Celine Dion has declared it “feels truly special” to finally hear Prince’s version of With This Tear.
The superstar singer recorded Prince’s song for her 1992 self-titled album and now his original version has been released to mark 10 years since his death as his estate finally shares treasures from his vault of unreleased music – and Celine is thrilled to finally hear Prince on the song.
In a post on Instagram, she wrote: ” With This Tear was a gift from Prince that I will always treasure. I have carried this song with me for so many years.
“To now hear his version, shared for the very first time, feels truly special. Celine xx.”
A post on Prince’s official Instagram page explained: “With This Tear is out now. Listen at the link in bio. Recorded in 1991 at Paisley Park and newly mixed by Chris James, this track finds Prince in full command, writing, producing, and performing every note.
“Later recorded and released by Celine Dion, the song now returns in its original form.”
The song’s release is part of a number of events commemorating Prince’s passing a decade ago on April 21, 2016. Fans have been offered the chance to tour the legendary singer’s Paisley Park home and recording studio in Chanhassen, Minnesota while organisers also scheduled a candle light vigil, an exhibition, a screening of a concert film and a meditation session.
Prince died aged 57 after being found unresponsive in an elevator at his Paisley Park estate. His death was later ruled an accidental overdose of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid.
As part of a series of interviews to commemorate his passing, his cousin Charles ‘Chazz’ Smith – also the original drummer in Grand Central – told The Guardian newspaper: “When he got famous he was flabbergasted that girls would drive all the way from places like Detroit to park outside his house, but he couldn’t wait to show me his room full of fan mail.
“I’m really happy with what he was able to accomplish, but I’m also sad because if he’d had a regular life he may still be here today. What if he didn’t have to take the whole world on from day one, or fight the record industry for the freedom to be himself?”
Chazz added about the pain in Prince’s life: “From the 18-hour recording sessions to the dancing, he pushed himself to the absolute limit and I don’t think you ever get over losing a child (Amiir Nelson, who Prince had with his first wife Mayte Garcia, who died from Pfeiffer syndrome type 2 at six days old.)
“He had a lot on his shoulders for a very long time. People are gonna talk about the great things he did for a very long time, but there was a lot of heartbreak.”