Fijacion Oral vol. 1

Shakira

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 7, 2005)
• Original Release Date: June 7, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00097A5HW
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (179 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,661 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #4 in	Music > World Music > Compilations > South & Central America > Colombia
  #7 in	Music > World Music > South & Central America > Colombia
  #67 in	Music > Latin Music > Latin Pop

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

It's thrilling--in any language--to hear new music from Colombian superstar Shakira. And it's been a long time coming. Shakira's English crossover opus, Laundry Service, was released in 2001. The Spanish Donde Estan Los Ladrones came three years before that. Fijacion Oral, Volumen 1 is the first of two new discs; an English counterpart is due in November. Shakira's bleating, biting voice is in fine form, and it gives the material an electric urgency. She's girlish and innocent during the glittering "Dia de Enero" and sensual and seductive amid the thundering beats of "Lo Imprescindible." A talented stable of producers, including former Soda Stereo vocalist Gustavo Cerati, has swathed Shakira in rhythm-based arrangements. But the album's best moments come when Shakira channels her inner--and innate--rock goddess. "La Tortura" is a hurts-so-good break-up duet with Alejandro Sanz, and "Escondite Ingles" rides a beach-party guitar groove. --Joey Guerra

About the Artist

The swift ascent of Shakira's star is the stuff of Latin American legend. At the age of 13, she signed her first recording contract with Sony Music Colombia and released her first album "Magia" ("Magic"). After graduating from secondary school, Shakira decided to dedicate her life to the music, recording "Peligro" ("Danger") and "Pies Descalzos", ("Barefeet") in the years that followed. Later came a Grammy and two Latin Grammys, and in 2001, Shakira knocked the entire world off its feet with her first English album "Laundry Service", which went on to sell over 12 million copies.

Now, the maverick musician, singer, songwriter and producer is ready with a newly created opus of music in two languages. This new body of work will be released in two distinctive parts; this first album "Fijacisn Oral Vol 1" will be followed by the English-language album "Oral Fixation 2".

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

92 of 103 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nearly matches the dizzying heights of "Ladrones"..., June 16, 2005

By	M J Heilbron Jr. "Dr. Mo" (Long Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

As you know by now, Shakira is back with her first all-Spanish album since "Donde Estan Los Ladrones" (not counting MTV Unplugged) and it's terrific.

On first listen, you'll get carried away by her voice. It is unique, powerful and versatile. But we sorta knew that going in.

On subsequent spins, if you take away her vocals, this may be her most "American" sounding album yet. Perhaps that is due to the influence of executive producer Rick Rubin.

The opener, "En Tus Pupilas" is a soft-rock, emotional ballad that we fans will recognize and welcome instantly.

It is followed by "La Pared", which proves she has been listening to Coldplay, as the music to the chorus is a total homage to "Clocks." It's not subtle at all, and it sounds great.

Much has been made about the first single, "La Tortura" and it's reggaeton elements, but if you recall the album "Pies Descalzos" (an album given to me by my cousin when I was visiting my family in Barranquilla years ago), you'll know Shakira has been doing this sort of stuff for a long, long time. Actually, I think the majority of the song has a huge Police sound to it during the verses, slipping into the more obviously reggaeton-like mode during Sanz' chorus.

"Obtener Un Si" is the surprising stunner on the album. It's an exquisite, retro-pop tune with vintage ice-skating-rink organ, sweet string sections and lovely, delicate melodies. This really demonstrates that her range simply is limitless.

"Dia Especial" is a fairly generic midtempo pop-rocker, and the hubbub about "Escondite Ingles" being "punk" is laughable. It's not. It's an obvious nod to The B-52's (check out the cheesy organ), but it's more like the pogoing power pop of New Wave. It's multiple time changes recall, in a good way, Green Day's recent efforts, and I loved the thrashy, messy ending.

"No" is another one of those Shakira songs that build from a mostly acoustic, introspective piece into a widescreen, dramatic epic like "Tu" and "Inevitable". It's not quite up to those standards, but it works just fine.

Who knew she could be Kylie Minogue? She does just that, in her own style of course, on "Las De La Intuicion", down to the disco-pop sounds and whispered back-ups.

"Dia De Enero" is a gorgeous folk-rock song and "La Imprescindible" is a noisy, percussive, synthesizer-filled 80's-like song that still somehow manages to work.

The extra tracks are an acoustic "La Pared" and a remixed "La Tortura".

The single best thing about this album has to be her voice. What an instrument! She moves confidently across genres, maintaining her unique mannerisms but becoming so rich and full (Dia De Enero) or soft and cute (Obtener Un Si) depending on what it takes to best serve the song.

Each song here is well crafted, lovingly produced and performed.

This may not reach the dizzying heights of "Donde Estan Los Ladrones", but this one just might age better.

This is really good stuff...I cannot WAIT for Volume 2, which I understand is all new songs, all in English...should be interesting, no?

55 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Glad surprise, June 8, 2005

By	vedderoh1 "vedderoh1" (NJ United States) - See all my reviews

We have to admit that with a title like Fijacion Oral one expects to listen nothing but a bunch of loud beats and uncalled nonsense. But what a great surprise when, past the contagious notes of lead single "La tortura", fears disolve in front of a bouquet of melodies and emotions not exactly a trademark of the colombian singer's previous releases. It is true that we won't hear her singing about looking for a lover in her purse or in Botero's paintings (circa Pies Descalzos), but there is still a candid approach to the lyrics that has made her songs both appealing and puzzling. In Fijacion oral we come face to face with a Shakira that shares her passion and the sense of emptiness a love she has already experienced may bring once it's gone, as opossed to the longing for an unknown feeling that we tasted in the other two albums. It shows a more mature approach to life, love and music in general. The definite highlight is "La pared" (track that appears in two versions), with its grasping chorus and a performance so beautifully delivered that it can only be compared to the classic "Antologia". It is precisely in this harmonious voice that Fijacion oral finds its anchor, among a collection of rhythms that go from the poppy "Las de la intuicion" (the only song in this album to remind us of earlier times), to bossa nova ("Obtener un si"), to the perfect composition of "Dia especial", which she co-wrote and performed with latin legend Gustavo Ceratti, that otherwise would be a complete chaos.
Toward the end we face the flaw that she might as well skipped: "Lo imprescindible" sounds indeed quite innovative with the rapid switch of tempo, but fails to close an album that could arguably be Shakira's masterpiece.
Absolutely brethtaking moments and still a lot of fun, Fijacion oral is a delight not destines to please anyone but those who believed Shakira can go beyond mud crawling and hip shaking.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars shakira the shapeshifter, June 9, 2005

By	glowlita (san francisco, ca usa) - See all my reviews

this cd is like a big walk-in closet where each song is an outfit shakira tries on momentarily. and, checking out her website, the polaroid picture theme suggests perhaps each song is supposed to be snapshot. a single mood, a single moment, a single particle of cinnamon floating in a tall glass of horchata.

the fact is that one should not buy this expecting a disc full of songs that sound like "la tortura". she released this as a single to lure in the masses, and once she has you in her realm, she forces you to experience many other facets of her personality/creativity. "la tortura" functions on this cd like the clever girl who beckons you to her bed, ties you up...and proceeds to show you her impressive art portfolio.

it's true that the cd lacks the easy flow of some of her previous work, such as "?donde estan los ladrones?". still, the trade-off is that we are able to experience the scope of her talent and that's a rewarding ride on the scenic route.

another thing about this cd is that there is more electronic sort of stuff present. shakira's strongest attribute (besides poetic lyrics, catchy melodies, and a palpable wisdom) is her vibrance; i felt that there were moments the production elements made her a little...soulless...or at least muted her glow. not so much that it ruins the cd, but it took a few listens to ease the discomfort.

anyway, here's a rough guide to some of the songs:

"en tus pipilas"--soft, sweet, and catchy. the french element gives it these quasi-stereolab moments i definitely wasn't expecting, but i liked them quite a bit.

"la pared"--i think this must be my favorite song on the disc. it's intense & infectious. the keyboards are used really effectively to convey the mood.

"la tortura"--it's a fun song, the beat speaks to the hips and the sassy lyrics tickle the mind. you've doubtless heard it already.

"obtener un si" is sort of sweet and innocent, like spanish bjork in a doris day movie. i think the right hands could remix this fabulously, transforming it into the sound of a sunrise stroll through some surrealistic flowery wonderland bursting with bubbles and populated by cartoon animals...but maybe that's just me...

"dia especial"--catchy and optomistic (in a sophisticated rather than a bubblegum way...like the sundays or 10,000 maniacs in their happier moments).

"escondite inglés"--ok, i'm not way into this song. it reminds me of tragic kingdom-era no doubt crossed with the b-52's "rock lobster". something about it just doesn't work for me, but you may feel differently.

"no"--the typical shakira slow song: a mellow, pretty slice of meloncholy.

"las de las intuicion"--this is the track where she goes electronic. i mostly like the song, i think i just object on principle to shakira sounding like kylie minogue. i also can't get over the goofy filtered backup vocals. if they could have left that out, it would been much better.

"dia de enero"--might have come off "pies descalzos"...has that sound and mood to me.

"la imprescindible"--i think the person who said depeche mode below was spot-on. except that where dm tends to have this sort of sardonic, aloof british delivery, shakira sounds a little too passionate for the cool electronic music. it took a little getting used to, but i like it now.

this disc may not be what you expect, may require a few listens, an open mind and the ability to be comfortable in the midst of seeming incongruity. but it's a good cd, and definitely superior to most pop on the market. it's fun to see shakira's range as an artist and that she continues to be committed to exploring new directions. it's obvious that she's determined to challenge herself...and her audience.