Retro Single Review: Shania Twain, "It Only Hurts When I'm Breathing"
2004 | #18
Of all Shania Twain’s gifts as a singer-songwriter, her ability to tackle heartbreak may have been the most under-heralded. That side of Twain was well showcased on several standout tracks from The Woman In Me, but of all the nineteen tracks on the Up! album, there was only one sad song in the bunch. But oh, what a beauty it was.
Sonically, newcomer Greg Bates’ debut hit is a pleasant, infectious slice of nineties-esque contemporary country with a moderate traditionalist bent. It’s the kind of song that country star Chris Young has made his calling card. 
My natural inclination is to hate any song that employs the word “bikini” right in the opening verse, but there might actually be a decent feel-good country rock jam in here somewhere. 
Pleasant enough, but it just feels a bit too safe. 
At his best, Brad Paisley has at times demonstrated the rare ability to balance fresh and modern contemporary sounds with a nod toward traditional country genre conventions. On his tasteless new single “Southern Comfort Zone,” that strength sounds it’s been totally buried. 
1989 | #1