Shakira’s self-titled album: Track-by-track review
By Josh Haggis
Shakira’s gone a bit Avril Lavigne on us – and we’re loving every second. Check out our track-by-track review of the new self-titled album from the Colombian songstress.
Dare (La La La)
What a way to start the album. This Europoppy club banger sounds like it should feature an appearance from Pitbull – and we kind of mean that as a compliment. It’s clear why this was almost chosen as the first single, and it’s destined to become an office favourite here at Attitude HQ. With news that it’s getting reworked for the Brazil World Cup, we’ll go and buy a Lisa Scott-Lee CD on Amazon Marketplace if this isn’t a major summer smash.
Can’t Remember To Forget You
The reggae and ska-influenced lead single instantly brings to mind No Doubt. Sadly, it ends up feeling like Rihanna featuring Shakira – rather than the other way round. As ever, Shakira’s voice is wonderfully odd-sounding (it’s like popstar-meets-goat herder), but it’s hard to shake the feeling that this track relies too much on the collaboration and faux-lesbian music video.
Empire
The best track on the album, and one of the best singles this year so far. This Coldplay-meets-Avril anthem is just begging for a stadium performance. The “ooh” hook is unbelievably effective, and it took us five or six plays before we could tear ourselves away from this song and move onto the next one. We’re predicting big things for Empire.
You Don’t Care About Me
Another addictive break-up album from Shakira, who has form in the genre thanks to Beautiful Liar and Don’t Bother. “You don’t care if I die,” she sings over a production that features both a trumpet and a xylophone. Yes, you read that right – only Shakira. This has one of the best middle 8’s on the album, and crept up on us to take its place among our favourites.
Cut Me Deep (Feat. Magic!)
Another reggae-infused track, this time featuring Canadian indie band Magic! One of the least memorable moments on the album, it feels a little Shakira-by-numbers, and the choice of collaborator is slightly bizarre. Definitely one we won’t be going back to often. Then again, we say the same about G-A-Y…
Spotlight
On first listen, we immediately thought we were listening to Freak Out, a track from Avril Lavigne’s 2004 album Under My Skin. That’s no bad thing, though – sometimes we love a bit of Avril. Featuring a heavy guitar bassline and classic kooky Shakira lyrics like “Busy for a while, laying golden eggs,” this is one of our favourites.
Broken Record
The first ballad on the album has Shakira telling her partner that she’s “said it 700 times, I don’t need to keep looking, you are the one”. It’s a sweet song, and a welcome rest for the ears after the album’s hard-hitting first half, but we wouldn’t call it a highlight.
Medicine
This one features Blake Shelton, the US country singer who’s on The Voice US panel alongside Shakira. There’s a country twang elsewhere on the album, but Medicine takes this one step further and ends up feeling a little too much. We’ve already got one Taylor Swift, and we love her, but we don’t need another one.
23
Unlike Medicine, 23 feels like the perfect blend of country and Shakira’s signature style. It’s a sweet call-back to a lover she met when she was 23. She sings: “I knew we had something, no one thought it could be true, do you believe in destiny, because I do as I did then when you were only 23.” It’s all so emotional, we think we need a moment. One of the album’s highlights – unless you’re dead inside.
The One Thing
Shakira serving us yet more Avril Lavigne realness. Between this, 23 and Spotlight, we’re now dying for a duet from the pair. This feel-good guitar-driven track would slot perfectly onto the soundtrack of a summer road-trip movie… Are you thinking what we’re thinking? Crossroads 2. Someone call Brit ASAP.
Loca Por Ti
Right guys, we have to admit something now. We have no idea what the heck Shakira is on about with this one. She could be singing about falling in love, or popping to the kebab shop at 3am after a night out – we’re clueless. But it sounds sweet, and the melody is lovely. So let’s leave it at that.
All in all: It’s a very impressive 8/10 from us.