Shania Twain, the acclaimed country music sensation, has recently offered an intriguing glimpse into the story behind her choice of Brad Pitt as the thematic focal point for her chart-topping hit “That Don’t Impress Me Much,” featured in her 1998 album “Come On Over.”
During a conversation on Smooth Country’s Eamonn Kelly show, Twain embarked on a candid exploration of the creative impulses that led her to incorporate Brad Pitt into the song’s lyrics. With the passage of 25 years since the album’s release, Twain shared her songwriting process, highlighting how her surroundings and experiences continually shape her craft. She conveyed, “When you’re a songwriter, you’re always drawing from inspiration. A lot of that inspiration is whatever it is that’s around you. I take everything in very peripherally.”
Going further into her reasoning, Twain provided deeper insight into her motivation, revealing that the prevailing visibility of Brad Pitt’s images and identity in the media landscape during that period was a significant factor in shaping her decision. She expounded, noting, “And Brad Pitt’s photo and name was just everywhere at the time. It was for one reason or another.”
Against the backdrop of Pitt’s cultural prominence, Twain emphasized that his name became a consistent fixture on magazine covers and news headlines due to his standing in Hollywood and his personal life. The singer-songwriter divulged, “There was always a reason why Brad Pitt was on a cover ten covers at a time. He was in paparazzi headlines and big movies. He was everywhere. And the lyric that I was looking for, the syllable flow of it was perfect, short and sweet. Brad Pitt.”
Twain, at 57 years old, elaborated that the inclusion of Pitt’s name aligned harmoniously with the lyrical composition, stating, “It just worked perfectly for all those reasons.”
Resolutely addressing any potential associations beyond the song’s narrative, Twain clarified, “And I had no connection to Brad Pitt and still have no connection to Brad Pitt.”
In addition to unveiling her creative motivations behind the Brad Pitt reference, Twain drew attention to the lasting resonance of both herself and Pitt in the public eye, observing, “I don’t know how he feels about it or whatever, but we’re both still around after all these years, which I think is kind of a cool parallel.”
During the interview, Twain also unveiled a tantalizing tidbit about another track from the same album, “From This Moment On.” Originally penned with her close friend Celine Dion in mind, Twain envisioned the song as a signature for Dion. However, the song’s producer, Mutt Lange, steered the direction towards Twain’s rendition. Despite the road not taken, Twain expressed contentment with the outcome while musing on the possibility of a different course for the song’s legacy.
