A touch of rock, a healthy dose of catchy pop and country elements — Shania Twain is it all. The Queen of Country, in great shape, shot in every direction as usual during her visit to the Videotron Center.
A Videotron Center packed to capacity on this gray, cold, windy and rainy Saturday.
The 57-year-old artist, who was born in Windsor and grew up in Timmins, Ontario, was back in Quebec after a five-year absence. There was a colorful audience, with cowboy boots and Stetsons naturally taking center stage. An audience that was visibly in a festive mood throughout the evening.
The gift shops even sold bright silver cowboy hats, and there were plenty of those throughout the amphitheater.
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Around 8:46 p.m., as the lights went down, Shania Twain appeared in the middle of the floor with blonde hair and a pair of sunglasses that made her look like the Deborah Blondie Harry of the ’80s.
She opened her performance with the very poppy Waking Up Dreaming from her latest work Queen of Me. Some viewers got very close to the singer, who spoke French throughout the evening.
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On the backstage screen, a missile, the ST missile, is preparing to launch. The last seconds of the countdown pass, the clouds of smoke rise from the ground and the start is made with Up!
Shania Twain unveils a new costume she designed that she will wear for every show on the Queen of Me tour.
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Visual effects, animations and images of Shania and the musicians scroll across the screens. There is a huge light up board with the letters Quebec. It’s moving, it’s colorful and it’s entertaining.
“It’s magic. “I have a huge party planned for tonight,” she said, responding, “I love you,” to a fan who had just made a declaration of love.
Shania Twain then selected her entire repertoire and fired in all directions, accompanied by four musicians including guitarist and violinist Cory Churko, drummer Elijah Wood and two male backing vocalists.
PASCAL HUOT / QMI AGENCY
Achievements with Don’t Be Stupid (You Know I Love You), I’m Gonna Getcha Good!, featuring a very tempting Shania Twain on a motorbike, (If You’re Not in it for Love) I’m Outta Here! , You are still the one and from this moment on.
Very pop songs with Number One, Pretty Liar and the title track from Queen of Me. Other country songs like Any Man of Mine and Giddy Up!, with a saloon attitude. And a track that sounded like Def Leppard with Honey, I’m Home.
Up close to the audience, she invited fans on either side of the stage during “From This Moment On” and brought along Stacy, a young woman from New Brunswick who even sang a few lines from “Man!”, for a selfie. I feel like a woman! Friendly!
We also had a “Happy Birthday” with the audience for Frédéric “Mr. Twain» Thiébaud, whose birthday it was.
“It’s an extraordinary night for me,” the star of the night started off on top form before closing the concert with the bombshells of “That Don’t Impress Me Much”, bonus original leopard costume of the time and man! I feel like a woman!
Robyn has new friends
Canadian Robyn Ottolini also fired a little in all directions in the early evening.
Surrounded by four musicians, including three guitarists and a drummer, the 27-year-old singer-songwriter has certainly made some new friends. She kicked off her 30-minute performance with All My Friends are Hot.
The young woman from Uxbridge, Ontario, who has four EPs and several singles under her belt, had a smash hit in 2021 with her song F-150, a song that went viral on TikTok and has been played 31 million times on Spotify. A title that she naturally interpreted and that, despite its popularity, nevertheless seemed unknown to Quebec audiences.
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Robyn Ottolini’s sounds are pop, rock and, thanks to the guitars, also have country influences.
She and her musicians delivered a fast-paced medley that included Miley Cyrus’ “The Climb,” Abba’s “Dancing Queen,” Joan Jett’s “Bad Reputation,” and Pitbull’s “Timber.”
“If you like these songs, you’re my kind of world,” she launched, before launching this series of energetic songs that got audiences reacting.
The trip queen of me continues at the Bell Center on Sunday evening. Extras are available at the Videotron Center on October 24th and at the Bell Center on October 25th.