SOBS IN CELINE DION'S VOICE ANNOUNCES 

SHE HAS A RARE NEUROLOGICAL DISORDER

After having already canceled the dates of her European tour three times since 2020, the singer therefore announces this Thursday new concert cancellations due to her health problems, in a video published on social networks, this Thursday, December 8, 2022.

This disorder “affects around 1 in 1 million people”, specifies the singer in her video and is characterized in particular by progressive muscular rigidity.

“We don't yet know everything about this rare disease, but we now know that it is the cause of the muscle spasms I suffer from,” she continues. According to the American Institutes of Health (NIH), stiff-man syndrome is a rare neurological disease with characteristics of an autoimmune disorder.

Fluctuating muscle stiffness

It is characterized by "fluctuating stiffness of muscles in the trunk and limbs and increased sensitivity to external stimuli such as noise, touch, emotional distress...which can trigger muscle spasms."

The US Institutes of Health reports that people with stiff-man syndrome may fear leaving their homes for fear of noise disturbance.

Scientists have not yet found the reasons for the outbreak of the disease, which affects twice as many women as men. But its consequences are the result of a dysfunctional autoimmune response between the brain and the spinal cord.

A recent study funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders demonstrated "the effectiveness of intravenous immunoglobulin treatments in reducing stiffness and sensitivity to noise, touch, and stress in people with stiff-man syndrome" , write the American Institutes of Health.

Psychosomatic stress

The doctor of the star with 230 million records sold, estimated very early on that the disease from which she suffered was also due to the psychosomatic stress endured by the diva: "It is due to psychosomatic stress, because the last decade has been particularly hard on her. Especially with the death of her two pillars, her husband René and her mother Thérèse”.

Things seem to be going from bad to worse, as evidenced by the main concerned.

Celine Dion specifies that this disorder affects her everyday life on many levels. "I sometimes have a lot of difficulty walking and I can't always use my vocal cords to sing as I would like," she explains with emotion.

Given her state of health, the star says she will not be "ready" to resume her tour in Europe from February 2023.

A “continuous fight” against the disease

Already in 2018, Celine Dion had been forced to postpone several shows in Las Vegas due to her health. At the time, the singer invoked an irritation of the throat and a disorder in the middle ear.

But since 2021, the interpreter of It's All Coming Back to Me Now, frequently postponed his concerts because of "violent muscle spasms". In a video published last April to announce the second postponement of her European tour, Celine Dion once again evoked this painful and persistent neurological disorder. “My doctors follow me. I receive treatments. But I still have muscle spasms. Recovery takes a lot longer than I thought,” she said in April.

The Quebec artist, however, ensures that she is followed by an “excellent team of doctors” and trains daily in order to “gain strength and endurance” in order to be able to go back on stage again.

And the singer to conclude: “I train every day But I must admit that it is a continual fight. It is my children who give me the courage and the hope to continue. To find you, I have no choice but to focus on my health and I am hopeful that I am on the right track. “, she assures.

We wish a lot of courage to Celine Dion who will eventually regain her voice and illuminate the scenes with her charisma !

BTS THE EXHAUSTED SOUTH KOREAN K-POP BOYSBAND TAKES A BREAK

Creative burnout.

For BTS, who have been churning out music nonstop for nine years, creative burnout must have weighed in on their decision to take a break, says Billboard K-pop columnist Jeff Benjamin. in the past, it seems more “meaningful”. The seven boys remain under contract with their label until 2026, which is “essential to keep them together”, continued Jeff Benjamin.

Asked during a dinner, organized to celebrate their ninth anniversary, the seven artists notably pointed out their busy and non-stop work rhythm which does not allow them to take the time to think about their future development, solo but also as a group.

“I've always thought BTS was different from other groups, but the problem with K-pop and the whole star system is that they don't give you time to mature. You have to keep churning out music non-stop,” RM said at that dinner.

Since their debut in 2013, the seven members of BTS have, in parallel with their common career, developed individual projects. If J-Hope, Jimin, Jin, Jungkook, RM, Suga and V confide that this decision to take a break was difficult to make, they nevertheless reveal that their albums and solo singles will quickly see the light of day.

“We can't stop thinking about our audience. No matter what, we want to be the kind of artists that fans remember. We are going through a tough time right now as we are trying to find our identity and it is an exhausting and long process,” Jimin said.

J-Hope will be the first of the group to formalize this new individual start. The artist will headline the American Lollapalooza festival on July 31.

An unspoken reason?

Behind the decision of the South Koreans of BTS to take a break would also hide an unspoken reason, namely the compulsory military service according to some specialists. Any South Korean man under the age of 30 must indeed perform two years of military service, in particular because of the threat posed by North Korea. The prospect of conscription is getting closer for the members of BTS, especially for Jin, 29 years old, who must enlist by next year or risk being put in prison.

Seoul grants exemptions from military service to some top athletes, such as Olympic medalists, and classical music artists, but not to K-pop stars. “As a young South Korean, I believe that service military is a natural course. And as I have always said, I will answer my country's call when it arrives," Jin said in 2020. "The issue of military service was clearly present in the announcement," said Lee Moon-won, a K-pop culture commentator.

Allowing the band members to focus on their own solo careers was "a logical decision," he adds, since the call-up of the seven boys will disrupt the band's lineup for years to come.