Customer Reviews

Shakira: MTV Unplugged

5 star:		(69)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

I have listened to Shakira's studio albums, and must admit that the studio environment eliminates the exciting spontaneity she's able to create with the live band. Like me, you don't have to speak Spanish, in order to depict the emotional impact of her voice in each one of the songs on this album. The album opens up with "Octavo Día" which introduces a listener to a strongly talented sound of her band and the harmony achieved between it, and her well educated voice. The next track shifts to a heavier sound, reminiscent of Alanis' "You Ought to Know," as Shakira shows us that she can rock as good as any of the mad, American-rock chicks. She slows down as she steps into the next two tracks ("Dónde Están Los Ladrones" and "Moscas En La Casa") and softens her voice to the level of Sarah McLachlan. Mutual performance between her and the band by now is perfectly coordinate at every note, assuring a listener of Shakira's position as one of the strongest live performers in the business. With "Ciega, Sordomuda" she goes back to her native roots as she is accompanied by an additional band piece made up of traditional musicians. Close your eyes, and you'll easily be able to imagine yourself dancing to catchy beats of a local band in a small Colombian street festival. Shakira once again, slows it all down with "Inevitable," arguably the strongest track on the album; with music being written by her and a partner with whom she wrote more than half of the songs on this album. The track has the strong composition of any one of Alanis' songs, emotionally strong voice of any one of Sarah's songs, variability in voice of any one of Tori Amos' songs, and strength of a live performance none of these three artists have. Shakira has it all and more, and leaves you without a doubt about that with the next track, "Estoy Aqui." It's the only track from her first album release, and once again she suits it perfectly for a live performance. Before the next track kicks off, Shakira gives you a bit of extra time, just enough for you to catch your breath. "Tú" is filled with personal revelations and poetic verses. And to fit the mood, she is accompanied by a beautifully composed music of a single piano which even further compliments her talented voice. "Sombra De Ti" and "No Creo" continue to showcase what Shakira has already proved to us, without losing any of the excitement that the album opened up with. It just goes further to show her versatility and originality of each song. Perfectly calculated, the album closes with "Ojos Asi." The longest, strongest, catchiest, most cultured, most organized, and most musically muscular track of any one of her albums. You don't have to see the performance itself in order to hear and feel her every move. Her backing vocal singers come out strong on this track, solidifying the vocal presentation next to orchestra-like performance of her band. Almost 50 minutes of the music will leave you thirsty for more. Feel free to play it again and again; when piece of art is at its peak, it simply can not become boring. Each time it is played, you'll notice something new and intriguingly special about it. This is a rare must have of the MTV Unplugged collection.

This is going to be less of a follow-up review of "MTV Unplugged" and more of a rant against the Amazon editorial reviewers' continued insistence on comparing Shakira to Alanis Morissette. The Amazon editorial reviewers are doing a disservice to those music fans who might purchase "MTV Unplugged" as their first Shakira album expecting her to be "Columbia's answer to Alanis Morissette." "Shakira" is the answer only if the question is "Whose musical style is totally dissimilar to that of Alanis Morissette?" Morissette's voice is day-old moonshine. Shakira's voice is 100-year-old cognac. Each has its own attractions, but to say that they're both going to hit you the same way is preposterous. While both women may sing of lost love, Morissette's songs are loaded with an unforgiving bitterness directed at her ex-lovers whereas Shakira's lyrics are almost always suffused with a certain longing and uplifting hopefulness. I've never felt the urge to dance to ANY of Morissette's songs; I can't imagine sitting still when I hear "Ciega, Sordomuda," "Ojos Asi," "Estoy Aqui," or "Que Vuelvas." I like Morissette's music. I've listened to her albums countless times and each time I find something new to admire about them, but they've never brought a smile to my face or a lump to my throat as Shakira's music has. Is Alanis capable of duplicating Shakira's soaring vocals on a song like "Tu" or capable of matching the boundless energy of "Ojos Asi"? Possibly, but not likely. But, then again, why would she want to? Each singer is a talented performer with a musical vision uniquely her own. If "MTV Unplugged" is going to be your first Shakira album, buy it on its own merits - Shakira's energetic and exquisitely beautiful voice and the refreshing dynamics of her songs - not because she's being pushed as the "Latin Morissette." If, in the future, Amazon feels compelled to compare singers, here's an idea. Morissette has tried to cultivate an image as a tough, no-holds-barred, trash-talking woman so perhaps the Amazon reviewers should refer to her as "Canada's answer to Gloria Trevi."

I usually like unplugged recordings because an artist really show what (s)he has inside when (s)he is in a live situation with a basic orchestration possibility - no computer tricks. This one makes no exception.

I enjoyed the way Shakira mixes Latin and oriental vibes with pop and rock. It creates a rich and varied sound, and it stands out today's marketed pop standards. I have not heard the studio version of those songs (yet), so I can't compare, but live they sound energetic and original. If I have to pick favourites I would say "Octavo Dia", "Moscas en la casa", "No Creo", "Ojos asi" and "Inevitable" but I do not skip any track.

I stumbled upon this album in my Amazon recommendations once. Shakira is (yet?) unknown in my corner of the world, so I hesitated for a while before purchasing anything from her. What raised my interest was Amazon comment that "Sarah McLachlan and Alanis Morissette fans might be in for a surprise" because I happen to like both.

I was not disappointed. If the voice is somewhere between Sarah and Alanis, in the end I would not insist on the comparison. Shakira has a strong personality shining through her lyrics and her interpretations. She does not need to be compared to anyone, she has what it takes to build up her own niche. This is one of the interesting artists I discovered in 2001 and will keep an eye on in the future. I am also planning to purchase her earlier spanish albums.

This Unplugged CD brings home what most fans didn't get to experience live. You feel like you're part of the audience and there's no need to tell you how Shakira's songs themselves make you feel, anyone who's heard her once already knows. All eleven songs are performed to perfection with the beats for many being slightly altered (a pleasant surprise). The Instruments are maybe the greatest thing that stands out, they really penetrate the listener, again a great album to listen to before going to bed, or whenever. Shakira's live performance makes you feel her lyrics even more...and I personally REALLY liked her little intro to track 8 "Tu", it was pretty deep. Stand-outs were tracks 1, (Very deep and good instrumentals "Octavo Dia") 7, (a new twist to Estoy Aqui) 8, (Maybe the best "Tu") 11, (I love her in this song "Ojos Asi") and basically the whole thing. Pick up a copy. Even people I know who dont understand spanish are getting this Unplugged album. Have fun with it.

This album is a wonderful offering by Shakira whether you're a long-time admirer of her music or you're just now jumping on the Shakira bandwagon (and most fans are relative newcomers - her first two albums, "Magia" and "Peligro," released by Shakira in her mid-teens, were still-born on the charts and even her breakthrough album, "Pies Descalzos," was dead in the water for months until the single "Estoy Aqui" caught on with listeners). This album has some nice acoustic variations on her songs - all of the selections here are from "Donde estan los ladrones?" (with the exception of the aforementioned "Estoy Aqui") - and it offers the listener the chance to compare the stripped-down acoustic versions of her songs to the multi-layered studio versions and it makes you aware that this is a performer whose talent would shine through whether she's singing by herself on a park bench or tearing it up on-stage backed by a take-no-prisoners rock band. The only misstep here is one of omission - several songs from "Pies Descalzos" which Shakira could really have sunk her teeth into in a sparse acoustic arrangement, among them "Se Quiere..Se Mata" and "Vuelve," are noticeably absent. But you know an album's good when your only complaint is that there's not enough of it!

My knowledge of Shakira is confined to this album and the few reviews I have read on this site. I also do not know enough Spanish to understand most of the lyrics, but nonetheless, I love this album. The music is beautiful, the lyrics are catchy, and the singer is talented. Shakira has a wonderful voice, and the ability to sing many different styles of music. A translation is not necessary to understand the emotions in the lyrics, because Shakira's voice interprets them perfectly. I have seen her hailed as a mix of Alanis Morissette and Sarah McLachlan. I would agree, however, she in no way sounds like either, but a perfect blend of both.

This album includes sweet ballads, upbeat tempos and a couple of songs with a standard Spanish/Arabian melody. Shakira is a real talent, not like most of what is on the radio these days, and I expect she soon will be a big name in the U.S. Until then, buy this album and be ahead of the crowd.

She did it again. I remember the first time I listened to her CD "Donde Estan los Ladrones" I fell in love with her voice. I bought "Unplugged" and the same feeling came all over me again. Yes, it might be early in her career for an unplugged and no, there are no other songs but one from her previous album but the main thing is she demostrates her amazing skills as a composer and singer outside the studio or a high powered concert. If you are like me and listened to her speaking for the first time (Due to my present location) you are going to love her even more once you hear her comments between songs; beautiful, candid, mature and sexy I must say. I really like the twist she gave to "Estoy Aqui" and just when I thought "Tu" and "Ojos Asi" could not get any better, she proved me wrong. Even my roommate likes it, despite the fact that he does not understand a word. Then imagine what this CD could do to the people that understands it (Like me). It is GREAT, simple as that.

I enjoyed the songs on the unplugged CD even more than the Donde Estan Los Ladrones album. She has a lyrical quality that is sometimes lost in the heavy rock material. There is also more variety. This very talented writer and performer is on her way. She announced with a clear and courageous voice "Estoy Aqui" in the first track of her first major album. Now it is time for the world to know that Shakira esta aqui and taking no prisoners.

Even if you don't know a word of Spanish, listen to her, she has much to say.

Gene Ralph

After hearing the studio albums, which are of the highest quality of writing and performance, I am absolutly floored by how wonderful this performance is. The arrangement of Ciega Sordomuda with mariachi and the jazzy Estoy Aquí can only confirm of the true genious that is Shakira Mebarak. I rate this in the top tier of all live albums I have heard in my thirty-two years; with Pink Floyd's Delicate Sound of Thunder and Rush's A Show of Hands for live music performed in an original way, with perfect sound. I only wish MTV would broadcast this concert to the Norteños in the USA and Canada. I recommend this album to all of my Spanish speaking friends and would also recomend it to students for an introduction to Latin American Artists. I hold Shakira's talents as a performer, and especially as a songwriter, in the highest regard. She is a treasure to be enjoyed by us all. ¡Ojalá que ella escrita musica por muchos años más!

I got this cd about 2 weeks ago and I love it. The sounds are so invigorating and clear and she sounds great live. I loved the Ojos Asi version and from the whole album I noticed how talented she really is. She knows her own voice and truly knows how to convert it in to music and touch your heart. The percussion on the album is amazing. Although it is very similar to her last album is not something we should not expect, hello, she's performing the songs from her last album which she hasn't gone on tour for to promote. Anyway she is an amazing performer as one can tell by watching the video from her performance. This girl is going far and this album is just a taste of what she can do and I can't wait to hear what she'll bring us next. Buy it and buy all her other albums, you won't be dissapointed.