Shania Twain's album "Now", released on 29. 9. 2017
The distinctive country and pop singer was recently in the headlines because of her turbulent private life. She lost her famous voice due to an illness and was cheated on by her husband and best friend. She puts her pain and anger on her new album. The therapy has done her good. Despite the melancholy passages, "Now" leaves you with a good and light feeling.
The artist
Along with Céline Dion, Justin Bieber and Bryan Adams, Shania Twain is one of Canada's most successful exports. Her music is anchored in the country and pop genres, but the 52-year-old is keen to experiment. And this is how the Swiss by choice (she has lived on Lake Geneva for several years) meets the taste of radio listeners, the mainstream. She has already won five Grammys, and her 1997 album "Come On Over" is one of the best-selling works by a solo artist. But as is so often the case in life, those who reach the top - like Shania Twain - can fall very low. Grammys, money or success or not. In 2010, Twain divorced her husband after he cheated on her with his best friend. Ouch! She also struggled for years with the loss of her voice, a consequence of her Lyme disease, which is caused by a bacterium. It is the most common disease transmitted by ticks. Twain went from doctor to doctor until she found the right one to help her out of her dilemma. Her voice comes back, but has changed since then. For the strong Canadian, who lost her parents in a car accident at the age of 22, this is no reason to bury her head in the sand. On the contrary: she packs her pain onto her new album, lets it weave its way into the lyrics, frees herself and goes one step further.
The album
The fact that "Now" is being released now is nothing short of a miracle. Shania Twain says of her illness: "Not being able to sing anymore was the worst thing. I was devastated. I really mourned the loss of my voice. I kept the fact that I could no longer sing a secret from everyone for a long time." Fans will forgive her the 15-year wait for her story of suffering. She deals with her difficult past in the lyrics, but never with melancholy, rather with melancholy. This is good for the album, as it gives the lyrics an interesting foundation, while the melodies remain gentle.
The verdict
A comeback after 15 years and with a changed voice - that takes a lot of courage. Shania Twain has this. What's more, she proves with her new work that pop songs and ballads are her thing. Packing life into new compositions is a good idea, as Shania Twain proves in "Now".
Recommended tracks
"Swinging With My Eyes Closed": Watch out, this song gets stuck in your brain. Lively reggae rhythms
"More Fun": Light pop song, catchy chorus
"You Can't Buy Love": Cool pop song, partly reminiscent of the great Amy Winehouse. Groovy!
Has already become a hit: "Life's About to Get Good"
