This entry was posted on Friday, May 16th, 2008 at 2:28 pm and is filed under Reporter's Notebook. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
This week’s announcement that Shania Twain and hubby-producer Robert John “Mutt” Lange are splitting up is sad, if not utterly a shock. After all, if anything is part and parcel of country music tradition, it’s D-I-V-O-R-C-E.
Nevertheless, it’s always hard to hear about a marriage that’s failed, doubly so when there are kids involved. Of course, celebrity splits are practically a daily occurrence, the baggage that comes with fame and fortune astronomically amplifying the challenges every couple faces in trying to nurture love over the long term.
Yet what immediately went through my mind when I heard the news was her 1998 hit “You’re Still the One.”
Look how far we’ve come my baby
We mighta took the long way
We knew we’d get there someday
They said, ‘I bet they’ll never make it’
But just look at us holding on
We’re still together still going strong
When it went to No. 1 on the country chart, it was a quintessential crystallization of country’s shift away from songs that grapple with life’s struggles to those that are eager — perhaps overeager — to revel in its victories.
No doubt country radio stations will continue to play “You’re Still the One” when programmers are waxing nostalgic over those halcyon days of the late-’90s, and it probably won’t lose its appeal to country fans marking golden wedding anniversaries.
But I always marveled that this ode to romantic stability topped the chart shortly after she and Lange celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary.
Twain’s song doesn’t simply highlight country’s forsaking of reality for fantasy, but the wish to treat fantasy as reality. It’s not as if anyone would care that Twain hadn’t been in this relationship long enough even to outlast one of the toasters they surely received as a wedding gift.
Contrast this cut-to-the-happy-ending tune with the time-weathered love songs June Carter and Johnny Cash sang to one another in the final years of their lives, after nearly half a century of marital ups and downs.
When George Jones sang about “living and dying with the choices I’ve made” at Stagecoach two weeks ago, there wasn’t an ounce of calculation or wish fulfillment at work. It’s why real people shed real tears as they listened.
Music, of course, needn’t always be 100% factual any more than all film should be cinema verite. But it needs to be rooted in truth–and country music especially thrives on believability.
“You’re Still the One” might have worked coming from someone like Loretta Lynn, who married Oliver “Mooney” Lynn in 1948 and put her career on hold for years while caring for him before his 1996 death, despite the considerable shortcomings (as a husband and father) he’d displayed during their marriage.
As Shania moves on with her life and career, here’s hoping that the fizzling of the fantasy might just open the door to an honest song about failure.
–Randy Lewis
PU…what a waste of bits & bytes. Who cares
Wow Randy, you must never have been in love, even for a short time. A love that at the time you believed might las a lifetime, but doesn’t for whatever reason. That’s too bad.
If that’s what they felt and believed at the time they wrote the song together, then that’s good enough. And it will remain good enough. And it’s believable not fantasy.
Will her writing change as a result of this? Likely, but nobody knows yet…
DEAR SHANIA, MY PRAYERS FOR YOU
AND KNOWING WHAT A STRONG WOMAN YOU ARE AND WILL MOVE FORWARD TO
MUCH MORE MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS.
YOUR #1 FAN, BRENDA DALIE
You made excellent points in this blog post. I wouldn’t consider myself a huge Shania Twain fan, but the news of her divorce got me thinking about optimistic love songs she wrote which were clearly about her marriage. Will she perform them in the future? And what direction will her music take now? I’m guessing Mutt won’t be producing or co-writing with her anymore. It will be interesting to see how her sound changes and how revealing those changes will be. Does she have what it takes to create something without him?
Shania and Mutt Lange cowrote many beautiful songs together, not just “sappy” country music songs, as the article suggests. Forever and For Always was one of many crossover hits for Shania. She has an absolutely beautiful voice live. Obviously he saw something very special and talented the first time he heard her. It’s a shame that they have split up. They were a romantic couple together.
None of this has anything to do with her personal life. I don’t wish her any ill will.
But I never really found anything she sang very believable. She always struck me as a plastic phoney. I found her performance on “Still The One”, monster hit that it was, very “arranged” — like it was designed to be radio hit, not an outpouring of her feelings. She might have a nice voice, but as a heartfelt genuine country singer — I don’t see it.
Shania stated years ago that none of her music was about her or her life. Nice thoughts Randy but she was in it for the money.
I have to say I couldn’t agree more with Randy. I found it a little silly to her a song about how they were so glady they didn’t listen (maybe it’s just the mom in me, sorry) and the lasting success they’ve experienced after 4 years?
Anyway, I know we all feel bad for Shania and Mutt. It’s never nice to see someones hopes and dreams washed away. All the best to both of you. And much happiness down the road.
I guess Mutt served his purpose. Time to move on?
It’s all about the money, Country Music = Money. Mutt Lange, AC/DC, Def Leppard, Foreigner, The Cars, Bryan Adams = money.
He’s got more money than she does and lives in Switzerland.
Randy, I have never been able to articulate what it is about Shania Twain’s music that I don’t like. But you nailed it when you pointed out how her music led Country’s transition from songs about reality to songs about fantasy.
Her music always has seemed to me too calculated and produced only to sell to a market, teen age girls who wanted to be her and guys that wanted to date her.
What the hell is wrong with you haters? Poor Shania is devastated right now…good grief.
He says the divorce is “unfortunate” and she is apparently “devastated”. Guess who is at fault and who did not see it coming. Duh!
Shania there are better men out there than this old guy. sounds like he is in ‘old guy crisis’.
Shania is a woman of strong character and integrity. I wish her the best. An if see ever needs a new man in her life I volunteer. She is absolutely awesome. A beautiful and talented person. I miss her.
Although Im slowly learning to be more out going myself these days, I would have to say this relationship with Shania and Mutt totally is a topic about privateness between popularities. On one side there are the people who want to be private but there those who know that its not all about them so their more out going. I believe that is more of what the debate is between the two loved ones now that she is a private person to one aspect but she is very outgoing in another way. Where Mutt Lange is totally a private person that no one really hears much about at all and he should be very happy of his work that he has produced. From: ACDC, Def Leopard, Bryan Adams, and shania Twain and more. I feel he shouldnt be so private that it makes people find that he is not happy with his writings. He should be very happy and show it a bit more. Not a lot but enough that people can enjoy his nature of a person also. Love always to you two and prayers go out to you even more.
Love: Corey C. Comeau
It’s going to be interesting to see how good of a songwriter Shania really is now that she won’t have Mutt writing with her anymore. They collaborated so well (songwriting wise, anyways).
Get on your knees for a while, then get back together.
Your problem is not him. Your problem is not her.
Congrats, Randy; you’ve made a regular reader out of me with this one. I’m only 22 years old and feel very cheated by today’s country music, which cannot hold a flame to the countless songs by artists like Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, Loretta Lynn, Ernest Tubb, etc. Country music is supposed to be a catharsis for feelings of love, hate, regret, misery, drinking, fighting, cheating and other sins. Thanks again for pointing this out.
All i can say is, i wish both Shania and Mutt all the best for the future. The music that you have both produced over the years has been incredible and such a blessing to your fans! As sad as the news is, i’m positive Shania will still be able to write another no.1 album even if it is by herself and i can’t wait for an Australian tour when it happens!
All the best Shania
Must be nice to sit on your throne and pass judgement on mere mortals, but that’s the life of a writer.
Take a look at the sales of the disc that song came from. I’m sure, somewhere down deep, there were overtones from her life in that song, but ultimately, it did touch her fans, and the sales prove it. It was a good song. Then AND now. Doesn’t matter that they didn’t celebrate a 50 year anniversary.
Mutt started out as her collaborator and they put out some good stuff. Unfortunately for them (and MAYBE fans) it fizzled.
As for being believable ~ when was life “always” categorized as such, and when did having a fantasy become “wrong”?
I don’t always read one genre - and I listen to more than one type of music. I think she’s a good writer and performer but she doesn’t fit NEATLY into any one slot on the shelf, which caused the industry problems. Certainly she’s doing things others only wished they could do, and leading a life very few achieve.
Now… why don’t you display your life as an open book so we can shred you?
Mutt’s brilliant production skills turned Shania into a mega-star. Hopefully, love is forever, even after a divorce.
why sing about failure?? there has always been the serious to donwright campy tunes from many artists for many reasons.But analysing shanias hits when she collaborated with Mutt and how they coincided with her ups, and saying now that now she should sing the blues whilst enduring the pains of divorce is just plain mean. Simply put that seems to be the just of this article.
What exactly is a ‘heartfelt country singer’ ? Is that one of the ‘crying into their beer’ brigade?
Well, Shania isn’t one of those. Nor was she ever a hobo jumping from freight trains as she bummed across the prairies. She isn’t, as far as we are aware the victim of good love gone bad. She hasn’t had a publicised problem with drink or drugs. What she has done is to bring pleasure to millions of people. How sad and typical of so many country music fans that they won’t tolerate ‘crossover’ especially if its commercially successful on a global scale. Shania always did what might be described as country pop, so what? Every other form of music has its traditional base but isn’t afraid to move on. Only country music is supposed to stay in a reactionary timewarp. No doubt true country fans were also disappointed when Shania’s son wasn’t born covered with rhinestones but then, what else can you expect from a Canadian?
i love shania
Hey Randy What do you do when a melody and lyrics come into your head? And you’re in love and it seems like it will last forever when your best friends said that it would never last? I guess you don’t record it or give it to Loretta Lynn. Don’t want to be criticized by a music critic for actually singing a song that you wrote and love. Gotta consider all the ramifications of singing such a song. What will Randy Lewis say?
Thank God Shania went with her heart and recorded a song that touched millions of hearts.
It’s interesting you mention George Jones. He gave Stagecoach fans an AWESOME performance when he was in the desert a couple weeks ago. Did you see the photos from the show? Here’s a great link from the desert newspaper out there:
http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=J1&Date=20080502&Category=EVENTS24&ArtNo=805020806&Ref=PH&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL
This is so tragic. Please Shania and Mutt, check out “I Still Do”. It is a realistic approach to marriage and troubled marriages given by Family Life. I believe in you both and the songs you have written. Never in my life did I think you two could not overcome anything. Divorce was for other stars. Your positive song writing has really touched me through the years, and many times when life hit me hardest I turned to your lyrics and was blessed by them. My heart is breaking for the both of you and your son. Please give it one more try. Forgiveness is the greatest of all things and I believe the you can stand the test of time. If you ever read this please go to the website at Familylife.org. Try this for your son and put your hearts into it. You may never have a chance like this again. God bless you. love Brigitte Breuker
Do any of you people actually know anything about Shania? Do you all revel in peoples hurt and misfortune? Yes, Mutt did serve a purpose, as her husband and friend. Yes, she wrote ‘ You’re still the one’ after 4 years, but she was in love with him and they had opposition from the start. Can she survivve without him? Damn right she can because she is a strong and talented woman and i just hope she moves on in whatever direction she feels is best and shuts you all up once and for all!!!!
Only Shania and Mutt know how much - or how little- he contributed to the music they wrote. Shania was writing good stuff long before she “teamed” with Mutt, so it’s silly to think she will flop on her own. Shania is a beautiful and talented performer who sacrificed a lot on her way to the top; why not just wish her well and cut her some slack. She’s a world-wide phenominon in a world of mediocre talent.
Just enjoy the beautiful lyrics of most of Shania’s songs written in collaboration with Mutt Lange or solo. Shania’s rendering of the songs and the sweet messages are MUSIC to the ears of the romantics. They have been a great team.
Shania will be ok it’s a shock tho
You people who are downgrading Shania’s music need to get a life. I guess that is why she makes the big bucks and those who oppose her do not. I think she is a wonderful, beautiful human being and did the right thing but keeping her life private from people who would like nothing better than to bad mouth her. She will go on with her life and be fantastic as usual. Go Shania. Good Luck in whatever life may bring you.
It is indeed with a heavy heart to hear that this relationship has reached its limit. I was looking forward to their combined effort for years to come. I guess it is a tad selfish to think that things will stay the same because I would like it to. As a greatful and loyal fan I wish them both happiness and success in their future life apart from each other. Shania I have loved you from the first time I heard you sing. You are indeed Canada’s Sweetheart and will remain so for a long, long time. May God bless and you both as well as your respective families. Bye for now. Wil b
Sad though I no this is,I can’t help thinking,oh well,another statiscic,divorce etc.
As it is,i’m one of the millions,that’s been through divorce,fair enough,it wasn’t my fault,but now,is there a chance,I COULD MARRY HER,she was and still is my favourite.
What stuck out in my mind the most about this article was the mention of failure. I tend to believe failure is only realized when an individual doesn’t put forth the effort to try. Only God knows in this life what lies ahead … with every path we take and twist and turn we gain experience and love - that to me is never failure but growth. In life, there is a season for everything as said in Ecclesiastes: a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance … Never the mention of failure from this verse …. even if they both choose to move ahead with divorce - they can at least say they have loved. And love will always remain.
i am saddend about shania and husband.i am a big fan of hers and wish them both the best in which ever direction they choose.they have both done a lot for country music.
Most romantic songs of the past..”Something in the way she moves”, by George Harrison. Disastrous relationship. “You look wonderful tonight”, Eric Clapton , another disastrous relationship with same woman. Another, “I love you just the way you are”, Billy Joel was married to first wife at time. Still love the songs.
Through media we see celebrities through a window and we only get an impression but that is not the real story. I’m sure everyone has gone through a “I’ll love you forever” relationship and has also seen that relationship fall apart. These 2 are just like us and are both hurting, both worried about the future of their child in a broken home situation because we all know money and things doesn’t help the heart. My prayers and heart go out to this little family. I wouldn’t presume to foretel the future success of Shania’s career because I’m just a regular person, like you, who are not in that inner circle and can see what really goes on. I can’t imagine how she will struggle singing those love ballads in her shows if they have a special meaning for her and Mutt. It would probably be like throwing acid on a wound. Don’t pick apart people’s lives especially ones that you really don’t know. It’s amazing how cruel people can be to their fellow humans.
Just join the rest of us who are divorce.You to will survive.
Maybe now she can get back to her roots and return Canada where normal living is possible and bring her son up in the REAL WORLD! Lord knows we are proud of her, maybe she should be proud of US!
HI GUYS,SORRY YOU FIND IT NECESSARY TO SPLIT BUT IF THATS WHATS IN THE CARDS SO BE IT . IF YOU CAN PUT YOUR PERSONAL FEELINGS ASIDE AND CONTINUE ON WORKING TOGETHER ALL WILL BE OK. REMEMBER NOTHING IS FOREVER AND THINK BACK TO YOUR ROOTS AND HOW FAR YOU BOTH CAME. GOOD LUCK TO YOU
Things were getting a little dry in the hit departmant too. Sorry to hear the bad news. Where do we go from here?
Shania has a lot of fans out there who wish her well and want the best for both she and her husband and of course for their son, Eja. Shania’s fans are excited about her upcoming CD release because she has always put so much of herself in all of her lyrics that are heartfelt and with her husband’s excellent production skills bring out the best in her voice. Prayers and best wishes to the Lange family in the future. God bless Shania (Eilleen), Robert, and Eja.
Maybe that 17-year age difference had something to do with it.
Good grief. Do you people only read autobiographies? Ever picked up a literature Nobel?
There’s wailing about your drunken broken down life, and then there’s creating something which could apply to anyone’s life. It’s called the universal experience. And when you do it that well, it’s called art.
Of course I can only speculate on this couple’s demise, but Shania has probably been working too much. I read she use to be a Christian- an that told me how lost she is. If she truly trusted Christ’s finished work on the cross then she is saved. If not then she will be unfufilled until that empty spot has not been filled by the only One who can do it. When we stop looking to ourselves for answers and take our hurt, etc to Christ then His work can begin. This may take awhile as she has to sincerely repent of unbelief and pride and sincerely ask Christ in to her heart. Then He will hear those prayers. seek first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto to you. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Shania is such a beatiful woman, but no matter how pretty you are that is not enough to keep your man. I’m praying for Shania that she will one day be able to tell the world what Christ did for her when she sought him. Glory to God forever.
hi beckie i agree with you totally people find it amusing to knock shania by the way most of her songs she wrote before she met mutt and also who in there right mind would not want to be seen arm and arm with that beauty she is the most grounded awesome woman i have ever seen the rest of you who have negative things to say about shania try reading her biography and YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING A LITTLE GREEN… LUV U ALWAYS SHANIA VINNY
He plucked her from obscurity, forged her into an international sensation, then they moved to an isolated home in Switzerland to hide from fame.
Sounds like one of them wanted to return. Or maybe she was no longer the pliable newbie, relying on him for everything and his ego needed more.
Divorce happens. It feels sad when you’re a fan and rooting for them. But this is a woman who put her life on hold to raise younger siblings when their parents were killed. She’ll get along just fine.
I was never a Shania fan, but I am from Timmins and so I get asked about her a lot. I once met someone who apparently knew about her private life. He said that she quietly funded the food banks and other community things in Timmins for those less fortunate. Now that is cool. It is sad to see any marriage fall apart today. It is the children that feel it the most.
She should pull up stakes in Switzerland and New Zealand and come back to Canada. Its where she belongs.
I’ve seen her in concert a few times. She really is still a small town girl.
Randy, I didn’t know there was a written book of rules or contract for artists. Here, Shania, here’s the rules, follow them or you can’t play. Imagine Randy, someone tying your writer’s hands that way…unless you use the english language with the same prowess of Mark Twain, then you can’t write…don’t even think you could. About Shania’s content…thank God…I came from a generation where women were so busy fighting the fine fight to get into the boardrooms wearing the grey suit and tie and our music that told us girls to enjoy the sexual freedom by selling ourselves so short, give lots and ask for nothing “just call me angel of the morning..then walk away…I won’t beg you to stay” or “I’m not talkin’ about movin…don’t wanna change your life but there’s a warm wind..and I really wanna see you tonight”. Shania came along and told girls that they are worth something more and must believe their worth…of love, commitment, and longer lasting than a one night stand “any man of mine”…and it’s wonderful being a woman, letting go and letting the man be a man “the woman in me needs the man in you”. I heard so many young girls balk at her and say “She has no right to say that” and I would answer, “yes she does and a girl who knows her worth has any right to ask and hold out for whatever she wants before she gives what she’s got”. I can personally attest that Shania opened dialogue among women, my daughter and her friends can tell you that. Shania questioned the sex revolution …yes, she’s not Jewel, my personal favourite…Shania did it in a fun, light and palatable way…she used the catchy-tuned carrot instead of the intellectual lyric stick and it worked. She told girls to wake up and say, yep, guess what, life does have strings and expectations. Shania Twain, through her light hearted tunes, influenced the minds of a generation of young girls. Try doing that with your pen, Randy.
Have you ever heard her song “Don’t” or how about “It Only Hurts when I’m Breathing”? “Home Ain’t Where His Heart Is (Anymore)”? “Who’s Bed Have Your Boots Been Under”? Her songs aren’t all sappy love songs, try listening to a cd before you spread your opinion. Also keep in mind 14 years is a good chunk of time, and people don’t plan to divorce when they marry. Sometimes things turn sour, hopefully her music won’t.
I hope Mutt can remain a songwriting partner/producer. He MADE Shania. Just compare her first cd (awful), to anything that Mutt Lange was involved with .behind.
I’ll take Shania off your hands Mutt!
It’s not that the marriage broke up after 14 years, there were obviously problems it’s the betrayal by a husband, who is so much older and someone she thought was a good friend. If anyone should have been fooling around it should have been Shania. She’s much younger, more beautiful, talented and yet it was her much older husband. Find yourself a great looking guy Shania and be happy - that’s
the best revenge.