# The Reason (Celine Dion song)

"The Reason" is a song by Canadian singer Celine Dion, recorded for her fifth English-language studio album, Let's Talk About Love (1997). It was written by Carole King, Mark Hudson and Greg Wells, and produced by Sir George Martin. "The Reason" was released as the second single from the album in selected European countries on 24 November 1997 by Columbia and Epic Records. In France, it was issued as a double A-side single with "My Heart Will Go On". Its music video was directed by Scott Lochmus, featuring Dion recording the song in a studio.

## Background and release

Carole King wrote this song first for the band Aerosmith.
Dion performed "The Reason" during her Let's Talk About Love Tour, and as a duet with Carole King on VH1 Divas and at the 48° Festival di Sanremo on 1998 in Italy. On that occasion she also performed "My Heart Will Go On".
The track was included later on The Collector's Series, Volume One in 2000 and My Love: Ultimate Essential Collection European edition in 2008.
The recording of this song was included as a bonus on the Au cœur du stade DVD.
From 2011 to 2014, "The Reason" was included in the set list of Dion's Las Vegas show, Celine. The song was also performed in Dion's 2017 tour and 2018 tour. "The Reason" was performed by Dion during her BST Hyde Park concert in London on 5 July 2019. The song was also performed during the first two US shows of Dion's Courage World Tour in 2019.
Carole King recorded also her own version of this song for her 2001 album Love Makes the World, this time with Dion on backing vocals.

## Critical reception

A reviewer from Music Week gave "The Reason" three out of five, stating that "Celine is back in classic power ballad territory here, though this track lacks the mega hooks of her previous hits. More of an album taster than a Christmas number one." The New York Observer editor Jonathan Bernstein reviewed, "It kicks off in time-honored fashion with a bombastic power ballad, "The Reason", co-written by Carole King and produced by Sir George Martin. Thus, straight away, we find the inherent wrongheadedness of this record. Carole King hasn't written a memorable song in many a year and-hello?-didn't George Martin recently announce that he was quitting the producing racket because his hearing was going? The latter affliction was probably incurred by a silent prayer offered up during the recording of "The Reason" to be struck deaf". Smash Hits gave it four out of five, writing, "'The Reason' starts off as you'd expect — all soft and lovely — then in come the strings and Celine steps up a gear. It all builds up into one of those huge production numbers with our fave Canadian warbler wailing over the top like she really means it. There ain't many people out there on Planet Pop that can do 'em like Celine! It's big, it's Christmassy and we love it! Top five."

## Retrospective response

Pip Ellwood-Hughes from Entertainment Focus noted that the song "immediately reminds you of why Dion has become such a powerhouse." He added that "it highlights how she can pack power and emotion into everything she sings." Bob Waliszewski of Plugged In felt that "The Reason" celebrate's love "and the affection of a good man". Christopher Smith from TalkAboutPopMusic declared the song as "a typical Celine mid-tempo ballad with plenty of high notes for Celine to hit and re-establish her presence."

## Music video

The accompanying music video for "The Reason" was directed by Scott Lochmus and released in December 1997. It shows the recording of the song in the studio.

## Certifications and sales

| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| France (SNEP) | Diamond | 750,000$^*$ |
| United Kingdom | — | 100,000 |
| $^*$ Sales figures based on certification alone. |||

## Release history

| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label |
| Belgium | 24 November 1997 | CDmaxi CD | Columbia |
| France | 24 November 1997 | CDmaxi CD | Columbia |
| United Kingdom | 8 December 1997 | CDcassette | Epic |