Though I’ve never really been a fan of Shania Twain, I have to admit that the “Man I Feel Like A Woman” is definitely a pro female empowerment kind of song. It follows the trend of most pop songs of having one or two alternating verses and a repeating chorus. It doesn’t really have to many points that its trying to get across besides the central idea of women taking on generally male roles in a relationship.
I always remember the song as one played at block party -like events where as soon as it started to play all the women would get up and dance to it. Not exactly my cup of tea, but it certainly got a response from the women who were present.
As for the video itself, its pretty much a gender switch from Robert Palmer's Addicted To Love music video where he is seen, front and center in a suit and tie, surrounded by supermodel women playing guitars. In Shania's video she switches the dolled up female supermodels for dolled up male models, also bearing guitars. Also she initially is dressed in a long black coat, white shirt, tie and top hat with her hair concealed. It is at once both masculine and feminine. However, as the video continues she sheds the male exterior and shows a much more feminine ensemble while maintaining the initial sense of empowerment. Basically, the video aims to show how a woman can take control of relationships and be proud of her sexuality.
Let's go girls! Come on.
I'm going out tonight-I'm feelin' alright
Gonna let it all hang out
Wanna make some noise-really raise my voice
Yeah, I wanna scream and shout
No inhibitions-make no conditions
Get a little outta line
I ain't gonna act politically correct
I only wanna have a good time
The best thing about being a woman
Is the prerogative to have a little fun
Oh, oh, oh, go totally crazy-forget I'm a lady
Men's shirts-short skirts
Oh, oh, oh, really go wild-yeah, doin' it in style
Oh, oh, oh, get in the action-feel the attraction
Color my hair-do what I dare
Oh, oh, oh, I wanna be free-yeah, to feel the way I feel
Man! I feel like a woman!
The girls need a break-tonight we're gonna take
The chance to get out on the town
We don't need romance-we only wanna dance
We're gonna let our hair hang down
The best thing about being a woman
Is the prerogative to have a little fun
Oh, oh, oh, go totally crazy-forget I'm a lady
Men's shirts-short skirts
Oh, oh, oh, really go wild-yeah, doin' it in style
Oh, oh, oh, get in the action-feel the attraction
Color my hair-do what I dare
Oh, oh, oh, I wanna be free-yeah, to feel the way I feel
Man! I feel like a woman!
The best thing about being a woman
Is the prerogative to have a little fun (fun, fun)
Oh, oh, oh, go totally crazy-forget I'm a lady
Men's shirts-short skirts
Oh, oh, oh, really go wild-yeah, doin' it in style
Oh, oh, oh, get in the action-feel the attraction
Color my hair-do what I dare
Oh, oh, oh, I wanna be free-yeah, to feel the way I feel
Man! I feel like a woman!
I get totally crazy
Can you feel it
Come, come, come on baby
I feel like a woman
This is one of those cases where the accompanying music video adds a layer of meaning and context that might not otherwise be as powerful in the song alone. (This was a common phenomenon during the real heyday of MTV).
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