Celine Dion: "Think Twice" (1994)

"Think Twice" is the fourth hit single from The Colour of My Love album by Céline Dion. It was released on July 18, 1994 in North America, in October 1994 in the United Kingdom, Australia and Japan, and February 1995 in the rest of the world. The song is rock-influenced and features a guitar solo, one of only a few of Dion's songs to do so, performed by Aldo Nova. The song was written by British songwriters Andy Hill, who had achieved success a decade earlier for his work with Bucks Fizz and Peter Sinfield, a former member of rock group King Crimson.

It is the song widely credited amongst British fans as cementing Dion, previously most-known in the United Kingdom for her victory in the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest, as a major star to British audiences.

"Think Twice" became a hit in Europe and Australia. Uniquely for Dion's discography, whilst the song was not a major hit in America, it was a runaway hit in the UK, going on to be on the biggest-selling records of all time. It remains Dion's second-biggest hit in the UK, eclipsed only by My Heart Will Go On.

Two versions of the music video exist: the first was released in August 1994; later because of the huge success in the UK, Céline Dion made a special music video in December 1994. It aired in the UK Top of the Pops television programme.

The B-sides of this single were taken mainly from Dion chante Plamondon album, which was released at that time worldwide. It was also the first time that Dion's English single included French songs as B-sides all over the world.

Céline Dion performed "Think Twice" at the 1995 World Music Awards.

The song went to number 1 all over Europe, including: Ireland (9 weeks at the top), United Kingdom (7 weeks), Belgium Flanders (5 weeks), Netherlands (4 weeks), Norway (4 weeks), Sweden (4 weeks) and Denmark (2 weeks). It was also very successful in Australia reaching number 2. "Think Twice" has sold 1,235,000 copies in the UK and should be certified 2x platinum (for now it's undercertified and remains platinum only). It was also certified platinum in Australia (70,000) and gold in the Netherlands (50,000). According to Nielsen SoundScan the single has sold 50,000 copies in the U.S.

"Think Twice" received an Ivor Novello Award for the Song of the Year in 1995.

The single boosted up "The Colour of My Love" album sales, which was released a year earlier and already fell off the charts. Thanks to its success the album went to number 1 in countries like: United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, Norway, Belgium and Greece.

Think Twice was included later on the European and Australian editions of All the Way… A Decade of Song greatest hits (1999) and European edition of My Love: Essential Collection (2008). It remains a staple of Dion's live set in countries where the song was a runaway hit.

"Think Twice" was covered by Alana Dante in 1996, Maribel Gonzalez in 1999 and Liel Kolet in 2005. It was also performed by Kelly Clarkson on American Idol.


- Lyrics:

Don't think I can't feel that there's something wrong
You've been the sweetest part of my life so long
I look in your eyes, there's a distant light
And you and I know there'll be a storm tonight
This is getting serious
Are you thinking 'bout you or us

(Refrain)
Don't say what you're about to say
Look back before you leave my life
Be sure before you close that door
Before you roll those dice
Baby think twice

Baby think twice for the sake of our love, for the memory
For the fire and the faith that was you and me
Baby I know it ain't easy when your soul cries out for higher ground
'Coz when you're halfway up, you're always halfway down
But baby this is serious
Are you thinking 'bout you or us

(Refrain)

(breakdown)
Baby this is serious
Are you thinking 'bout you or us

Don't say what you're about to say
Look back before you leave my life
Be sure before you close that door
Before you roll those dice

Don't do what you're about to do
My everything depends on you
And whatever it takes, I'll sacrifice
Before you roll those dice
Baby think twice