Céline Dion releases new single 'Bonjour, pardon, merci' ahead of September Paris residency

The new single

'Bonjour, pardon, merci' was released at midnight on Friday, 3 July 2026, as the second extract from Céline Dion's upcoming album, expected next year. A teaser snippet had been posted a day earlier. The song was written by French singer Ycare and composed with Renaud Rebillaud, who also produced the track. Its chorus repeats the three words of the title, adding 'je t'aime' – a phrase Ycare calls the missing line that unites the poem.

Her voice seemed to split the sky, returning to dazzle us with power and delicacy.

Inspiration and recording

The lyrics draw on Ho'oponopono, a Hawaiian prayer that Ycare describes as saying 'Forgive me, thank you, and I love you' each morning before the ocean, as if laying down invisible burdens.

I then thought about the trials each of us can endure. So I began writing words of resilience and gratitude, accompanied by my guitar.

The recording took place in a Las Vegas studio, where Dion resides. Ycare said proposing the song to her felt natural because of her own path of resilience.

The comeback timeline

'Bonjour, pardon, merci' continues the return to music that began on 17 April 2026 with 'Dansons', a single written by Jean-Jacques Goldman. Since then, Dion has announced a major Paris residency at the newly renamed Plenitude Arena (formerly Paris La Défense Arena). The initial 16 concerts run from 12 September, with a further 10 shows scheduled for May 2027. All tickets sold out within hours, generating a scramble among millions of fans.

Commercial and critical context

While 'Dansons' received a muted reception from some critics – Le Figaro described it as 'already a bit dated' – the new release is positioned as a modern hymn to love and gratitude. Dion remains one of the best-selling artists of all time, with 260 million albums sold globally. Her previous public performance was a cover of Piaf's 'Hymne à l'amour' on the Eiffel Tower two years ago.