Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Albums : Shakira : Shakira

Albums : Shakira : Shakira

Listen To Shakira : Shakira


Shakira and Blake Shelton gave viewers a taste of "Medicine," their new duet, at the ACM Awards on Sunday.

Rocking a lipstick-red dress showing just enough of those famous hips, Shakira squared off with the country superstar for a spirited version of the pounding anthem. They ended the performance with a huge smile and a hug.

Shakira - Medicine (feat Blake Shelton) - ACM's 2014



The duet comes following the Latin superstar's yearning to go a little country, having approached Shelton after the two worked together on "The Voice."

"I told him I wanted to work with Nashville people," Shakira told Billboard last month. "I was a little tired of L.A. I wanted people with another point of view, real people with roots with whom I feel comfortable working in the same room. And I told Blake I wanted to do a song that had the narrative of a country song, that was picturesque, that was a real song. But it also needed to suit me, because after all, I'm Colombian."

"Medicine" hit No. 57 on the Country Airplay chart after the release of her self-titled album in late March, netting her first entry on a country chart.

Meanwhile, it's Shelton's 35th entry on the chart, having also hit No. 1 recently with "Doin' What She Likes," his 16th chart-topper.

Shakira Review
Through her nine albums, Shakira has built a glittering career as the queen of Latin-American pop – with Fijación Oral, Vol 1 (2005) and Sale el Sol (2010) garnering big sales in South America and Europe.

However, despite selling over 70 million albums, the Colombian singer remains an oddity in the American market. With the exception of her first English album in 2001, the successful Laundry Service (home to the brilliant Whenever, Wherever), the 37-year-old has not been getting much love stateside.

So it made sense for Shakira to shake things up – with a new label and perhaps, more importantly, a new management deal with Jay Z’s Roc Nation. She is also a coach on the American edition of The Voice.

Despite these efforts, her 10th self-titled album does not smack of total desperation. It features a varied collection of styles – ranging from dance, rock, reggae to country – but somehow gels together with Shakira’s arresting voice.

The opener and lead single, the infectious reggae-dance mix of Can’t Remember to Forget You, is what happens when you’re in Jay Z’s books: you get his prodigy Rihanna to chip in with a guest feature – and you top the American dance charts.

Dare (La La La) is meant to be Shakira’s 2014 World Cup anthem. Produced by Dr Luke, it doesn’t have the charm of Waka Waka but the Brazilian drums and chanting chorus should rouse stadium crowds.

Then comes the album’s biggest moment with Empires. The epic track is reminiscent of Seal’s Kiss from a Rose with its elements of baroque pop and a soaring rock chorus. Beginning with a piano-led Tori Amos-like vocal intro, Shakira’s husky voice then remerges over a lush bed of strings before climaxing in stadium-sized woo-hoos.

The album’s romantic second half is more on the acoustic tip. Shakira’s gets all gooey-eyed over rootsy guitars in 23, a declaration of her love for her partner, the Barcelona footballer Gerard Piqué.

The follow-up, the affecting The One Thing, has Shakira’s voice quavering with emotion in her love letter to her baby son, Milan.

Medicine, an ill-fated country duet with her fellow The Voice mentor Blake Shelton, is the album’s only real misstep. While there’s nothing wrong with the sturdy tune, the song’s streamlined structure doesn’t allow Shakira’s versatile voice to shine. It is the only moment where you feel that Shakira isn’t being herself – a minor blip in what is another solid effort.


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Sources : Shakira Photo | Listen To Shakira | Shakira Article | Shakira Review | Shakira - Medicine (feat Blake Shelton) - ACM's 2014 Video

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