When the single was to be released to radio, it was produced further by Walter Afanasieff, who added string and electric guitar, as well as rearranged portions of the song.
The single also played over the ending credits of the film. The original Horner-produced version of the ballad appears on the Titanic soundtrack and has an extended ending with longer, segmented vocalizations by Dion. Horner, Dion, and later Sony Music Entertainment decided to use this first recording because 'Dion's voice was perfect.' The song was recorded in one take and without instrumental accompaniment. After playing it several times, Cameron declared his approval, although worried that he might be criticised for 'going commercial at the end of the movie.' Horner waited until Cameron was in an appropriate mood before presenting him with the song. It was her manager and husband, Rene Angelil, who convinced her to record a demo version, which was something she hadn't done for many years.
Dion was Horner's first choice to sing it, but when she heard the song, she did not want to record it.
Director James Cameron did not want such a song, but Horner went ahead anyway and got Jennings to write the lyrics. He then wanted to make a full vocal song out of it, for use in the end credits of the film. Horner had originally composed the song as an instrumental motif that is used in several scenes during Titanic.
