This is a continuation of her 2017 album regarding the subject matter. However, this time, Shania is in a better place and with a new husband. That story is the ultimate in shithousery. As you may well know, Shania’s husband was stolen by her best friend (I imagine she’s an ex-best friend now?); well, Shania returned the favour and is now married to her best friend’s ex-husband. One would call this sweet, sweet revenge. We cannot help who we fall in love with, but sometimes, there is a line, and her friend crossed it first. Anyway, the record is called ‘Queen of Me’, and denied RAYE’s “21st Century Blues” from being number one. I haven’t seen the figures, but it was extremely tight until the last hour of who would get it. Any of those two deserved the top spot. I am delighted all the same for Shania.

Shania stated that the album is about female empowerment. Yes, I agree, as she takes out her ex-husband and best friend throughout, but I am not sure where precisely what she said the record is about coming into it. It is an album about her situation only.

There are a few tracks like ‘Not just a Girl’ where she touches on feminism, but it is all too brief, and the lyrics are somewhat nebulous. Even more, her track ‘Best Friend’ could be more precise. It is difficult to decipher if a said friend, who has stuck by her all these years, is male or female. Shania doesn’t specifically say which.

A jaunty country-pop record is something Taylor Swift would do. That’s what I compared it to when I finished listening to “Queen of Me”. ‘Giddy up!’ opens the record, laying the foundations for the rest of the album. My favourite will come as no surprise, as it happens to be the same as many other writers, and that is ‘Pretty Liar’ I like the passion in her delivery and the explicit chorus to back up her anger towards her ex-husband.

The title track is probably the most unambiguous indication of feminism on the record, as Shania calls out all the pet names we men use for women, and she states that she doesn’t need a king because she is a queen.

It is harsh to say this, but most of the listen is a bit arduous. For instance, you have to go through songs with a lot of filler involved or just repeated lyrics. An example of the latter would be ‘Got it Good’ where she repeats ‘I got it Good’ too many times to keep count. She does plenty of harmonising on other tracks to fill empty space.

I have to say, I was disappointed with “Queen of Me” and feel that her previous record “, Now”, had plenty more going for it both sonically and lyrically. ‘Last Days of Summer’ is my second favourite, and it doesn’t fit in with the rest of the album. It belongs on her previous five albums, but certainly not this. For a start, it has a catchy hook, which Shania is famous for. Something that is pretty much lacking elsewhere on “Queen of Me”. I imagine those who bought/streamed/downloaded Shania’s record are quite disappointed that RAYE didn’t get the top spot. In hindsight, RAYE should have been number one. Her album has more substance and versatility to it. Shania’s sixth record is highly disappointing and, as I mentioned earlier, is devoid of her usual great songwriting.

Song recommendations: ‘Pretty Liar’, ‘Last Days of Summer’, ‘Best Friend’

6/10