Queen of Me

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Queen of Me
David Stewart
  • Mark Crew
  • Daniel Priddy
  • Simon Felice
  • David Baron
  • Dave Cobb
  • Shania Twain
  • Shania Twain chronology
    Not Just a Girl (The Highlights)
    (2022)
    Queen of Me
    (2023)
    Singles from Queen of Me
    1. "Waking Up Dreaming"
      Released: September 23, 2022
    2. "Giddy Up!"
      Released: January 5, 2023

    Queen of Me is the sixth

    Mercury Nashville. The album was promoted with the release of two singles and a promotional single: "Waking Up Dreaming", "Last Day of Summer", and "Giddy Up!". Commercially, the album became her third number one album in the United Kingdom, and entered the top ten in Canada, Switzerland, Australia and the United States.[2][3][4][5][6]

    Background

    After releasing the compilation album Greatest Hits in 2004, Twain released the single "Shoes" for the soundtrack to the television series Desperate Housewives. Later, experiencing the breakdown of her marriage, Twain divorced her longtime husband and songwriting partner, music producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange, in 2008. She remarried to Frédéric Thiébaud, the husband of her former best friend, in 2011. The same year, she released the promotional single "Today Is Your Day", which had a moderate impact on the charts.

    Twain underwent vocal therapy after being diagnosed with

    dysphonia and Lyme disease, which caused her to nearly lose her singing voice;[7] after which she embarked on a concert tour and Las Vegas residency before releasing Now in 2017. The album reached #1 in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Australia. Twain then embarked on the successful Now Tour as well as her second Las Vegas residency, Let's Go!
    .

    Twain released a Netflix documentary, Not Just a Girl which documented her career to date as well as documenting some of the recording for her sixth studio album. Tracks previewed in the documentary include "Inhale/Exhale Air" and "Queen of Me".

    Singles

    Twain released "Waking Up Dreaming", the album's lead single on September 23, 2022, following its premiere on BBC Radio 2. A music video for the song, directed by Isaac Rentz, was released on the same day.

    "Last Day of Summer", co-written with Jack Savoretti was released as the album's first promotional single on October 28, 2022, along with a lyric video.

    The second single, "Giddy Up!" was released on January 5, 2023.[8]

    Promotion

    On October 28, 2022, she announced that she will embark on her Queen of Me Tour to promote the album, which is scheduled to begin in Spokane on April 28, 2023, and will end on November 14, in Vancouver, encompassing 76 dates.[9][10]

    On December 5, 2022, Twain performed the lead single, "Waking Up Dreaming" during a medley of her hits at the 48th People's Choice Awards.[11] She later performed it on the British Television Talent Series Starstruck on April 1, 2023.[12]

    Twain also promoted the album through her appearances on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on January 5, 2023,[13] and The Kelly Clarkson Show and The Late Late Show with James Corden on February 2, 2023.[14][15]

    Critical reception

    Professional ratings
    Aggregate scores
    SourceRating
    Metacritic61/100[16]
    Review scores
    SourceRating
    AllMusic[17]
    Evening Standard[18]
    Idobi RadioA[19]
    Irish Examiner[20]
    The Irish News8/10[21]
    The Line of Best Fit6/10[22]
    Pitchfork5.2/10[23]
    Riff Magazine9/10[24]
    The Sydney Morning Herald[25]
    The Telegraph[26]

    On review aggregator

    Taste of Country summarized that the album "feasts on contagious hooks and repetition",[27] while Jon Freeman of Rolling Stone defined it as "an uplifting statement about being your own champion in the present".[28] Annabel Ross of The Sydney Morning Herald wrote that Twain is "back to her poppy, peppy self... maintaining an upbeat vibe throughout."[25] Piper Westrom of Riff Magazine wrote, "Queen of Me is everything fans of Shania Twain could hope for. At the same time, it's a perfect introduction for anyone who's not heard her to this point. Twain is making music that is fun, and she is having fun doing it."[24]

    In a more critical review of the album for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine claimed that, "There's no question that she's game -- she throws herself into the songs, not hesitating when "Pretty Liar" calls for her to curse—and her spirits are so high they nearly counter the cacophonic cheer of the production. Nevertheless, the end results feel curiously constrained, as if Twain was dancing in front of a mirror instead of underneath a mirrorball."[17]

    Commercial performance

    In Canada, Queen of Me debuted at number two on the Canadian Album Chart, becoming her sixth top-ten album on the chart and seventh overall in the country.

    In the United States, the album debuted at number 10 on the US Billboard 200, earning 38,000 equivalent album units, with 34,000 of those being album sales, becoming Twain's sixth top-ten album in the country. She joins Madonna as the only women with newly-charting Billboard 200 top 10s in the 1990s, 2000s, ’10s and ’20s (Madonna's streak also includes the ’80s).[29] The album also debuted on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart at No. 2, earning Twain her seventh top-five entry on the chart.[30]

    In the United Kingdom, Queen of Me debuted atop the UK Albums Chart, becoming her third number one album in the country. Elsewhere, Queen of Me peaked within the top five in Australia and Switzerland, and charted in seven additional countries.

    Track listing

    Queen of Me – Standard edition
    No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
    1."
    David Stewart
    Stewart2:42
    2."Brand New"
    • Crew
    • Priddy
    2:33
    3."Waking Up Dreaming"
    • Twain
    • Agombar
    • Stewart
    Stewart3:18
    4."Best Friend"
    • Crew
    • Priddy
    2:39
    5."Pretty Liar"
    2:39
    6."Inhale/Exhale AIR"
    Ralph3:18
    7."Last Day of Summer"
    Ralph3:10
    8."Queen of Me"
    • Twain
    • Messinger
    Messinger2:58
    9."Got It Good"
    Ralph2:53
    10."Number One"
    • Twain
    • Eja Lange
    • Ralph
    • Twain
    • Ralph
    3:21
    11."Not Just a Girl"
    • Twain
    • Hector
    • Ralph
    Ralph3:10
    12."The Hardest Stone"
    3:39
    Total length:36:20
    Queen of Me Target, HMV, and JPC CD bonus tracks[31][32][33]
    No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
    13."On Three"Twain
    2:39
    14."Done & Dusted"TwainDave Cobb2:58
    Total length:41:57
    Queen of Me – Royal Edition
    No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
    13."Bone Dry"
    • Twain
    • Felice
    • Baron
    • Twain
    • Felice
    • Baron
    3:25
    14."Wanted Man"TwainTwain2:46
    15."Inhale/Exhale AIR" (featuring Breland) Ralph3:19
    16."Queen of Me" (acoustic version) Ralph2:34
    17."Giddy Up!" (Malibu Babie remix) 
    • Stewart
    • Malibu Babie[a]
    2:44
    Total length:51:16

    Notes

    • ^[c] signifies a co-producer
    • ^[a] signifies an additional producer

    Personnel

    Performance

    • Brian Allen – bass (14)
    • Iain Archer – guitar (6)
    • Larry Campbell – acoustic guitar (13), banjo (13), electric guitar (13), violin (13)
    • Dave Cobb – electric guitar (14), guitar (14)
    • Mark Crew – keyboards (2, 4), programming (2, 4)
    • Billy Ray Cyrus – background vocals (13)
    • Snake Davis – saxophone (1)
    • Abi Flynn – background vocals (6–8, 10, 11)
    • Wayne Hector – background vocals (11)
    • Tyler Joseph – background vocals (12)
    • Michael Logan – background vocals (8)
    • Tom Mann – guitar (4)
    • Adam Messinger – programming (5, 8), background vocals (8)
    • Steve Milbourne – guitar (13)
    • Ray Parker Jr. – background vocals (8)
    • Chris Powell – drums (14), band claps (14), shaker (14), spoons (14)
    • Leroy Powell – electric guitar (14)
    • Dan Priddy – background vocals (2, 4), guitar (4), keyboards (2, 4), programming (2, 4)
    • Mark Ralph – bass (6, 7, 10, 11), guitar (6, 7, 10, 11), keyboards (5–7, 10, 11), percussion (5–7, 10, 11), programming (5–8, 10, 11)
    • Jack Savoretti – background vocals (7)
    • Donnell Spencer Jr. – background vocals (8)
    • David Stewart – acoustic guitar (1, 3), background vocals (1, 3), bass (1, 3, 8), drum programming (1, 3), drums (1, 3), electric guitar (1, 3), keyboards (1, 3, 8), percussion (1, 3, 8), synthesizers (1, 3)
    • Johnny Thirkel – trumpet (1)
    • Darrell Thorp – drum programming (14)
    • Tom Walsh – trumpet (1)
    • Fred Washington – background vocals (8)
    • Dennis White – drum programming (6–8, 10, 11), drums (6–8, 11), percussion (6, 7, 10, 11), programming (8)
    • Tom White – trombone (1)

    Production

    • David Baron – producer (13), engineer (13)
    • Milan Becker – engineer (3)
    • Bryce Bordone – mixing assistant (1)
    • Gemma Chester – engineering assistant (6, 7, 9–11)
    • Dave Cobb – producer (14)
    • Matt Colton – mastering (2, 4–14)
    • Mark Crew – producer (2, 4), engineer (2, 4)
    • Simon Felice – producer (13)
    • Serban Ghenea – mixing (1)
    • Josh Green – engineer (6, 7, 9–11)
    • Renee Hikari – engineer (13)
    • Jonathan Hucks – engineer (1, 3)
    • Tyler Joseph – producer (12), vocal engineering (12)
    • Paul Meany – co-producer (12)
    • Randy Merrill – mastering (1, 3)
    • Adam Messinger – producer (5, 8), vocal engineering (5, 8)
    • Sean Phelan – engineer (1, 3)
    • Dan Priddy – producer (2, 4)
    • Mark Ralph – mixing (2, 4–12), additional production (5, 12), producer (6, 7, 9–11), vocal engineering (10)
    • Olle Romo – vocal engineering programming (5, 8, 10), vocal engineering (12)
    • Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing (3, 13, 14)
    • David Stewart – producer (1, 3)
    • Darrell Thorp – engineer (14)
    • Matt Wolach – mixing assistant (13, 14)

    Other personnel

    • Louie Banks – photography
    • Jerry Heiden – package design

    Charts

    Chart performance for Queen of Me
    Chart (2023) Peak
    position
    Australian Albums (ARIA)[34] 5
    Australian Country Albums (ARIA)[35]
    1
    Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[36] 19
    Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[37] 26
    Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[38] 23
    Canadian Albums (Billboard)[39] 2
    Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[40] 53
    French Albums (
    SNEP)[41]
    96
    German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[42] 13
    Irish Albums (OCC)[43] 15
    Scottish Albums (OCC)[44] 1
    Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[45] 77
    Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[46] 2
    UK Albums (OCC)[47] 1
    US Billboard 200[48] 10
    US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[49] 2

    Year-end charts

    Chart (2023) Position
    Australian Country Albums (ARIA)[50] 34
    Canadian Albums (Billboard)[51] 189
    US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[52] 78

    References

    1. ^ "Queen of Me Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine". AllMusic.
    2. ^ "Shania Twain Announces New Album and Tour in 2023". Forbes.
    3. ^ "Shania Twain Announces New Album Queen of Me and 2023 Tour". Pitchfork. 28 October 2022.
    4. ^ "Most Wanted Music: 2023's Country, Americana, Bluegrass and Folk Album Releases". The Boot. May 2023.
    5. ^ "Shania Twain Adds Dates to Global 'Queen of Me Tour' as Some Venues Sell Out".
    6. ^ "Shania Twain Reveals Her New Album 'Queen of Me' is About 'Self-Empowerment'". 7 December 2022.
    7. ^ "Shania Twain Diagnosed With Dysphonia, Undergoes Therapy to Restore Her Voice". Taste of Country. 13 May 2011. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
    8. ^ "Shania Twain Gets the Dance Floor Going With New Single 'Giddy Up!'". Rolling Stone. January 5, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
    9. ^ "Grammy Award-Winning Icon Shania Twain Announces Brand New Album Queen Of Me And Massive Global Tour". Live Nation Entertainment. 2022-10-28. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
    10. ^ "Shania Twain Announces Second Leg Of 2023 Queen Of Me Global Tour Due To Overwhelming Demand". Live Nation Entertainment. 2022-12-06. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
    11. ^ Grein, Paul (December 5, 2022). "Here Are All the Performers & Presenters for the 2022 People's Choice Awards". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 6, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
    12. ^ "Shania Twain Fans Swear She Looks "Better Than Ever" Performing Her New Song in a Mini Dress". Good Housekeeping. 2023-04-05. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
    13. ^ Sisavat, Monica (January 5, 2023). "Shania Twain Reveals How She and Harry Styles Became Friends". PopSugar. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
    14. ^ Bowenbank, Starr (February 4, 2023). "Shania Twain Reveals She Wrote 'Queen of Me' Track 'Inhale/Exhale AIR' After Surviving COVID-19 Hospitalization". Billboard. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
    15. ^ Lombardo, Gabriella (February 3, 2023). "Shania Twain Jokes About Her 'Explicit' Lyrics on 'The Late Late Show'". Wide Open Country. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
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    17. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (February 3, 2023). "Shania Twain - Queen of Me Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
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    42. GfK Entertainment Charts
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