieff is a multiple Grammy-award-winning record producer and songwriter. He is best known for his long association with Mariah Carey, for whom he was producer and co-writer for several years, beginning in 1990...
who added string and electric guitar, as well as rearranged portions of the song. This version appears on the 4-track maxi single as well as on Dion's album, Let's Talk About Love.
In the Let's Talk about Love album booklet, the lyrics of the song contain an additional line between a second chorus and the final verse. The words, "There is some love that will not go away", are not performed by Dion in any available version of the song, however, they are still included on Dion's official site.
The music video was directed by Bille Woodruff
Bille Woodruff
Bille Woodruff is a music video and film director, noted for directing many videos for a number of R&B and hip-hop artists since the mid-1990s. These artists include Joe, for whom Woodruff has directed nine music videos since 1994, and Toni Braxton, whom he has worked 8 times since 1996...
and released at the end of 1997. It was included later on the All the Way… A Decade of Song & Video
All the Way… A Decade of Song & Video
All the Way... A Decade of Song & Video is Céline Dion's sixth home video release. It's a collection of her English music videos, released on February 20, 2001. This retrospective anthology features videos and live performances of many Céline Dion favorites, with nine signature singles and seven...
DVD.
In addition to Dion's Let's Talk About Love
Let's Talk About Love
Let's Talk About Love is an album by Canadian singer Céline Dion, released on November 18, 1997. It is her fifth English-language album and twenty-third in total. Let's Talk About Love remains one of the best-selling albums in history with over 31 million copies sold worldwide...
and the Titanic
Titanic (soundtrack)
Titanic: Music from the Motion Picture is the soundtrack to the film of the same name composed, orchestrated and conducted by James Horner. The soundtrack was released by Sony Classical on November 18, 1997...
soundtrack, "My Heart Will Go On" appears on several other albums, including Au cœur du stade, All the Way… A Decade of Song, A New Day... Live in Las Vegas
A New Day... Live in Las Vegas
A New Day... Live in Las Vegas is Céline Dion's first English live album, released on June 14, 2004. It's her 11th English longplay and 32nd in total.-Album information:A New Day.....
, Complete Best
Complete Best (Celine Dion album)
Complete Best is a greatest hits album by Canadian singer Céline Dion, released on February 27, 2008 in Japan. It's her 14th English language album and 36th in total. On July 22, 2009 the album was reissued in Blu-spec CD format in Japan.-Background:...
, My Love: Essential Collection
My Love: Essential Collection
My Love: Essential Collection is a greatest hits album by Canadian recording artist Celine Dion. It was released by Columbia Records on October 24, 2008 as the follow up to her previous English-language compilation, All the Way... A Decade of Song . Before releasing My Love: Essential Collection,...
, and Taking Chances World Tour: The Concert
Taking Chances World Tour: The Concert
Taking Chances World Tour: The Concert is a live album/home video by Canadian recording artist Céline Dion. It was released between April 29 and May 14, 2010 in two versions: English and French, both in CD/DVD format...
. It was also included on the following DVDs: Au cœur du stade, All the Way… A Decade of Song & Video
All the Way… A Decade of Song & Video
All the Way... A Decade of Song & Video is Céline Dion's sixth home video release. It's a collection of her English music videos, released on February 20, 2001. This retrospective anthology features videos and live performances of many Céline Dion favorites, with nine signature singles and seven...
and Live in Las Vegas - A New Day...
Live in Las Vegas - A New Day...
Live in Las Vegas: A New Day... is Céline Dion's eighth home video, released on DVD between December 7–10, 2007 in Europe, on December 11, 2007 in North America, December 15, 2007 in Australia and December 19, 2007 in Japan. It includes the record-breaking show A New Day... at Caesars Palace in Las...
.
At the height of the song's popularity, some radio stations in the US and the UK played an edited version of the song, that had dramatic moments of dialog from the Jack and Rose lead characters in the film inserted in between Dion's vocal lines. It was included later on the Back to Titanic
Back to Titanic
- Trivia :* "An Irish Party In Third Class" includes "The Blarney Pilgrim" & "John Ryan's Polka".* "Jack Dawson's Luck" includes "Humours of Caledon", "The Red-Haired Lass", "The Boys On The Hilltop", & "The Bucks Of Oranmore"....
second soundtrack album. In France, "My Heart Will Go On" was released as a double A-side single with "The Reason
The Reason (Celine Dion song)
"The Reason" is a single from Céline Dion's album Let's Talk About Love. It was released on December 8, 1997 in selected European countries: United Kingdom, Ireland and Belgium. In France, it was issued as a double A-side single with "My Heart Will Go On."...
."
Chart success
"My Heart Will Go On" is Céline Dion's biggest hit and one of the best-selling singles in history, having sold more than 15 million copies worldwide. In the United States, the song was given a limited number of copies - 690,000. Regardless, it debuted at number-one on the Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, with sales of 360,000 copies, where it stayed for two weeks. In addition, the song spent ten weeks at number-one on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay, and was number one for two weeks on the Hot 100 Singles Sales
Hot 100 Singles Sales
The Hot Singles Sales chart is a chart released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It measures sales of commercial singles and is one of three component charts, along with the Hot 100 Airplay and the Hot Digital Songs, that determine the chart positions of singles on the...
. As a testament to the popularity of the song on the radio, the song broke the record for the then-largest radio audience ever, garnering 117 million listeners in February 1998. The single was eventually certified gold in the United States. Ask Billboard reported that the digital copy of the single has sold 871,000 since being available bringing total sales to 1.5 million copies sold in the US.
In addition "My Heart Will Go On" reached number one in several other U.S. charts, including, Billboard's Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States...
, Top 40 Mainstream, Hot Latin Pop Airplay, and Hot Latin Tracks. For the latter, the single became the first English-language song to top the Hot Latin Tracks chart, to which Dion was given a Billboard Latin Music Award
Billboard Latin Music Awards
The Billboard Latin Music Awards grew out of the Billboard Music Awards program from Billboard Magazine, an industry publication charting the sales and radio airplay success of musical recordings. The awards began in 1990...
for that achievement.
Internationally the song was phenomenally successful, spending many weeks at the top position in various countries, including 17 weeks on the Eurochart Hot 100 Singles
Eurochart Hot 100 Singles
The European Hot 100 Singles has been compiled by Billboard and Music & Media magazine since March, 1984. The chart is based on national singles sales charts in 15 European countries: Austria, Belgium , Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden,...
, 15 weeks in Switzerland, 13 weeks in France and Germany, 11 weeks in the Netherlands and Sweden, ten weeks in Belgium Wallonia, Denmark, Italy, and Norway, seven weeks in Belgium Flanders, six weeks in Ireland, four weeks in Australia and Austria, two weeks in Spain and the United Kingdom, and one week in Finland.
In Germany, "My Heart Will Go On" was certified 4x platinum for selling over two million copies, and was ranked as one of the most popular singles ever released, there. It sold over 1.2 million copies in France, being certified 2x platinum and diamond. Additionally, the song was certified 3x platinum in Belgium, 2x platinum in Australia, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland, platinum in Greece, and gold in Austria. "My Heart Will Go On" was released twice in Japan. The regular edition from January 1998 sold 210,000 and was certified 2x platinum, for 200,000 copies sold. The remixed edition released in June 1998 sold 115,000 copies and was certified gold for 100,000 copies sold, due the fact that maxi-singles are treated as an album.
In the United Kingdom the song sold over 1 million copies, which was Dion's second single to do so. This made her the only solo female artist to have two million-selling singles in the UK, a record which still stands.
Accolades
"My Heart Will Go On" won the 199770th Academy Awards
The 70th Academy Awards were noted for their high ratings and the 11 wins obtained by the Best Picture Titanic. Billy Crystal hosted the ceremony for the sixth time, and received an Emmy award for his performance....
Academy Award for Best Original Song
Academy Award for Best Original Song
The Academy Award for Best Original Song is one of the awards given annually to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences . It is presented to the songwriters who have composed the best original song written specifically for a film...
. It dominated the Grammy Awards of 1999
Grammy Awards of 1999
The 41st Grammy Awards were held on February 24, 1999. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1998. Lauryn Hill was the nights big winner winning a total of 5 awards including Album of the Year and Best New Artist. Madonna won three awards while country musicians the Dixie...
, winning Record of the Year
Grammy Award for Record of the Year
The Record of the Year is one of the four most prestigious Grammy Awards presented annually. It has been awarded since 1959.-History:The honorees through its history have been:*1959-1965: Artist only.*1966-1998: Artist and producer....
, Song of the Year
Grammy Award for Song of the Year
The Song of the Year is one of the four most prestigious awards in the Grammy Awards ceremony, if not in all of the American music industry. It has been awarded since 1959 and unlike the Record of the Year award, which goes to the performer and production team of a single song, Song of the Year...
, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance is the latest in a series of awards recognizing superior vocal performance by a female in the pop category, the first of which was presented in 1959. The award goes to the artist...
and Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or Television
Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
The Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media has been awarded since 1988 and is awarded to songs written for films, television, video games or other visual media...
. "My Heart Will Go On" won also the Golden Globe Award for "Best Original Song-Motion Picture" in 1998.
The song also won a Japanese Gold Disc Award, for Song of the Year, as well as a Billboard Music Award
Billboard Music Award
The Billboard Music Award is an honor given by Billboard magazine, the preeminent publication covering the music business. The Billboard Music Awards show had been held annually in December until it went dormant in 2007, but it returned in May 2011...
for Soundtrack Single of the Year.
In a 2006 poll for a program on Five called Britain's Favourite Break-up Songs, "My Heart Will Go On" was voted tenth. It has been named one of the Songs of the Century
Songs of the Century
The "Songs of the Century" list is part of an education project by the Recording Industry Association of America , the National Endowment for the Arts, and Scholastic Inc. that aims to "promote a better understanding of America’s musical and cultural heritage" in American schools...
. It is one of the best-selling singles ever in the UK
1998 in British music
This is a summary of 1998 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year.1998 was a transitional year for music, when the hyped up sound of pure pop from the mid-1990s began to fade and popular artists began to experiment with different styles and new artists were...
, selling over a million copies, the second single released by Dion to do so. She is the only female artist to date to have released two million-selling singles in Britain. It was ranked at number 14 on AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs, celebrating the 100 greatest songs in American film history. In April 2010, the UK radio station Magic 105.4 voted the single the "top movie song of all time" after listeners' votes. In December 2007, the song peaked #21 on VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
's "100 Greatest Songs of the 90's."
Due to the song's widespread popularity when it was released, it is considered to be Céline Dion's signature song
Signature song
A signature song is the one song that a popular and well-established singer or band is most closely identified with or best known for, even if they have had success with a variety of songs...
. Today, along with two other songs from film soundtracks, Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
's "I Will Always Love You" from The Bodyguard
The Bodyguard
The Bodyguard is a 1992 American romantic-thriller film starring Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston. Costner stars as a former Secret Service Agent turned bodyguard who is hired to protect Houston's character, a music star, from an unknown stalker. Lawrence Kasdan wrote the film in the 1970s,...
and Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams, is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter, guitarist, bassist, producer, actor and photographer. Adams has won dozens of awards and nominations, including 20 Juno Awards among 56 nominations. He has also received 15 Grammy Award nominations including a win for Best Song Written...
' "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You
(Everything I Do) I Do It for You
" I Do It for You" is a power ballad performed by Bryan Adams and co-written with Michael Kamen and Robert John "Mutt" Lange, featured on the soundtrack album from the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and on Adams' album Waking Up the Neighbours...
" from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves is a 1991 American adventure film directed by Kevin Reynolds. Kevin Costner heads the cast list as Robin Hood...
, it is considered one of the biggest love ballads of the 1990s.
Influence
After the song had become a huge worldwide hit, many movie studios and record labels tried to duplicate its impact. Although many soundtrack singles had become hits before "My Heart Will Go On," a string of similar songs followed afterward, such as AerosmithAerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
's "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing
I Don't Want to Miss a Thing
"I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" is a song performed by American rock band Aerosmith for the 1998 film Armageddon. Written by Diane Warren, the song debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 . The song stayed at number one for four weeks from September 5 to September 26, 1998...
" from Armageddon and Faith Hill
Faith Hill
Faith Hill is an American country singer. She is known both for her commercial success and her marriage to fellow country star Tim McGraw. Hill has sold more than 40 million records worldwide and accumulated eight number-one singles and three number-one albums on the U.S...
's "There You'll Be
There You'll Be
"There You'll Be" is a song by Faith Hill, which became a hit single in 2001. Written by Diane Warren and Alan Menken, known for his Disney film scores such as "The Little Mermaid", "Beauty and the Beast", "Aladdin", "Pocahontas" and "Tangled", it was featured on the Pearl Harbor soundtrack...
" from Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor (film)
Pearl Harbor is a 2001 American action drama war film directed by Michael Bay and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and Randall Wallace, who wrote the screenplay...
. Each followed in the footsteps of the "Titanic" theme, a love ballad for a tragedy. Although those two songs became hits, they did not achieve the success of "My Heart Will Go On."
Horner himself repeated the formula of making a song from his film themes with films such as A Beautiful Mind
A Beautiful Mind (film)
A Beautiful Mind is a 2001 American drama film based on the life of John Nash, a Nobel Laureate in Economics. The film was directed by Ron Howard and written by Akiva Goldsman. It was inspired by a bestselling, Pulitzer Prize-nominated 1998 book of the same name by Sylvia Nasar...
, Bicentennial Man
Bicentennial Man (film)
Bicentennial Man is a 1999 American drama and science fiction film starring Robin Williams and Sam Neill. Based on the novel The Positronic Man, co-written by Isaac Asimov and Robert Silverberg which is itself based on Asimov's original novella titled The Bicentennial Man, the plot explores issues...
, The Perfect Storm
The Perfect Storm (film)
The Perfect Storm is a 2000 dramatic disaster film directed by Wolfgang Petersen. It is an adaptation of the 1997 non-fiction book of the same title by Sebastian Junger about the crew of the Andrea Gail that got caught in the Perfect Storm of 1991. The film stars George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg,...
, and Avatar.
Formats and track listings
European CD single- "My Heart Will Go On" – 4:40
- "Because You Loved MeBecause You Loved Me"Because You Loved Me" is a song from Céline Dion's album Falling into You, released as the first single on February 19, 1996 in North America and Japan. In other parts of the world it was released in May 1996 as the second single, after "Falling into You"....
" – 4:33
European CD single #2
- "My Heart Will Go On" – 4:40
- "My Heart Will Go On" (Tony MoranTony MoranAnthony "Tony" Moran is a remixer/producer and DJ known for remixing popular songs. In 2007, he hit number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart with "Walk Away" featuring Kristine W.-Career:...
mix) – 4:21
French CD single
- "The ReasonThe Reason (Celine Dion song)"The Reason" is a single from Céline Dion's album Let's Talk About Love. It was released on December 8, 1997 in selected European countries: United Kingdom, Ireland and Belgium. In France, it was issued as a double A-side single with "My Heart Will Go On."...
" – 5:01 - "My Heart Will Go On" – 4:40
French CD single #2
- "My Heart Will Go On" – 4:40
- "Southampton" – 4:02
French CD single #3
- "My Heart Will Go On" – 4:40
- "My Heart Will Go On" (Tony Moran mix) – 4:21
Japanese CD single
- "My Heart Will Go On" – 4:40
- "Beauty and the Beast" – 4:04
UK cassette single
- "My Heart Will Go On" – 4:40
- "I Love You" – 5:30
US CD single
- "My Heart Will Go On" – 4:40
- "Rose" (instrumental) – 2:52
Australian/Brazilian/European/UK/Korean CD maxi single
- "My Heart Will Go On" – 4:40
- "Because You Loved Me" – 4:33
- "When I Fall in Love" – 4:19
- "Beauty and the Beast" – 4:04
Australian CD maxi single #2
- "My Heart Will Go On" (Tony Moran mix) – 4:21
- "My Heart Will Go On" (Richie Jones mix) – 4:15
- "My Heart Will Go On" (Soul Solution) – 4:18
- "Misled" (The Serious mix) – 4:59
- "Love Can Move MountainsLove Can Move Mountains"Love Can Move Mountains" is a song from Céline Dion's 1992 album, called simply Celine Dion. It was released on November 2, 1992 worldwide. "Love Can Move Mountains" was the fourth single in the United States, Canada and Japan, and third in the rest of the world.The song was written by Diane...
" (Underground vocal mix) – 7:10
Brazilian CD maxi single #2
- "My Heart Will Go On" (Cuca's radio edit) – 4:22
- "My Heart Will Go On" (Tony Moran's anthem edit) – 4:21
- "My Heart Will Go On" (Richie Jones unsinkable edit) – 4:15
- "My Heart Will Go On" (Tony Moran's anthem vocal) – 9:41
European CD maxi single #2 / UK 12" single
- "My Heart Will Go On" – 4:40
- "My Heart Will Go On" (Tony Moran mix) – 4:21
- "My Heart Will Go On" (Richie Jones mix) – 4:15
- "My Heart Will Go On" (Soul Solution) – 4:18
Japanese/Korean CD maxi single
- "My Heart Will Go On" (Tony Moran mix) – 4:21
- "My Heart Will Go On" (Richie Jones mix) – 4:15
- "My Heart Will Go On" (Soul Solution) – 4:18
- "My Heart Will Go On" (Richie Jones unsinkable club mix) – 10:04
- "My Heart Will Go On" (Matt & Vito's unsinkable epic mix) – 9:53
UK CD maxi single #2
- "My Heart Will Go On" (soundtrack version) – 5:11
- "Have a HeartHave A Heart"Have a Heart" is the fifth and last single from the album Unison by Céline Dion. It was released as a radio single on July 6, 1991 in Canada only....
" – 4:12 - "Nothing Broken But My HeartNothing Broken But My Heart"Nothing Broken But My Heart" is a song from Céline Dion's eponymous album. It was released as the third single in the United States , Canada and Japan, and fourth in Australia ....
" – 5:55 - "Where Does My Heart Beat NowWhere Does My Heart Beat Now"Where Does My Heart Beat Now" is a hit song from Céline Dion's English debut album called Unison. It was released as the first single in Canada on October 6, 1990 and United States on November 19, 1990, and in other parts of the world in 1991....
" – 4:32
Official versions
- "My Heart Will Go On" (Richie Jones radio mix) – 4:15
- "My Heart Will Go On" (Richie Jones love go on mix) – 4:58
- "My Heart Will Go On" (Richie Jones go on beats) – 5:10
- "My Heart Will Go On" (Riche Jones unsinkable club mix) – 10:04
- "My Heart Will Go On" (Tony MoranTony MoranAnthony "Tony" Moran is a remixer/producer and DJ known for remixing popular songs. In 2007, he hit number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart with "Walk Away" featuring Kristine W.-Career:...
radio mix) – 4:21 - "My Heart Will Go On" (Tony Moran's anthem vocal) – 9:41
- "My Heart Will Go On" (Soul SolutionSoul SolutionSoul Solution is a dance/electronica/house production duo from New York City.As artists they made six trips to the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart .Five times under the Soul Solution name:* "Love, Peace & Happiness"...
bonus beats) – 3:31 - "My Heart Will Go On" (Soul Solution radio mix) – 4:18
- "My Heart Will Go On" (Soul Solution radio mix percapella) – 4:16
- "My Heart Will Go On" (Soul Solution drama at the sea) – 8:54
- "My Heart Will Go On" (Matt & Vito's penny whistle dub) – 3:23
- "My Heart Will Go On" (Matt & Vito's unsinkable epic mix) – 9:53
- "My Heart Will Go On" (Cuca's radio edit) – 4:22
- "My Heart Will Go On" (movie dialogue) – 4:41
- "My Heart Will Go On" (soundtrack version) – 5:11
- "My Heart Will Go On" (alternate orchestra version) – 5:51
- "My Heart Will Go On" (TV track) – 3:12
- "My Heart Will Go On" (no lead vox) – 4:41
- "My Heart Will Go On" (album version) – 4:40
- "My Heart Will Go On" (Super beatbox hardcore club mix) - 69:69
Charts
| Chart (1997) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
1 |
| German Singles Chart Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
1 |
| Chart (1998) | Peak position |
| Austrian Singles Chart Ö3 Austria Top 40 Ö3 Austria Top 40 is the name of the official Austrian singles chart, as well as the radio show which presents it, aired Fridays on Hitradio Ö3. The show presents the Austrian singles, ringtones and downloads chart. It premiered on 26 November 1968 as Disc Parade and was presented by Ernst Grissemann... |
1 |
| Belgian Flanders Singles Chart Ultratop Ultratop is an organization which generates and publishes the official record charts in Belgium, and it is also the name of most of those charts... |
1 |
| Belgian Wallonia Singles Chart Ultratop Ultratop is an organization which generates and publishes the official record charts in Belgium, and it is also the name of most of those charts... |
1 |
| Canadian BDS Airplay Chart Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems, better known as BDS, is a service that tracks monitored radio, television and internet airplay of songs based on the number of spins and detections... |
1 |
| Canadian BDS Adult Contemporary Chart Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems, better known as BDS, is a service that tracks monitored radio, television and internet airplay of songs based on the number of spins and detections... |
1 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
1 |
| Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
1 |
| Danish Singles Chart Tracklisten Tracklisten is a Danish top 40 record chart that is presented every Thursday midnight at .The weekly Danish Singles Chart also known as Track Top-40 combines the 40 best selling tracks from legal music downloads and the sales of music singles on either CD or vinyl... |
1 |
| Dutch Singles Chart Dutch Top 40 The Dutch Top 40 is a weekly music chart, which started as the "Veronica Top 40", because the offshore radio station Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. It remained "The Veronica Top 40" until 1974, when the station was forced to stop broadcasting... |
1 |
| European Singles Chart | 1 |
| Finnish Singles Chart | 1 |
| French Singles Chart Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique The Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique is the inter-professional organization which protects the interests of the French record industry... |
1 |
| Greek Singles Chart | 1 |
| Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
1 |
| Italian Singles Chart Federation of the Italian Music Industry The Federation of the Italian Music Industry is an umbrella organization that keeps track of virtually all aspects of the music recording industry in Italy.... |
1 |
| Japanese Singles Chart Oricon , established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc... |
34 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
34 |
| Norwegian Singles Chart VG-lista VG-listen is a Norwegian record chart. It is weekly presented in the newspaper VG and the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation program Topp 20. It is considered the primary Norwegian record chart, charting albums and singles from countries and continent around the world. The data is collected by... |
1 |
| Spanish Singles Chart | 1 |
| Swedish Singles Chart Sverigetopplistan Sverigetopplistan, earlier known as Topplistan and Hitlistan and other names, is since October 2007 the Swedish national record chart, based on sales data from Swedish Recording Industry Association .... |
1 |
| Swiss Singles Chart Swiss Music Charts The Swiss Music Charts are Switzerland's main music sales charts. The charts are a record of the highest-selling singles and albums in various genres in Switzerland.The Swiss Charts include:* Singles Top 75... |
1 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
1 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
1 |
| US Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | 1 |
| US Billboard Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks Adult Top 40 is a variation on the United States Billboard charts... |
3 |
| US Billboard Hot Latin Pop Airplay Latin Pop Airplay Latin Pop Airplay is a record chart published on Billboard magazine. It features Latin music information from pop music usually in Spanish. It was established by the magazine on October 8, 1994 with Mañana by Cristian Castro being the first song to reach number-one... |
1 |
| US Billboard Hot Latin Tracks Hot Latin Songs Hot Latin Songs is a record chart published by Billboard magazine. It is often recognized as the most important music chart for Spanish language Latin music in the American music market. It was established by the magazine on September 6, 1986 with La Guirnalda by Rocío Dúrcal being the first song... |
1 |
| US Billboard Latin Tropical Airplay Billboard charts The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine... |
2 |
| US Billboard Rhythmic Top 40 Rhythmic Airplay Chart The Rhythmic Airplay Chart is an airplay chart that is featured weekly in Billboard Magazine. The chart tracks and measures the airplay of songs played on Rhythmic stations, whose playlist includes mostly hit-driven R&B/Hip-Hop, Rhythmic pop, and some Dance tracks... |
3 |
| US Billboard Top 40 Mainstream Mainstream Top 40 (Pop Songs) The Mainstream Top 40 is an airplay chart from Billboard magazine, and is also known as Pop Songs on billboard.com. It was often mistaken for and confused with the now discontinued Pop 100 Airplay chart... |
1 |
End of year charts
| Chart (1998) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 13 |
Certifications
|-|-
Cover versions
- Singer Neil DiamondNeil DiamondNeil Leslie Diamond is an American singer-songwriter with a career spanning over five decades from the 1960s until the present....
covered the song for a film tracks album. - In 1998, Vicky LeandrosVicky LeandrosVicky Leandros is a Greek singer with a long international career. She is the daughter of singer, musician and composer Leandros Papathanasiou...
recorded a German version of the song on her album Weil Mein Herz Dich Nie Mehr Vergißt under the name "Weil Mein Herz Dich Nie Mehr Vergisst." - English singer Sarah BrightmanSarah BrightmanSarah Brightman is an English classical crossover soprano, actress, songwriter and dancer. She is famous for possessing a vocal range of over 3 octaves and singing in the whistle register...
recorded an Italian version of the song on her album EdenEden (Sarah Brightman album)Eden is a 1998 album by English soprano Sarah Brightman. It was released under license by Nemo Studios to Angel Records.Like Brightman's later album, La Luna, Eden juxtaposed mostly English pop songs with mostly Italian opera songs. This was a departure from her previous albums which was almost...
with the song title of "Il Mio Cuore Va." - New Found GloryNew Found GloryNew Found Glory is an American rock band from Coral Springs, Florida. Formed in the summer of 1997, founding members were lead vocalist Jordan Pundik, guitarists Chad Gilbert and Steve Klein, bassist Ian Grushka and drummer Joe Marino...
also recorded a cover, on their From the Screen to Your StereoFrom the Screen to Your Stereo-Credits:*Jordan Pundik - lead vocals*Chad Gilbert - lead guitar, vocals*Steve Klein - rhythm guitar*Ian Grushka - bass guitar*Cyrus Bolooki - drums, percussion...
EP. - Saxophonist Kenny GKenny GKenneth Bruce Gorelick , better known by his stage name Kenny G, is an American, adult contemporary and smooth jazz saxophonist. His fourth album, Duotones, brought him breakthrough success in 1986...
recorded an instrumental cover version. - British singer Niki EvansNiki EvansNiki Evans is an English actress and singer. She is best known for her appearance in the fourth UK series of the popular television talent show The X Factor in 2007. She is currently appearing as Mrs. Johnstone in the current UK national tour of Blood Brothers.-Pre X Factor:Niki Evans has sung...
covered the song on the UK television show, The X FactorThe X Factor (UK)The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
. - A speedy eurodanceEurodanceEurodance is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in the late 1980s or early 1990s primarily in Europe. It combines many elements from House, Techno, Hi-NRG and especially Italo-Disco...
remix was made by Deja Vu and Tasmin for the 1999 compilation album Dancemania Speed 2Dancemania SpeedDancemania Speed is a sub-series of Toshiba EMI's Dancemania compilation series. This series features faster, further remixed versions of recordings from previously released Dancemania albums or faster remixed covers of various famous songs...
. This was later included on the 2000 greatest hitsGreatest hitsA greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...
album Dancemania Speed Best 2001 Hyper Nonstop MegamixDancemania Speed Best 2001Dancemania Speed Best 2001 Hyper Nonstop Megamix, or simply Dancemania Speed Best 2001, is a greatest hits compilation album of Dancemanias Speed series, released by EMI Music Japan in 2000...
and 2003 compilation album Speed SFXSpeed SFXSpeed SFX is a compilation album of Dancemanias Speed series, released by EMI Music Japan in the late 2003.As a special edition in the Speed G series, the album features uptempo remixes of popular theme songs for various films, mainly those of science fiction.Different remixes of the album's...
. - Joe McElderryJoe McElderryJoseph "Joe" McElderry is an English singer and model. He won the sixth series of the ITV show The X Factor in 2009. His first single "The Climb" reached number one on the UK Singles Chart and Irish Singles Charts. He was also crowned the winner of the second series of Popstar to Operastar, two...
also sang the Italian version for his second album ClassicClassic (Joe McElderry album)Classic is the second studio album by British singer Joe McElderry. It was released by Decca Records on 19 August 2011 in Ireland and on 22 August 2011 in the United Kingdom...
.
Put-downs and parodies
- Bette MidlerBette MidlerBette Midler is an American singer, actress, and comedian, also known by her informal stage name, The Divine Miss M. She became famous as a cabaret and concert headliner, and went on to star in successful and acclaimed films such as The Rose, Ruthless People, Beaches, and For The Boys...
performed an uptempo version of this song as her character, Delores DeLago (a wheelchair-bound mermaid, who longs for success) in her 1999 tour, Divine Miss Millennium. She once again sang a small segment of the song during her stint at Caesars Palace (the former home of Miss Dion) right before her own signature song Wind Beneath My WingsWind Beneath My Wings"Wind Beneath My Wings" is the title of a song written in 1982 by Jeff Silbar and Larry Henley. They recorded a demo of the song, which they gave to musician Bob Montgomery. Montgomery then recorded his own demo version of the song, changing it from the mid-tempo version he was given to a ballad...
, in 2008/09. - On September 11, 2010, Matthew Wilkening of AOL RadioAOL RadioAOL Radio powered by Slacker, , is an online radio service available only in the United States.- Roots :...
ranked the song at #11 on the list of the 100 Worst Songs Ever while stating a new rule: "From now on, the Canadian warbler, and not the captain, has to go down with this ship" in reference to the Titanic. - Supernatural'sSupernatural (TV series)Supernatural is an American supernatural and horror television series created by Eric Kripke, which debuted on September 13, 2005 on The WB, and is now part of The CW's lineup. Starring Jared Padalecki as Sam Winchester and Jensen Ackles as Dean Winchester, the series follows the brothers as they...
episode 6x17, that on April 15, has the same title. In it, angel Balthazar saved Titanic from sinking because he hated the filmTitanic (1997 film)Titanic is a 1997 American epic romance and disaster film directed, written, co-produced, and co-edited by James Cameron. A fictionalized account of the sinking of the RMS Titanic, it stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Jack Dawson, Kate Winslet as Rose DeWitt Bukater and Billy Zane as Rose's fiancé, Cal...
and "that God-awful Celine Dion song made me want to smite myself."
See also
- List of best-selling singles worldwide
- List of best-selling singles (France)
- List of best-selling singles in the United Kingdom