About the song
Background
- Co-written: Shania Twain collaborated with her then-husband and producer, Robert John “Mutt” Lange, to write this feisty hit.
- Commercial Success: “Any Man of Mine” was the second single from Twain’s breakthrough album, The Woman In Me (1995). It topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and reached the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- Critical Acclaim: The song garnered a Grammy nomination for Best Female Country Vocal Performance in 1996.
Lyrics
Here’s a look at a few key lyrics and their implications:
“Any man of mine better be proud of me Even when I’m ugly he still better love me And I can be late for a date that’s fine But he better be on time”
- Setting Standards: Twain asserts her expectations and demands respect within a relationship. She’s not settling for less.
- Humor and Confidence: The playful tone and slightly unreasonable demands (“ugly” comment) inject humor and convey a sense of self-assuredness.
Themes
- Female Empowerment: At its core, the song is about a woman taking charge and refusing to compromise in a relationship. This was a relatively fresh perspective in country music at the time.
- Expectations and Standards: Twain outlines the kind of treatment she expects, prioritizing respect and consideration over traditional gender roles.
- Humor and Playfulness: The lighthearted touch makes the song fun, balancing the assertive message with a wink.
Legacy
“Any Man of Mine” helped pave the way for a wave of strong, independent female voices in country music. It remains one of Shania Twain’s most beloved and iconic songs.
Video
Lyrics
This is what a woman wants
Any man of mine better be proud of meEven when I’m ugly, he still better love meAnd I can be late for a date that’s fineBut he better be on time
Any man of mine’ll say it fits just rightWhen last year’s dress is just a little too tightAnd anything I do or say better be okayWhen I have a bad hair day
And if I change my mindA million timesI want to hear him sayYeah (yeah), yeah (yeah), yeah, I like it that way
Any man of mine better walk the lineBetter show me a teasin’ squeezin’ pleasin’ kinda timeI need a man who knows, how the story goesHe’s gotta be a heartbeatin’ fine treatin’Breathtakin’ earthquakin’ kindAny man of mine
Well any man of mine better disagreeWhen I say another woman’s lookin’ better than meAnd when I cook him dinner and I burn it blackHe better say, mm, I like it like that, yeah
And if I change my mindA million timesI want to hear him sayYeah (yeah), yeah (yeah), yeah I like it that way
Any man of mine better walk the lineBetter show me a teasin’ squeezin’ pleasin’ kinda timeI need a man who knows, how the story goesHe’s gotta be a heartbeatin’ fine treatin’Breathtakin’ earthquakin’ kindAny man of mine, woo
Let me hear you say yeah (yeah), yeah (yeah)Yeah, I like it that way
any man of mine better walk the lineBetter show me a teasin’ squeezin’ pleasin’ kinda timeI need a man who knows, how the story goesHe’s gotta be a heartbeatin’ fine treatin’Breathtakin’ earthquakin’ kindAny man of mine
Ooh, ahWooOoh, ah
You gotta shimmy shakeMake the earth quakeKick, turn, stomp, stomp, then you jumpHeel to toe, do si do‘Til your boots want to break‘Til your feet and your back acheKeep it movin’ ’til you just can’t take anymoreCome on everybody on the floorOne two, a-three fourHup, two, hup, wooMmhmmIf you want to be a man of mine, that’s right, wooThis is what a woman wants