SHANIA TWAIN: WORTHLESS "ARTIST"?
Da Man OSB
Inch Nails' "Hurt"--and it's truly one of the most fascinating, moving and
disturbing videos I've seen in a long time. If you've seen it, you know what I
mean.
But after seeing that, I flashed back to the recent Super Bowl halftime show,
and the embarrassing performance Shania Twain put on. And I thought about how
Twain is a perfect example of what's wrong with popular music today.
Once upon a time, Shania Twain was at least a "semi-country" artist with a
degree of artistic integrity. But I suppose the lure of "cross-over"
popularity and increased wealth convinced her to throw caution (and scruples)
to the wind and begin whoring whatever talent she may have to the highest
bidder.
Consider the comparison of Johnny Cash's moving, dignified and immensely
soulful rendering of "Hurt" to Twain's absolutely soul-less cleavage-fest at
the Super Bowl. Also consider the quality of the work. The vast majority of
Cash's recordings will be listened to for generations to come; it's stood the
test of time. But will anyone remember Shania Twain's shallow, fluffy pop
ditties thirty years from now? Highly doubtful. Of course, not all pop music
needs to be "meaningful." But entertainers like Twain don't even make an
attempt in that direction.
Of course, Twain is only one of many (especially "young") country artists who
take few chances and continue to appeal to the lowest common denomintor of
fandom. But I suppose it's all just a part of the spectrum; for every Johnny
Cash, there's also got to be room for the endless revolving door of performers
like Shania Twain.
Raymond Voss
bunch of idiots Shania is the best out there. Shes hot sexy and
gourgous. What do you idiots like all big fat ponderosa women?
Da Man OSB
> As any fan would do is stick up for his favorite entertainer. Your a
>bunch of idiots Shania is the best out there. Shes hot sexy and
>gourgous. What do you idiots like all big fat ponderosa women?
Thank you, Raymond, for your intelligent, literate and well-reasoned response.
I believe it's done much to support my original points.
Dave Jag
that you've blathered here, but suffice to say, it is your opinion and is
therefore not required to pertain to the truth.
The artists that feed this notion that "new country" is trying to erase "old
country" should really consider putting their talent to better use... while
they still have it. Why is it that an artist has to spend 30 nights in the
pokey for a drunken assault charge in order to be considered a "real
country" artist? Johnny Cash is a talented artist and a country icon...
nothing that any other artist does can take that away. Shania is also a true
artist, doubly-blessed with a phenomenal voice and the ability to write a
diverse array of music. Who will remember Shania's music 30 years from now?
At the very least, the hundred thousand people who selected "From this
Moment On" as the first dance at their wedding; and maybe the thousands of
people who she's helped to feed through her charitable efforts; and maybe
the hundreds of young people who she has tried to help get started in the
industry. That's all. Whether you like her music or not, she is a quality
person who had indisputably earned her way and her success. She is an asset
to country music, and she is an asset to pop music. There shouldn't be
anything mutually exclusive there. The scope of country music is expanding
and evolving, picking up new audience members all the time. The result of
that is an influx of new people taking an interest in country music. Maybe
they are hooked in by Shania or Faith, but then they find themselves
listening to the Chix, and maybe Nickel Creek, and before long they are
listening to 'ol Hank and the man in black. That's how it happened to me,
except it was Garth who dragged me into the whole country scene. I have a 5'
stack of Country CD's now, thanks to Mr. Brooks.
Now, if Rap "artists" start crossing over into country, then it might be
time to raise the steel curtain : )
(Hope my vernacular was adequate._
-Dave-
"Da Man OSB" <dama...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20030211193409...@mb-fn.aol.com...
pz_d
IMHO I personally think, Dave's point of view is absolutely right.
In today's pop-music-scene all that counts is producing hits, most of all
only one-hit-wonders. There's no real fundamental basic. Just a nice melody
(sometimes) and that's all.
But Shania's different. Look at this NG. There are a lot of people talking
about COO or TWIM or ST (albums recorded 5, 8 and 10 years ago) - but the
songs are still vivid, these songs are in our hearts, are part of our lives,
revealing certain (sometimes) special events of our life. You rememeber
them.
Listen to Your local radio station: there may be some songs in listeners
wish lists which are often played - even Shania's songs. But who remembers
the top hits from 1996?
Well. my point of view is: Shania's not producing top hits one after
another. But her songs are popular. And there is more (I am not able to
describe it really): there is something special in her songs and lyrics. A
feeling of truth and honesty. She doesn't care about "mainstream", so her
music is never "middle-of-the-road". There's a message in her songs!!!
Well, if those songs then are popular - that's fine for this kind of music,
isn't it? So people are touched by her songs, begin to show interest in her
kind of music. They are introduced in Country Music (real music) - and
that's absolutely not wrong, isn't it.
I think that's Shania's intention with her new album. So she produced 3
versions of UP. By the way, I don't think it was a fine decision to offer
the blue and the red CD in Europe. It would have been much better to
purchase the green and the red one here (red and blue show commercial aspect
as DaMan OSB said - I agree to this point).
But what's wrong with the fact that Shania's a very good (sexy) looking
person and a very talented singer/songwriter and using this fact? Just think
about it: there are 19(!!!) songs on her new album and all written by her
and her husband!!!! Tell me who else did this recently?
And adressed to all those who are disappointed that Shania did only lip-sync
during the Superbowl: maybe she's too much stressed during her last
performances and/or her motherhood, maybe something's wrong with her voice.
In spite of all she has proved she's a great singer. Her voice my be not
that kind Whitney Houston or Mariah Carey has. But her voice is expressive
and significant.
To be short at the end: Shania's the best Country Music could have happened
to. She th most talented "new"comer supporting country and a great
cross-over. Some songs sound better in rock than in country, e.g. "Nah!" or
"In my car I'll be the driver".
pz_d
P.S. I hope I everybody did understand my point of view, for I'm not so good
in English. But there was a necessity in me to state this.
Thank You for reading this long article.
"Dave Jag" <da...@jagtek.com> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:Nnz2a.89470$HN5.3...@rwcrnsc51.ops.asp.att.net...
TJM
I used to be a big fan of Shania Twain....I thought in the mid-90's she was
a big breath of fresh air in country music even though the old school
country stars didnt like it.
However, something happened since she came from her long hiatus from the
music scene. Her voice seems to be gone. She says outright in interviews
that she never liked being a live performer. She lip-synchs the Super Bowl.
All these things start to reveal the once reigning queen of country as a
complete phoney who is only in it for the money. Why else would you come
out with 3 different versions of the same CD other than tripling your sales
numbers?
The problem is that Shania Twain became very rich and she isnt as hungry to
achieve greatness anymore. When you are a young unknown talent like Shania
was in the early 90's, you are driven to produce great music and make
yourself a star. She accomplished that. However, she spent the last few
years living like a recluse in her Swiss chateau along with publicity-shy
Mutt and they were more concerned with drinking hot chocolate and skiing
than making a great album. It's hard to put in long hours in the studio
working on great songs when you already got millions of dollars in the bank
and you live a pampered life. This isnt unique to Shania....look at Mariah
Carey or Elvis Presley....at first they produced phenomenal records with
great songs but then they became rich & lazy and the music suffered. "UP"
is a horrible album and Shania is trying to sell it based on her fame, not
her talent. Even country & pop radio stations are ignoring it. It's
pathetic.
I also find it very sad that all her fans seem to focus more on her looks
than her rapidly declining talent. Whenever I post on this NG, they never
mention how bad "UP" is, but they always say retarded stuff like "....but
she looks great!". Waaaahhh! What a bunch of whiney sheep. Her fans are
as flakey and stupid as Shania is. When did looks and makeup mean more than
the substance of the music?
You were right when you said that Shania represents all this is wrong with
modern pop music. Let's just hope her fans wake up and realize their idol
is nothing but a total sham who cant sing anymore.....
"Da Man OSB" <dama...@aol.com> wrote in message
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Bullet
loser in here that only see the half empty side of the glass of water
instead of the half full side of it.
--
Bullet
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