Carl Wilson Let's Talk About Love Summary

Book Review – Carl Wilson’s Let’s Talk about Love
The book Let’s Talk about Love takes its name from one of Celine Dion’s best selling 1997 album. The global fame Celine Dion has managed to generate during her career is nothing less of spectacular. Yet millions of music fans can’t stand her music including the author Carl Wilson. Wilson being a music critic dives deep into the world of Celine Dion and rally questions the merit behind all the criticism. He does by first providing a history behind Dion and her upbringing in Quebec, as well as the concept of taste. Wilson keeps an open mind and really investigates how a multiplatinum selling individual could be loved worldwide and at the same time disliked by millions. Wilson treats the book

The best original song award went to Dion over Wilson’s hero Elliot Smith, who made authentic music “with sighing melodies and lyrics laced with corrosive rage” (Wilson, 6). Wilson began looking into taste and what kept these tastes from intervening at some point. Wilson considered Dion’s music “bland monotony and obnoxious”. The criticism towards “underground” music made it impossible to judge it based on the same criteria as upcoming mainstream. Criticism is less objective and lasting and the gap between critical acclaim and popularity widens. The argument can be made in which understanding and relating to music that involves a rags to riches story of a girl from Quebec is difficult for a average American. The criticism in her home province exists at large and constant media coverage affects Quebeckers opinions as to whether Dion is genuine or ketaine. Wilson did reference to the cultural competency in Montreal to memorize but also mock her hit songs. Dion was a “cultural fact – a horror show, but our horror show (Wilson, page

The author tends to include any article or quote which undermines the authenticity or talent of Celine Dion. The book is structured around the upbringing and career Dion has had and created. Each chapter is designed to discuss and further understand different aspects relating to Dion and her music. The first chapter “Let’s talk about Hate” provides a background and the contrast between Dion and Elliot Smith. The “Lets Sing Really Loud” chapter shows an open experimental side of Wilson willing to speak with self proclaimed Celine Dion super fans, to get a better understanding of their taste and obsession. In order to explain the two-sided opinions people have on Dion, Wilson introduces theories by sociologists such as Pierre Bourdieu; and the relationships between taste in music and social class. The majority of Americans fans being female and low income earners, more likely to be widowed (Wilson, 102). Sociologist Douglas B. Holt supports the theory of social status, income and education directly correlating with cultural choices, tastes and distastes (Wilson, 98). High cultural capital and low cultural capital do play a significant part in music discussion and how critics evaluate artists. I do believe Wilson has a point when he suggests critics distaste for Celine Dion has to do with her fans and