What I think about the "UP" album!

[MikaShania]

If I had to rate all Shania albums in scale 1-10 then I would give 7,5 for "UP". I would give 8 for her debut album, a perfect 10 for "The Woman In Me" and 9,5 for "Come On Over" (Country version).


What's wrong with the "UP"? The first time I did listen "UP" I thought "what the f**k!" This is a crappy album (compared to Shania's past work). It was the country version I listened first (I think). Then I changed to the pop version (I think) and still I thought it was crap (compared to...) Then I took a two week break from it. Now it sounds better but it's still a big disappointment. Then what's wrong?


Lyricly the album is weak. On COO she had some funny lyrics but now when it has gone too funny it becomes stupid. Then there is too much "uh, uh", "na, na" and "oh, oh" which honestly annoys me little bit. There's a lot of stuff that should have been given to Britney Spears.

Lyrics: one thumb down!


Musicly is a catchy album. A lot of beautiful melodies and harmonies, as was expected. Still when album has 19 songs there's gonna be songs that are substandard. There's six songs I would have left out without hesitation. (If we take a look on all the past classic albums in music history then we see that rarely there's more than 10 songs on the album.) Which is better, the country version or the pop version? I don't know. Is there any difference? When Shania and Mutt wrote songs to COO they were writing country songs. Their plan was to make a good country album (spiced up with pop sound). I don't know what they were thinking when they wrote the songs for "UP". The thing I know is that the country version doesn't work. I like more the pop version and I didn't want that. I think they have the talent to make a classic country album but now they failed badly. Were they successful in making a classic pop album? No. There a long way from "UP" to Michael Jackson's "Thriller".

Music: one thumb up!


Production and sound. Horrible? Maybe that's the right word to discribe it. It's over produced. Country or pop version? Both! Mistake number one: drum programming. Where are the real drummers? They only used Paul Leim on the "Forever And For Always". He played on Shania's previous albums, and also the legendary Larrie Londin had his magic on her debut album. To me drum machines are like dead people. They don't breath. Machines can't replace humans. PERIOD!
They used Brent Mason but where the hell is Dann Huff? I don't think Michael Thomson is the right guy to replace Dann. Michael Landau (who's the number one, and the most wanted session guitarist) would have been much better choise. Thompson has done great work with Celine Dion and Michael Bolton but I don't think they (Michael and Mutt) founded the right sound for "UP". One more thing to Mutt (and Shania). David Hungate is very expensive session player but I think you have enough pocket money to hire him.
What about Shania? I think her voice sounded much better (natural) on "The Woman In Me" album. Mutt "killed" her beautiful voice. Def Leppard was popular in the 80's, not anymore.

Production: two thumbs down


Is "UP" a bad album? No it's not. 7,5 isn't bad at all. It's still much, much better than any Pink, Britney Spears or Christina Aguilera album.


I apologize my bad english..... and you can send the hate mail to Saddam Hussein, please. :)

[Gandalf]

I agree with you 100%.

And another thing. you think that TWIm was the best. Whenever we have threads like this, most people seem to say her best work was TWIm,and then it loses out on the polls. Maybe it's just me...........................................

[MikaShania]

Originally posted by Gandalf
I agree with you 100%.

And another thing. you think that TWIm was the best. Whenever we have threads like this, most people seem to say her best work was TWIm,and then it loses out on the polls. Maybe it's just me...........................................


Yeah, yeah, yeah.... it's weird and you're right. Let's change the topic.

This gave me a good laugh: "Name's Bondage, James Bondage". :D :D :D That was funny. :)

[Gandalf]

sorry if I've annoyed you.:sad: :sad: :sad:

[MikaShania]

Originally posted by Gandalf
sorry if I've annoyed you.:sad: :sad: :sad:

Absolutely not! :)

[Gandalf]

Okay, thnks. When you said "lets change the subject" i thought you were being sarcastic. Sorry.

:p :p

[BP]

:mad:
I have been a loyal fan since the beginning of Shania's start.
I think that "UP" seems to be a big time money making thing.
Now I can hear it now from all of the real hard core fans
"WHAT KIND OF FAN ARE YOU?"
BUT... I'm just speaking my mind and I've come to the true
fans out there...Is anybody else as dissapointed as I am?
I'm not afraid to say I'm a bit let down!
I think almost every song sounds the same?
Sorry if I've affended you all......It's just the way I feel!
BP

[BP]

I think 5-7 is even still high. I agree on with you 100%
I'm just dissapointed.

[Shaniafannum1]

I LOVE the new album although I think her spirits seemed down... there was just a sense of boredom in her voice, IMO. Maybe it was just me??

[Eilsel]

I have to disagree. I think that UP! is Shania's best work to date. There are a couple songs that the lyrics could have been better, but overall, I really think UP! is her best work. I wasn't disappointed at all.

[BP]

Eilsel,
I appreciate your feedback. If you REALLY think "UP" is her best work....have you listened to any of her past CD's?
We're amongst friends and fans here. If you really like it that's great! After reading the majority of the post, a lot of the older forum fans to me seem a bit dissapointed.

[ShaniaLookAlike]

I understand how you feel. ;)

I honestly didn't like the album that much when it came out, probably because it was different from her other albums.

Quite a few of the songs have grown on me. .and I like the album now. There are a few songs that I don't like at all. . .but for the most part I like the album. :)

It's ok if you don't like the album, we all have our likes & dislikes. ;)

I must admit. . I am slightly dissappointed in the album. . I thought it would be better too.
But I still love Shania and I can't wait to see her on tour! :D :D

[La Diablesa]

U CAN'T OFFEND ME NEVER SAYING THIS LOL FIRST AT ALL U DON'T HAVE TO SAY URE SORRY FOR SOMETHING THAT U FEEL LOL JUST THAT OF COURSE I DON'T THINK AS U CAUSE I THINK IS A GOOD ALBUM BUT BE SORRY FOR A C.D I THINK IS TOO MUCH FOR URSEF :p :p :p BTW HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! :p ;)


:devil:

[Eilsel]

Originally posted by BP
Eilsel,
I appreciate your feedback. If you REALLY think "UP" is her best work....have you listened to any of her past CD's?
We're amongst friends and fans here. If you really like it that's great! After reading the majority of the post, a lot of the older forum fans to me seem a bit dissapointed.
I am an older forum fan, and I'm still not disappointed. I have all of Shania's albums, and I think they are all great. I think songs from UP! like "Juanita", "Forever And For Always", "It Only Hurts When I'm Breathing", "Nah!", "I'm Jealous", "Waiter! Bring Me Water!", "I Ain't Goin' Down" and "When You Kiss Me" are some of her best written songs. COO had a lot of great songs too, but UP! is still my #1.

[ka-ching]

I'm also not dissapointed. I love Up! Though I had to hear it a few times before I learned to like it... But it's just a different album than COO or TWIM. You can't always do the same. This is just not TWIM or COO part2. :)

[SHANIANUTS!]

Originally posted by BP
Eilsel,
I appreciate your feedback. If you REALLY think "UP" is her best work....have you listened to any of her past CD's?
We're amongst friends and fans here. If you really like it that's great! After reading the majority of the post, a lot of the older forum fans to me seem a bit dissapointed. COO and UP! were much different than her previous megahit.

It took me a bit to warm up to both of them - but once I got used to this "new" music I came to enjoy it and love it immensely.

I consider Shania my favorite singer for all time.

[MikaShania]

My advice for Shania would be: Get another producer for your next album.

Don't change your husband/co-writer, but change the producer.

[SHANIANUTS!]

Originally posted by MikaShania
My advice for Shania would be: Get another producer for your next album.

Don't change your husband/co-writer, but change the producer. Not a bad idea - or get a coproducer - one who is not cowed by working with Mutt and who would offer some fresh insight into the deal.

[IanUK]

I think Up! is great (and yes I do have her previous albums). Her voice hasn't weakened at all, but maybe the music is a little too 'manufactured,' i.e. digitally rather than the real thing.

I do have mixed feelings about the idea of 3 CD's. Personally I never listen to the World version, because it is just lame in my opinion. Being in the UK means I got the Pop version which is fantastic because without doubt it has more chance of doing well over here with a Pop mix rather than a Country mix. (This is proven by the fact That Don't Impress Me Much and Don't Be Stupid had Pop mixes and did very well here).

But as a Shania fan, I like her as a country artist, therefore as a true Shania fan I have ordered the country version. I don't mind, no doubt it will be worth the money (it hasn't arrived yet), but I can't help thinking that the 3 CD concept is a money spinner, a way of making sure true fans collect all three CD's.

Ian2

[SHANIANUTS!]

Most fans get the 3d one from a buddy I hear.

[IanUK]

.....oh, and a way of increasing record sales. Now I have bought the Country version to match my already Pop and World versions it will register as 2 record sales, when really it is essentially the same album.

Is the record company doing this as a way to top the sales of Come On Over?

And is it really necessary? I'm sure Shania could top COO without the 3 CD concept.

[SHANIANUTS!]

Actually it will register as 3 sales for RIAA purposes, in the US, for sales here.

[IanUK]

Originally posted by SHANIANUTS!
Most fans get the 3d one from a buddy I hear.

As a 18 year old male in the UK, I am the only Shania fan amoungst my friends, so I have no way of getting it from a buddy :(

But my post was not an attempt at having a moan, I really don't mind buying it as in the long run I am sure I will listen to the country version the most.

Ian2

[SHANIANUTS!]

When you belong to this forum you have friends worldwide.

[IanUK]

That's nice to hear.

I am also thinking of getting COO American version, purely for That Don't Impress Me Much and Don't Be Stupid without the silly pop beat they put on them for the UK version.

I have heard them from The Platinum Collection DVD (which I got for chirstmas :) and they are much better without the beat.

Ian2

[SHANIANUTS!]

I agree.

[Twainfan95]

Hey everyone, I'm new here and here is what I think of the Up! cd

Once I had a chance to listen to the entire cd, I was a bit disappointed in some of the songs. The album is bit cheesy and it has taken a while to warm up to. Some of the songs like: Waiter, bring me water, What a way to wanna be and Ka-ching were a bit too much. I do however admire the amount of energy and the positive attitude that was incorporated into the record. She has some really awesome songs and will always be at the top of my list!!!

[rosakelley]

re: sorry..

For those that were disappointed with UP! return it. You are not obligated to have it. UP! is a good CD. I see UP! with a very mature sound. Shania is a mother and a wife. Her life is changing. Her priorities have changed. Thou, Shania sitll loves making music. I listen to all of her CD's and I see her CD's going through the flow with her life and her career. My meaning of her CD's. The Women In Me: Yes! lets get my career going. Come On Over: My career is here! Let's have some fun! UP!: I'm still here, Ilove making music but things are different. You the person may not change physically but when new things come into your life and you when you get older you. Your views and emotions, feelings gets shifted. That is what I think Shania is going through, thou, I could be wrong but I could right or damn close.
I just don't understand you guys. I know you guys have the right to speak your mind. I play all of Shania CD's and other singers Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Def Leppard, Journey etc. etc. but I always come back to Up!. Up! is stuck in my CD player. I'm sorry you guys feel this way.

p.s. I am not trying to be nasty or mean.