Celine Dion Gave Us the Best ‘Deadpool’ Song

Marvel‘s Deadpool franchise relies more on pop songs than almost any other Hollywood movie series. While the Deadpool movies highlighted some classic tracks, the best Deadpool song came from the legendary Celine Dion. Here’s a look at what made her contribution to the series stand out from the rest.

Celine Dion’s ‘Ashes’ has a history different from the other ‘Deadpool’ songs

The Deadpool movies probably include more pop songs than fight scenes. The songs range from classic (Madonna’s “Like a Prayer”) to mediocre (Avril Lavinge’s “I’m with You”) to terrible Huey Lewis and the News’ “The Power of Love”). The one Dion song in the franchise, “Ashes,” might not be as good as “Like a Prayer,” but it’s still the best Deadpool song.

Why? Well, “Like a Prayer” had been around for decades by the time it appeared in Deadpool & Wolverine. In addition, it has appeared in other movies, such as Gummo and Never Been Kissed. Meanwhile, “Ashes” debuted in Deadpool 2, which makes it a true Deadpool song in a way that other tunes that the appear in the franchise are not. The song has Marvel in its DNA.

Why the song works so well for ‘Deadpool’

The other reason “Ashes” is the best Deadpool song is that it finds Dion in her element. Dion is primarily a balladeer, but too many of her ballads are middle-of-the-road easy-listening tunes. “Ashes,” on the other hand, gets suitably dramatic. It’s not as over-the-top as “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now,” but it’s still a lot of fun. The cheeky melodrama of “Ashes” fits in well with the tone of the franchise. 

“Ashes” also works well as a straightforward power ballad. The line “Can beauty come out of ashes?” works beautifully. It’s the sort of line that can help people feel better during trying times. Who needs Katy Perry’s “Firework” or John Lennon’s “Imagine” when you can listen to “Ashes” for pick-me-up?

‘Ashes’ was supposed to sound like another Celine Dion song

During a 2018 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Deadpool 2 director David Leitch discussed “Ashes” and its connection to another Dion classic. “It’s probably not what people expected,” he said. “I wanted to create an original thematic song for the film that sort of was an emotional through-line for the characters. It’s not only Deadpool, but also a lot of characters in the film. I was looking for a thematic song in the classic ’90s style of ‘Take My Breath Away’ or ‘My Heart Will Go On.'”

Leitch discussed Dion’s reaction to “Ashes.” “I think she was actually taken aback by the song as well,” he recalled. “She’s a really sort of fun personality and a really beautiful person, and I think she understood what we were trying to do. And yeah, it was fun, and there might be some slight satire to it, but the song is a really emotional song, and we needed it to land in a genuine way for the movie, first and foremost. So she got it. And I think she loved the material and she elevated it in a way that only she can do it.”

“Ashes” was made for Deadpool, and Deadpool was made for “Ashes.”