Celine sings for Deadpool 2

Great news. Celine Dion is back to recording and she is singing a movie theme song. Given the memories we hold of My Heart Will Go On for Titanic, Beauty And The Beast from the Disney animated feature of the same title, Because You Loved Me from Up Close And Personal and her other movie themes, it is only right that the legendary Celine’s new single release is a song for a movie.

But what movie it is, is what is totally unexpected. Truth to tell, it comes as a bit of a shock. The song titled Ashes is from the soundtrack of the upcoming Deadpool 2. Can you imagine Celine singing for Deadpool? Deadpool, the man himself can’t.

As Ryan Reynolds in Deadpool mode says at the end of the music video for Ashes, right after his ballet moves in three-inch spike heels, Celine’s singing is too good. It is too Titanic for Deadpool. It is an 11 and she should do it again as a five or a five-and-a-half max. Celine, of course, refuses to do it and says her singing stays at 11.

And 11 it is. So is the gorgeous video, helmed by Deadpool 2 director David Leitch. Like the Deadpool franchise, it is at the same time poignant and funny. It was shot at The Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace, the same grand theater where Celine is in residence when doing her Las Vegas shows. 

Deadpool has indeed arrived. Despite his lack of taste and good manners, he is now in the big league. Celine, who once sang only for Leonardo Di Caprio and Robert Redford, is singing for him. Why not, even Iron Man got Celine to sing for his soundtrack.

The lovely powerhouse ballad is a composition by Petey Martin, Jordan Smith and Tedd T and is a production by one of today’s hot producers, Steve Mac, who has done recordings for One Direction, Leona Lewis and Ed Sheeran. It is one of two original songs recorded expressly for the movie. The other one is Welcome To The Party, a collaboration by Diplo, French Montana and Lil Pump feat. Zhavia Ward.

Just like the first Deadpool flick, the Deadpool 2 soundtrack is a delightful mix of old and new recordings. And they really went to town getting classics by big-name artists from even as far back as 30 years ago to get just the right sounds. The album will be available within the next few days but to whet your appetite for what you will hear, here is the song line-up.

Nobody Speaks by DJ Shadow feat. Run The Jewels; In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel; Take On Me from (MTV Unplugged – Summer Solstice) by a-ha; If I Could Turn Back Time by Cher; 9 to 5 by Dolly Parton; All Out Of Love by Air Supply; We Belong by Pat Benatar; Tomorrow by Alicia Morton; Mutant Convoy by Tyler Bates and Bangarang featuring Sirah by Skrillex.

And while we are on the subject, it might be nice to remind you of the great tunes that were used in the first Deadpool flick two years ago. The soundtrack included Angel Of The Morning by Juice Newton; Shoop by Salt-N-Pepa; Calendar Girl by Neil Sedaka; Deadpool Rap by TeamHeadKick; X Gon’ Give It To Ya by DMX and Careless Whisper by George Michael.

Deadpool is the most fun and most irreverent of all the Marvel Comics characters. He is a superhero who is also an anti-hero. Originally conceived as a villain, he is more of an X-Man, a mutant. He starts out as Wade Winston Wilson, a guy who is diagnosed with terminal cancer and who goes off in search of a cure. He subjects himself to extreme torture that results in giving him accelerated healing power but leaves his body in constant pain and with severe scars. He tries to do good most of the time, but often does not.

Despite this and his Restricted rating, Deadpool is very popular. The first film was a huge box-office hit. So Deadpool 2 is expected to be even bigger. Now if he will one day be recruited into the elite company of the wholesome Avengers is still a question. But he is now a big star on his very own with a song by Celine in his soundtrack. That is something that counts a lot.

Speaking of Celine, the diva from Montreal, is set to perform at the Mall of Asia Arena on July 19 and 20.