BECAUSE YOU LOVED ME

"Because You Loved Me" is a song 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."^[1]

"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 fourGrammy 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 Collection in 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. Live performances can be found on the A New Day... Live in Las Vegas CD, as well as the English edition of Taking Chances World Tour: The Concert DVD/CD.

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).