Customer Reviews

Come On Over - International Version

5 star:		(47)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

One of my biggest pet peeves in music is the increasing trend to do two or more versions of a song. Often, you'd hear a catchier, dancier pop "radio edit" of a song and find the mix on the album to be less appealing, sometimes to the extreme of sounding like a completely different song. It was for this reason that I had avoided Shania's "Come On Over" release, since I liked what I heard on the radio, but disliked the "country mixes" I heard while sampling her original CD. So I was pleasantly surprised to see that her record company has come to thier senses and released this "International Version" to compensate for those of us that prefer the remixed pop Shania. From "Don't Impress Me Much" and "From this Moment On" I realize she's had 4 successful singles from this album, and they're all here--for less than the price of buying one import single containing any of these mixes. If you're like me and resisted the original, buy this one--you won't be disappointed!

Switching onto VH1 one day I was confronted with the vision of a leapord-skin pattern clad young lady wandering through a desert remarking upon how unimpressible she was. With a raised eyebrow I decided to watch. Twelve seconds later I was hooked. I wanted it - but I had to find out who this was. My first experience of Shania. Based on one song ("That Don't Impress Me Much") - I bought the album and haven't looked back since. With a variety of songs, from emotional to toe-tapping I love every one. I can't wait for her next installment.

My first introduction to Shania Twain was when she appeared on a music awards show and wiggled through a catchy tune in hip-hugging black leather jeans. Needless to say, I wasn't very impressed. A few months ago I received this CD as a present and never opened it until we were on a very long, very boring road trip with nothing to look at except highway and trees. What a pleasant surprise! The music is uplifting, the lyrics are clever, and Shania's "country-pop" style is refreshing to say the least. There is also quite a bit of variety, which keeps me from getting easily bored. The cuts are very radio-friendly and nicely integrate a traditional country sound with a pop style. I was even more impressed to learn that Shania and her husband "Mutt" Lange wrote all of the songs. It's not very often you hear of a talented singer who is an equally talented songwriter. I love all of the tracks but here are a few of my favorites (in no particular order):

(1) Honey I'm Home (2) From This Moment (I LOVE this song...beautiful) (3) Still The One (4) That Don't Impress Me Much

5 Stars. The variety and talent make this one a must buy. Enjoy...

Shania's previous album to this, The woman in me, was a huge American success but did not yield any British hits. This is the album that made her famous in Britain and it's not difficult to see why. All the songs are catchy pop songs that have the potential to appeal to people of all ages. The original North American version (which I haven't heard but would probably like even better) apparently has more of a country feel to it. This version, remixed for the European market, shows only limited evidence of Shania's country roots.

This album yielded five British hit singles, these being You're still the one (top ten), When (top twenty), From this moment on (top ten), That don't impress me much (top three) and Man I feel like a woman (top three). Don't be stupid was remixed again for single release and made the top 5. Many of the other songs had hit potential and it must have been difficult selecting which ones to be released as singles. I understand that several of them were hits in America and elsewhere. Of those that didn't become British hits, I particularly like Honey I'm home (a strong woman song reminiscent of Any man of mine, from The woman in me album), If you wanna touch her ask, Rock this country, I'm holding on to love, Black eyes blue tears (a song about a battered woman) and the song featured in the Notting Hill soundtrack, You've got a way. Well, that only leaves about four songs that I haven't mentioned but they are also good.

Some country fans don't like this but although I, even as a country fan, enjoy listening to her sing pop music when it's this good. Shania has made the switch to pop very effectively, at least on this album. This should not come as a surprise to anybody who knows that Shania was, for a time, a member of a choir that sang a diverse range of material, but particularly theatrical music (and nothing remotely country). So when Shania's pop career is finished, she will have plenty of options.

Enjoy this for what it is - an upbeat pop album, but if you enjoy country music, just buy the American version and don't worry about this.

I am NOT a country-western fan, although I can be persuaded to listen to the odd Willie Nelson or Garth Brooks album. But I do love this CD. I know it is not the original version, and this is why I happen to like it. I have listened to the original CD several times, and simply prefer the "pop" or radio versions. That is the music I prefer, and I am glad they decided to release this version for fans like myself. From what I heard on my recent trip to Europe last fall, Shania is quite popular in many areas. And I guarantee that the versions played are not the twangy country ones. Many people prefer the original, but for myself, the "International" version is the only way to go. It is a great CD with so many hits, and as an album, is well put together.

After her multi-million selling second album "The Woman In Me," Shania Twain returned in November 1997 with her third album "Come On Over." The album sold 9 million copies by the dawn of 1999, but by the dawn of the new millennium, it would have sold a further 25 million copies worldwide to tally a total of 34 million and be crowned the biggest selling female album of all-time. Shania Twain made an incredibly successful crossover from country music to international pop music. The transition was the best thing she has ever done in her career and she was soon, along with Britney Spears, the hottest and most exciting female singer to come out of America in years.

The album starts with You're Still The One (9/10). This is the song that sparked off the country/pop crossover and the song even managed to top the US Billboard Singles Chart - a very strange happening for a country artist. I feel it has been overplayed too much which in a way, spoils it because you've heard it so many times. Track 2 is When (10/10). This is a wonderful pop song with some brilliant notes and lyrics. It has a very Canadian feel to it - very open air and country-spring fresh. It makes you feel energetic and revitalised. Track 3 is From This Moment On (10/10). I do not consider in hyperbole to talk about this ballad as being one of the greatest compositions I have ever heard. The instruments are absolutely breath taking, Shania's voice is on top-form and the lyrics...they are just mind-blowing. The electric guitar sequence in the middle is just phenomenal. From This Moment On is such an inspirational song to so many people and is a firm favourite at weddings worldwide.

Track 4 is Black Eyes, Blue Tears (10/10). This is a very catchy up-tempo pop song with a hint of rock, especially in the choruses towards the end. The song is about a woman who has just left an abusive relationship and is getting on with her life - another inspirational song to all the women who have been through the same sort of thing. Track 5 is I Won't Leave You Lonely (10/10). A lot of people don't like this slow, smoochy ballad but I love it. It sounds very mellow and is a wonderful song to play on a warm summer's night. Track 6 is I'm Holding On To Love (To Save My Life) (10/10). This is another fantastic up-tempo pop song. The beat is fast and the vocal arrangement really suits the songs tone. Track 7 is the album's title track, Come On Over (9/10). This is a very short pop song. It has the traditional country feel to it, but the lyrics are a bit....rubbish!

The album just keeps on getting better with Track 8, which is You've Got A Way (10/10). This is another beautiful ballad and was taken from the huge 1999 film, Notting Hill (Hugh Grant, Julia Roberts etc.). I find that if you listen to this song looking at the stars on a clear night, it really relaxes you and even makes you look at life on the whole in an entirely different way. The "It's in the way you are" bit that is sort of distorted and fuzzy after the first chorus captures the mood of the song perfectly. Overall, this is my favourite song on the whole album. Track 9 is Whatever You Do! Don't! (10/10). This is a brilliant pop song with a rocky chorus and is my mum's absolute favourite on the whole album. Track 10 is Man! I Feel Like A Woman! (9/10). This song was released as a single in September 1999 and peaked at No.3 in the UK. I'm sure you've all heard this song before!

Track 11 is Love Get's Me Every Time (10/10). This song goes back to Shania's country roots. The choruses have an up-beat feeling to them and the verses are pure pop, while the guitar riff makes for a refreshing change that makes for a brilliant song. Don't Be Stupid (You Know I Love You) (9/10) is Track 12. This is not the dance version that was released as a single in February 2000 that peaked at No.5 in the UK. That Don't Impress Me Much (10/10) is Track 13. This was the song that sparked off interest in Shania in the UK. The single peaked at No.3 and was one of the biggest selling singles of the year. This was also the song that made me buy Come On Over. The video is just a classic - that leopard print suit was the main reason people watched the video and was a defining moment in music video history!

Track 14 is Honey, I'm Home (10/10). This raucious rock/pop song has the country feel to it and is a firm favourite amongst many of people I know that own the album. Track 15 is If You Wanna Touch Her, Ask! (9/10). Shania takes on the role of Agony-Aunt with this mid-tempo ballad about how to treat a lady. A very good song, but not really a standout. The final track, Track 16 is Rock This Country! (10/10). This is another rock/pop song with some superb beats that really gets the audience going at her concerts.

OVERALL GRADE: 10/10

Come On Over is the biggest selling female album not only worldwide, but in the US too. It has been certified 19x platinum (19 million) in the US and has sold more copies than any Garth Brooks album, Bruce Springsteen, Fleetwood Mac and twice as much as Madonna's top selling album. It's even closing in on the Beatles' biggest selling album, and believe me when I say that it's going to overtake it! In the UK, the album was the biggest selling album of 1999, topped the UK album chart for 11 weeks and has sold more than 3 million copies in the UK alone. I bought this epic album in October 1999 in Germany on a school trip. I was worried it would all be in German, but no - totally English! I'm so looking forward to Up!, the greatly anticipated fourth album from Shania Twain. It will be good, but can't be as good as Come On Over, can it?!

The production on this International version does not compare with the phenomenal work on the "American" version of "Come On Over". Not being a country-fan per-se, I thought the "de-twanged" cuts would be more to my liking. I was wrong. This version sounds less cohesive, less thought out (from a prduction stand point), with a lack of "texture", and in general, hacked-up. The slower balads still sound beautiful, and the techno-version of "That Don't Impress Me Much" is refreshing, but I wish I had checked out from the local library instead of putting down hard cash.

This is simply a must-have album in your CD collection. It has everything!
1) great music
2) great singer
3) good lyrics
4) unforgettable songs
5) record-breaking sales...
BUY IT!

This album is intended for those who like Shania Twain's music, but don't like the countryish feel to them. While the song sequence is different, this album is perfect for those who hear Shania Twain's music on the radio or see on T.V., because her original versions do differ from those you hear elsewhere.

How many times do you buy a cd and it has different versions of the songs you hear on the radio. Finally, someone has corrected this. I commend her