Twenty years in the past as we speak (June 3), Shakira dropped her sixth studio album, Fijación Oral, Vol. 1, through Epic Information — the follow-up to her debut English-language LP, Laundry Service, launched in 2001.
After a profitable debut within the English market with tracks equivalent to “At any time when, Wherever” and “Beneath Your Garments,” the Colombian famous person returned to singing in her native language for Fijación Oral, the place she reeled in producers equivalent to Gustavo Cerati, Lester Méndez, Luis Fernando Ochoa, and José “Gocho” Torres.
House to 10 tracks — together with singles “La Tortura” (2005), “No” (2005), “Día de Enero” (2006), “La Pared” (2006), and “Las de la Intuición” (2007) — the set debuted at No. 1 on High Latin Albums for 17 weeks, marking her fourth champ then (she has scored seven No. 1s to this point). It additionally debuted at No. 1 on High Latin Pop Albums, the place it dominated for 25 weeks between 2005-06, and at No. 4 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart.
Fijación Oral additionally gave followers the timeless collaboration with Alejandro Sanz, “La Tortura.” The pop urban-tinted monitor, with dancehall and acoustic parts, peaked at No. 1 on Sizzling Latin Songs chart dated June 4, 2005, and dominated for 25 weeks. It was additionally the one monitor from the album that entered the Billboard Sizzling 100 chart.
The album was adopted by Oral Fixation, Vol. 2, launched in November 2005, the place the worldwide hit “Hips Don’t Lie” in collaboration with Wyclef Jean, lives. Vol. 1 is dwelling to 10 Spanish-language songs and Vol. 2 to 10 English-language ones.
“The concept of constructing a double venture was by no means deliberate or premeditated, it simply occurred,” Shak beforehand shared in an interview with MTV. “I discovered myself writing 60 songs and put myself on the mission of choosing my favourite ones, which occurred to be 20.”
Beneath, Billboard editors rank all 10 songs on Fijación Oral, Vol. 1, from worst to finest.
Shakira, “Fijación Oral: Vol. 1”
Courtesy Photograph
-
“Lo Imprescindible”
A romantic ballad with sensual overtones that embrace whispered German verses — “Bleib, child, bleib, child/ Geh nicht wieder weg” (Keep, child, keep, child/ Don’t go away once more) — “Lo Imprescindible” (Spanish for indispensable) speaks of the necessity to join bodily and emotionally with a liked one, to the purpose of obsession. “The ache is suffocating, and now all that issues is that you simply come again to me… Come again, don’t torture me like this,” Shakira sings on this monitor, one of many less-remembered songs on Fijación Oral.
-
“Obtener un Sí”
In “Obtener un Sí” (Obtain a Sure), the Colombian artist is totally head-over-heels for her love curiosity. Utilizing figurative language, she sings about having darkish circles beneath her eyes from taking a look at him a lot, dying for him and being unable to overlook him, and loving him as a result of he’s clear like the only real of her ft. Shak’s candy and sensual vocals are accompanied by a 1950’s-inspired Brazilian bossa nova melody.
-
“Escondite Inglés”
This track won’t be her finest, but it surely’s definitely distinctive, sounding like one thing straight out of The Addams Household — evoking Bobby Pickett’s traditional “Monster Mash” — with a whimsical, nearly eerie organ melody firstly. Then it transitions right into a ska-tinged rock en español monitor, the place Shakira pours out pure rockera vitality, teetering on playful and mischievous. Her lyrics are daring and irreverent, crammed with intelligent metaphors and flirtatious provocations (“Yo seré tus deseos hechos piernas/ El objeto y la causa de tu perdición”) that wink on the listener whereas conserving them guessing. Positive, it’s not for everybody, however its oddball attract is exactly what makes it price a pay attention.
-
“La Pared”
This gentle pop-rock ballad heartbreakingly describes the sensation of being trapped and remoted in a relationship. “After you, the wall/ By no means go away me/ Beneath the asphalt and additional down I might be/ With out you,” Shakira sings with pathos on this track, which she wrote and produced with Lester Méndez. “La Pared” options an much more evocative acoustic model carried out solely on piano.
-
“Día Especial” (feat. Gustavo Cerati)
“Día Especial” seems like a dialog between two musical worlds, the place Shakira’s evocative storytelling meets Gustavo Cerati’s atmospheric, celestial-like guitar work. Written with Cerati and Luis Fernando Ochoa, the monitor options Shakira’s poignant vocals paired with the legendary Argentine’s ethereal background harmonies, weaving a soundscape that’s equal elements dreamy and introspective. Lyrics like “Adelanté las agujas del reloj/ La lágrima secó, se aleja el temporal” communicate to forgiveness and renewal. “Día Especial” stands out as an otherworldly spotlight in her discography, providing listeners a melodic leap towards therapeutic and reflection.
-
“En Tus Pupilas”
The album kicks off with Shakira singing in French: “Quand je regarde dans tes yeux/ Je vois que Dieu existe,” she effortlessly chants. “En Tus Pupilas” (in your pupils) is a heartfelt love letter, the place she opens up a couple of chemistry so robust that she’s satisfied God is actual, and declares it’s the very best factor that has occurred to her between the mundane and the sacred. “And I really feel one thing in you, one thing between us/ That makes me insist/ After I look into your eyes, I do know that God has not ceased to exist/ You make him reside,” she gushes over the gentle, pop-rock ballad.
-
“Día de Enero”
In “Día de Enero,” Shakira provides a young, acoustic ballad that departs from her signature pop-rock depth to embrace a softer, extra intimate sound. Written and produced by the artist herself as an ode to a blossoming love, the track captures the vulnerability and pleasure of recent beginnings. With poetic lyrics referencing astrological indicators and shared recollections (“Y ahora que andamos por el mundo/ Como Eneas y Benitín”), the Colombian artist paints a vivid image of affection’s heat: “Conozco la razón que hace doler tu corazón/ Por eso quise hacerte esta canción.” The stripped-down association of guitars and her heartfelt supply make this monitor a standout for its simplicity and sincerity.
-
“Las de la Intuición”
“Las de la intuición” is a synth-pop and euro home monitor wherein Shakira sings a couple of lady’s instinct for love when she’s about to embark on a brand new relationship. Written by the Colombian famous person with Luis Fernando Ochoa and co-produced with Lester Méndez, the track begins nearly like a whisper, constructing in crescendo earlier than reaching the highly effective refrain: “And I believe I’m starting to grasp/ Slowly, slowly you start to fall/ We wished one another since earlier than we have been born…” It additionally contains a music video directed by Jaume de Laiguana that spawned one of many artist’s most memorable appears: the one with the purple wig that lots of her followers put on to her reveals to at the present time.
-
“No” (feat. Gustavo Cerati)
Probably the most tender ballad on the album finds Shakira (a rockera at coronary heart )and Gustavo Cerati (the illustrious rockstar of Soda Stereo fame) becoming a member of forces. The majestic tune laces the late Argentine artist’s dream-pop guitar riffs and quiet, luminous vocals with the Colombian songstress’ soulful and quivering powerhouse vocals. In “No,” Shak sings in regards to the hardships of poisonous love as she builds up in direction of a potent stance and says, “No!” The track peaked at No. 2 on Latin Pop Airplay in 2005.
-
“La Tortura” (feat. Alejandro Sanz)
Oozing with ardour and anguish, “La Tortura” is a spellbinding duet that captures the uncooked feelings of betrayal and need. Shakira and Alejandro Sanz come collectively on this sultry trade, the place heartbreak turns into a dance of seduction, remorse, and longing. The monitor unfolds like a fiery argument between two lovers who’ve been torn aside by infidelity — however are nonetheless magnetically drawn to one another. Shakira’s fervent supply sears with vulnerability, whereas Sanz’s easy, remorseful tones counter her ache with a sensual attraction that feels irresistible. The timeless hit reached No. 23 on the Sizzling 100, whereas topping the Sizzling Latin Songs chart for 25 weeks.