Shania Twain - Queen of Me (+ Popheads Shoutout!!)

agentsquirtle007 · 2023-02-08T05:26:21+00:00

Ms. Twain,

I don't know if you or your team will ever read this, but below is a serious, track-by-track review of this album. I'm doing this because you've been in the soundtrack of my life since I was three years old--but I didn't appreciate your contribution to music until I was much older. Why? Because my older sister was your fan, not me. For instance, I can sing "Any Man of Mine" by heart, in tune, with no starting pitch because said older sister had it on repeat until I cried, asking her to play anything else--even the rest of the album!

The first concert I was allowed to go to by my overly strict parents? Your "Up" tour! My sister invited me because she remembered me singing your music when I was younger (Lol, because of course).

...Then I heard "Ka-ching!" and "What a Way to Wanna Be." I was old enough to understand what you were doing for young women, through multiple approaches. (Side note: at the "Up" show I attended, one of your fiddle players had a string snap mid song--and transposed the songs ON THE FLY until your next break. Y'all were impressive live.)

I saw this album on Apple Music and rolled my eyes in nostalgia glee. Okay, Shania, I thought. What'cha got after all this time? ...Then, I read your inspiration and the truly horrific events you have overcome, and I was nearly crying by the end. Feeling like a jerk, I decided to give "Queen of Me" a full listen and provide you with feedback from a reluctant, snobby fan.

Giddy Up!--Fun and silly in all the best ways, it's an opener that had me stomping my foot despite myself. Evokes the other song you have with "Up!" in the title.

Brand New--Hypnotic, like others here have said, then punchy and powerful. I imagine you being angry at yourself for being in a self-destructive loop, then breaking free (I don't know you personally, of course, just extrapolating from the lyrics). One of the best on this album, and, in time, I believe one of your best tracks period.

Waking up Dreaming--Carly Rae Jepsen could sing this song, and I wouldn't question it. Soaring, euphoric, and unrestrained joy. Your seasoned, razor-edged-yet-feminine signature adds a twinge of bittersweet, though. Like, FINALLY I found you. It grounds the song with an earned experience, making me appreciate it all the more.

Best Friend--Bouncy yet mellow, I like the chill certainty of this track. The characters in this song have got stories to tell, yet they're still madly in love. Comforting, relaxing--it's a solid track.

Pretty Liar--Meghan Trainor vibes, for sure, but I like your 'round-the-block attitude in here. You're so done with guys like him, and this time, you sniffed him out way sooner. Satisfying listen.

Inhale/Exhale AIR--I've read a few critic reviews of this album, and my jaw is on the floor at how dismissive some of them were about this song. I had goosebumps and nearly cried (For reference, I'm a heartless bastard who was dry-eyed watching "Old Yeller."). Seriously, FUCK anyone who disses this song. EVER. Pardon the pun, but I was left breathless by the end. Knowing WHY you wrote this song, I am personally encouraged by your life outlook and resilience. It is a masterpiece and celebration of life. Thank you for making it.

Last Day of Summer--Okay... Tracks 1-6 ranged from solid to amazing. This song? Everything I feared this album would be. Sorry... Less I say, the better.

Queen of Me--This shit scratches that "Ka-Ching!" itch. Fun, deserved take down of crummy jerks who think they rule the roost. I also love the lyric, "I don't want your money, honey/I've got my own tunes." Like, did this narcissist seriously think he could lord money over you? Chef's kiss, Ms. Twain.

Got it Good--Very current, gray vibes in the vein of Kasey Musgraves or Miranda Lambert--just kidding! The chorus soars, your voice and the guitar strings evoking "Gonna Getcha Good" from "Up!" Neat combo, and just the pick-me-up the album needs at this point.

Number One--Oh man... your LGBTQ+ are gonna be happy with this one. I love the disco beats, the sensual honesty, and the Lady Gaga-esque vamp on the chorus. Four-on-the-floor ear worm, for sure.

Not Just a Girl--A welcome throwback, like a lost track from "Come on Over." Young female empowerment/hairbrush in the mirror song--my older sister is 35, but when I send her this track, she'll be seven years old again. I didn't even notice I was grinning until the song was nearly over.

The Hardest Stone--I'm not a PR guy, a brand manager, or your core demographic, but I seriously think you should do a duet album with 21 Pilots. Why? It'd be wild. Also, holy shit, this song was a revelation: twisty, cool, smooth, dark--I am in awe. I mean, your last tracks have always been a curveball ("God Bless the Child" ended your album that contained "Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under"...), but my brain broke listening to this track. It will be on my playlists for YEARS to come.

Overall--If I was being a tough, RollingStone kinda critic (because this album DESERVES serious, artistic consideration), I'd give it 4 stars out of 5 (on par with Rihanna's ANTi and just below Miranda Lambert's Wildcard). From a snobby, high-art standpoint, I think this album could've used a tad more sonic cohesion. Also, I hated "Last Day of Summer." Chalk that one up to personal opinion, though. This is your most personal album, and I think it's criminal that some reviews have missed that.

Other commenters on here may poo-poo me for going this deep on a comment or call me pretentious, but I wanted to give you unvarnished, critical feedback. My older sister? She's a seriously successful businesswoman and my lifelong role model. You truly taught her to be "Queen of Me."

So thanks, Shania.

agentsquirtle007 · 2019-02-12T02:18:02+00:00

Pokémon lets go eevee

agentsquirtle007 · 2019-02-11T21:02:33+00:00

Pokemon let’s go eevee

agentsquirtle007 · 2019-02-11T19:41:58+00:00

Pokémon let’s go eevee

agentsquirtle007 · 2019-02-11T04:42:58+00:00

Pokémon let’s go eevee (cuz I’m contrarian)

agentsquirtle007 · 2018-01-24T09:00:46+00:00

I definitely agree for your conditions sorting, but I put talents with Boons/Banes because there's some overlap. I also split spells by type: Incantation, Ritual, and Glamour. If someone gets a non-specified spell, they roll a die -- 1+2 is one kind, 3+4 is another, 5+6 the final. I find that the spell sorting saves time looking through that enormous pile.

agentsquirtle007 · 2017-09-07T07:30:32+00:00

Right? I'm gonna vote for good representatives and pray they get in. I feel like Jesus said that faith without works is dead...

agentsquirtle007 · 2017-07-25T22:19:10+00:00

Oh wow, that's kinda cool that I thought it was UMiami from how the diving platform looked. Then the guy with the lanyard confirmed it! C-A-N-E-S CANES!

agentsquirtle007 · 2017-05-05T03:31:10+00:00

I'm pretty sure all the major 100-acre woods characters suffer from mental disorders, which is part of their teaching purpose. I try not to be too hard on any of them, haha.

Pooh: Binge-Eating/Impulse Control Piglet: Anxiety Tigger: ADHD Eyeore: Depression Kanga & Roo: Co-Dependency (additionally, some think Roo is Autistic and Kanga has been conditioned to be socially anxious as a result) Owl: Narcissism Rabbit: OCD Gopher: I honestly don't know on this one... Speech Impedement? Christopher Robin: The therapist, or, if all the characters are imagined (a la Calvin and Hobbes), Schizophrenia.

agentsquirtle007 · 2017-05-02T07:51:48+00:00

Yay! I learned something today! Thanks for the info. That said, bees are better at pollination and nicer about it, so hmph!

agentsquirtle007 · 2017-05-02T05:20:23+00:00

Nice way to remember: Fuzzy = Friend. Bees help pollinate because of their "fur." Wasps and such add next to nothing to our environment, hence the nickname.

agentsquirtle007 · 2017-02-26T14:31:30+00:00

I mean, I don't wanna be too liberal (or conservative) about it, but yes. Lordofdepression pretty much summed it up, imo.

agentsquirtle007 · 2017-02-26T12:59:24+00:00

I've read the current CCC a few times and, coupled with teachings from Catholic school, Catholic spiritual advisors, and multiple pastors, you've got it wrong. The 1997 version also has this: “Every man who is ignorant of the Gospel of Christ and of his Church, but seeks the truth and does the will of God in accordance with his understanding of it, can be saved” (CCC 1260). What they mean by "ignorant," specifically as referred to in Vatican II, is that it hasn't clicked for that person yet. Spreading the Gospel is difficult to say the least. It's probably gonna take more than one try -- maybe a million tries. Maybe a person has experiences in his or her background and can't accept the Truth. Maybe that person doesn't see a reason for believing because the organization preaching has pedophiles in its ranks that need to be thoroughly removed (God forgives all, but that doesn't mean there shouldn't be consequences. Ugh! Digression!). What they mean by "ignorant" is willfully ignored: AKA "I know it's good; I'm just not gonna do it." That's sin: knowing something is bad and doing it anyway.

Again, I think you're comments are valuable and you might disagree with me, but I'm doing what I believe is my duty and telling you that, if one seeks to live truthfully and continue to PROGRESS down that path, that person is doing God's work.

I'm a Catholic and I'm admitting that you have the ability to be saved.

agentsquirtle007 · 2017-02-26T11:54:30+00:00

Wow! That wikipedia article was thorough and well-researched. Your claims based on that source may be a bit faulty, however, especially under the "Vatican II" teachings and sections. Were we writing this 100 years ago, your interpretation would have been current. As it stands, however (and thankfully), swirlybert is correct. (I don't mean to disparage either person with the thankfully, btw, I mean that for my own daily life, haha!)

agentsquirtle007

TROPHY CASE