Shakira - "Fijacion Oral Vol. 1"
Lauren Franco
Issue date: 2/3/06 Section: in Review(s)
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The Columbian born superstar Shakira rekindles spice after finally returning to her Latin roots. After achieving superstardom throughout Latin America and the United States, Shakira became Latin rock's biggest female crossover star launching her 2001 English album "Laundry Service." With her unique voice fluctuations and boombastic movements, Shakira proved to be in a league of her own. Songs like "Whenever, Wherever" and "Underneath Your Clothes" took the country by storm letting American listeners have a taste of sizzling Latin beats and song lyrics.
Her breakthrough album, "Pies Descalzos" (Barefoot), captivated Latin listeners in the countries of Brazil, Spain and Latin America. She produced and released her next album 1998's "Donde Estan Los Ladrones" becoming an even greater worldwide hit spending 11 weeks on the U.S. Billboard Latin album charts at #1. Finding her niche in savvy songs and beats, Shakira began to conquer album sales and detected a spark she could ignite throughout American radio airwaves.
"Fijacion Oral Vol. 1" is one of a two disk release album which is entirely orchestrated of ten tracks and two alternate versions of Latin speaking songs. The follow up album "Oral Fixation Vol. 2" will be released in Nov. and consists of English speaking songs. "Fijacion Oral Vol. 1," solicits traditional Latin pop with a dash of dance-pop and a smidge of passionate love ballads. Shakira displays her unique talent writing as she produced, wrote and co-wrote each song on both disks. The first single off of "Fijacion Oral Vol. 1," "La Totura," features Spanish superstar Alejandro Sanz, which evokes your body to move in ways you never thought it could move.
Creating salsa and hip bolstering sounds, Shakira's voice captivates the lustful song, as Alejandro adds emotion with his sensational voice, marking the intensity. Executive producer Rick Rubin is brilliant enough to release "La Totura" as the first single because of its infectious stimulating beats for American radio.
The song "Lo Imprescindible" is also one of my favorites because it starts off with a mystical sound that retrieves to a mellow rarity. The verses construe a broken-hearted love song signifying what is essential and fatal is for a loved one to come back into one's life because the pain is suffocating. "La Pared" is another favorite because it explains the uniqueness and range of Shakira's voice. It's a song that not only speaks through emotion, but also enables Shakira to captivate fans of all genres. Purely poetic, it will make one fall head over "salsa" heels for Shakira.
"Fijacion Oral Vol. 1" contains material that will leave you feeling sensual, seductive and ample to channel your inner Latin rockness. With an innocence yet alluring urgency Shakira's album will explode in your face like "El Nino," taking charge but adding fire to your soul. These smoking grooves will leave you screaming "Bailmos?" (Shall we dance?).