Disco de Shania Twain: “Up!”

Calling Shania Twain country is the same as calling Mikhail Gorbachev a communist back in the 1980's. OK, so is this Come On Over Once Again? Well, some bits of it are, but the songs and the album overall seem more solid than Come On Over. The title track breaks open with the same infectiousness that "Man! I Feel Like A Woman" did from the previous album. In other words, "Up!" is simply irresistible from the word go... I mean up! However, as there are nineteen songs here, I'll concentrate on the ones that yanked my ear. Overall, this is a smashing album, though. Oh, note: I'm reviewing from the POV of the red pop disc.

Most of the songs are upbeat and have that manner of erasing bad moods in the same way that "I'm Holding On To Love" and "Don't Be Stupid" from Come On Over did.

"She's Not Just A Pretty Face" is a tribute to the woman who may be the waitress, gas pump jockey, airline pilot, mother of three, etc, who's "got everything it takes" and is

"Forever And For Always" is has a mid-paced backing drum section that has the same reflective dreaminess of Steve Winwood's "Back In The High Life Again."

"Ain't No Particular Way" is highlighted by the strings providing the backing rhythm after the chorus.

The sweet ballad here is "It Only Hurts When I'm Breathing," which is the "From This Moment On" of this album, albeit without a dueting partner, and it's better too. However, the closing ballad "When You Kiss Me" is equally meritorious in beauty.

"Nah!" has only the slightest twinge of country but with the Def Leppard style backing vocals, it's clear that it's more pop than country. Ditto for the next song. "(Wanna Get To Know) You That Good" is a firm avowal of how much she wants to know someone, from memorizing one's face in a lifetime, knowing one by heart and mind, including "Every feel of your fingers, every curl in your hair."

"Ka-Ching" is a pointed social commentary on the mall-style materialism that has swept America. She sings of the indebtedness America launched itself into in the 70's, namely that little plastic card. "We've created a credit card mess/ We spend the money we don't possess/Our religion is to go and blow it all/So it's shoppin' every Sunday at the mall." With the cash register sound present, it could be a counterpart to Pink Floyd's "Money."

"Waiter! Bring Me Water!" has the girl being humiliated by her boyfriend at a restaurant because he is looking at another woman. I get the sense that the put upon girl needs the water to toss in his face instead of to drink in order to cool him down.

"What A Way To Wanna Be!" is a breakneck rock song dismissing the pressures of women of being overly conscious of their looks, figure, and trendy. "Bigger is the best, but only in the chest" and "Yeah, how insane-to be so vain/It's so synthetic-I just don't get it" are key lyrics.

The upbeat and sassy "In My Car (I'll Be The Driver)" has a role reversal in which she doesn't mind whatever her man does, whether it's sleeping with his socks on or hurting her head with his favourite rock song-just let her drive the car.

There are 19, count'em!, 19 songs on this album, so that's VERY generous of Shania and Mutt. Plus, those 19 songs are also on the green country disc, so make that 38 songs for the price of one CD. I favour the red pop disc over the mellower green country disc, which is not bad. Make no mistakes-this one will outsell Come On Over, which sold diamond-ten million copies for those not in the know. So to sum up, longer, better, snazzier, and more solid. And it figures, as Mutt Lange wants to save the best for his wife, but what a wife!

Finally! Shania, one of the most successful and beautiful singers of all time, is back! Due to motherhood and going through a lot since the overly HUGE success of COME ON OVER, Shania had a well-deserved break, but this album was worth anticipating! I gave my sister the country version, while I kept the pop version; I like the pop version better. The songs are absolutely great on this CD, and I already have my faves:

1. "I'm Gonna Getcha Good!": 1st single; great way to promote the album. Great beat, great song to dance to!

2. "Forever And For Always": The music of the pop version is spine-chilling; beautifully written and performed!

3. "It Only Hurts When I'm Breathing": Her vocals have improved so much in this one!

4. "I Ain't Goin' Down": Delivers a strong, positive message to all the young single mothers out there!

5. "When You Kiss Me": Reminds me of "You've Got A Way", but I Love it!

Overall, UP! is a great CD, and I believe strongly that it will measure up to the success of the previous hit albums. Shania, way to go UP! from here!...

Actually, though after having listened to this CD for more than a month, it still couldn't grip on me like 'Come On Over' did, which only took 2 days. I believe the songs on this album are a little too diversed and maybe, in my opinion, a little too evenly-produced. As each song comes on, it will catch your attention instantly and the rhythm is pretty catchy since the music is really manufactured well, but it becomes a little tedious and predictable after a while and you just couldn't wait to skip to the next track. Besides the first single, "IGGG" and "Forever & Always", there wasn't a track which melody I could recall after hearing it for the first time.

Perhaps Shania chose each song too carefully and it just so happens that when all these potentially good numbers blend together, they overshadow each other and make the whole album a not so memorable one.

One thing, Shania's "oh-ohs" and "uh-huhs" get a little annoying after a while. I know it's her unique style which many people love but there are a few songs that I feel tarnished when she throws out her "yeah-uhs" right after the beautifully catchy starting melodies.

Overall, it would have been a very good album compared with the rest in the market and Shania certainly showcases her talent and that she's 'still the one' here. Maybe after 'Come On Over', we are expecting a little too much in this follow up and it would take some really smashing hits to exceed what she has done in the past. One last funny fact, anyone notice that out of 19 songs in this album, 9 have exclamation marks in their titles!

Recommended numbers: "Forever & Always", "I'm Gonna Getcha Good", "It Only Hurts When I'm Breathing", "Thank You Baby", "When You Kiss Me"

This is Shania Twain's first album since 1997's "Come On Over." Since then, it has become the best-selling record by a female artist in any genre. How could Shania top that? Most likely, she will. "Up!" contains two discs -- a green one with the country versions of the songs that has banjos, fiddles, etc. on it and then and a red one with the uptempo pop songs with steal guitars and such.

There are many outstanding songs on here, like "It Only Hurts When I'm Breathing," "What A Way To Wanna Be!" [about people's obsession with beauty], "I'm Jealous," "Thank You Baby! (For Makin' Someday Come So Soon)," "I Ain't Goin' Down," "Forever and For Always" and my favorite love song from Shania, "When You Kiss Me." There are also many fun, upbeat numbers, such as "I'm Gonna Getcha Good!," "In My Car (I'll Be the Driver)," "Waiter! Bring Me Water," "Up!" and "I'm Not In the Mood (To Say No!)."

Shania Twain is a superstar with unlimited horizons and she has proved that once again on "Up!" Whether you prefer country or pop, she has made another amazing album for your listening pleasure.

There's so much to say about Shania Twain. She exploded on the country charts with her second album The Woman In Me. And she became a pop crossover success with her next disc, Come On Over. Come On Over, being the 6th biggest selling album of all time is quite a feat. Yet, Shania does not get sidetracked for her fourth album, Up! Shania may have reached many career highs, but with her new music she proves she still can go up. Countless reviews have bashed her lyrics, calling them juvenile and meaningless fluff. Yet, this is precisely why Shania is so popular. She can write fun songs, songs for escape from an otherwise hectic life. Shania has had her share of tragedy, but you'd never guess it from her happy go lucky albums. That's because Shania understands something that most artists don't, that they make music for the fans. They make music for other people to relate to. Shania realizes that people listen to music to get away from the everyday stress and even tragedies of life, so sometimes you need to listen to something fun and lighthearted. Something that will make you smile. Shania doesn't take her self so seriously like a lot of artists. She writes things that everyone can relate to, so although she has a style with the simple lyric, that is precisely why she is so darn good. Shania offers 19 songs on this album, and 38 if you count both the country and pop discs together. What a bargain! Shania remembers her country fans and also her newfound pop fans. So there is something for everyone on this album. Now for the music: Stand out tracks are Up (a song about optimism that everyone should listen to daily. It really puts things into perspective). Forever And For Always is the ultimate love song, painting a picture with a melody of everlasting and true love. Ain't No Particular Way is a unique sounding song that talks about how love is everywhere and for everyone. Nah is a typical Shania attitude song to an ex-lover. It Only Hurts When I'm Breathing is the weaper on this album. Incredibly sad, it talks about one who has lost someone dear to them. Shania sings this song with so much feeling and conviction, one may wonder if she's singing to her parents that were killed in a car accident years ago. She's Not Just A Pretty Face and Juanita are songs about feminism and the strength of women. I'm Gonna Getcha Good, In My Car, and I'm Not In The Mood are more fun songs with attitude and a healthy dose of feminism. On a more serious note, I Ain't Goin' Down is song about a 15 year old girl who gets pregnant, keeps the baby, and is outcast from everyone in her life. Yet she gets through it all because she has the love of her daughter. When You Kiss Me and I'm Jealous are beautiful love ballads that just give you magical feeling that you will be able to feel whether you are in love or not. What A Way To Wanna Be addresses the obsession that most women have to look a certain way because of society. Ka-Ching addresses how greedy the world has become. There are lots of social statements coming from Shania on this disc. She has greatly matured as a songwriter, and I hope the critics and doubters will be able to understand that although she sings songs that are fun and lighthearted, that she can deliver serious statements with her music. But Shania is modest and humble enough not to take herself to seriously, so she makes music for what it was orgininaly inteneded for, to entertain. Perhaps that's why this woman is the best selling female artist of the last decade. Perhaps that's why her last album is the best selling disc by a woman ever. She's got talent, modesty, a beautiful voice, and music that can fill your soul with love, tears, joy, and bliss. I didn't think it was possible, but Shania outdid her last album, so this one is appropraiately titled "Up!" It's bigger and better. Give this album a listen, it comes from a woman who understands what music is for.