A lot of times, we don't really listen to music for the sake of the words, or what they really mean, but rather enjoy or dislike a particular song based on the sound of it, how well you could dance to it or how well you could jam to it in the shower. However, more often than not, a song actually has something worthwhile to convey, and it seems to go unnoticed when we simply recite the words along with the tune when it comes on. There's a lot to be learned from every song, artist, and genre of music's lyrics, so why not start with my favorite, the goddess of country music herself, Shania Twain.
I lot of her songs centralize on the issue of oblivious men, girl power, and love, but in a perfectly saucy way. For starters, "Up!" concentrates on the idea that everyone has their bad days, but being at what seems to be your worst must mean that it can only get better from her. Shania accepts unexplained crying as normal, especially over the small stuff, and let's everyone feel a little less crazy when it happens to them.
Rather, when this happens, she encourages you to go out for a ladies night, because after all, "the best thing about being a woman is the prerogative to have a little fun." "Man I Feel Like A Woman" suggests that there's nothing wrong with a night out with your friends, and that the "we don;t romance, we only want to dance," no strings attached is perfectly acceptable on such an occasion. Dye your hair, get a little crazy, have fun and "do what you dare."
Inevitably, the "regular original know-it-all" guy will start trying to flirt, who's too obsessed with his car or his appearance, and you'll have to remind him that "that don't impress me much." Or he'll be the type of guy that you've heard rumor of all of the beds his boots have been under, who runs off and flirts with everyone under the sun and pulls the same lines on all of his girlfriends. These types of guys aren't the one's that Shania wants you to be with, nor should you be with.
Instead, "any man of mine" better proud of you, and want the whole world to know your his. He better tell you you're pretty even when you don't feel it, and he better always be on time, because you're the only one that's allowed to be late. He should be the type that says he likes your burnt dinner and better always take you out dancing.
But, he better not be stupid. No girl wants a guy that asks her a thousand questions or dramatizes every little thing, so he better "take a pill and put a little trust in you" until he actually knows the facts and can relax. Shania thinks you deserve the type of man that when you get off of a long day of working at a job that "sure don't stimulate your brain" and finally get to say "Honey, I'm Home," he should have already made dinner, poured you a drink, and be ready to rub your feet. All of your stress, bad days, and frustration means you get to relax, because contrary to what he might think, you deserve it more than him.
When you're fortunate enough to finally settle down and have found the right man, Shania has a little advice about that too. When you're with him you better be able to say that "my dreams came true because of you" and that you can't wait to live your life with him "From This Moment On." You should want to wake up with them every morning and be together everyday because you miss each other when you're apart. You should want to stay in love for "forever and for always." And if you're lucky you'll get to say you two "beat the odds together." You might have taken the long way, but you got there, together, and for each other, "You're Still the One."
She may have a run around mentality on being anti-boy to being head over heels in love, but Shania emphasizes finding the right type of man, the one that really loves you and spoils you, and you shouldn't stop until you find him. And she obviously looks fabulous in all of her music videos while she's doing it, too. My life may not entirely live out the sequence of Shania's albums, but her advice is important for girls everywhere, no matter what.
