Shania Twain: Still the One Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		4.0

Shania Twain: Still the One Blu-ray Movie Review

Will this Blu-ray win your love?

Reviewed by Martin Liebman April 9, 2015

Canadian-born Shania Twain tore up the Country music charts in the 1990s with hit after hit spilling out of radios every few minutes, it seemed, and her albums disappearing from store shelves at the same rate. Twain's nontraditional approach, blending Country content -- classic lyrics, a mild-to-moderate-twang -- with a decidedly Pop-influenced overlay separated her from the crowd and helped usher in a new era of more widely "accessible" and popularly "acceptable" Country, drifting away from her more traditionally inclined contemporaries like Reba McEntire, Trisha Yearwood, and Pam Tillis and into a more mainstream crossover arena that she dominated throughout the decade, besting similar performers in Faith Hill and the late Mindy McCready to the tune of record-breaking sales. She also separated herself from more deeply country, twang-heavy 90s favorites such as Terri Clark and Patty Loveless, yet even all but the most jaded and traditional-insistent Country fans embraced her upbeat, toe-tapping style with open arms. Though with only four albums under her belt -- she's no George Strait when it comes to releasing on a regular basis -- she produced countless hit singles (Don't Be Stupid, Honey I'm Home, Any Man of Mine, Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under, You Win My Love, and No One Needs to Know amongst her most emblematic and popular) that still find regular rotation on Country iTunes playlists and SiriusXM's Prime Country channel on a daily basis.

You're still the one.

Shania's Vegas performance is less a traditional concert and more a stage show/concert hybrid. Regular wardrobe changes, several unique backgrounds, and a few unforgettable entrances (Shania rides in on a white horse and performs You're Still the One while in its presence) -- not to mention an infectiously entertaining bit of crowd interaction with Honey I'm Home -- make this a unique, in many ways intimate, and easily accessible performance. Shania sings with a tangible, wholly authentic enthusiasm; the show is nothing but smiles and honest energy from herself and her surrounding performers, and the connection with the crowd is palpable with every lyric. It's as real as a few personal interludes in which she shares a little bit about her singer/songwriter musical influences -- Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton -- but also her late mother, to whom she dedicates an A cappella version of Carrie Anne. Shania looks as good as ever and sounds like she jest stepped out of 1997 when she released Come On Over. This show is nothing short of a treasure for fans.

Shania performs the following songs in the show (interludes and the instrumental-only Red Storm excluded):

• I'm Gonna Getcha Good
• You Win My Love
• Don't Be Stupid (You Know I Love You)
• Up!
• I Ain't No Quitter
• No One Needs to Know
• Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?:
• Any Man of Mine
• That Don't Impress Me Much
• Honey I'm Home
• (If You're Not In It For Love) I'm Outta Here
• Carrie Anne
• Come On Over
• Love Gets Me Every Time
• Rock This Country
• Today Is Your Day
• You're Still the One
• From This Moment On
• Man! I Feel Like a Woman
• Rock This Country (plays over credits)

Shania Twain: Still the One Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Shania Twain: Still the One's 1080p, 1.78:1-framed image impresses across the board. Black levels are deep and pure with only a mild, and infrequent, push to unnatural brightness. Colors are vibrant and alive, whether the multicolored spotlights, the large display that backs the stage, or any number of set and wardrobe pieces, though certainly the abundantly colorful, albeit somewhat earthy "Old West" set and Twain's accompanying pink shirt and boots are the color highlight of the disc. Image clarity is consistently strong and revealing, showcasing a naturally sharp and intricately detailed collection of everything from fine costume lines and adornments to the well-scuffed stage floor. The image never shows excess noise and is free of any overt banding, blockiness, or other eyesores. Concert Blu-ray discs don't often look much better than this.

Shania Twain: Still the One Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Shania Twain: Still the One arrives on Blu-ray with two audio options: a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack and an LPCM 2.0 uncompressed track. The 5.1 track offers the superior listening experience, though it shares much in common with its 2.0 counterpart. Two main differences include, obviously, a subwoofer channel and a surround speaker support, the latter of which largely only works in additional ambient crowd noise for a more fruitful sense of immersion. The added LFE channel marks the biggest difference maker between the two. The added heft and weight gives the music a body and vitality that's missing from the 2.0 track, resulting in a firmer, richer, more realistic experience. When it comes to musical definition, however, the tracks are largely on par with one another. Instrumental clarity, separation, and detail are terrific. Sharp guitar riffs and high harmonicas are pleasantly realistic in terms of clarity, and one can practically feel the strings vibrating on the acoustic guitar during Love Gets Me Every Time. Twain's vocals are balanced and nicely detailed, picking up her lyrical nuances with pinpoint precision. Listeners can't go wrong with either track, but the 5.1 listen is a flat-out terrific, reference quality experience. Fans will have never heard their favorites sound this good.

Shania Twain: Still the One Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Shania Twain: Still the One contains one extra. Backstage Pass (1080i, 1:01:16) is a fun, oftentimes humorous all-access journey through Shania's preparations for the show, including brainstorming in her pajamas, interviewing talent in New York, working with horses in Iceland, assembling a wardrobe, rehearsals, and more. Fans will love this raw glimpse into her life and the show building process.

Shania Twain: Still the One Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

There's an undeniable feel-good energy that flows through Shania Twain: Still the One, aided no doubt by this Blu-ray's terrific video and audio vitality and fidelity, but also the good-natured, sincere enthusiasm from all involved. Twain, even approaching 50 years of age, still puts on a positive, intimate, and expressive show that's a must-see for fans and an easy, high-energy, charismatic introduction for newcomers, both of whom will find a wonderful set list that contains all of her best and most popular hits. Very highly recommended.