Prince’s estate has recently unveiled his rendition of a 1992 track he composed for Céline Dion. The song, “With This Tear,” had been stored in the Minneapolis icon’s collection for years. However, the decision was made to release it just before the 10th anniversary of Prince’s passing on April 21. This release is part of a series of events leading up to a tribute at Prince’s former home, Paisley Park, in June.
The demo of “With This Tear” by Prince has been remastered by the Grammy-winning audio engineer Chris James. This release marks the beginning of a series of unreleased tracks from the vault, hinting at an upcoming album expected to drop later this year.
Prince was captivated by Dion’s vocal prowess after hearing her rendition of “Beauty and the Beast,” the theme song from the 1991 film. Subsequently, he contacted her manager, Réné Angélil, expressing his interest in having Dion record a song he had penned.
Dion was in the midst of finalizing her self-titled 1992 album when she and Angélil received “With This Tear” along with a request from Prince for Walter Afanasieff to produce it. Afanasieff, known for his work with artists such as Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and Lionel Richie, described the opportunity as a “double honor” in a 1992 interview.
In response to singing a Prince composition, Dion remarked that it was “a great honor.” Prince, renowned for his prolific songwriting, penned numerous hits for other artists like Sinead O’Connor, Stevie Nicks, and Madonna.
Dion expressed her initial surprise upon hearing “With This Tear,” expecting a more upbeat track given Prince’s style. The song turned out to be a tender love ballad, replacing a cover of “Calling You” on the album.
This unveiling offers fans a glimpse into Prince’s creative process and his collaborations with other music icons like Céline Dion.