Ashes (Celine Dion song)

wikilinks

← Previous revision Revision as of 09:27, 12 April 2026 Line 32: Line 32: "'''Ashes'''" is a song recorded by Canadian singer [[Celine Dion]] for the [[soundtrack]] of the 2018 American [[superhero film]] ''[[Deadpool 2]]'', based on the [[Marvel Comics]] character [[Deadpool]] and distributed by [[20th Century Fox]]. It was written by [[Petey USA|Petey Martin]], [[Jordan Smith (musician)|Jordan Smith]], and [[Tedd T.]], and produced by [[Steve Mac]], with a remix version produced by [[Steve Aoki]]. The track was released as the lead single from the film's [[Deadpool 2 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)|soundtrack]] by [[Columbia Records]] on May 3, 2018, alongside its music video. Critics responded positively, and the song reached number one on the US [[Dance Club Songs]] chart, becoming Dion's third chart-topper there after "[[Misled (Celine Dion song)|Misled]]" (July 1994) and "[[Taking Chances (song)|Taking Chances]]" (February 2008).<ref name="DanceNumber1" /> "'''Ashes'''" is a song recorded by Canadian singer [[Celine Dion]] for the [[soundtrack]] of the 2018 American [[superhero film]] ''[[Deadpool 2]]'', based on the [[Marvel Comics]] character [[Deadpool]] and distributed by [[20th Century Fox]]. It was written by [[Petey USA|Petey Martin]], [[Jordan Smith (musician)|Jordan Smith]], and [[Tedd T.]], and produced by [[Steve Mac]], with a remix version produced by [[Steve Aoki]]. The track was released as the lead single from the film's [[Deadpool 2 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)|soundtrack]] by [[Columbia Records]] on May 3, 2018, alongside its music video. Critics responded positively, and the song reached number one on the US [[Dance Club Songs]] chart, becoming Dion's third chart-topper there after "[[Misled (Celine Dion song)|Misled]]" (July 1994) and "[[Taking Chances (song)|Taking Chances]]" (February 2008).<ref name="DanceNumber1" />

Director [[David Leitch (director)|David Leitch]] sought an original song for ''Deadpool 2'' that could support the film's emotional core, and "Ashes" was the result. He and actor-producer [[Ryan Reynolds]] invited Dion to record it, and she accepted. The song was crafted to balance a satirical tone with its role as the film's genuine emotional through-line. Leitch also directed the music video, which includes Dion, Reynolds, and dancer [[Yanis Marshall]], who appears as Deadpool in sequences where the character performs choreography in high heels. Director [[David Leitch]] sought an original song for ''Deadpool 2'' that could support the film's emotional core, and "Ashes" was the result. He and actor-producer [[Ryan Reynolds]] invited Dion to record it, and she accepted. The song was crafted to balance a satirical tone with its role as the film's genuine emotional through-line. Leitch also directed the music video, which includes Dion, Reynolds, and dancer [[Yanis Marshall]], who appears as Deadpool in sequences where the character performs choreography in high heels.

In November 2019, ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' reported that "Ashes" had accumulated more than 64 million on-demand streams in the United States, making it Dion's sixth most streamed track in the country.<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Celine Dion's Best-Selling Albums & Most-Streamed Songs: Ask Billboard Mailbag |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/celine-dion-best-selling-albums-most-streamed-songs-ask-billboard |date=November 26, 2019 |access-date=July 6, 2020 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref> In November 2019, ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' reported that "Ashes" had accumulated more than 64 million on-demand streams in the United States, making it Dion's sixth most streamed track in the country.<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Celine Dion's Best-Selling Albums & Most-Streamed Songs: Ask Billboard Mailbag |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/celine-dion-best-selling-albums-most-streamed-songs-ask-billboard |date=November 26, 2019 |access-date=July 6, 2020 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref>

== Background == == Background == During the development of ''[[Deadpool 2]]'', director [[David Leitch (director)|David Leitch]] felt that maintaining the personal stakes of the first film by centering the story on "an existential crisis and a deeply personal cause" for Deadpool would be more compelling for audiences than shifting toward global stakes.<ref name="NYTMay2018" /> As part of this approach, Leitch sought an original song that could reflect these themes and act as an emotional through-line for several characters, similar in spirit to "[[Take My Breath Away]]" and "[[My Heart Will Go On]]".<ref name="EWBreakdown" /> The song plays over the film's [[James Bond]]-style [[opening credits]].<ref name="BondCredits" /> During the development of ''[[Deadpool 2]]'', director [[David Leitch]] felt that maintaining the personal stakes of the first film by centering the story on "an existential crisis and a deeply personal cause" for Deadpool would be more compelling for audiences than shifting toward global stakes.<ref name="NYTMay2018" /> As part of this approach, Leitch sought an original song that could reflect these themes and act as an emotional through-line for several characters, similar in spirit to "[[Take My Breath Away]]" and "[[My Heart Will Go On]]".<ref name="EWBreakdown" /> The song plays over the film's [[James Bond]]-style [[opening credits]].<ref name="BondCredits" />

== Composition and recording == == Composition and recording == Line 53: Line 53: Leitch and Reynolds wanted to create a music video to accompany the song. Leitch was initially unsure about releasing it before the film, since he preferred that audiences encounter the song for the first time during the movie, but he ultimately felt it was important for marketing because it is "a central part of the movie". Both he and Reynolds considered it essential to be directly involved in shaping the video rather than handing it off to another director who might not share their vision. Their concept centered on Dion delivering a sincere performance while the video simultaneously plays with the irreverent tone associated with Deadpool. Because of this, Leitch adjusted his schedule so he could direct the video himself.<ref name="EWBreakdown" /> Leitch and Reynolds wanted to create a music video to accompany the song. Leitch was initially unsure about releasing it before the film, since he preferred that audiences encounter the song for the first time during the movie, but he ultimately felt it was important for marketing because it is "a central part of the movie". Both he and Reynolds considered it essential to be directly involved in shaping the video rather than handing it off to another director who might not share their vision. Their concept centered on Dion delivering a sincere performance while the video simultaneously plays with the irreverent tone associated with Deadpool. Because of this, Leitch adjusted his schedule so he could direct the video himself.<ref name="EWBreakdown" />

Coming from an action background, Leitch described directing a music video as a long-standing ambition. He brought in [[Jonathan Sela]], the cinematographer for ''Deadpool 2'', whose extensive work on music videos helped guide the process. Leitch noted similarities between staging the choreography in the video and staging action sequences for his films.<ref name="EWBreakdown" /> The video was filmed in the [[The Colosseum at Caesars Palace|Colosseum at Caesars Palace]], where Dion performs her Las Vegas residency shows,<ref name="SoundtrackReleaseDate" /> with choreography by dancer Yanis Marshall. Reynolds had wanted to involve Marshall in the ''Deadpool'' films for some time, after being introduced by his wife [[Blake Lively]] to videos of Marshall dancing in high heels. Marshall spent 12 hours performing in the Deadpool costume and high heels for the video, later describing the costume as a "nightmare" to dance in.<ref name="Marshall" /> Leitch said that Reynolds and Dion were "Canadian icons" and enjoyed giving them a brief comedic exchange at the end of the video, which the two devised together.<ref name="EWBreakdown" /> Coming from an action background, Leitch described directing a music video as a long-standing ambition. He brought in [[Jonathan Sela]], the cinematographer for ''Deadpool 2'', whose extensive work on music videos helped guide the process. Leitch noted similarities between staging the choreography in the video and staging action sequences for his films.<ref name="EWBreakdown" /> The video was filmed in the [[The Colosseum at Caesars Palace|Colosseum at Caesars Palace]], where Dion performs her Las Vegas residency shows,<ref name="SoundtrackReleaseDate" /> with choreography by dancer [[Yanis Marshall]]. Reynolds had wanted to involve Marshall in the ''Deadpool'' films for some time, after being introduced by his wife [[Blake Lively]] to videos of Marshall dancing in high heels. Marshall spent 12 hours performing in the Deadpool costume and high heels for the video, later describing the costume as a "nightmare" to dance in.<ref name="Marshall" /> Leitch said that Reynolds and Dion were "Canadian icons" and enjoyed giving them a brief comedic exchange at the end of the video, which the two devised together.<ref name="EWBreakdown" />

== Remixes == == Remixes ==