When a Hawaiian prayer inspires Céline Dion’s new song

"Bonjour, pardon, merci." The second single from Céline Dion’s upcoming album has just been released and stands as a true anthem to resilience.

Written and composed by Ycare and Renaud Rebillaud, this song is a balm for the soul.

“Whether we’re from here or elsewhere, we’re all just human beings, shaped by our mistakes, whom only love can comfort,” sings the artist, who is also preparing to take up residence at the Plénitude Arena (formerly Paris La Défense Arena).“Hello, sorry, thank you. There’s a line missing from this poem, a word that unites us. Hello, sorry, thank you, I love you,” the chorus carries a powerful message of humility and gratitude toward the world and those around us.

The inspiration behind the song

Ycare reveals that he was inspired by Ho’oponopono, a “ Hawaiian prayer that involves saying ‘Forgive me, thank you, and I love you’ every morning by the ocean, as if we were laying down our invisible burdens.” Moved by this philosophy, he chose to translate it into music:

“I then thought about the hardships each of us might endure. So I began writing lyrics about resilience and gratitude, accompanied by my guitar.” For the singer-songwriter, entrusting this song to Céline Dion was a natural choice. “For her journey of resilience, for her strength, and for her voice—and the resonance it carries.”

Enhanced in the studio by Renaud Rebillaud’s production—which infused the trackwith “the musical depth this melody required”—the final result completely captivated Ycare: “Her voice seemed to pierce the sky, only to return and dazzle us with its power and delicacy.”