Who is Shania Twain?

Shania Twain, who was born Eileen Regina Edwards, is a five-time Grammy award winning Canadian singer-songwriter. Her music fits in the country pop category and has won her fame and success around the world. Throughout her career Shania has received 27 BMI songwriter awards and her third album, Come On Over, is the best-selling album by a female musician of all time.

Her Albums

Up to date Shania has released five studio albums: Shania Twain (1993), The Woman in Me (1995), Come on Over (1997), The Complete Limelight Sessions (2001), Up! (2002) and Greatest Hits (2004).

Up

Up was Shania’s fourth studio album and was released in November 2002. It is said that the material for the album was written and recorded across the world from Berlin and Vienna to the Bahamas and Mumbai. The album hit the top spot in the US and Canadian charts but only reached the number four spot in the UK. Despite all of the released singles doing exceptionally well in the US and Canada none of them managed to hit the top spot in the UK.

The Album in Short

If you’re one of those people that aren’t particularly looking for a track-by-track breakdown of the album in question then this section is for you and you can simply gloss over the track analysis if you wish. Up as an album is a real gem in my opinion. All of the tracks are Shania Twain originals and therefore are completely unique. All of the songs on the album are interesting to listen to and tell a story, which is something I particularly like. A couple of the tracks are also quite humorous in places and really make a statement – usually a feminist (in a way) one. The music style changes frequently throughout the album and varies for punchy pop to complete country - some oriental tones even feature in a couple of tracks. The general pace of the songs also changes quite a lot. For example track 4 ‘Juanita’ is a soft and delicate ballad style song whereas track 8 ‘Nah!’ and track 10 ‘C’est le Vie’ are punchier power anthems. All in all this gives the audience a diverse listening experience that is a pleasure throughout.

Track Breakdown

ONE – Up!

Up is the title track from the album and a Twain original, which won her a Juno Award. The song has a really catchy and heavy beat that really makes you want to tap your feet and sing along. The lyrics are quite fun to listen to and Twain’s unique sounding voice shines through.
‘It’s bout as bad as it could be
seems everybody’s bugging me
like nothing wants to go my way
it just ain’t been my day’
*********9/10*********

TWO - I’m Gonna Getcha Good!

This track was well received by the public as it’s similar to those tracks on her previous albums, with a strong country feel. The beat in the track is constant and throbbing with some very nice guitar riffs and some wonderfully sung lyrics that you just can’t help singing along with.
‘I’m gonna getcha while I got you in sight
I’m gonna getcha if it takes all night
You can betcha by the time I say go
You’ll never say no’
*********9/10*********

THREE - She’s Not Just a Pretty Face

This song is superb in my opinion and a lot of others agree too with Billboard magazine calling the song an “ultra-lightweight country-girl power anthem" that is simply "exquisite country pop”. This song is another with a strong and steady bea and interesting backing track with some beautiful solo instrumental pieces. The lyrics are in many ways intriguing to listen to and definitely have all the makings of a female power anthem.
‘she is a soldier
she is a wife
she is aurgeon
she’ll save your life
she’s not just a pretty face’
**********10/10*********

FOUR - Juanita

This is probably my favourite song on this album and one of my favourite Twain songs in general. In comparison to the three previous songs the beat in this song is nowhere near as heavy and on the whole the song has a much softer and delicate feel, which is lovely to listen to. The lyrics are well constructed and performed with enough power and passion to make the song memorable but not overpowering.
‘When someone tries to take
away the freedom of your choice
To take away your voice--
that's when you need her’
**********10/10**********

FIVE - Forever and For Always

This track is another that has more in common with those on her previous albums than the more up-beat pop sounding ones of this album. The lyrics like in the previous track are rather delicate and are sung with a degree of softness once more. I must say though that I like this style and find it really easy to listen to and rather relaxing at the same time.
‘In your heart--I can still hear
a beat for every time you kiss me
And when we're apart,
I know how much you miss me’
********9/10*********

SIX - Ain’t No Particular Way

This song sees a return to the heavy and steady beat but also mixes in a stronger country feel that a couple of the earlier tracks lacked. The lyrics are again utterly unique and also interesting and quite uplifting to listen to. Better still the lyrics are sung well and not drowned out by the backing track.
‘Love has a way to find ya
Sneaks up right behind ya
There ain't no particular way’
********8/10********

SEVEN - It Only Hurts When I’m Breathing

This track is another soft and subtle one that in many ways is a strong reminder of her previous album, Come on over. The lyrics are again rather lovely to listen to and despite what they are saying are quite up lifting and inspiring in a way. They are however sung beautifully and the whole song is very relaxing to listen to.
‘Don’t think I’m lying round crying at night
There’s no need to worry I’m really all right
I’ve never looked back
As a matter of fact’
**********10/10**********

EIGHT - Nah!

In short I love this track. It has a brilliant beat and a foot-tapping pace. More than that though is has some fantastic power anthem lyrics that I defy any girl of any age not to sing along to. A great song to play very loud.
‘It's too late to regret it,
but you're the one who said it
We're better off being apart
I hate to be a downer,
but don't bother comin' 'round here
Cause I won't have a change of heart’
**********10/10**********

NINE – (Wanna Get to) Know You That Good

This track has a completely different sound initially to the others on this album and doesn’t a first sound like a Twain track. As the intro music progresses however the country tones enter and the vocals at the start, accompanied by only a light beat, are brilliant. The lyrics are again exquisitely written and lovely to listen to.
‘Every feel of your fingers
Every curl in your hair
Don’t want to miss a minute
Want to be right in it’
*********9/10*********

TEN - Cest Le Vie!

This is another brilliant song that I just love singing aloud to – very loudly I should add. The lyrics are brilliant to listen too, especially those within the verses and the really do tell a story that we can all relate to. The chorus is also extremely catchy and the whole song has been performed very well.
‘If only I could sleep in
Wake up on the weekend
Oh what a dream that would be
Fat chance of that one
Ain’t gonna happen’
**********10/10**********

ELEVEN - Jealous

This track is another much softer track and contrasts very well with the previous two. It is probably this variation in song styles and paces that makes this album so appealing to me. Jealous has a simple backing track with a steady beat but some lovely lyrics that are as usual beautifully performed and really relaxing to listen to.
‘I’m jealous of the rain
I don’t want to share you with nothing else
I gotta have you to myself
I can’t help it I’m so in love’
*********9/10*********

TWELVE - Kaching

This track is an exceptionally contagious track that no matter what you do seems to stay in your head forever. The lyrics are in more ways than one very accurate and rather appropriate for the current climate too. The vocal performance is solid as usual and makes the song a brilliantly fun track to listen to.
‘We’ve created us a credit card mess
We spend the money that we don’t possess
Our religion is to go and blow it all’
********8/10********

THIRTEEN - Thank You Baby

This track fluctuates between rather powerful and punchy to soft and delicate and this is quite refreshing to listen to. The lyrics are very well constructed in so many ways and again rather lovely to listen to when you want to relax.
‘So many numbers
So many guys to call
Is it any wonder?
I got nowhere at all’
*********9/10*********

FOURTEEN - Waiter, Bring Me Water

This track begins with a rather oriental sound, which seems to run through the song. This I must admit really caught my ear – or should I say ear – but unfortunately the song itself just didn’t catch me. For me this song is the weakest on the album. I get what it’s all about but for me the verses just aren’t performed as well as they could have been and therefore the general song meaning isn’t conveyed well.
‘Waiter! Bring me water
I got make him keep his cool
Bring me water
He’s acting like a fool’
******6/10******

FIFTEEN - What a Way to Wanna Be!

This is another great female anthem that has fantastic lyrics and a catchy beat. The lyrics aren’t inspired in the way you might expect from my praise but more humorous to listen to but humorous in a way that still makes a statement.
‘Moisturise exorcise
Erase the rings around your eyes
Cover what you can
Get a copper tone tan’
********8/10********

SIXTEEN - I Ain’t Goin Down

This song’s backing track has a different sound to others on the album as in many ways it provides a near non-existent role. It consists mainly of a light yet steady beat that simply allows Twain’s near enough unaccompanied vocals to shine through. The lyrics again have a strong story to tell and because of that the song is a pleasure to listen to.
‘I had a baby at fifteen
Daddy never forgive me
I never heard from the guy again
I had to drop out of high school’
*********9/10*********

SEVENTEEN - I’m Not in the Mood

The backing track to this track is very punchy and up beat like those earlier on in the album. Twain’s vocals are again brilliantly to listen to and this rather jazzed up style really seems to suit her. The backing vocals, which make small yet important additions to the vocal track are also wonderfully performed and placed.
‘I’m not in the mood
To be shy
To stand by
And not give it a try’
********8/10********

EIGHTEEN - In My Car, I’ll be the Driver

This is another track that I am not as fond of as the others. The premise for the song is interesting but for me it just doesn’t really work. I’m not sure this is one of her best song writing moments if I’m really honest.
‘It’s alright if you sleep with your socks on
Oh babe, its ok
And you can hurt my head with your favourite rock song
I don’t mind, that’s fine’
******6/10******

NINETEEN - When You Kiss Me

This song is a lovely track to end the album in a really captures Twain’s style. The backing track is subtle and delicate with some lovely musical moments that make it stand out. The lyrics are in so many ways sublime and extremely beautifully to listen to. The song is in many ways close to those on her previous albums but something about its unique performance highlight it as one of the best.
‘You are the one
I think I’m in love
Life has begun’
**********10/10**********

Now I know that this album won’t be for everybody but I must say that I think it’s rather good. The songs you listen to are all unique to Twain – not only in the fact that they are originals but that they are sung in a way unique to her completely. This album is definitely one that I listen to frequently on my I-pod.