Customer Reviews

Shakira - MTV Unplugged

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(5)
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1 star:		(2)

 

 

An innovative performer in the Latin pop music market, this is Shakira well before she showed up on any babe magazine's "100 Most [whatever]" list. Leave it to MTV to provide the best sound, best camera work, and best overall production value for this excellent concert. Whether or not you're familiar with Shakira's songs, I believe you'll be happy you watched this edition of "Unplugged."

Eleven songs were recorded for this show, which took place in August of 1999, ten of which came from her then latest album, "Donde Estan Los Ladrones?" Characteristic of a first-rate live performance, many of the songs had a different arrangement and/or changed instrumentation, with the result being a totally fresh feel to the numbers. Shakira's changing vocal texture and phrasing is what sets her apart from every other singer, and what injects the passion into her songs. Even though I don't understand much Spanish (I have yet to avail myself of the subtitle option), I can't help but pay close attention while she's singing. That's how cool her voice is.

The concert has some great surprises, a few of which were the accompaniment by mariachi band Los Mora Arriaga in "Ciega, Sordomuda"; the rearranged version of "Estoy Aqui" (the only song from the "Pies Descalzos" album); and the middle eastern influenced music and dance in "Ojos Asi" (not to be missed). There's so much that meets the eye during this performance.

DVD extras: you'll find the oft-included bio, discography, and photos, but the highlight by far is the half-hour "Behind the Camera" feature, which has interviews with Shakira, her collaborators and producers. Very well done.

I became a Shakira fan after hearing Whenever, Wherever on the radio. I eventually bought Donde Estan Los Ladrones even though I didn't understand a word of Spanish...at the time. I still couldn't get enough, so I bought her MTV Unplugged DVD. The whole performance was fantastic. Shakira's English songs are good, but her Spanish songs are... on another level. The show opens with Octavo Dia, which is one of my favorites from DELL. It has great lyrics and a catchy melody. Si Te Vas and Donde Estan Los Ladrones are high-energy songs with rock flavour. The next song is the popular version of Ciega, Sordomuda, and it's awesome. Inevitable is a beautiful song and features Shakira displaying her guitar skills. Moscas en la Casa has a nice feel to it and is very well done, while Estoy Aqui is updated, sounding funky. Tu is my personal favorite of all the Unplugged songs. It's accompanied by piano and violin and she sings it with so much passion and emotion making it a very beautiful song. Sombra de Ti is another slow song that has a lot of meaning to Shakira. For the last two songs Shakira turns up the energy once more with a spunky version of No Creo and an extended Ojos Asi to finish things off with a bang.

I had Shakira's MTV Unplugged CD for a while before I finally purchased the DVD on amazon.com. Why did I wait so long??? This performance that Shakira put together is one of her best. The songs are very acoustic. You don't have to speak Spanish to enjoy Shakira's songs. The concert starts with an Eastern-inspired musical intro and ends with the crowning performance of the night--Ojos Asi, complete with a truly AMAZING bellydance sequence. That, along with the Mariachi band Los Mora Ariaga singing Siega, Sordomuda, are the two highlights of the performance. Shakira's Spanish songs are her best, and I would suggest them to anyone who wants to get to know her music. The DVD has English subtitles, so don't worry! And there are bonus features, like interviews and an Unplugged rehearsal.
Within one week, I received Shakira MTV Unplugged and Live and Off The Record DVDs in the mail, and I couldn't have made better purchases! You will never regret buying this DVD.

I've only been a Shakira fan for about 10 months but I feel as if I've been her fan for much longer. With 4 of her CDs and 2 other DVDs (that accompanied 2 of these CDs) I finally persuaded myself to get this DVD about 2 months ago. And I am glad I did so. Although I'm not the best at Spanish I was able to fully enjoy Shakira's numerous performances and all the bonus features. With the help of English subtitles I was finally able to find out what many of my favorite Shakira songs actually mean! But even before then I fell in love w/ Shakira's music and her songs. In an age of manufactured super stars Shakira shines through writing her own songs and music, producing her own albums, and blending cultures and languages from across the globe. Shakira's performances are an hour or so of cultural experiences. From the sensual and mouth-dropping performance of Ojos Asi in which Shakira displays her grand talent in the field of belly dancing to the Mexican mariachi version of Ciega Sordomuda to the tear-jerking Sombra de Ti this whole DVD brings the talent that Shakira beholds into your home. I highly recommend it. All of her performances are well executed and rehearsed and the money I paid for this DVD was truly worth it. Can't wait for 'Live & Off the Record' in 7 days! :)

This album was released before her now 4x platinum album Laundry Service, I really loved LS but enjoy more Shakira singing in Spanish its like more natural for me to hear but her new CD is Awesome too, now back with this review, this album (MTV Unplugged earn Shakira 1 Grammy and 2 Latin Grammys, this DVD includes songs from her Cds Pies Descalzos and Donde estan los ladrones? One thing that enjoy about this DVD is that you can see the concert and you can put english subtitles to the lyrics so u can understand what she's singing and get the feelin' of each song, the music is so awesome. If U R a new Shakira fan that just know her Laundry Service songs I recommend u this DVD and also the other cds, u might enjoy it even more than LS, if u like LS you'll love MTV Unplugged and Donde Estan los Ladrones?. SHAKIRA ROCKS!!

This is the best music video I've ever seen for any artist. Additionally, as a Shakira fan, I got the same feeling viewing this as I did when I discovered her music for the first time. Her very expressive body language added a new and previously unexperienced dimension to her music. My favorite song on the video is "Ciega, Sordomuda." It is very different than the version on "Donde Estan Los Ladrones?" In the version on the video the song explores 3 or 4 different tempos and sometimes even two different tempos at the same time. I may be mistaken, but the audio quality of the DVD sounds better than that on the MTV Unplugged CD. I've watched this many times and still haven't viewed it yet with the English subtitles.

When you think of a good live musical performer, you will probably think of some of the greats within the past 100 years, names like Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, and Madonna usually come to mind, but a new name should be added to this mix of musical icons. Shakira, the up and coming artist in the U.S. who has already staked her claim as one of the greatest latin artist of our time in the Latin American market, mentioned among other staple latin artists such as Celia Cruz, Gloria Estefan, and Julio Iglesias. This performance is just a taste of what an amazing performer she is.Unlike other artist who cannot seem to grasp the meaning of a true musical performance, Shakira has the ability to transform her music into not only a performance but an experience in and of it self, using not only her voice but also her body language to make a simple song into a story. A story of love, a story of joy, a story of struggle, a story of many emotions all mixed together. This particular performance was recorded in New York in late august of 1999 almost 2 years before Shakira's long anticipated English release laundry service. This shows how long she has been in the business and she is not about to let up, conquering the latin scene, she hopes to conquer the U.S. with her same formula, of lyrics true to herself, a touch of sex appeal, and performances that can only be described in one word..."Shakira"

To appreciate all that Shakira is, you MUST see this concert. Having missed it when it aired on television, I only had the live cd to listen to; the DVD is 10 times better. Not only is it in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround, but there is also an option for english subtitles (for people like myself with a very limited Spanish vocabulary) as well as a behind the scenes featurette. The clarity of the sound in dolby digital makes it seem like you're really at the concert. And then, theres the performance. Shakira makes singing look so easy. You can tell that she is a master of her art (even though this concert is 3 years old) and knows how to captivate an audience. My personal favorites are the reworked "Estoy Aqui", "Inevitable", and "Tu", which is the greatest song a person can sing to another human being. Get this cd, turn the lights off, light a candle, and prepare to be amazed.

This DVD is one of the reasons why i love her now.I first witness this one MTV and in was in awe when i seen this beautiful woman with such power in her voice,and her movements was amazing.I was amazed to see this lady entertain her crowd and that is why i had to purchase this DVD and that is why i love her 'til this day

Mtv Unpluuged first off is a great way to hear a artist like you never heard them before, and in this case Shakira shines,
Shakira has a innocent sensuality about her along with a power set of pipes , her voice is amazing, sharp clear and powerful,add these together and you have nothing less then a great DVD and concert, even if you dont understand Spanish, the music itself is entertaining, from upbeat tunes like CIEGA SORDOMUDA on to ballads like TU, Shakira delivers and a powerful crisp way, you can FEEL the PASSION in her music.
The only thing I could ask for more, is I wish it was longer.
I am Shakira fan from hearing her first CD .. "DO'NDE ESTAN LOS LADRONES, I also highly recommend her newer Cd .. LAUNDRY SERVICE,
which is in English. (Spanish or English she rocks !)
This is a very young and talented performer, I hope she releases Tour of the Mongoose DVD soon,
as it will combine all albums in to one great show.
This concert ( mtv unplugged) features mandolins ,harmonica, piano , several types of guitars , gongs and horns.
A truly great and entertaining concert with out a lot of mess, pure Shakira as she shines. Enjoy ! :]