Shania Twain @ SSE Hydro, Glasgow, 19 Sep

Back for the first time in 15 years, Shania Twain gives more than just an album tour, this is a thank you to the fans

Live Review by Anna Blackwell | 25 Sep 2018

It’s always surprising that for a country that bases a large part of its identity on its crappy weather, we never seem prepared for it. Guttingly, thanks to the train delays caused by Storm Ali, we miss the support acts, arriving just in time to take our seats as The Shires bow out. What little we hear as we manoeuvre our hypothermia riddled selves through what feels like Prestwick International sounds great. The silver lining of a late arrival means there’s little wait for the main act.

As we wait, the spotlight suddenly hits us and the long-buried fears of public attention come erupting like the sandworm from Dune. Thankfully it’s just pointing at Shania Twain who appears from the tunnel beside us. Surrounded by security she takes the long route to the stage shaking hands and thanking those fans that braved the storm. As she takes the stage, the stunning singer takes a moment to thank everyone for supporting her all these years. This isn’t just an album tour, it’s a thank you tour and the emotions run high.

Beyond the amazing performances of Up!, Man! I Feel Like a Woman, That Don’t Impress Me Much and I’m Gonna Getcha Good!, the stage show takes a few strange and interesting turns. At one point the stage is given to a drum solo/kiss cam that unfortunately highlights how prudish some of us can be, and later to a prolonged section where a silhouette of Shania Twain watches her old music videos. Keeping up with the reunion feel a few fans are invited on stage to take a selfie and have a few minutes with their idol which – after seeing the teary-eyed reaction of the birthday mum who drove for hours to be here – warms our cynical hearts.

The setlist, like her outfits, changes constantly throughout the performance from uplifting pop melodies to her more country stylings and even a Shania-less rock piece set against powerful storm imagery. Even the set is in a constant state of flow with five large screen cubes providing platforms and backdrops for the eclectic playlist. With four or five quick changes for Twain and her backing dancers, a full drum kit complete with drummer, guitarists, violinists, and so many moving parts on stage, it speaks volumes of the skill of the roadies that the only issue was a half screen blackout that was fixed within a song.

Shania Twain’s first UK night, beyond the weather, is a resounding success that has reinvigorated our love for her and left us singing all the way through the week. Catch her while you can because who knows when she’s coming back.

http://www.shaniatwain.com/