When we were little girls, my sister and I never went to daycare or summer camps.
Every summer, while our parents were at work, we would spend the weekdays at our grandparents’ house. At the time, they lived on the street just behind our house. We would get up in the morning, and our parents would drop us off to their place before heading to work. My sister and I would arrive in our matching pajamas, sometimes still half asleep, but every morning, our Lola, or grandma in Filipino, would have either chocolate oatmeal or her famous Lelut Manok, A.K.A. Kapampangan chicken porridge, ready for us on the table for breakfast – and that would always wake us up.
Summers at our grandparents’ house are memories my sister and I can never forget.
Some days, we would draw rainbows, or help our Lola with her flower garden. Other days, we’d walk to the park or accompany our Lolo, or grandpa, to the convenience store. Other days, we watched the Cartoon Network, PBS Kids, or the Disney Channel on TV. Other days, we’d play dolls, or play classroom or doctor. And other days, we’d grab all the couch cushions, pillows and blankets, and build a giant fort. Plus, most days, our cousins would be there too, and that was always fun.
But our summers changed when one day, my sister and I found our parents’ Come on Over CD.
“Who’s she?” my sister and I wondered, staring at the CD cover.
“Oh! Shania Twain! She’s one of our all-time favourites. She’s very popular!” our dad exclaimed.
My sister and I fell in love with Shania Twain‘s captivating and empowering music, and we began choreographing our own dance routines to the top hits of the CD. First it was “Man, I Feel Like a Woman!” and then we danced to “Come on Over,” “That Don’t Impress Me Much,” and “I’m Holdin’ On to Love to Save My Life.” And later, it was contemporary, lyrical routines to her classic love songs: “You’re Still the One,” “From this Moment,” and “You’ve Got a Way.”
Soon enough, we had enough dance routines to put on a full show. So sometimes, we’d grab our costumes from our dance classes, and perform for our parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, and even for our babysitters.
My sister and I were dreamers, feeling so joyful choreographing all these dance routines. We loved performing, but what we loved the most, was bringing smiles to everyone’s faces.
So, you can imagine how ecstatic I was when a week ago, my sister Alisa surprised me with tickets to Shania Twain’s The Queen of Me tour in Montreal, as my birthday present. It was a dream come true. We had grown up with Shania Twain, and now we finally had the opportunity to see her perform live.
As we walked up De la Montagne all dressed in our jeans, fringe, and heeled boots, we couldn’t help but notice the sea of plaid and cowboy hats walking too. We could even hear Shania Twain’s music blaring from restaurants, bars, and passing cars. It was as if the city had transformed into a country western paradise.
My sister and I knew, it was clear this was going to be a night to remember.
And yes, Shania Twain’s concert was already off to a high-energy start thanks to her talented opener, TALK, a singer-songwriter originally from Ottawa. His fun indie rock music made my sister and I feel as though we were transported us back to the Montreal International Jazz Festival, one of our childhood favourites. His song “Run Away to Mars” sounded like the perfect dramatic background music for a blockbuster movie, while tracks like “Afraid of the Dark,” “History,” and “Wasteland” had us stomping our feet and nodding our heads back and forth, like rockstars.
Oh, and how can I forget his vibrant pink overalls and sparkly fringe outfit? Truly iconic.
I’ll never forget Shania Twain’s grand entrance, riding in on a trolley and high-fiving fans on the floor, with the arena bathed in beautiful pink, purple, and blue spotlights. She began the show with one of her latest hits, “Waking Up Dreaming,” setting the tone for the evening, encouraging everyone to pursue their dreams, to be daring, to be lovers, to be happy, and to be creative – just as she and her music had always inspired my sister and I to be.
Whoever was in charge of the concert stage design did an incredible job, featuring captivating backdrops that added an extra layer of excitement to Shania Twain’s show. The Canadian flag backdrop for “Rock This Country” ignited national pride, and the Twain Town Saloon transported us to a wild west setting. The stage even announced, Shania Live Tonight, and later Queen of Me, both reminders that we were witnessing a living legend.
As if the set design couldn’t get any cooler, it transformed into a jukebox when Shania Twain performed her medley of songs, including “Nah!,” “She’s Not Just a Pretty Face,” “Waiter! Bring Me Water!,” “When,” and “Thank You Baby!” The stage looked amazing, and definitely complemented the energetic and lively medley.
And who could forget the fiery spectacle during “Pretty Liar”? The stage came alive with bursts of flames, creating the perfect backdrop for a song that you’d want to shout at the top of your lungs whenever you’re reminded of a shitty, lying ex-boyfriend or any frustrating situation. My sister and I surely loved singing “Lie, lie, lie, lie-lie!” and “You’re such a fucking liar!” with the rest of the crowd.
But personally, the most enchanting stage design had to be the one for From This Moment, where the backdrop was adorned with white roses. Adding to the magic, Shania brought up a bunch of couples from the audience to be on stage with her while she sang. It was a beautiful and heartwarming moment that added an extra layer of emotion to an already unforgettable performance.
Throughout the concert, Shania Twain didn’t just rely on her incredible voice and stage presence. She incorporated lots of fun elements that kept the audience engaged and entertained.
She sang “I’m Gonna Getcha Good!” on a motorbike, and the crowd loved it. Her energetic backup dancers (shoutout to Rashawn!) added an extra layer of excitement, and her attempts to speak in French in between songs were not only absolutely a-d-o-r-a-b-l-e, but a touching gesture to the local audience. Plus, she had a unique way of involving the crowd by teaching them a line or two to sing along with her in her songs, making each performance an unforgettable shared experience.
Here’s a glimpse of the setlist from the unforgettable night:
Waking Up Dreaming
Up!
Don’t Be Stupid (You Know I Love You)
I’m Gonna Getcha Good!
Come on Over
You’re Still the One
Giddy Up!
Any Man of Mine
Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?
Honey, I’m Home
Rock This Country!
Nah!
She’s Not Just a Pretty Face
Waiter! Bring Me Water!
When
Thank You Baby!
Pretty Liar
From This Moment On
Number One
Party for Two
The Woman in Me (Needs the Man in You)
Forever and for Always
(If You’re Not in It for Love) I’m Outta Here!
Though I have to say, the most heartwarming moments of the night were when Shania invited fans on stage to sing with her. These fans shared stories of how much of an inspiration she had been to them. One girl shared about how she treated herself to front-row tickets, attending the concert all alone as a personal celebration of strength. Then another girl, a recent cancer survivor, shared about how Shania’s music had played a part in her healing.
I remember Shania Twain turning to the audience, and exclaiming: “Sometimes, I just wanna connect!” There’s no doubt of how deep an appreciation Shania Twain has for her fans. So even if it prolongs the concert, she still always loves to invite and talk with as many audience members she can between songs.
And right when everyone thought the show was over, then came the encore, the moment that fans had been eagerly anticipating. Shania appeared on stage wearing the original leopard print outfit she had worn in the “That Don’t Impress Me Much” music video back in 1997.
If I were to post the clips my sister and I took during this part of the concert, you’d only get dizzy from the shaky, wobbly videos my sister and I took, and you’d likely go deaf hearing our voices screaming over Shania Twain’s.
Encore:
That Don’t Impress Me Much
Man! I Feel Like a Woman!
As the night came to a close, it was a bittersweet moment, knowing that our unforgettable journey through Shania Twain’s music was nearing its end. But it was amazing to hear her sing all our favourite songs, the ones my sister and I used to dance to growing up, the soundtracks of our youth.
So Shania Twain, you’re still the one.
You’re still the one who can bring a crowd to its feet. You’re still the one who can make us dance, and sing our hearts out. You’re still the one who can transport us back in time with your timeless hits. You’re still the one who can create moments of pure joy and connection. You’re still the one who can remind us of the enduring power of music. You’re still the Queen of Country Pop.
And you’re still the one, whose music will continue to inspire generations of dreamers, just as it did for my sister and I.
The Lilac Blog 