Disco de Shania Twain: “The Woman in Me”

Shania Twain rocketed into superstardom with THE WOMAN IN ME and it isn't hard to understand why. This is an exceptional CD the twelve songs are rock-solid packed with personality and character as well as fantastic singing. The mistake that most reviewers make is that this is not a revolutionary album. The experiments and new flavored-country sound had been toyed with as early as the 1973 on Gram Parsons' GP album. Several women of Country music had been merging and developing the same sound over the course of two decades. Emmylou Harris' QUARTER MOON IN A TEN CENT TOWN (1978) matched contemporary pop/country songs with Country-flavored arrangements. Linda Ronstadt's breakthrough HEART LIKE A WHEEL (1974) was a fascinating blend of Country and Rock influences. Juice Newton's JUICE (1981) blended several different forms of Rock, Country, and Pop. All of Rosanne Cash's albums have a feminist tone, and Cash composed most of her 1985 album RHYTHM & ROMANCE, which blended Rock and Country seamlessly. What Shania Twain did was to take these experiments and craft a flawless CD which suited the 1995 Country and Pop markets perfectly. THE WOMAN IN ME is a very strong CD, and highly enjoyable listening. Twain works with Robert "Mutt" Lange for a set of exceptional tunes including soon-to-be classics "Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under" and "Any Man Of Mine". With incredible hooks in each of the songs, this is remarkable listening: start to finish. "Home Ain't Where His Heart Is" is a beautiful ballad which opens the disc. There's some pop accents in this stunning country ballad (a characteristic of the entire album (this is not a bad thing). "Any Man Of Mine" was a huge hit, and inspired a few-comic paradoies. "Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under" is a majestic country hit, perfectly crafted for country radio, but very clever. "If You're Not In It For Love" takes a long-going pop/rock theme into country vocabulary; the desire to avoid one-night stands. "The Woman In Me" is another wonderful ballad. "If There's Life After Love" is a beautiful piece of music, with a memorable chorus and inspirational lyrics. "If It Don't Take Two" is packed with character and terrific arrangements. Lange's composition "You Win My Love" rocks, and Twain's vocals fit perfectly. "Raining On Our Love" is a classic styled love song, again with a gorgeous performance. Twain's solo composition "Leaving Is The Only Way Out" is the same type of song, but with a completely different feel. "No One Needs To Know" is my favorite-it's so much fun. With a bouncy, instantly likeable melody, and lyrics anticipating marriage and bliss, this is a winner. What's even more brilliant is the way she ends the album, "God Bless The Child" is simple, sad, and real. I usually don't listen to that song. It's a virtually flawless CD, and it works well for fans of easy-going pop music, since most of country's characteristic darkness is absent. THE WOMAN IN ME is a blockbuster. It's definitely the best mainstream country release of the year. (Though Emmylou Harris' WRECKING BALL runs circles around everything released in 1995). This disc is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Those who claim this is Country in a new vision are speaking fallacy and haven't gotten familiar with the works before. Extraordinary Album.

Following Shania's relatively unsuccessful debut album in 1993, there have been some changes to her management; the more pertinent one being her marriage to rock guru John "Mutt" Lange. Much different than her self-titled debut album, this 1995 release is one that takes mainstream country music and blends it with infectious pop hooks and a down-to-earth rock sensibility.

Opening the album is the woeful track "Home Ain't Where His Heart Is (Anymore)", a beautifully orchestrated ballad with excellent musical accompaniment and saddening lyrics. Following that song is the rather vivacious "Any Man of Mine", a song in which Shania clearly defines what she wants in a man. Is she being the slightest bit pushy and too demanding? Absolutely not. If you listen closely, the qualities she mentions in this song more or less add up to a well-rounded, morally upstanding individual. However, that is not the case is the infamous question "Whose! Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?". Contrary to the title's connotation, this song is not in-your-face and spiteful, but a very serious warning of how dangerous cheating on someone is. Lyrics such as "...and whose heart did you steal I wonder..." sum it up; love is about commitment. The following track once again identifies Shania's strong bond with the power of love. "(If You're Not In It For Love) I'm Outta Here!" is pretty easy to understand if you can shake the really catchy groove that Shania is so good at inserting into her songs. Probably the most musical track on the album is "The Woman In Me (Needs the Man in You)". Opening with a lush piano introduction, the song really takes on a life of its own, and the emotions present make this song a standout on the album. The rest of the album mine as well be highlighted as well as the fiery "You Win My Love", the emotional "Is There Life After Love?", the catchy &quo! t;No One Needs to Know", and the heart-melting "G! od Bless the Child" make this album worthy of its Grammy Award and sales in excess of 12 million worldwide.

"The Woman In Me" is one of the most impressive pieces of introspective writing that Shania has accomplished. Some critics and listeners will write her off as a studio creation. However, that could not be further from the truth. Be sure to take a close look at the woman of Shania Twain. It's a beautiful one--inside and out. Overall Grade: A

Shania Twain did a great job on this album. I loved all the songs! It shows that she worked hard on this album unlike her "Come On Over" album. This is the only album I like of Shania Twain. It has some fun songs like "Whose Bed Has Your Boots Been Under","Any Man of Mine", "You Win My Love" and If Your Not in it For Love". And some more serious songs that people might be able to relate to like "Home Ain't Where his Heart Is" and Is There Life After Love". This album is worth every cent you put in it! I love this album!!!

This was Shania's second album and it's her best so far in my opinion. I also have her Come On Over album, but I like this album better. Just about all the songs are major hits and they are more catchy than the songs on Come On Over. It has many good songs such as "No One Needs To Know," "Who's Bed Have Your Boots Been Under," and the title track. The songs that weren't hits are also good. This album was the one that first put Shania on the map and on her road to superstardom.

If you like country music at all, you should like this album. I know a few people who don't like country music that much that have bought this album and they like it. It's one of the best.

This is the first Shania Twain album that I ever bought and it still sounds as fresh to me as the day I bought it. Her personality and gift for singing with real feeling comes across here more strongly than most of her albums. There is a sensitivity, warmth and zest for life that is communicated that is hard to put into words. Both the fast and slow songs on this album are very good and the ballads are particularly moving.