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Shania Twain - Live (1999).DVD9.NTSC.Untouched
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For erstwhile "new country" outsider Shania Twain, the commercial impact of her first live video doubtless carries the sweet smell of revenge. Twain's mid-'90s breakthrough, fuelled by formidable production polish and carefully groomed videos, conspicuously delayed live shows until long after the expatriate Canadian's success crossed into platinum territory--an omission that prompted some sceptics to theorise that the would-be megastar's talent was accomplished through studio sleight of hand. Shania Twain--Live may benefit from plenty of polish and more than a little calculation in its staging, but the singer/songwriter's long apprenticeship in lounge bands and resort revues north of the border is apparent. Whether one loves or loathes her songs, Twain herself comes across as a seasoned performer who knows how to work the audience.

Equally apparent, and equally unlikely to resolve the division between fans and foes, is Twain's crossover agenda. Scaled for the arenas that Twain and her handlers targeted early on, the concert is closer in pace and power-chords to a mainstream rock show than most country acts, an orientation that aligns the star with Garth Brooks' swaggering style rather than most country songstresses. Her band may boast three fiddlers, but their slashing attack emulates the kilowatt buzz of the rock guitarists that share the scrim, who pull off familiar string-bending flourishes. As for the front woman, in her electric-green leopard-print top, hip-hugging pants, and meticulously permed, waist-length hair, she resembles some improbably aerobicised white Rastafarian.

The set list is a generous one, reproducing most of Twain's back-to-back platinum albums, and illustrates her skill at mixing melting ballads, flirtatious rockers that enable her to strut her physical beauty, and songs testifying to her self-reliance. Still, for all Twain's assertions that she won't suffer fools gladly, the songs ultimately reveal a traditional romanticism with a moderate, post-feminist spark. One need only check out the power equation behind such songs as "Honey, I'm Home" and "Any Man of Mine" to recognise Twain's themes are ultimately much older than their crossover wrappers.


Actors: Shania Twain, Marc Muller, Randy Waller, Brent Barcus, J.D. Blair
Directors: Lawrence Jordan
Producers: George Travis, Jack Gulick, Lee Rolontz
Format: Colour, DVD-Video, NTSC
Language: English
Subtitles: English
Region: All Regions
Aspect Ratio: 4:3 - 1.33:1
Number of discs: 1
Classification: Exempt
Studio: Polygram Video
DVD Release Date: 7 Dec 1999
Run Time: 120 minutes

Tracklist:

01. Man! I Feel Like A Woman!
02. Honey, I’m Home
03. You Win My Love
04. Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?
05. You’re Still The One
06. I Won’t Leave You Lonely
07. Come On Over
08. Love Gets Me Every Time
09. I’m Holdin’ On To Love (To Save My Life)
10. When
11. Medley – Home Ain’t Where His Heart Is (Anymore) / The Woman In Me (Needs The Man In You) / You’ve Got A Way
12. That Don’t Impress Me Much
13. If It Don’t Take Two
14. Black Eyes, Blue Tears
15. God Bless The Child
16. To Daddy
17. What Made You Say That
18. No One Needs To Know
19. Any Man Of Mine
20. Don’t Be Stupid (You Know I Love You)
21. From This Moment On
22. (If You’re Not In It For Love) I’m Outta Here
23. Any Man Of Mine (Reprise)
24. Rock This Country!


Video: MPEG-2, NTSC, 5343kbps, 720x480, 16:9, 29,970 fps
Audio: English, AC-3, 5ch, 448kbps, 48 kHz
Audio: English, PCM, 2ch, 1536kbps, 48 kHz
Subtitle: -
Playtime: 1:59:00s