That's the Way It Is (Celine Dion song)
"That's the Way It Is" | ||||
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Single by Celine Dion | ||||
from the album All the Way... A Decade of Song | ||||
B-side | "I Met an Angel (On Christmas Day)" | |||
Released | 1 November 1999 | |||
Recorded | 1999 | |||
Studio | Paradise Sounds, Cheiron Studios | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 4:01 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
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Celine Dion singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"That's the Way It Is" on YouTube |
"That's the Way It Is" is the lead single from Celine Dion's greatest hits album All the Way... A Decade of Song, released on 1 November 1999.[1] It peaked within the top ten in many countries, like Austria, Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States. Billboard listed it as one of the Greatest Songs of 1999.[2]
Production and release
[edit]It was written and produced by Swedish producers Andreas Carlsson, Max Martin and Kristian Lundin, who had written a string of hit songs for artists such as NSYNC, Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears.[3]
Composition
[edit]"That's the Way It Is" starts out in the key of E major with a moderate tempo of 93 beats per minute. Throughout the verses, the song follows a chord progression of C♯m–A–B, and Dion's vocals span from B3 to E5.[4]
The song has a bridge, and after the bridge is the chorus repeated, only in the key of A major.
Live performances
[edit]Dion sang it live with *NSYNC on backing vocals, during her 1999 CBS Special.[5] She also performed "That's the Way It Is" on Top of the Pops on 12 November, the 1999 Billboard Music Awards, the Bambi Awards on 11 December, The Rosie O'Donnell Show on 13 December, The Today Show on 31 December, and on the Let's Talk About Love Tour as the closing song.[6][7] When Dion returned to the music scene after her 2 years off in 2002, the song was performed on her promotional tour for the A New Day Has Come album including a second time at The Today Show, The Early Show, and at the concert for World Children's Day.
In 2015 for the first time in 13 years, Dion added the song as an acoustic version and later the full length version in her 2nd Las Vegas residency show Celine at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada. The song was also performed in Dion's 2017 European tour and her 2018 tour. "That's the Way it is" was performed by Dion during her BST Hyde Park concert in London on 5 July 2019. The song is also featured on the Courage World Tour in North America.
Critical reception
[edit]Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic felt that the danceable "That's the Way It Is" works and highlighted it as a standout on All the Way... A Decade of Song.[8] Another editor, Jose F. Promis reviewed the US/South Korea CD maxi single and rated it 3 out 5 stars. He called the song itself a "cheerful pop nugget", the album version a "definitive hit", and the "Metro Club Remix" a "bubbly dance" version of the song.[9] Michael Paoletta from Billboard highlighted it on the album, and called it a "welcome uptempo number".[10] Another editor, Chuck Taylor also praised "That's the Way It Is". He wrote that Dion at last "ups the tempo with the irresistible" first single. According to Taylor, this new track, a joyful ode to holding the faith but allowing love to take its course when it's ready, matches Dion with a new team of collaborators, consistent hitmakers: Max Martin, Kristian Lundin and Andreas Carlsson. "Replete with a festive mandolin and a midtempo beat to bring new heights to her as-ever splendid vocal," this song is "destined to enrapture" top forty and AC the first time through, at last stripping away mainstream radio's gripe that Dion is "too adult". He said that, youthful and yet elegant, and glowing brightly with warmth, the song also represents a bold step forward for Martin, who is best known for his work with chart-topping youth acts. All in all, "That's the Way It Is" is "one of the most compelling radio releases yet" from "one of the core voices of the decade."[11] Can't Stop the Pop stated that the song "doesn't sound like it's trying to be Britney Spears; it sounds like the authentic evolution of a superstar – this is a Celine Dion song through and through – and it's hard to imagine it being performed by anyone else".[12]
Commercial performance
[edit]The song became a hit, going to number 1 on the adult contemporary charts in Canada and the United States, reaching the top ten in other countries all over the world. It was Dion's first airplay-only single that charted on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 6, becoming her 10th and last top 10 hit (number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay). The commercial single was released nine months later as a double A-side with "I Want You to Need Me", reaching number 62 on the Hot 100 Singles Sales.
It ranked at number 12 on decade-end list of US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart for 2000–2009. The song spent 1 week at number 1 at the top and an eventual 85 weeks or 1 and a half years on the said chart. It became one of the longest-running single in the chart's history.[13]
"That's the Way It Is" was very successful, being certified platinum in Sweden (20,000), gold in Australia (35,000), Belgium (25,000), Germany (250,000) and France (250,000).
According to Billboard, "That's the Way It Is" received the "BDS Certified Spin Award - 500,000 Spins" in August 2006. Since the song was released in November 1999, it has cycled 500,000 times on almost 1,400 radio stations across Canada and the US.
In other media
[edit]The song was included later on The Collector's Series, Volume One compilation (2000) and My Love: Essential Collection greatest hits (2008). Several club remixes were created by the Metro. Some pressings of the single included the song "I Met an Angel (On Christmas Day)", a non-album track.
The song features in & Juliet, a musical featuring the songs of Max Martin, where it is sung by the character of Anne Hathaway. On the official London cast soundtrack, it is performed by Cassidy Janson, who originated the role of Anne on the West End.
Music video
[edit]The music video for "That's the Way It Is" was directed by Liz Friedlander. It was produced by Heather Heller and was shot in Los Angeles, California. It premiered on VH1 on 8 November 1999. It was nominated for a MuchMusic Video Award. The video was included on Dion's All the Way... A Decade of Song & Video DVD. The music video, which was uploaded on YouTube on 25 October 2009 reached 1 billion views and became Dion's second VEVO certified music video.
Formats and track listings
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Charts
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit] |
Year-end charts[edit]
Decade-end charts[edit]
All-time charts[edit]
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Certifications and sales
[edit]Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA)[72] | Gold | 35,000^ |
Belgium (BEA)[73] | Gold | 25,000* |
France (SNEP)[74] | Gold | 250,000* |
Germany (BVMI)[75] | Gold | 250,000^ |
Sweden (GLF)[76] | Platinum | 30,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[77] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
[edit]Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
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United States | 18 October 1999 | Epic | [78] | |
Japan | 3 November 1999 | CD | SMEJ | [79] |
United Kingdom | 29 November 1999 |
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Epic | [80] |
United States | 1 August 2000 | CD | [81] |
See also
[edit]- Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2000
- List of Billboard Hot 100 top 10 singles in 2000
- List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1999 (U.S.)
References
[edit]- ^ Glatzer, Jenna (2005). Céline Dion: For Keeps. Andrews McMeel Publishing. ISBN 0-7407-5559-5.
- ^ "The 99 Greatest Songs of 1999: Critics' Picks". www.billboard.com. 8 April 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
- ^ Céline Dion Archived 13 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Kristian, Lundin (6 March 2001). "That's the Way It Is". www.musicnotes.com. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
- ^ "Celine Dion-That's the way it is"Live"(ActStar***)". YouTube.
- ^ "- YouTube". YouTube.
- ^ "- YouTube". YouTube.
- ^ "All the Way: A Decade of Song - Céline Dion | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- ^ "Album Search for "thats the way it is us cd"". AllMusic.
- ^ "Billboard". 13 November 1999.
- ^ "Billboard". 30 October 1999.
- ^ "Celine Dion – That's The Way It Is". Can't Stop the Pop. 23 November 2020. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
- ^ a b "Best of the 2000s". Billboard. Archived from the original on 11 November 2010. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ "Céline Dion – That's the Way It Is". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ "Céline Dion – That's the Way It Is" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ "Céline Dion – That's the Way It Is" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ "Céline Dion – That's the Way It Is" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9695." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
- ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 7285." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- ^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 27 November 1999. p. 60. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ Nanda Lwin (1999). Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide. Music Data Canada. ISBN 1-896594-13-1.
- ^ "Hitparáda – Radio Top 50 Oficiální" (in Czech). IFPI Czech Republic. Archived from the original on 3 March 2000. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 25 December 1999. p. 7. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
- ^ "Celine Dion: That's the Way It Is" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
- ^ "Céline Dion – That's the Way It Is" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ "Céline Dion – That's the Way It Is" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
- ^ "Top National Sellers: Greece" (PDF). Music & Media. 12 February 2000. p. 13. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
- ^ "Top National Sellers: Hungary" (PDF). Music & Media. 11 March 2000. p. 13. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
- ^ "Major Market Airplay: Hungary" (PDF). Music & Media. 11 March 2000. p. 23. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
- ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (Vikuna 18.11. - 25.11. 1999 47. Vika)" (PDF) (in Icelandic). Dagblaðið Vísir. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
{{cite magazine}}
: Cite magazine requires|magazine=
(help) - ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – That's the Way It Is". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
- ^ "Classifica settimanale dal 21/01/2000 al 27/01/2000" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Archived from the original on 8 October 2007. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 51, 1999" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
- ^ "Céline Dion – That's the Way It Is" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ "Céline Dion – That's the Way It Is". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ "Céline Dion – That's the Way It Is". VG-lista. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ "Major Market Airplay: Poland" (PDF). Music & Media. 20 November 1999. p. 31. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
- ^ "Palmarès de la chanson anglophone et allophone au Québec" (in French). BAnQ. Archived from the original on 27 January 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
- ^ "Major Market Airplay – Scandinavia" (PDF). Music & Media. 11 December 1999. p. 19. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
- ^ "Céline Dion – That's the Way It Is" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ "Céline Dion – That's the Way It Is". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ "Céline Dion – That's the Way It Is". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
- ^ "Celine Dion Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ "Celine Dion Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ "Celine Dion Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ "Celine Dion Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
- ^ "Celine Dion Chart History (Latin Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ "Celine Dion Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ "Celine Dion Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ "Celine Dion Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 24 January 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Celine Dion Chart History (Tropical Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 1999". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ "Rapports annuels 1999" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ "RPM 1999 Top 100 Adult Contemporary". RPM. 13 December 1999. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ "Year in Focus" (PDF). Music & Media. 1 January 2000. p. 11. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
- ^ "Single Top 100 Van 1999" (PDF) (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ "Topp 20 Single Høst 1999" (in Norwegian). VG-lista. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ "Årslista Singlar - År 1999" (in Swedish). Swedish Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ "Najlepsze single na UK Top 40-1999 wg sprzedaży" (in Polish). Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 September 2014.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Brazilian Top 100 Year-End 2000". Crowley Broadcast Analysis. 3 April 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
- ^ "Year in Focus" (PDF). Music & Media. 23 December 2000. p. 9. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
- ^ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
- ^ "Single Top 100 Van 2000" (PDF) (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten - single 2000". Single Top 100. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ "Swiss Year-end Charts 2000". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ a b c d e "The Year in Music" (PDF). Billboard. 30 December 2000. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ "2000: The Year in Charts" (PDF). Billboard Radio Monitor. 22 December 2000. p. 54. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
- ^ "The Year in Music" (PDF). Billboard. 29 December 2001. p. 81. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ Lwin, Nanda (1 July 2000). "Top 100 Cdn. Singles of all time". Jam!. Archived from the original on 12 August 2004. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1999 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
- ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 1999". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
- ^ "French single certifications – Celine Dion – That?s the Way It Is" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Celine Dion; 'That's the Way It Is')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
- ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2000" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
- ^ "British single certifications – Celine Dion – That's the Way It Is". British Phonographic Industry.
- ^ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1321. 15 October 1999. pp. 176, 179.
- ^ "セリーヌ・ディオンの作品" (in Japanese). Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
- ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 29 November, 1999: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 27 November 1999. p. 23. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
- ^ "That's the Way It Is". Amazon. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
External links
[edit]- 1999 songs
- 1999 singles
- Celine Dion songs
- Dance-pop songs
- Music videos directed by Liz Friedlander
- Number-one singles in the Czech Republic
- Song recordings produced by Max Martin
- Songs written by Andreas Carlsson
- Songs written by Kristian Lundin
- Songs written by Max Martin
- Columbia Records singles
- Epic Records singles