On paper, Shania Twain is the perfect pop star. She is able to maintain mystery about herself. She does not court the paparazzi. She is likeable and entertaining in her concerts. However, her material is predictable.
“Forever and For Always,” written by Mutt Lange and Twain, is like a 12-year-old girl’s version of what wedding vows would sound like after watching television for so long. Beginning with Twain adlibbing “in your arms” over a passe 80s tinny guitar, which then sets the mushy, nauseating tone. In the song, she is one half of a couple who has been together for a long time (“I can still hear the words you whispered/when you told me/I can stay right here forever in your arms”). But over time, she has become co-dependent on this person and apparently, has lost her identity along the way (” ’cause I’m keeping you forever and for always/we will be together all of our days”). Later in the song, she reveals that “I know how much you miss me/I can feel your love for me in your heart.” Shania, please, after spending every waking moment with him, hearing about the how the Bills beat the Lions for the fortieth time, you’re going to begging him to leave you alone for just 5 minutes. And then it will be the best 5 minutes of your life. In Shania’s world, it’s not a perfect love unless the relationship has zero problems and if it does, it’s the atypical heartbreak song from her.
Aside from being grammatically redundant (forever and for always, it’s like saying “goodbye and see ya” in the same sentence), it’s a rehash of a much better ballad of hers “From This Moment On”. It seems like the only way she thinks she will go multiplatinum again is to make that song over and over, but with a different title. If she wants to remain relevant, she needs to experiment a bit with her style.
The Bland Is Out There 