Celine Dion - One Heart (2003)

To call Celine Dion predictable would be too easy--other divas should be so lucky to still be walking her platinum path. As Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey struggle to update their sounds without losing their core following, Celine keeps on delivering power ballads and inspirational pop without ever losing her footing. What sets One Heart apart from her previous chart-toppers is an unrelenting theme of joy and believing in one's self. From the car-commercial-driven tempo of "I Drove All Night" (Dion's equivalent to Cher's "Believe") to the "power of one" message in "Love is All We Need," the album bristles with an upbeat mood that--even for non-fans--can be hard to resist (it's important to note that there is no chest-thumping heartbreak here). Small concessions to staying in step with pop trends appear on the dance-floor tracks (which bring to mind Shania Twain and even Britney Spears), but ballads like "In His Touch" and "Have You Ever Been in Love" stick to the tried-and-true formula of allowing Dion's impressive voice to take center stage. As she settles in for an extended stay at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, One Heart is both well timed and well executed. It contains no surprises, but then, besides her voice, that's one of Dion's biggest assets.