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Shania Twain – “Crime Of The Century”

Shania Twain - Crime of the Century

Introduction:

“Crime Of The Century” is a track from Canadian singer-songwriter Shania Twain’s self-titled debut album, which was released on April 20, 1993. While this early work laid the foundation for her future global stardom, “Crime Of The Century” itself did not achieve significant mainstream chart success upon its initial release. The album, “Shania Twain,” primarily falls under the genre of country, with noticeable hints of the pop sensibilities that would later define her breakthrough records. Some sources also categorize the album’s style as country rock.

Penned by Richard Fagan and Ralph Murthy, “Crime Of The Century” is a straightforward country tune that tells a story of romantic deception. Despite being featured on Twain’s first album and even serving as the B-side to her debut single “What Made You Say That,” the song did not garner considerable attention on the charts. The three singles released from the “Shania Twain” album – “What Made You Say That,” “Dance with the One That Brought You,” and “You Lay a Whole Lot of Love on Me” – also experienced limited success in North America at the time.

However, it’s important to contextualize “Crime Of The Century” within Shania Twain’s larger career trajectory. While this particular song and album were not major commercial triumphs initially, they marked the beginning of her journey. The album did find some success in Europe, where Twain won Country Music Television Europe’s “Rising Video Star of the Year” award. Moreover, following Twain’s massive success with her subsequent albums like “The Woman in Me” and “Come On Over,” her debut album, including “Crime Of The Century,” gained retrospective interest. In recognition of this later popularity, the “Shania Twain” album was eventually certified Platinum by the RIAA in 1999, signifying sales of over one million copies in the United States. Although “Crime Of The Century” itself didn’t achieve individual accolades or chart placements, it remains a part of Shania Twain’s early catalog and a glimpse into the beginnings of a monumental career in country-pop music.

Video:

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