Shakira Album: “Oral Fixation Vol.2”

No-one can accuse Shakira (real name Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll) of being a run of the mill Latin pop artiste. Her voice can be picked out from across a room, and those dance moves – you’d have to be visually impaired not to notice her.

There’s a reason for her popularity, and in this English language follow up to Fijacíon Oral Vol.1 (June 2005), she proves that she can keep her English-speaking fan base happy too.

Dramatically starting off with a choral rendition of a section of “The Lord’s Prayer”, “How Do You Do” is definitely one to watch, and first single “Don’t Bother” is about losing a lover to an admittedly better woman in all areas but one.

“I’m sure she doesn’t know

How to touch you like I would

I beat her at that one good

Don’t you think so?”

Chock full of great songs, she follows up the first two songs with “Illegal” featuring Carlos Santana, and “The Day and the Time” with Gustavo Cerati. “Animal City” and “Dreams for Plans” are also good, “Hey You” is a bundle of retro fun, and then she turns down the pace for “Your Embrace” and “Something”. Just to make sure you know your rest break is over after the last few songs, she hits you with the dance track “Timor” as a grande finale.

This is an oral fixation that will have you begging for more.

Amanda Richards, November 29, 2005

I have been a Shakira fan since I was 14 years old with her smash hit album "Pies Descalzos". This album reminded me alot of "Pies Descalzos". At first, some of the songs were too slow and too deep in thought for me to actually sit there and listen to it like the song "Dreams for Plans" and "Illegal", but then, the more I listened, the more I enjoyed it. There are so many themes and interpretations of these songs. It is like an indepth novel which has many interpretations. It's not a fun, catchy album like "Laundry Service" so you actually have to read into the song to enjoy it. It is exceptionally well written and creative!

One thing I don't like is when she translates a song that she created in Spanish to English, such as "Someday" and "Day and the Time". These were beautiful in Spanish but horrible in English! My opinion, if you are looking for a clubby fun CD this is not the one for you. If you look to read into the music, then you will enoy this album.

When I got Fijación Oral Volumen I, I wasn't disappointed necessarily...I kind of expected that it wouldn't measure up to her past ones (DELL and PD). Although it was a little too synthesized for my tastes, I did enjoy it, and continue to do so.

With Oral Fixation Volume II, I was surprised by a couple songs. I expected that this CD, too, would be a little more pop or polished than I wanted, but having that in mind I think I came out satisfied.

I absolutely love the first song, "How Do You Do." Personally, I've grown up in a very conservative religious family and it's been hard for me because I'm not that way by nature, and so the friction that is there has caused some problems in my life and I'm trying to breakaway from it a bit. This song is WONDERFUL in regards to that because it deals with religion, more specifically the idea of God. Often it seems to many that God is just this mysterious figure that's in control of everything and doesn't really care...this song is written from a questioning point of view, almost as a challenge of sorts. It deals with questions like "If God is so good, why is there pain and suffering," etc. It makes you think and also services to maybe burn some of the frustrated energy off you have concerning the topic of religion and God.

I really enjoy "Animal City" because it's got a very exotic feel to it mixed with some great lyrics to back it up. I think in this song Shakira is kind of trying to dispense some type of nostalgic wisdom thru a bit of playful cynicism. I love the line "'Cause it's an animal city, it's a cannibal world, so be obedient, don't argue" She's extending a warning in order to spare someone some pain while at the same time being a little bit sarcastic and dark.

"Dreams For Plans," simply put, is a song about real love. Not just skipping thru a flowery field love or GOD this world sucks love, just real. Seeing that things change over the months and years and you can either abandon it or work on it and upkeep it.

"Timor" is a wonderful song lyrically! I love how she's pointing a light on American democracy and what a joke it is in some ways. This song is very political and very idealistic, which is what I LOVE about Shakira, it harkens back to her old says on Pies Descalzos and Donde Estan Los Ladrones.

Overall I'd say that the reason I'm most impressed by this album is the lyrics rather than the sound. There are the token cliche songs and the remakes of songs from Fijación Oral Volumen I that I don't really like (except "Something" is ok). So I'd say go for it, don't set your hopes too high, but don't write it off as (complete) crap either!

Shakira is back to sing in English, i like so much this new Album. The lyrics and the music are great! I think that her music is better than the era of Laundry Service, i'm very happy to have bought this amazing album.

Congrats to Shakira.

For Shakira fans who supported her by buying the initial release of the album it's unfair to have to have a re-release with 2 new songs added. Next time I'll wait to buy her CD or just rip it from someone else. In this day and age when artists are constantly asking their fans to buy the CD instead of burning a copy from a friend, I would expect the artists to show some loyalty as well. I'm not buying the same CD twice for 2 extra songs, even though those 2 songs are probably the best on the album.