Shania Twain at Leeds Direct Arena – Country-pop star has still got it. The Canadian-born mega star is made for the stage and sure knows how to work a crowd
Words – Megan Shaw, Photos – John Hayhurst
As soon as she appeared on stage head to toe in sheer and diamonds with a bright pink wig and star shaped silver sunglasses and hit the first note it was clear, the Country-pop queen has still got it.
And after watching Shania Twain at Leeds First Direct Arena last night there is no denying that those thrilling signature few notes before she announces “Lets Go Girls” still has the same affect on the crowd now as it did during her nineties heyday.
After a six year hiatus the Canadian-born mega star is back with a bang. The show was entertaining from the get go with audience participation, emotional moments and a dose of nostalgia, she certainly still knows how to work a crowd. The star declared: ” Leeds! You guys are so loud and so fun!”
Leeds Direct Arena was filled with flashing cow boy hats, checkered shirts and tassels and the atmosphere was electric as Shania kicked off the Queen of Me tour with some of her most recent tracks from her latest album of the same name.
The show kicked off with Shania appearing in the middle of the arena as staff pulled her through the crowd on a trolley as she performed “Waking Up Dreaming”, giving fans on the lower levels an up close and personal experience.
It was clear throughout the show how much Shania enjoyed interacting with her fans, she pulled two audience members up on stage. One was an 8-year-old little girl dressed in a Shania t-shirt, sparkly skirt and cowboy hat, who performed a few lines of her favourite song for her idol as the crowd watched in awe.
Later on in the show Shania pulled up another mega fan, Molly from Huddersfield who had tweeted her prior to the show telling her how her music has inspired her to pursue a career as a guitarist.
Molly was shaking as Shania encouraged her to play the iconic notes to “Man I Feel Like A Woman”, she was incredible and as an audience member it was humbling to watch. Shania said: “This is the fun thing about live, you can kind of just do whatever you want. I just want her to have her moment.”
Towards the end of the show another group of fans are brought up to the stage and stand around tables as Shania greets and takes pictures with each of them, which was lovely and they were clearly elated. Although potentially a little over kill on the super fan content by this point and a little dull for the audience members eagerly waiting for the next track.
There was a good mix of new and original music and the crowd went wild when Shania dedicated “You’re Still the One”, from her world-dominating 1997 album Come On Over, to two audience members, Arron and Georgina, who will dance to the much-loved track at their wedding.
Shania then got back into the Country swing of things with “Any Man of Mine”, she spoke openly and honestly to the audience about her experiences with cheating and how writing songs about her heartbreak is “what she does” before she burst into “Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under”.
It’s clear that her fans, who are well up to date with her personal issues – from a messy divorce from her first husband to her battle with Lyme disease, are passionate about her new message of empowerment as they cheer her on.
A parental advisory message appears on screen warning audience members of the upcoming expletive-filled lyrics before Shania bursts into “Pretty Liar.” She is grinning ear to ear as she performs the upbeat number and it’s clear that the audience, who sing along with such conviction, feel the same.
After this Shania brought out support act Bretland for a Country style duet, she told the audience how she was such a huge fan of his before they performed “Party For Two” together.
The 58-year-old took a short break, whilst her backing dancers, who were incredibly talented, filled the gap before appearing back on stage in a floor length black coat and top hat for the encore.
She pulled out “That Don’t Impress Me Much” which set the stadium on fire, before she revealed the black mini dress she was hiding underneath her coat and told the audience it was the original outfit from the “Man! I Feel Like a Woman” music video, she said: “It’s been in a museum for 25 years waiting for this moment.”
Shania’s signature track, which she is famed for, was teased throughout the night and so when she finally performed “Man! I Feel Like a Woman” in full as her final track the crowd expectedly went wild.
The show was fantastic, fun, nostalgic and emotional in equal parts – it’s clear that the Country-Pop queen has still got it and that did impress me much!
John has been to gigs for over 30 years and he travels all over for festivals. Genres range from folky female singers to bloodbath metal whores - Live for the Music!
