Shania's on fire!

By Steven Johnstone

Shania Twain had a hard act to follow after the huge success of her previous release "Come on Over", which was a main staying in both the upper regions of the UK and US charts. And her most recent album 'UP' isn't doing too badly either. Shania is the only artist EVER to have 3 consecutive 10 times platinum albums - that’s an astonishing 34 million copies world-wide. Strangely though, despite the sheer numbers, her audience seems to be the hardest aspect of Shania to define. From small children to grown men, singles to couples even bopping Grandmother’s are ambling into the arena in civilised expectation. Her infectious mélange of pop and country is unique and has won her many plaudits and her expectant crowd isn’t disappointed. Tonight’s set sees heavy rotation from her current album "UP!" with recent hit singles "I’m gonna get ya good!" and "Ka-ching!" setting the crowd off and ensuring that the seating in the S.E.C.C soon becomes redundant. A brief section of slower more soulful ballads brings down the tone and seems to elicit the best in her vocal range. "You’re still the one" is a moving testament to a long-standing relationship that has survived the odds. It’s one of her best tracks. In spite of this, the most warmly-received songs are the smash hit ‘Man, I Feel like a Woman!’. This song harks back to many nights of badly sung karaoke renditions, yet still brims with a throwaway charm. "That don’t impress me much" is another anthem which encourages the larger-than-life band to exhibit their musical craft and give the impression they really enjoy it, all at the same time. No wonder there are wide smiles everywhere you look. Thought provoking and hard-hitting? No. Catchy and assured to make you forget yourself in song for two hours? Definitely. shania-twain.com

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