Colombian pop/rock artist Shakira is one of the most daring and ambitious major pop artists currently recording. She tackles subjects from gender politics to religion to genocide in two different languages, and most of the time she comes out with a compelling, highly listenable song. Oral Fixation, Vol. 2, the English-language companion to the Spanish-language Fijacion Oral, Vol. 1 is not her masterpiece, but at times it comes close.
Melding the Personal and Political
When Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 kicks off with chanting of a segment of the Lord's Prayer, you may think you've stumbled into the wrong recording by mistake, until you hear Shakira's inimitable voice kick in asking questions of God. This first song, "How Do You Do," perfectly sets the tone for the album by deftly melding the personal "You've made mistakes, well that's ok 'cause we all have / But if I forgive yours, will you forgive mine?" and the political "How many people die and hurt in your name?"
Many of the songs on Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 are personal ruminations by Shakira from the sexy independence of "Don't Bother" to the wistful longing for the past on "Dreams for Plans," but the political is not far behind. A question of the worth of a "24 inch waist" and a comment on having "humble breasts" make it clear gender issues are never far from surface concerns. When Shakira unleashes a fiery dance-pop anthem it is in the form of a diatribe about international ignorance of genocide in "Timor."
Top Tracks
- How Do You Do
- Don't Bother
- Dreams for Plans
- Something
- Timor
World Pop Music
It is abundantly clear from the lyrics, all written or co-written by Shakira, on Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 that Shakira is perfectly comfortable writing in English as well as her native Spanish. There are no signs of stilted, halting lyrics that sometimes occur when a recording act shifts from recording in their native tongue. If anything, her lyrics are more incisive and clear than those of many English-speaking recording acts.
In the melding of languages and stylistic influences from multiple cultures, Shakira has created a pop music sound that is truly border-less and of the world. Unafraid of wearing her influences on her sleeve, she not only utilizes elements of various musical genres, she incorporates personal influences from other artists whether it's the mood and lyrical tone of Alanis Morissette's "You Oughta Know" on "Illegal" or Cyndi Lauper's "She Bop" vocal hiccup on "Timor." Shakira is not reaching for stardom in the English-speaking world through assimilation. Instead, she is creating her own multi-cultural sound to reflect back the inspirations she absorbs from this increasingly smaller globe.
One of the World's Top Pop Artists
Shakira is one of the world's top pop artists and one of the most important. She has proven on her 2-part collection - the Spanish-language Fijacion Oral, Vol. 1 and English-language Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 - that she is quite capable of producing powerful, compelling pop music. She could soon produce one of the masterpieces of this young century. Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 is not there yet, but listening to her growth is fascinating and rewarding. She is incomparably sexy ("I'd like to be the owner of the zipper on your jeans" from "Hey You"), unafraid of authority ("We live in a democracy / And that's what we promote / Isn't it? Isn't it?" from "Timor"), and possesses a heart filled with warmth and appreciation ("When I look into your eyes they say to me / That God still exists" from "Something") Shakira is an international treasure.
