Come on Over (International Version) - Twain, Shania (CD 1999)

For over four years Shania Twain is not a country singer, still she s listed in the country category, hmm I understand traditions and all but being so conservative? Anyway, I suggest calling it country-pop and acknowledge that is not country. So what? I like country-pop, I like Trisha Yearwood, Garth Brooks, Faith Hill and Dixie Chicks. In the very beginning of 1999, right before the Grammy I became a happy owner of Come On Over CD. You think I liked it? Ha, I loved it, I adored it. I was singing the tunes to myself all days long, they really grew on me, both the hit ones and those I had never heard before. Fiddle, all kind of guitars and mandolin, Shania Twain s voice and lyrics were driving me nuts.

Then I came to Russia besides cultural shock and a lot of junk new bands I got Russian MTV informing me that Shania s on tour in UK. Imagine my shock and big eyes giving a weird look to the box with bunch of confusing cables. I could ve never imagined a country singer outside of the US/Canada [na ve 17-year-old Finn called them all country singers ]. Then I ve seen That Don t Impress Me Much video, hysterically being happy that Shania made it to Russian TV channel and then chaotically trying to find the reason for the annoying pop sound. In a couple of months I went to Russian school and was pretty much disgusted when little girls, fans of boy bands and lollipop girls, were singing this song. Oh, boy!

Shania happened to impress Europe with another single Don t Be Stupid. Well, additional fiddles added more live, or was it a new pop twist that made this song faster? Arrangements are very destructing; in attempt to do something cool Mutt Lange produces obvious junk [refer to In Blue The Corrs]. The only good thing about this new version is video.

Only ten minutes ago I found out that From This Moment was the first European single [I was in the States at the moment]. That move is really smart. Maybe one of the best things about the International Come On Over is new From This Moment. Bryan White does only background vocal [that my unique musical feeling could not sense from the first attempt; I was impressed with the song]. Music arrangement is great. This song is fabulous, it has cosmic sound and the part between talking and singing is a divine moment. That s the way music should be presented [quoting some Gram on VH1 program].

With three singles that were in Top 40 charts release of International Come On Over did not seem like insanity to me. More than that I thought it was a great attempt to popularize country-pop in Europe. Did not work! Instead of country-pop Shania presented pop music of an average quality. Songs that I liked were turned into some slick but annoying pop jingles. I hate the way it sounds!

Couple of songs gained some charm on this album. I liked new electric sound of Man, I Feel Like a Woman! ; From This Moment On sounds divine; pop song You ve Got A Way gained in romantic sound.

I can t get used to the change in Honey, I m Home [and don t want to]. That song used to be a very impressive track originally. Now it has lost what made it so damn cool. Another change for worse [for pop].

To Make It Clear: I love pop music, I just don t like plain pop. I like folk-pop, country-pop, etc. and good quality pop like Seal, for example.

So what happens when country-pop goes internationally pop? Average pop album that doesn t deserve much of your attention. Better buy an original album or leave international one on the shelve. For those who don t have choice [Europeans], this album is really weak comparing to other Shania Twain s works.

Playlist [note the change of order comparing to original album, I wonder what s the point]
1. You're Still The One
2. When
3. From This Moment On
4. Black Eyes, Blue Tears
5. I Won't Leave You Lonely
6. I'm Holdin' On To Love (To Save My Life)
7. Come On Over
8. You've Got A Way
9. Whatever You Do! Don't
10. Man! I Feel Like A Woman!
11. Love Gets Me Every Time
12. Don't Be Stupid (You Know I Love You)
13. That Don't Impress Me Much
14. Honey, I'm Home
15. If You Wanna Touch Her, Ask!
16. Rock This Country!