With a new live Unplugged, modeling Dirty Denim Jeans in a print ad for Calvin Klein, and an English language Unplugged in the works, it is safe to assume that Shakira is poised to pounce on the U.S. Her recognizable voice and new arrangements on favorite songs make MTV Unplugged a success.
With only two Unpluggeds under her belt, La Colombiana has culled many favorites for this new release. All but one are from last year’s effort, Donde Estan Los Ladrones?, the Unplugged that gave her an opportunity to show off her lyrical muscle and sound uncannily like Latin America’s answer to Alanis Morissette. Like Morissette, after two rounds at the studio she has also gone unplugged. New arrangements, strong vocals, a great live band, and an overall good vibe are what make this Unplugged work. Otherwise, there’s no point to doing a live Unplugged.
The absolute treasure is “Ciega, Sordomuda”, a verdadero mariachi version featuring Los Mora Arriaga, a mariachi brass band (always helpful). She captures the playful melodrama inherent in the music, going over the top fearlessly. “Ojos Asi” is my other favorite. This time bellydancing Arabic influences are what prevail to this rhythmic track that’s also a nod to her roots. “No Creo” goes reggae, giving bounce and balance to a show with many ballads.
“Estoy Aqui”, her hit single from her debut Unplugged Pies Descalzos, is the only song from that 1995 release. Here she jazzes it up a bit, focussing more on her vocals than the dance club feel the song had when first released. “Tu” is one of the stronger ballads, as is “Inevitable”.
There aren’t any real disappointments here, just some songs that aren’t as strong as the others. Of course, with only two pop Unpluggeds out, Shakira still has more to offer as an “alterlatina” singer in an industry driven by purely pop acts. She has more in common with Gustavo Cerati and Macy Gray than Ricky and Jennifer.
To her credit, Shakira’s vocals are just as strong live, giving us hope that she’ ll be around for awhile. Maybe there will even be some techno in her future…
Shakira Unplugged
