A guide to all the songs in 'Titanique'

The hilarious Titanic pastiche musical is anchored by Céline Dion's back catalogue, including the hits "River Deep, Mountain High" and "My Heart Will Go On".

Wasn’t Céline Dion merveilleuse at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony this summer? It was hard to believe that she'd been absent from the spotlight for over four years due to health problems. The “Queen of Power Ballads” is the best-selling Canadian recording artist of all time, with over 200 million records sold worldwide. Possessing one of the most powerful and versatile voices of her generation, her greatest hit is probably “My Heart Will Go On”, the theme song for James Cameron’s 1997 blockbuster Titanic.

It was only a matter of time before her back catalogue became a jukebox musical – and what better way to celebrate her music than with the story of Titanic itself. Told through her songs and with Dion herself (well, not the real Dion) as our guide to what really happened onboard the ill-fated “Ship of Dreams”, Titanique is a hilarious romp devised by Tye Blue, Marla Mindelle, and Constantine Rousouli.

Read our guide to all the songs in this new musical, which is performed in the West End by a host of our most popular musical theatre performers, including Lauren Drew, Rob Houchen, Jordan Luke Gage, and Layton Williams.

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“I’m Alive”

Following the Overture, Céline emerges from the waves and takes centre stage with an inspirational and assertive mission statement for the show. She’s alive and plans to live life as fully as she can. This 2002 number also featured in family film Stuart Little 2.

“Taking Chances”

The first company number, a moody ballad exploring the theme of loneliness and emotional disconnect – fitting for a ship full of lost souls. The title song of Dion’s tenth English-language studio album, the diva debuted the number on a 2007 episode of The X Factor, on which she served as guest mentor. The song is immediately reprised as a solo by heroine Rose.

“Seduces Me”

A breathy number sung by the caddish Cal, Rose’s wealthy fiancé. He seems smitten but she’s not so keen.

“If You Asked Me To”

Jack and Rose, our hero and heroine meet. Both are disillusioned about love: “Used to be that I believed in something / Used to be that I believed in love / It's been a long time since I've had that feeling.” However, Céline is there to help facilitate, and it seems something has changed as “Can't help feeling, darlin' since I've found you / That I've found my home / That I'm finally home.”

“Beauty and the Beast”

Angela Lansbury was never more endearing than when she sang the title number in Disney’s 1991 hit Beauty and the Beast, but Dion performed the commercial pop version as a duet with soul singer Peabo Bryson. To hear this enchanting Alan Menken and Howard Ashman number, sung here by Céline, a Seaman (as Bryson,) and the company, it never ceases to be a tearjerker, regardless of context.

“You and I”

Jack and Rose’s romance is blossoming and he is on top of the world (you could say he feels like the king of the world). “You and I were meant to fly (were meant to fly) / Higher than the clouds we'll sail across the sky…” Hillary Clinton chose the song as her campaign theme tune for her 2007 presidential bid (Barack Obama got the nomination).

“Tell Him”

Originally a 1997 duet for Dion and her idol Barbra Streisand, this was a real meeting of two divas. Céline and self-made socialite Molly Brown encourage Rose to show Jack how she feels.

“To Love You More”

A sweepingly romantic number for Jack and Rose in which they pledge their love: “I'll be waiting for you, here inside my heart / I'm the one who wants to love you more / You will see I can give you, everything you need / Let me be the one to love you more.”

“Who Let the Dogs Out”

No, this 2000 song by the Baha Men isn’t a Céline Dion number… but anything goes in this show!

“I Drove All Night”

Victor Garber, who played Titanic architect Thomas Andrews in the movie, appears in the show as himself… we said it was meta! Ans the real Garber has even attended the show in New York. Originally recorded by Roy Orbison and Cyndi Lauper, it’s a song about a person on a mission who’s determined to escape and reunite with their love.

“Because You Loved Me”

Jack and Rose share another impassioned love ballad. This was also the theme song for the 1996 film Up Close & Personal starring Robert Redford and Michelle Pfeiffer.

“Where Does My Heart Beat Now?”

The explosive love triangle between Jack, Rose, and Cal comes to a head with this song from Dion’s first English-language album, 1990’s Unison.

“River Deep, Mountain High”

Did we mention that the Iceberg responsible for the whole disaster is a character in the show? Dion covered this Ike and Tina Turner classic on her 1996 album Falling into You. It makes for quite an entrance for this agent of chaos.

“I Surrender” / “Seduces Me” (Reprise)

As the ship goes down, Rose is defiant in her devotion to Jack (“I'd surrender everything / To feel the chance to live again…”).

“All By Myself”

“The Unsinkable Molly Brown” emerges from the wreckage with a diva anthem of survival rather than self-pity (remember its use in Bridget Jones’s Diary?). Life will never be the same again following this disaster. The song was originally recorded by Eric Carmen in 1975 and Dion’s cover was a huge hit in 1996.

“The Prayer”

A poignant moment for Rose in the aftermath of losing Jack. This haunting ballad, calling for peace, kindness, and wisdom, was originally written for the 1998 animated film Quest for Camelot and was recorded as a duet by Dion and Andrea Bocelli in English and Italian.

“My Heart Will Go On”

It’s time for Dion’s signature song, the colossal Titanic power ballad that was impossible to avoid in the late 1990s. The winner of over a dozen awards, include the Oscar for Best Original Song, its legacy is immense. It’s hard to believe that Dion initially wasn’t keen but was persuaded by her late husband and manager René Angélil to give it a go. Paying homage to a lifetime of love, it’s an epic in every sense.

“A New Day Has Come”

An uplifting ballad about finding hope, inspired by the birth of Dion’s first child: "Where it was dark, now there's light / Where there was pain, now there's joy / Where there was weakness, I found my strength.” The perfect way for the company to come together in the aftermath of a life-shattering disaster (albeit tempered with plenty of humour).

“My Heart Will Go On” (Reprise)

What else for the finale? All together now: “Near far, wherever you are…”

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Photo credit: cast of Titanique. (Photo by Mark Senior)