"Because You Loved Me" is a smash hit 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."
"Because You Loved Me" was written by Diane Warren as a
tribute to her father for his encouragement. It was produced by
David Foster and featured in the film
Up Close & Personal.
The song was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden
Globe Award, as well as four Grammy Awards. It won a Grammy
Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or
Other Visual Media (award went to Diane Warren), and was
nominated for the Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best
Female Pop Vocal Performance.
The music video, with fragments from the film, was directed
by Kevin Bray and released in February 1996.
The B-sides of the European single included unreleased at
that time songs: "The Power of the Dream," "To Love You More"
and "Sola Otra Vez."
"Because You Loved Me" is one of Céline Dion's biggest hits
and signature songs. It reached number 1 in the United States
(6 weeks at the top), Australia (3 weeks) and Canada (1 week).
In all of these countries, it was her second number 1 song,
after "The Power of Love."
The single set a record on the U.S. Hot Adult Contemporary
Tracks, where it remained at number 1 for 19 weeks. It topped
many other American charts as well, including Billboard Hot 100
Airplay (14 weeks at the top) and Hot 100 Singles Sales (6
weeks), also Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks (12 weeks) and Top 40
Mainstream (5 weeks).
"Because You Loved Me" was also a hit in the rest of the
world reaching number 2 in Ireland, number 3 in New Zealand and
Switzerland, number 4 in the Netherlands, number 5 in the
United Kingdom and Belgium etc.
The single has sold 1,345,000 copies in the U.S. and was
certified platinum. It was also certified 2x platinum in
Australia (140,000), platinum in New Zealand (10,000), gold in
Germany (250,000) and silver in the United Kingdom (although it
has sold 420,000 copies and should be certified gold). Also in
France, "Because You Loved Me" has sold 195,000 copies and
should be certified silver.
The song became a part of two greatest hits released by
Dion:
All the Way… A Decade of Songin 1999 and
My Love: Essential Collectionin 2008. Lately, "Because
You Loved Me" could be found on the
Live in Las Vegas - A New Day...DVD and it was also
performed during the 2008-09 Taking Chances Tour.
The track was covered by Johnny Mathis (1998), Michael Ball
(1998), Vivian Reed (2001), Jane McDonald (2001), Clay Aiken
(2006), Miho Fukuhara (2007) and Nina Girado (2008).
European CD single
European/UK cassette single
Japanese/North American CD single
Australian CD maxi single
Australian CD maxi single #2
European/UK CD maxi single
European CD maxi single #2
UK CD maxi single #2