Come On Over continued to refine the country-pop formula that Shania and then-husband and monster-producer Mutt Lange (who you may remember from the previous Record of the Week, AC/DC’s Highway to Hell) had established on her sophomore album The Woman in Me. The arrangements and slick pop production continued to move away from traditional country in favour of boot-scooting countrified rock and soaring pop balladry punctuated with the monolithic choruses that made Lange famous. The enormous impact of this record on popular culture cannot be understated. Come On Over is the best-selling country music album of all time, the best-selling studio album by a female act, the best-selling album by a Canadian and the eighth all time best-selling album of all time to the tune of 40 million copies. Twain and Lange largely co-wrote this record and their romance is at the heart of much of the material. “You’re Still The One” and “From This Moment On” really benefit from Shania’s earnest delivery in much the same way that “Man! I Feel Like A Woman” and “That Don’t Impress Me Much” (allegedly penned by Twain after seeing a nude photo of Brad Pitt) are supported by her easy charisma. The scope of Come On Over’s material and Twain and Lange’s pitch perfect execution make this album’s colossal success richly deserved. An enduring classic after all these years – you’re still the one, Shania!
Pete Whelan 