Whatever We Wanna

by Sharon Mawer In the summer of 2006 LeAnn Rimes was only 23 years of age, and yet Whatever We Wanna was the 16th album release in her career thus far (including hits albums and oldies compilations). For a supposed country music star, she now had hit albums in an R&B style, and Whatever We Wanna was most definitely veering toward gaining her a rock audience -- not credible rock in the sense of Stevie Nicks or Pat Benatar, but AOR country crossover as Shania Twain and Faith Hill had successful managed before her (especially the song "A Little More Time," which could indeed have been Twain singing rather than Rimes). The rock angle was heaviest on the album's opening song, "Satisfied," as well as the title track, but Rimes slowed everything down to her usual country-influenced ballad style on "Strong," "This Life," "Some People," and "For the First Time," the latter of which was reminiscent of a Heart power ballad. As would be expected on a song featuring Brian McFadden (formally of Westlife), "Everybody's Someone" was also a slow ballad introduced by a piano, and surprisingly given his status as a guest on her album, McFadden opens the first verse with his sugary voice. Leann Rimes had co-writing credits on nine of the 15 songs. The release of Whatever We Wanna was delayed in the U.S. due to the ongoing success of her previous album, This Woman.