Some use criticism directed at them as fuel to improve their craft, taking in what the critic has to say and making changes based on that feedback. The most creative are those who receive criticism and use it to excel, pushing themselves harder than they normally would, even if it is out of pure spite alone.
The thoughts on criticism by Singer/Songwriter Shania Twain close this episode of Film Courage.
Shania was born in 1965 as Eileen Regina Edwards. A Canadian native, she was the older sister to 3 brothers. Her beginning years were humble, recalling that as a child she often went hungry. Singing and songwriting for Shania was an escape from watching her parents struggle to make ends meet. Shania would often go into the woods and write songs with her dog and guitar.
She led a somewhat dual life growing up. On one hand, Shania would join her step-father as a reforestation worker in the Canadian wilderness. Her other life was that of a singer. Shania would perform in bars before she was 21. She recalls hating the smoke and the drunks, but her music kept her going.
When Shania was 21, she lost both her mother and step-father to a car accident. She was then left as the sole caretaker and breadwinner for her younger brothers.
Shania preserved. At the time she had landed a job at Ontario’s Deerhurst Resort, where she learned various styles of musical performance. Shania mentioned that her experience playing in clubs and bars was like music school for her.
Once her siblings were grown, Shania got her own place and changed her name from Eileen to Shania which means “I’m on my way” from the Native American language of Ojibwe. At the same time, in 1993 she landed a record deal and was indeed on her way to greater things.
With 6 albums under her belt, receiving the number 7 ranking in the 2002 Country Music Television’s 40 greatest women of Country Music poll, having been named 1999 entertainer of the year by the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association, as well as other accolades from her native Canada, Shania’s rags-to-riches success is well-deserved. Still, someone at this level is not immune from the rumblings of the peanut gallery.
Commenting on criticism, Shania says:
“I find that the very things that I get criticized for, which is usually being different and just doing my own thing and just being original, is the very thing that is making me successful.”
