Edmonton: The woman in Shania comes through
 

By STEVE TILLEY, EDMONTON SUN

Saturday, December 6, 2003

Ah, Shania. Or, to put it another way: Shani-ahhh. Gathered for your musical pleasure, a medley of memories from last night's show, each tagged to the title of a Twain tune.

MAN! I FEEL LIKE A WOMAN! -- Not that we didn't appreciate the baggy Eskimos jersey she wore from the git-go, but it sure was nice to see Shania finally switch into that lime green tank top and those skintight pants about half an hour into the show. Bare midriff! At long, long last!

WHOSE BED HAVE YOUR BOOTS BEEN UNDER? -- But even after the jersey was pitched, those weird boots remained. They look like they belong to a sport of some kind. Rock climbing? Polo? Speedwalking?

ANY MAN OF MINE -- Hopefully somebody got that two-year-old kid in the Harley shirt on video, because when he's older he's going to want to see how he was picked up by Shania Twain during a concert and squished into her chest. Oh, to be a toddler again.

WHAT A WAY TO WANT TO BE! -- Speaking of adorable kids, the little gal who waggled the "Can I sing with you Shania?" sign finally got some satisfaction when Shania did indeed pull her up on stage. Young Tennille accompanied the chestnut-lock'd goddess on, well, What a Way To Want to Be! How very appropriate. Tennille, dressed like a mini-Shania herself, then sang a bit of Honey I'm Home before gushing, "Thank you so much! This was a dream come true! You are my hero!" Our stone hearts were heard to crack. A little.

IN MY CAR (I'LL BE THE DRIVER) -- You don't hurry Shania Twain. When she needs to go offstage to change outfits, you will be entertained by her nine-piece band, and you'll LIKE IT, dammit. (Actually the sole Canadian, fiddler Cory Churko from Moose Jaw, got the biggest laughs of the night with zingers like "Moose Jaw is exactly eight feet from the moose's butt.") And when she wants to bring a pair of raffle winners on stage for a photo that all but kills the pacing and momentum of the show, well, you'll like that too.

I'M GONNA GETCHA GOOD! -- Has anyone else noticed that half of Shania's songs have exclamation points in the titles? Anyway, we were collectively suckered when the circular white scrim surrounding the stage before Shania's entrance showed the top-hatted singer in silhouette, but then was raised to reveal ... nothing! David Copperfield is in the house! Moments later, Shania appeared walking through the audience, dressed not in a top hat and bustier but that formless football jersey. Drat.

I'M NOT IN THE MOOD TO SAY NO! -- Shania can do no wrong in the eyes of her fans, who ran the gamut from middle-aged hockey dads down to sweet young fillies in tight jeans and tube tops. Lots of moms with young daughters, too, including a mother and adorable little girl who got to sit right behind Shania when she entered the audience to do an acoustic version of The Woman in Me. But although Shania's allegedly a country act, we counted only a dozen or so cowboy hats in the entire audience. And that's including the fiddler from Emerson Drive. Rock This Country indeed.
http://www.canoe.ca/EdmontonExpress...12-06-0051.html

Up! Up and away!
 

Saturday, December 6, 2003

A glimpse of Shaniamania?

By MIKE ROSS, EDMONTON SUN

There is only one place Shania Twain can go from Up! - and that place is Las Vegas. Judging from her by-the-numbers hot country hit parade at Rexall Place last night, Shania is ready.



A country music star hasn't really been given the full Vegas treatment. I envision an entire "theme" casino and showroom festooned with images of country music - giant boots under a giant bed, a stage shaped like a cowboy hat, maybe, the entire thing lit up like a giant old-time jukebox. And bring on the dancers. Imagine: Shaniamania six nights week, two shows on Saturday. Hey, if Celine Dion can do it ... well, Shania doesn't sing as well as Celine Dion, but there are ways around that. She also lacks a certain spark when she performs - always has, from my observation - but there's help for that, too.

For sheer pomp and production values, last night's concert came pretty close to a glitzy Vegas revue. Flanked by nine musicians who looked like fashion models showing off the trend of musicianship, Shania delivered a fan-friendly family show that rocked this country like it's only been rocked twice, or maybe three times before - not counting the Man Who Shall Be Called Garth. Not that there's anything wrong with that. More than 18,000 fans cheered and stood at the opening hook of Man! I Feel Like a Woman - the band having entered from the audience and a silhouette of Shania appearing inside a giant lampshade.

Key word here: Giant. Shania (and let's not forget her husband-producer Mutt Lange) has made country music more giant than its originators ever imagined. Oh, the purists whine "it ain't country," but the purists don't draw 18,000 fans to witness a giant rock show given a country theme. It is what it is.

One of the hallmarks of Vegas-ready entertainers is that they're willing to please everyone. Shania clearly aims to please. The folks last night seemed a mix of all ages and walks of life, except for punk rock kids who don't go to Vegas. And she certainly pleased the kids she brought up on stage - and their parents, and everyone else when the adorable tykes took over the crowd-pleasing duties. Shania's flair for glad-handing fans is legendary. She was given so many flowers last night that she needed a special flower roadie.

Now let's examine Man! I Feel Like a Woman. The show opener was among many crowd-pleasers to come. The delicious double-entendre in the title - more suggestive than most traditional country songs but certainly in the same spirit - allows both sexes to sing the hook line. Which they did last night, the young girls perhaps a bit on the louder side.

Later, Shania sent one out to the ladies: She's Not Just a Pretty Face with accompanying video images of various successful women. The song is a list and while a list is not a song, the sentiment went over great. Left unspoken is the fact that Shania is herself not just a pretty face. She followed that with a song sent out to the guys: Don't Be Stupid. Kind of a backhanded sort of thing to do, though the full title of the song is Don't Be Stupid (You Know I Love You). Hey, we'll take it.

This was her third arena show in Edmonton and it was virtually the same as the second one and the first one - just bigger. Plus there were some rockin' country songs people weren't as familiar with, from her latest album, Up! - like C'est La Vie, which sounds like a long-lost ABBA song. Such unfamiliarity won't last long at the rate she's going. By the time she gets to Vegas, we'll know all of Shania's songs by heart. And if not, well, there's always Branson, Missouri.

If the opening band Emerson Drive can kick the heck out of U2, Bon Jovi and Led Zeppelin, what exactly makes them a country band? Common question these days, I think. Perhaps it is the fiddle. You know what they say: If you're going to open for Shania Twain, you better have a fiddle in the band - or at least be able to put the "sex" in "country sextet." These guys also looked like fashion models showing off the trend of musicianship - but they could really play. Fiddler Pat Allingham was impressive enough on his own to dispel any grumbling along the lines of "it ain't country." Icing on the cake was a smokin' version of The Devil Went Down to Georgia - the classic country credibility-bestowing song if done properly - even if it opened with 20 seconds of Bon Jovi's I'm a Cowboy.

Emerson Drive dipped briefly into traditional country balladry with Merle Haggard's Silver Wings, but, in the end, the only thing I remembered is their kick-*** rendition of Where the Streets Have No Name - with the fiddle doing the melody line. This, folks, is "hot" country at its finest.
http://www.shania-twain.org/mb/newr...&threadid=12167

-------------'
oke, so this guy has this irking condescending writing style, but he wrote what is important too.

ANY MAN OF MINE -- Hopefully somebody got that two-year-old kid in the Harley shirt on video, because when he's older he's going to want to see how he was picked up by Shania Twain during a concert and squished into her chest. Oh, to be a toddler again.

:LMAO :LMAO


WHAT A WAY TO WANT TO BE! -- Speaking of adorable kids, the little gal who waggled the "Can I sing with you Shania?" sign finally got some satisfaction when Shania did indeed pull her up on stage. Young Tennille accompanied the chestnut-lock'd goddess on, well, What a Way To Want to Be! How very appropriate. Tennille, dressed like a mini-Shania herself, then sang a bit of Honey I'm Home before gushing, "Thank you so much! This was a dream come true! You are my hero!" Our stone hearts were heard to crack. A little.

AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How touching is that!!!

I think this is the payoff Shania was looking for. Seeing her music touch so many people.

-Chris

WOW! These past few days she got really great reviews!:BL They get it too!:D

My Emonton Shania Concert Review
 

Of course, I attended the concert last night. I had 3rd row tickets on the floor. Rexall Place was sold out - more than 18,000. No camera check at all. I brought a small disposable camera. I bought a big pile of Breakfast For Learning tickets. We raised a record amount last night which kind of surprised Shania I think.

Emerson Drive came out and did a smoking set of 6 songs. They were really up tonight, probably because all friends and family were there. Brad Mates acknowledged his father in the audience and a proud beaming papa stood up and waved back. Edmonton is the closet stop to their home city of Grand Prairie, AB. Of course, Brad had the girls screaming on his shake, rattle and roll moves. ED have a future in this business.

The crowd went nuts when Shania came out for MIFLAW. I was actually in a group of people who did not know about the fake silhouette - they were facing the thing. I told them that she's not there and to look behind you. So, I turned around looking towards the back entrance and sure enough, part of the band came through there - the other part of the band from the other side and Shania came jogging past me. smiling, I snapped a pic without flash since the spotlight was on her. She was dressed in the Grey Cup Champion Edmonton Eskimo CFL Jersey with #1 on the back, black pants. The set was the same as Calgary. Shania did mention at the beginning that her brothers Mark and Darryl were in the audience as well as her niece Mandy.

A couple of cute moments - Shania saw a cute toddler and his parents wanted her to take him. He was 2 years old. Shania picks him up and mentions that she also has a boy the same age. Takes the kid up to the top stage level and he's thinking where am I going - lol! She starts clapping to the music. The kid then starts clapping with his hands over his head and smiling - the crowd roars. Shania shows him how to blow kisses - he puts his hand to his mouth and keeps it there thinking there must be food there somewhere. - funny. Another great moment came later when a young girl came up dressed as Shania in her Miami CBS concert outfit. She sang pretty well.

Another funny thing happened towards the end of the show. Shania decides to meet one more person. She randomly picks this guy and he is a bit annoying. First he says he's from Vancouver only here on business. He attended a company meeting in the afternoon and won a front row ticket to see the show. Then he gets picked to come on stage to meet her. He then starts talking about some inane company stuff all the while holding the microphone. Shania walks away mocking like the guy has taken over - too funny. She comes back and the guy says that he'll be at her Vancouver Monday show and guess what - he won a ticket to her sound check party. Shania says - what luck you have - I look forward to seeing you again (sure) - the crowd roars at this - hilarious.

Shania did the 3 song encore. The whole set lasted 1 hour 45 minutes - a bit shorter than other reviews.. The only slight downside is my honest observation - she did not have her usual Shania energy in her performance, an enthusiasm was missing. I don't know what it was. She didn't look tired but the spark wasn't there. No one can be on a constant high for every show. Part of it could be our crowd. If we were more wild and enthusiastic, she would have fed on it. Part of it could be that they are doing the same songs and a set list change could help. Tired or not, Shania is a true Superstar performer - that is clearly evident. I had a great time and I am buying more tickets to shows - you can never get enough Shania.

Thanks for the review, and happy you had a great time!:D

That toddler got really famous, was mentined in the first review above.

Shania make any comment about the kid dressed liked her????


Thanks for the review. Sounds like an awesome concert!!!!


-Chris

Yes - Shania said that that it looks like the Miami concert black and yellow outfit. It was the the same right down to the hair style and shoes. She was really happy to meet Shania - obviously memories for life.
I got some too - a smile, a high five and an autographed CD case!

AWESOME!!! HEY1


-Chris

Heart Warming Moments Charm Shania Crowd
 

I am typing this verbatim because it's not online (yet?) but appeared in our major daily Saturday paper - The Edmonton Journal. A review of Shania's concert Friday by Sandra Sperounes Journal Music Writer.

You've got to hand it to Shania Twain.
The Canadian pop-country diva is probably the only artist on Earth who can get an arena full of cowboys to yell "Man!, I feel like a woman!". She's also the only one who can sing about wearing short skirts and feeling sexy while sporting her casual weekend wear - baggy pants, white shin-high runners and an oversized Edmonton Eskimos Jersey.

Such was the case on Friday as Twain rocked the Rexall in front of 18,000 fathers, mothers, teens and children. For more than 90 minutes, she pumped out her upbeat, self-empowered songs - includingUP!, She's Not A Pretty Face, For Ever And For Always, Nobody's Perfect and That Don't Impress Me Much-while remaining as down-to-earth as a bed of flowers.

You don't get to see many real, heart warming moments at shows-artists usually put on their stage personas and don't let their guard down until they relax in their tour buses.

Shania, on the other hand, let her momminess shine when she picked up Pheonix. a two-year old boy clad in Harley Davidson gear, and carried him on her hip.

For a few moments, it looked like he was about to burst into tears, but once she got to the top of the stage, he started clapping with glee and blowing kisses to the crowd, a move he learned from Auntie Shania. If only he realised how lucky he was.

An older child with Twain-like flowing hair, Tenille, knew exactly what it meant to be on stage with the 38-year-old dynamo fom Timmins, Ontario. The two held hands, danced together and sang Nobody's Perfect. "This is a dream come true", Tenille dressed in a min-Twain track suit gushed. "You're my hero, you're beautiful, your voice is amazing."

Awww. How can you say anything mean after such a tender moment? You can't, which is why Twain has so many devoted fans and can sell a million copies of her latest album, UP! , in only 17 days. Her exuberance and work ethic doesn't hurt either.

From the moment her shadow was seen behind a shower curtain on stage, Twain bounced and bubbled around the oval, two-tier stage, plopped in the middle of of centre ice - often shinning brighter than the sparkly bursts of fireworks or her rag-tag crew of musicians. Their outfits, which made them look like uber-fashionale homeless people, were the only questionable marks of the night.

Scratch that, Emerson Drive, Twain's opening act , wasn't the best choice either.

The country-rockers, led by Grande Prairie's Brad Mates, were nothing more than a glorified cover band. They played their smash, I Should Be Sleeping, and what could be their next hit, Last One Standing, plus two other originals. But they also performed three covers - U2's Where The Streets Have No Name, Merle Haggard's Silver Wings and Charlie Daniels' The Devil Went To Georgia which blew away anything in the Emerson Drive catelogue. Not a smart move. Besides, with only a 30-minute set, you'd think the group would want to show off their own tunes.

Haggard, by the way, is rumoured to be playing Rexall Place May 20, a few weeks before Twain returns on June 12. Start counting the days.

You don't get to see many real, heart warming moments at shows-artists usually put on their stage personas and don't let their guard down until they relax in their tour buses.

Shania, on the other hand, let her momminess shine when she picked up Pheonix. a two-year old boy clad in Harley Davidson gear, and carried him on her hip.


AWWWWW!!!!!!


Why is it some people get it, and others want to gun her down, while hiding behind their typewriters.


-Chris

The Journal's review on Emerson Drive seemed harsh but they need to get in more of their own tunes - cover bands can only go so far - but right now it may be a label requirement on their CDs until they get better known. Sandra should know that the song title is not Nobody's Perfect but What a Way To Wanna Be! Otherwise I liked the review on Shania. The shot on the bands' clothes is bogus - their clothes are cool and add uniqueness to the show. Good review!

I agree - the 'others' look at her crowd interaction and think it's a calculated ploy but if they would just see the crowd reaction at the spontaneity of those moments, you just want to see that again - only Shania can pull it off with down-to-earth ease. The people going on stage are thrilled as is the audience viewing it - that's what counts.

Thanks for the reviews :D


Did Shania wore Oilers jersey for the encore?

WOW!!! Great review, and it's so true if only these toddlers knew how lucky they REALLY are!!! :D :) ;) How cute though, truly an awwwwwwww moment!!!

Very well put Chris about the reviewers, I guess some people will just never learn!!

Glad you had fun and got an autograph, pictures, high five, etc, Way to go, we're all very happy for you!!!:D :D :D