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Tommy · Guru

The Woman In Me - 20th & 25th Anniversary

Tommy · Guru

The Woman In Me - 20th Anniversary

Tommy · Guru

Remember When Shania Twain Made History With ‘The Woman in Me’?

By Sterling Whitaker | Taste of Country | November 17, 2017

Shania Twain was a little-known country artist before she released her second album, The Woman in Me, but not for long.

The Canadian singer-songwriter released her self-titled first album in 1993, but it was not a commercial success, never charting any higher than No. 67 and failing to score any hit singles. She changed her approach dramatically after meeting producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange, the producer behind Def Leppard, AC/DC and more. They collaborated for the songs on her second album, and Twain underwent a complete imaging overhaul to go along with the new songs, taking on an independent, empowered-woman persona for The Woman in Me, which was released in 1995.

The album was an immediate success, scoring Twain a No. 11 hit with its first single, "Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under," and following up with her first No. 1 hit with "Any Man of Mine." Twain went on to score more hits with the title song, "(If You're Not in It for Love) I'm Outta Here!," "You Win My Love," "No One Needs to Know" and more, releasing a total of eight singles from the album. The Woman in Me catapulted Twain to worldwide success.

On Nov. 17, 1997, The Woman in Me was awarded diamond certification from the RIAA, making Twain the first female country artist to ever sell 10 million copies of a record. It's gone on to sell more than 20 million copies, and its massive success paved the way for Twain to become the best-selling female artist in country music history.

The follow-up to the album, 1997's Come on Over, sold more than 40 million copies, and it's still the best-selling album by a female artist of all time in any genre. Twain followed that with Up! in 2002, and following a break of 15 years, she released her most recent album, Now, in September of 2017. That album debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's all-genre Billboard 200 chart.

http://tasteofcountry.com/shania-twain-the-woman-in-me-country-music-history/

Tommy · Guru

Shania Twain @ShaniaTwain

Happy anniversary The Woman In Me 🎈 Released February 3rd 1995.

10:00 AM ET - 3 Feb 19

http://twitter.com/ShaniaTwain

***I'm not sure where February 3 comes from. The album was released February 7, 1995 in the U.S. and Canada which was a Tuesday. Back then albums were released on Tuesdays.

Tanya · Guru

Tommy wrote:
Shania Twain @ShaniaTwain

Happy anniversary The Woman In Me 🎈 Released February 3rd 1995.
10:00 AM ET - 3 Feb 19
http://twitter.com/ShaniaTwain
***I'm not sure where February 3 comes from. The album was released February 7, 1995 in the U.S. and Canada which was a Tuesday. Back then albums were released on Tuesdays.

For some reason Shania (or/and her team) tends to mix things up. Last year she wrote it was 5 years since Vegas CD/DVD release, but it was only 3.

Tanya · Guru

I wonder what Shania means in "If It Don't Take Two" by "two winds to be strong enough". Does she mean the second wind when running or actually wind as after that she sings about ships not being able to sail on a still day? Or something else?

Tommy · Guru

Tanya wrote:
I wonder what Shania means in "If It Don't Take Two" by "two winds to be strong enough". Does she mean the second wind when running or actually wind as after that she sings about ships not being able to sail on a still day? Or something else?

First she sings "It takes two to go one way" then "Two winds to be strong enough". Then she sings about two ships on a sea of love. So it sounds like the "two winds" might be referring to two hearts or souls.

Tanya · Guru

Thank you!

Tommy · Guru

The Woman In Me - 20th & 25th Anniversary

Tommy · Guru

Text from Shania

11:00 AM ET - 7 Feb 20

Tommy · Guru

25 Years Ago: Shania Twain Releases 'The Woman In Me'

By Annie Zaleski | The Boot | February 7, 2020

On Feb. 7, 1995, Shania Twain released her second album, The Woman in Me. The Canadian musician co-wrote the album with her then-husband, Robert John "Mutt" Lange; the latter also produced the full-length.

Although the well-crafted songwriting points to Twain's future pop success, the LP is squarely in the country realm. However, The Woman In Me has a song for every mood, as it boasts tender ballads ("The Woman in Me (Needs the Man in You)," "Raining on Our Love"), sentimental breakup songs (the piano-driven waltz "Leaving Is the Only Way Out"), searing country-rockers ("(If You're Not in It for Love) I'm Outta Here!") and kicky dancefloor fillers ("Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?").

To say The Woman in Me became a blockbuster is a vast understatement. The album spawned six Canadian country No. 1 singles, and four in the U.S., with "Any Man of Mine," "(If You're Not in It for Love) I'm Outta Here!," "You Win My Love," and "No One Needs to Know" topping the charts in both countries.

These hits especially came at country from a distinctly feminist perspective, which was aligned with the strong female musicians dominating music during the '90s. The protagonist of "(If You’re Not in It for Love) I’m Outta Here!" makes it clear from the start that she's not in the mood to invest in someone who's wasting her time: "Let me make it clear / To you my dear / If you're not in it for love / I'm outta here!"

"Any Man of Mine," which became Twain's first No. 1 country hit in the U.S., also especially resonated. Its lyrics spoke to a woman proclaiming what she wants in a partner, both from a slightly cheeky perspective ("Any man of mine'll say it fits just right / When last year's dress is just a little too tight / And anything I do or say better be okay / When I have a bad hair day") and a serious one ("Any man of mine better be proud of me").

Speaking to Maclean's magazine in 2015, Twain noted that "Any Man of Mine" "was considered to be too strong from a female perspective by radio. Not so much by the public — they were with me."

Incredibly enough, Twain achieved these milestones without touring. "I didn’t tour off The Woman in Me, and that was partly because I really felt I needed more powerful music under my belt to get out and do a really powerful show, and one where I wasn’t doing any covers -- I’d spent my whole career up until then doing covers to make a living," she told Billboard in 2017. "It was important to me to focus a lot on the songwriting, and not be touring at the same time."

Sales-wise, The Woman in Me was also a massive success. In the U.S., the RIAA certified it diamond, for 10 million albums shipped, on Nov. 17, 1997, and it is 12 times platinum overall. It was the first of three Twain albums to reach the prestigious diamond level: Come On Over earned the honor in 1999, while Up! achieved the milestone in 2003.

"We were very surprised by how big The Woman in Me became in the first place," Twain told Billboard. "So that was already something that went beyond my expectations. I really just felt very lucky, and wasn’t sure that it was even possible to get another diamond album off the back of that one."

https://theboot.com/shania-twain-the-woman-in-me-released/

Tommy · Guru

Shania Twain's 'The Woman in Me': All the Songs, Ranked

By Riane Konc | The Boot | February 7, 2020

Before her sophomore album debuted on Feb. 7, 1995, few people knew who Shania Twain was. But The Woman in Me, Twain's second record, changed all of that for good.

Instead of hitting the "sophomore slump," Twain introduced herself to the world as a bona fide country superstar with The Woman in Me. The project produced eight singles; of those eight, all but one reached the Top 40 (and four turned into No. 1 Billboard hits).

Part of Twain's success had to do with the people with whom she aligned herself: She worked with Robert John "Mutt" Lange, her then-husband and the the producer behind hit albums for Def Leppard, Bryan Adams and more. The two co-wrote most of the songs, and Lange sings background vocals on several cuts, too, and together, the pair created magic.

Since 1995, The Woman in Me has sold more than 20 million copies, helping to make Twain the best-selling female artist in the history of country music. Read on to see how The Boot ranks all 12 songs on Twain's game-changing album.

12. "Leaving Is the Only Way Out"

“Leaving Is the Only Way Out” is a slowed-down country waltz about a person slowly coming to terms with the end of a relationship. After the narrator realizes “We’ve slammed every door in anger / And we’ve opened wounds we cannot mend,” she knows that the relationship is doomed. “Leavin’,” she concludes, “is the only way out.”

11. If It Don't Take Two"

With a swinging, mid-tempo beat, “If It Don’t Take Two” is a kiss-off to cheaters, undercut with a touch of confident swag. The narrator admits, “It takes two to tango / And two lips to steal a kiss” -- but, she reminds her cheating partner (presumably one of those pairs of lips), if he’s not all in with her, then she’s very much not all in with him.

“If it don’t take two,” Twain sings in the chorus, “If I’m not with you / No, it ain’t worth going through.”

10. "Raining on Our Love"

“Raining on Our Love” is a slow, piano-driven ballad, the verses of which hint at bigger, more successful ballads to come in Twain’s future (such as “From This Moment On”). The emotional core of this song is the narrator coming to realize that she’s taken her relationship for granted, and wondering, “I didn’t know you were so lonely / Am I to blame for making you that way?”

9. "You Win My Love"

‘You Win My Love,” the fifth single from The Woman in Me, is one of the few songs on the album that Twain didn’t write or co-write. The song, an upbeat tune about the narrator hoping that someone decides to pursue her heart (“Just go faster, faster and don’t be slow,” she instructs him, “Rev it up, rev it up until your engine blows”), became Twain’s third No. 1 single.

8. "Is There Life After Love?"

Twain’s understated ballad “Is There Life After Love?” is a stand-out among the non-single tracks on The Woman in Me. Steel and piano guide this song, which looks back at the wreckage of an ended relationship and finds the narrator wondering, “Is there life after love?” It builds slowly throughout, peaking when the narrator admits the way she regrets the mistakes she’s made in her relationship.

7. "The Woman in Me (Needs the Man in You)"

The album’s title track and third single, “The Woman in Me (Needs the Man in You)” marked an important moment for Twain: It became her first major adult contemporary crossover hit. The song's success on that chart was understandable, as the track has a strong country-meets-easy listening vibe. It’s a deliberately paced ballad about a strong woman admitting that, sometimes, she needs to be taken care of, too. As Twain sings: “I can’t always be / The rock that you see / When the nights get too long / And I just can’t go on.”

6. "Home Ain't Where His Heart Is (Anymore)"

The seventh single from this album, “Home Ain’t Where His Heart Is (Anymore)” was the first The Woman in Me single to not crack the Billboard country Top 20 (it peaked at No. 28). Despite its relative lack of commercial success, it’s still a powerful and moving ballad about a couple’s romance falling apart in the wake of daily drudgeries.

“We’d kiss all the way from Arkansas to Rome / ‘Cause in each other’s arms, we were home sweet home,” Twain sings. But then, she sadly continues, “He don’t feel the same / Since our lives became years of bills, babies and chains.”

5. "God Bless the Child"

The closing track on and final single released from The Woman in Me, “God Bless the Child,” is a standout for more reasons than one. To start, it’s the most stripped-down recording in Twain’s repertoire; featuring nothing but her voice, it’s somewhere between a poem and an a cappella song (though later versions featured instrumentation and a backing choir). Lyrically simplistic and powerful at the same time, the song was written specifically for motherless children, but throughout, Twain comes back to this hopeful refrain over and over: “Hallelujah / Hallelujah.”

4. "Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?"

“Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?” marked a number of firsts for Twain: It was this album’s first single; it was her first genuine country radio hit (peaking at No. 11); and it also became her first single to be certified gold. It’s a deeply country song, with a surprisingly upbeat melody considering the song’s thematic material: “Whose bed have your boots been under?” Twain asks a cheating partner. “And whose heart did you steal, I wonder?”

3. "No One Needs to Know"

“No One Needs to Know,” the sixth single from The Woman in Me, opens with a memorably cheerful acoustic guitar ditty. It’s the most lighthearted song on the album, with Twain and Lange singing in harmony the whole way through. The song is about the breezy feeling of early (and possibly dumb) love, with the narrator wondering, “Am I dreamin’ or stupid? / I think I’ve been hit by Cupid.”

"No One Needs to Know" found its way onto the Twister soundtrack, and became Twain’s third consecutive No. 1 hit.

2. "(If You're Not in It for Love) I'm Outta Here!"

If any song on The Woman in Me could be described as a barn burner, it’s this one. The album's fourth single is full of fun highlights, from the loud yell that opens the song to the handclap breakdown before and after the chorus to the perfectly placed baritone backing vocals sprinkled throughout. Twain uses the song to lay down boundaries (“If you’re not here for love,” she tells a potential suitor, “I’m outta here”), and honestly? Healthy boundary setting has never sounded so fun.

“(If You’re Not in It For Love) I’m Outta Here!” was Twain’s second No. 1 hit.

1. "Any Man of Mine"

In “Any Man of Mine,” Twain takes the memorable “stomp stomp clap” beat of Queen’s “We Will Rock You” and turns it country. That's not the only non-country trick she incorporates in the song, though: There’s also the call-and-response pre-chorus and the echoing reverb in some of her vocals. But the song's chorus, which features Twain and Lange trading folksy harmonies while backed by a steel guitar, is pure country. Every bit of it works, every bit of it is super-catchy fun, and the resulting product would be Twain’s first No. 1 country hit.

https://theboot.com/shania-twain-the-woman-in-me-track-list/

Tommy · Guru

25 Years Later: Shania Twain’s ‘The Woman In Me’

Her milestone album is the seventh all-time best-seller in country.

By Bob Paxman | Sounds Like Nashville | February 10, 2020

Before the pivotal year of 1995, Shania Twain was best known as one-third of a record label marketing scheme. Mercury Records had devised a campaign in 1993 where it essentially introduced three new artists simultaneously, under the banner of the Triple Play. The three artists carrying the lumber, keeping the baseball analogy intact, were Twain and a couple of male singer/songwriters: Toby Keith and John Brannen. They released a joint promotional CD, with each artist appropriately showcasing three songs, titled Mercury’s Triple Play Sampler. The three were also sent out on a Triple Play Tour. Incidentally, copies of the sampler CD have been floating around on various online auction sites, and snapping one up would prove a real “find” for the serious collector or nostalgia dabbler.

The campaign produced marginal results. Keith hit a home run straight from the gate with his 1993 debut single, “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” which shot straight to No. 1. His second single that year, “He Ain’t Worth Missing,” landed at the No. 5 spot, still quite impressive for a newcomer. Brannen, sporting a blue collar rootsy sound that drew the inevitable Springsteen and Mellencamp comparisons, was considered by many as the most talented of the threesome, but never enjoyed a mainstream country career. The third member of the parlay, Twain, released a pair of singles in 1993, “What Made You Say That” and “Dance With the One That Brought You.” Both peaked at No. 55 on the Billboard country singles chart, chalking one up for consistency, at least. Certainly, Keith was the front-runner. But the Canadian-born Twain would not be outdone.

Twain also released a self-titled debut album in 1993, which had respectable chart numbers while still falling into the “mostly forgettable” category. But her follow-up, The Woman in Me, proved, well, unforgettable. Released February 7, 1995, the record rocketed the Canadian songbird to global superstardom, spawning an incredible eight singles, with four of them reaching No. 1, and selling four million copies by the end of the year. It’s considered a landmark country album in terms of production, songwriting and its impact on the genre. We take a look back at The Woman in Me as it celebrates its 25th year.

THE PERFECT PARTNERSHIP

Sometimes, as a number of songwriters will attest, you just need to find the right collaborator to make your music shine. Twain uncovered hers in rock producer Robert John “Mutt” Lange. She caught the attention, and we have to think visually as well as sonically, of Lange, who noticed some potential in her debut album. Lange was the driving force behind ear-busting bands like Def Leppard and AC/DC, so it seemed a curious notion on his part. But actually, Lange, who grew up in South Africa, was raised on country music and wanted to tackle writing country songs. Lange and Twain began conversing by long distance telephone (the computer age was still in its infancy), exchanging musical ideas and song structures. Business led to romance and the two were married in December of 1993 (they later divorced in 2010).

By the time Twain was slated to record her second album, she and Lange had already written several songs together. The tunes strayed a little far from country and were closer in composition style to pop. The label heads at Mercury, however, decided to keep the songs and gave the green light for Lange to forge ahead and produce the album. A wise choice on many levels.

As a songwriter tandem, Lange and Twain made a versatile combo, as their songs covered plenty of thematic territory. “Any Man of Mine” served up a feisty feminist-inspired statement, while “The Woman in Me (Needs the Man in You)” dealt with longing in an achingly beautiful way. “You Win My Love” and “Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?” – the latter easily the most country-flavored tune on the record – reveled in up-tempo fun. The lilting “No One Needs to Know” had an Everly Brothers feel to it, and you could almost imagine the Kentucky siblings singing backup.

The songs were unbelievably catchy, easily identifiable from the first notes. Twain sold them in a clear contralto voice that reminded fans of Karen Carpenter, a vocalist Twain admired. When all the elements were shaken together, you had a fairly unbeatable formula. What was not to like?

THE SINGLES TALLY

The Woman in Me spawned eight singles during 1995 and 1996, a hefty number for most albums that came out of Nashville. Half of those hit No. 1: “Any Man of Mine,” “(If You’re Not in It for Love) I’m Outta Here,” “You Win My Love” and “No One Needs to Know,” which was also featured in the box-office smash movie Twister.

THE CURIOUS CASE OF THE AWARDS

Every year when the CMA award nominees are announced, fans and industry members alike invariably point to the ones who got shunned and left out. But at the 1995 revealing, one particular omission proved a head-scratcher to some, and downright sacrilege to others. The Woman in Me was completely overlooked in the Album of the Year category.

Various theories abounded. The album wasn’t country, at least by industry standards, perhaps. Maybe Twain was not established enough. Still, one could not ignore the numbers. The Woman in Me hit No. 1 on the albums chart in July and did not give up the spot until October, when Tim McGraw’s All I Want reached the top. It had already sold in the millions by the time CMA members were given their voting ballots.

“Any Man of Mine” did score a CMA award nomination for Single off the Year in 1995, though the trophy went to Alison Krauss & Union Station for “When You Say Nothing at All.” The following year, “Any Man of Mine” was nominated for Song of the Year (without going into undue intricacies, the award had different criteria at the time), but was bested by “Go Rest High on That Mountain,” certainly a deserving winner. Twain herself picked up a nomination for the Horizon Award (now called New Artist of the Year).

Twain eventually earned some righteous recognition for the album. In 1996, The Woman in Me took home the Grammy for Best Country Album and won the Academy of Country Music award for Album of the Year.

THE LEGACY

For sheer impact, The Woman in Me boosted Twain from relative newcomer to pop/country superstar. The album reached four million sales by the end of 1995 and spent a total of 29 weeks at No. 1, more than double the number of runner-up John Michael Montgomery’s self-titled album that year. Perhaps most important, the album’s sales success veritably thumbed its nose at the tired axiom that country females couldn’t move product. To date, The Woman in Me has sold more than 12 million copies, placing it seventh on the list of all-time best-selling country albums.

https://www.soundslikenashville.com/news/25-years-later-shania-twain-the-woman-in-me/

Tommy · Guru

The Farr Side: A look back at Shania Twain’s breakthrough

By David T. Farr | Sturgis Journal | February 27, 2020

Twenty-five years ago this month, country music was turned upside down when Canadian singer Shania Twain released her second studio album, “The Woman In Me.” It made her one of the most popular stars in the genre and also served as a stepping stone to what would become an impressive international career.

“The Woman In Me” was not a typical album by an up-and-coming artist. Rather, it was a testament of the human spirit. Twain wrote or co-wrote each of the album’s 12 tracks with rock producer Robert John “Mutt” Lange. For those who follow music, Lange probably is best-known for his work with Bryan Adams and Def Leppard.

Twain’s album went on to produce eight charting singles and sell an impressive 20 million copies.

Twain had a love for rock ‘n’ roll, while Lange’s interest in American country music was growing. The two bonded and Twain’s sound began to evolve. Her record company was somewhat caught in the middle, but were pressing her for an album. Despite feeling her new sound was “less country,” Polygram/Mercury opted to move forward and let Lange produce the album.

The album’s first single, “Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?,” fell along the lines of country, while the follow-up single, “Any Man Of Mine,” became a massive crossover hit. It quickly topped the Billboard Country Singles chart before crossing over to Top 40.

“Any Man Of Mine” was a major success on both the country and pop radio formats. Twain’s star grew by leaps and bounds.

I remember the first time I heard the song and thought, “What?! This is country music?” I liked it.

“The Woman In Me (Needs The Man In You)” followed suit, hitting the country chart. In this case, Twain made her way onto the Adult Contemporary chart, too.

Next, Twain and Lange had recorded two distinct versions of the singles ”(If You’re Not In It For Love) I’m Outta Here!” and “You Win My Love.” Each were recorded differently for country audiences and pop-rock audiences. Can we say brilliant?

Remixed songs were nothing new 25 years ago, but if you were a country performer, it was new territory. Twain was about to become globally known.

″(If You’re Not In It For Love) I’m Outta Here!” and “You Win My Love” both hit No. 1 on the country chart, but “I’m Outta Here!” lived up to its title. The song became a global smash.

“No One Needs To Know” and “Home Ain’t Where His Heart Is (Anymore)” continued her hit streak.

By that point, the world knew Twain. Listeners also were learning a little more about the woman behind the music. Her life was not glamorous before. In fact, it was quite sad. She lost both her parents in a tragic accident and was left to care for her siblings. She put off her dreams of being a singer to do so.

The last single to come from “The Woman In Me” was “God Bless The Child, an a cappella prayer she said to herself after her parents passed away. The heartfelt song was the last track recorded for the album and perhaps the most personal.

“The Woman In Me” was named ACM and Billboard’s Country Album Of The Year. It also earned Twain her first Grammy for Best Country Album. And it was the pre-cursor to Twain’s massive album, “Come On Over,” which made her a superstar.

https://www.sturgisjournal.com/news/20200227/farr-side-look-back-at-shania-twains-breakthrough

Tommy · Guru

YouTube Milestones @YTMilestones

100 million: Shania Twain - Any Man Of Mine (Official Music Video)

https://twitter.com/YTMilestones/status/1258810927723491328

1:28 PM ET - 8 May 20

http://twitter.com/YTMilestones

Tommy · Guru

Shania Twain @ShaniaTwain

It's been 25 years since I released 'The Woman In Me' and @SIRIUSXM @SXMPrimeCountry are celebrating with an anniversary weekend! Tune in from 6pm ET today to hear the songs from the album, plus some of my memories and stories behind them, across the weekend 😘💎 siriusxm.us/ShaniaTwain25th

1:00 PM ET - 17 Jul 20

http://twitter.com/ShaniaTwain

I think this is only available in the U.S.. On a sidenote, Shania wrote tune in starting at 6pm ET across the weekend. So I guess we have to listen all weekend. biggrin

Tommy · Guru

Tommy wrote:
Shania Twain @ShaniaTwain
It's been 25 years since I released 'The Woman In Me' and @SIRIUSXM @SXMPrimeCountry are celebrating with an anniversary weekend! Tune in from 6pm ET today to hear the songs from the album, plus some of my memories and stories behind them, across the weekend 😘💎 siriusxm.us/ShaniaTwain25th
1:00 PM ET - 17 Jul 20
http://twitter.com/ShaniaTwain
I think this is only available in the U.S.. On a sidenote, Shania wrote tune in starting at 6pm ET across the weekend. So I guess we have to listen all weekend.

SiriusXM Prime Country on Ch. 58 plays 80s & 90s Country hits. It sounds like they are playing a song from TWIM at the top of every hour and Shania talks for 10-15 seconds about what the song means to her and why she wrote it. They've played "AMOM" and "TWIM" the first 2 hours.

Tanya · Guru

Could you also write what she said about the songs?

Tommy · Guru

Tanya wrote:
Could you also write what she said about the songs?

To be honest, I haven't been listening. It's too hard to listen every hour when you're busy doing things.

Tanya · Guru

Tommy wrote:
Tanya wrote:
Could you also write what she said about the songs?
To be honest, I haven't been listening. It's too hard to listen every hour when you're busy doing things.

I get it. But if you hear anything, could you post it here?

Tommy · Guru

Tanya wrote:
Tommy wrote:
Tanya wrote:
Could you also write what she said about the songs?
To be honest, I haven't been listening. It's too hard to listen every hour when you're busy doing things.
I get it. But if you hear anything, could you post it here?

Yes. For "AMOM" Shania said she wrote it to show off her cheekiness and independence. "TWIM" is about loving someone unconditionally and completely.

Tanya · Guru

Tommy wrote:
Tanya wrote:
Tommy wrote:
Tanya wrote:
Could you also write what she said about the songs?
To be honest, I haven't been listening. It's too hard to listen every hour when you're busy doing things.
I get it. But if you hear anything, could you post it here?
Yes. For "AMOM" Shania said she wrote it to show off her cheekiness and independence. "TWIM" is about loving someone unconditionally and completely.

Thank you, Tommy!

Tommy · Guru

"If It Don't Take Two" is about believing in love and going through life as a couple. Shania is a romantic.

"Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?" is about the cheating guy. Shania said that more than the lyrics, she wanted the song to be a song people could line-dance to.

Tommy · Guru

"God Bless The Child" is about the suffering of innocence. Shania said she was walking through the forest grieving the loss of her parents and she heard a bear crying in pain and there was nothing she could do. She felt helpless. She didn't know if it got shot or got caught in a trap.

Damn. What a sad, upsetting story.

czm8888 · Veteran Member

On “The Woman In Me” she said she wanted to show people her vulnerable and sensitive side.
“You Win My Love” she wanted to write a fun rock n roll song that would be fun to dance around to.
“Raining On Our Love” she said she was above the clouds and it was a beautiful, perfect scene (so I guess flying in an airplane). She looked down and thought about what was going on beneath the clouds. That maybe things weren’t as pretty. She thought then that she never wanted to live her life in a way that she would be ignorant with her head above the clouds. And that’s what she wrote the song about.
“Leaving Is The Only Way Out” is about the abusive relationship of her parents. She would always think ‘why won’t my mom just leave him’ because her mom would tell her That the only way out is if she killed him. Which she obviously never did. She couldn’t understand why just packing up and leaving wasn’t an option in her moms eyes.

Tommy · Guru

czm8888 wrote:
On “The Woman In Me” she said she wanted to show people her vulnerable and sensitive side.
“You Win My Love” she wanted to write a fun rock n roll song that would be fun to dance around to.
“Raining On Our Love” she said she was above the clouds and it was a beautiful, perfect scene (so I guess flying in an airplane). She looked down and thought about what was going on beneath the clouds. That maybe things weren’t as pretty. She thought then that she never wanted to live her life in a way that she would be ignorant with her head above the clouds. And that’s what she wrote the song about.
“Leaving Is The Only Way Out” is about the abusive relationship of her parents. She would always think ‘why won’t my mom just leave him’ because her mom would tell her That the only way out is if she killed him. Which she obviously never did. She couldn’t understand why just packing up and leaving wasn’t an option in her moms eyes.

Thank you! Any help getting all 12 songs would be appreciated.

czm8888 · Veteran Member

"Home Ain’t Where His Heart Is (Anymore") is a traditional sad country song. She wanted to write something that reflected the sad country songs she remembered from her childhood.

Tommy · Guru

"(If You're Not In It For Love) I'm Outta Here" is a demanding woman speaking her mind. That's exactly how I feel about love. You either love me or I'm out of here. She likes the cheekiness of it, putting her foot down and being a strong woman and still have a sense of humor. The sense of humor in her writing lets her say what she wants to say, be sassy, and say it with conviction without being offensive.

Tommy · Guru

"Leaving Is The Only Way Out" is about domestic violence and getting out of the relationship. Her parents had a very violent, abusive relationship. She thought the only way her mom could get away from her father was to kill him, which obviously didn't happen. But that's how the song came about. The song has a very dark meaning.

Tanya · Guru

It's so interesting they didn't just play the singles but also the songs that were good but undeservedly forgotten. And it's strange she talks about "You Win My Love" as a song she wrote while it's only credited to be written by Mutt.

Tommy · Guru

Still trying to get the last 2 songs ("Is There Life After Love" and "No One Needs To Know").

Tommy · Guru

"No One Needs To Know" - The groove came to her on her guitar while putting some demos together when she was performing in Canada. She really liked the upbeat sound to it. The song was supposed to be on her first album but never made it. When Mutt heard it he really liked it.

Tommy · Guru

"Is There Life After Love" is a song Shania wrote after her parents died but turned it into a romantic song. You have to carry on with life after a loss.

Tanya · Guru

Wow! Thank you so much! Some new facts about the songs. I wish she'd share where her inspiration came from right in the booklet of CDs or in bonus audio/video materials.

Tommy · Guru

25 Years Ago Today: Shania Twain Scores First No. 1 Hit

By Sterling Whitaker | Taste of Country | July 22, 2020

Shania Twain burst from semi-obscurity into superstardom more 25 years ago, when she scored her first No. 1 hit.

Twain's 1993 self-titled debut album achieved minor chart success, but didn't separate her from the pack of other young country music hopefuls. She took a new direction after meeting famed rock producer Robert "Mutt" Lange, who had helmed record-setting projects for AC/DC and Def Leppard, among others.

The couple married in December of 1993, and as a result of their musical partnership Twain's sophomore album, 1995's The Woman in Me, was one of the most groundbreaking country recordings of its time, utilizing a hybrid of country and pop instrumentation to achieve a fresh crossover sound that was unlike anything else in country music.

The album's first single, "Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under," reached No. 11 and brought Twain to wider attention, but it was the second single, "Any Man of Mine," that established her as the most exciting female performer in country music. The song fused country instrumentation with a dance beat, with a sassy lyrical message of female empowerment and accompanied by a video and a visual marketing campaign unlike anything country music had ever seen before.

Released on April 25, 1995, "Any Man of Mine" reached No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart on July 22, 1995, establishing Twain as one of the most up-and-coming performers in music. It also crossed over, reaching No. 31 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was nominated for Best Country Song and Best Female Country Vocal Performance in the 1996 Grammy Awards. The Woman in Me went on to sell more than 20 million copies worldwide, setting Twain up for her next album, 1997's Come on Over, to sell 40 million units, becoming the best-selling country music album of all time.

https://tasteofcountry.com/shania-twain-any-man-of-mine/

Tommy · Guru

Shania Twain’s Risk Paid Off With “Any Man of Mine”

Her classic hit reached No. 1 this week in 1995

By Craig Shelburne | CMT | July 22, 2020

Are you prepared to watch this shocking video by Shania Twain? Beware, she’s frolicking in a field, surrounded by horses and wagon wheels. And even though she’s wearing jeans and a denim jacket, you can see… her BELLY BUTTON!!

Yes, the video for “Any Man of Mine” — and Twain’s entrance into country music — caused some ripples of controversy. Nonetheless, the fans won out and the song became Twain’s first No. 1 country hit this week in 1995.

“I call that my career song,” she told CMT Insider in 2004. “That’s the song I think that really, really broke me in a big way, because it was so different.”

Only the most dedicated country fans knew about Twain’s first album, where she’s wearing a parka on the cover. Then her follow-up had a modest start in America, with “Who’s Bed Have Your Boots Been Under” not even cracking the Top 10. Although her corresponding album, The Woman in Me, received an F from Entertainment Weekly and the normally diplomatic Billboard compared her vocal hook to The Three Stooges, the Canadian performer persevered. In retrospect, “Any Man of Mine” changed the game.

CMT columnist Chet Flippo wrote in 2008, “Twain’s allure was greatly enhanced by her videos, which truly were revolutionary for the time for country music. She was hectored at the time of the ’Any Man of Mine’ video, with its belly button barrage, for ruining country music by exposing her navel. But that’s about all she ever really did show, when you look back at her video work. She slyly hinted at the rest. And six months after that video midriff revelation, you couldn’t walk down Music Row without encountering seeming hordes of midriff-baring babes with their navels hanging out.”

As Twain told CMT Insider, “’Any Man of Mine’ was a risky song to release. At the time, a lot of people were afraid of it. It was way too edgy for what was going on. Everybody was kind of leery about releasing it. And I remember when I went on the radio tour to introduce all this new music, it was so amazing getting a reaction to that song. Some people just loved it. They just fell in love with it right away. And other people it really did scare. I don’t know whether they just didn’t like it or whether they thought, ’Whoa!'”

Simply put, Twain’s career exploded in 1995. “Any Man of Mine” received two Grammy nominations, while The Woman in Me took home the Best Country Album trophy. The project also won the ACM Award for album of the year and moved more than 12 million copies. And if you listen to “Any Man of Mine” now, it sounds just like country music! That may be the real shocker.

Twain, of course, stands as one of the most influential entertainers of that era — not just among women and not just in country music. Her groundbreaking videos and impeccable fashion established her brand, yet she is not to be discounted as a songwriter. From “Any Man of Mine” through the hits of Come On Over, you can pretty much mention the title of any of her singles and still be able to sing a few lines.

Asked by CBS Sunday Morning in 2017 if she considered herself out on a limb with “Any Man of Mine,” Twain replied with a laugh, saying, “I was told I was out on a limb! ’Belly button’ and all this stuff.” The reporter noted, “Your midriff was the topic of a lot of conversation,” with Twain stating, “I had no idea it was going to be such a problem!”

Luckily for country fans around the world, her risk was rewarded.

http://www.cmt.com/news/1823243/shania-twains-risk-paid-off-with-any-man-of-mine-video/

Tommy · Guru

Rewinding the Country Charts: In 1995, Shania Twain Took Her 'Man' to No. 1

"Any Man of Mine" became her first of seven Hot Country Songs leaders.

By Jim Asker | Billboard | July 22, 2020

On July 22, 1995, Shania Twain's "Any Man of Mine" notched its first of two weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, becoming the superstar's first leader on the list.

Written by Twain and then-husband Robert John "Mutt" Lange (who solely produced the song), "Man" marked the first of four No. 1s on the ranking from her breakthrough LP The Woman in Me. The set led Top Country Albums for 29 weeks, beginning the same frame that "Man" first topped the singles survey.

Twain, born Eilleen Regina Edwards in Windsor, Ontario, boasts seven Hot Country Songs No. 1s, among 16 top 10s and 34 total entries. Her most recent charted title, "Life's About to Get Good," hit No. 33 in July 2017, while parent set Now arrived as her fifth leader on Top Country Albums that October.

On Dec. 9, 2016, Twain was honored with the Icon Award at Billboard's Women in Music celebration. "I think I was three when I realized this was what I was supposed to do for the rest of my life," she mused. Echoing the spirit of her breakthrough hit, she added with a laugh, "Behind every great woman is a great man ... but [behind him] there's an even greater woman."

https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9422108/shania-twain-any-man-of-mine-rewinding-the-country-charts-1995

Tommy · Guru

Shania Twain @ShaniaTwain

Happy Anniversary to Home Ain't Where His Heart Is (Anymore) 💔 My seventh single from The Woman In Me 💎 If I remember correctly, I think the video premiere was on @CMT. We go way back ❤️

5:00 PM ET - 24 Jul 20

http://twitter.com/ShaniaTwain

Tommy · Guru

23 Years Ago Today: Remember When Shania Twain Made History With ‘The Woman in Me’?

By Sterling Whitaker | Taste of Country | November 17, 2020

Shania Twain was a little-known country artist before she released her second album, The Woman in Me, but not for long.

The Canadian singer-songwriter released her self-titled first album in 1993, but it was not a commercial success, never charting any higher than No. 67 and failing to score any hit singles. She changed her approach dramatically after meeting producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange, the producer behind Def Leppard, AC/DC and more. They collaborated for the songs on her second album, and Twain underwent a complete imaging overhaul to go along with the new songs, taking on an independent, empowered-woman persona for The Woman in Me, which was released on Feb. 7, 1995.

The album was an immediate success, scoring Twain a No. 11 hit with its first single, "Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under," and following up with her first No. 1 hit with "Any Man of Mine." Twain went on to score more hits with the title song, "(If You're Not in It for Love) I'm Outta Here!," "You Win My Love," "No One Needs to Know" and more, releasing a total of eight singles from the album. The Woman in Me catapulted Twain to worldwide success.

On Nov. 17, 1997, The Woman in Me was awarded diamond certification from the RIAA, making Twain the first female country artist to ever sell 10 million copies of a record. It's gone on to sell more than 20 million copies, and its massive success paved the way for Twain to become the best-selling female artist in country music history.

The follow-up to the album, 1997's Come on Over, sold more than 40 million copies, and it's still the best-selling album by a female artist of all time in any genre. Twain followed that with Up! in 2002, and following a break of 15 years, she released her most recent album, Now, in September of 2017. That album debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's all-genre Billboard 200 chart.

http://tasteofcountry.com/shania-twain-the-woman-in-me-country-music-history/

Tommy · Guru

Shania Twain @shaniatwain

I was just a small town Canadian artist trying to make it in Nashville, I had no idea this album was going to be what it became. I certainly hoped it would be successful! But my idea of what I thought that could be was nowhere near where it ended up! I’m very grateful to all of you for the support ❤️💎 #TheWomanInMe @tasteofcountry

3:33 PM ET - 17 Nov 20

http://instagram.com/shaniatwain