For Christmas this year I got the special edition of Shakira’s album ‘Laundry Service.’ It came in plush box case and underneath was the usual case you would see in the shop. I am not going to give you information on Shakira (like I did with Liberty X) as it is not really ... Read review
Laundry Service - Shakira
Colombian superstar Shakira's first English-language disc, Laundry Service, carries the ... more
pointed credit "Entire Album Produced by Shakira". That might be a signal to US fans who helped two of her previous discs go platinum under the media radar--a sign ...
Laundry Service - Shakira
Colombian superstar Shakira's first English-language disc,Laundry Service, carries the ... more
pointed credit "Entire Album Produced by Shakira".That might be a signal to US fans who helped two of her previous discs go platinum under the media radar--a sign th...
Laundry Service - Shakira
Colombian superstar Shakira's first English-language disc,Laundry Service, carries the ... more
pointed credit "Entire Album Produced by Shakira". That might be a signal to US fans who helped two of her previous discs go platinum under the media radar--a sign t...
A review by littlepenguin on Laundry Service - Shakira July 6th, 2003
Author's product rating:
Originality
Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics
Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks
A couple of weak links
Value for Money
Advantages:
Great singer, brilliant songs, she sings in two languages
Disadvantages:
Some slightly weaker tracks
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
For Christmas this year I got the special edition of Shakira’s album ‘Laundry Service.’ It came in plush box case and underneath was the usual case you would see in the shop. I am not going to give you information on Shakira (like I did with Liberty X) as it is not really to do with the product. I would still buy her music, as long as I liked it, no matter what. So here are the details on each song from this album and my opinion of each of them.
*Objection (Tango) This song is absolutely wicked. The music throughout is brilliant and the lyrics are interesting and amusing. Her Colombian voice and this music go together perfectly. There is humour in some of the words, such as: Next to her cheap silicon I look minimal, that’s why in front of your eyes I’m invisible! This is a very dancy tune, but not in the way that Love Inc and Lasgo are – this is good and makes you want to dance like a Spanish person doing the Flamenco. I love the way that the song is upbeat but you can still understand the words and they makes sense.
*Underneath your clothes This song is so beautiful and not saucy as it sound! It shows Shakira’s talents to the best of her abilities and is lovely to listen to, no matter what mood you are in. You could say this was the sort of song you could play as the slow dance at the disco, but in some parts the tempo and dynamics change very quickly. This was her second single in the UK and did very well in the charts. In the video a reporter interviews her in English and she gives a long answer in what must be Colombian so he can’t understand what she is saying!
*Whenever, Wherever This is the one that nearly everyone has heard. On the way to by Gran and Grandad's house I was playing this in his car and this was the only one he recognised, so that goes to show something! I am not sure what kind of instruments they use but they sound brilliant, especially the one that finishes the song, right at the end. This was her debut single in England. I think this got to number one but I don’t always watch top of the pops so I am not dead certain. I do however remember seeing her perform it, when I was at the Youth club I used to attend, and everyone, including the boys (which rarely happened) were singing along and some even dancing to the song!
*Rules I reckon that the verses in ‘Rules’ are quite boring as they continue at the same rhythm and pace. The chorus on the other hand is really good. It is things that most females would like to say to their partners, especially if they were a bit uncertain about their relationship lasting. I like the way that the music starts off and the instrumental after the chorus. This song is O.K but I wouldn’t say I loved it.
*The One It stars out talking about how there must be an incentive for her doing things such as shaving her legs and all the verses continue in a similar pattern. You find out in the chorus that it must be ‘The One’ that gives her a reason to do this type of thing. I do think this song is good and after hearing the album a couple of times it stuck in my head. I like the line where she says ‘ So I learned to cook and fight my kitchen phobia.’ The singing is quite slow but the song has a fairly fast beat, I feel this produces a really cool effect and improves the overall song.
*Ready For The Good Times The lyrics are sung so fast that it is hard to keep up! Though when Shakira sings it like this it sounds really good. I find the words are meaningful and sometimes thought provoking. They just seem to make absolute sense unlike in some of the other songs. This would be good as her next single as it would continue the way that each song she releases is quite different.
*Fool This song is one that although I have only heard it a couple of times it is easy to recall especially the chorus. The words to the song are pretty bizarre but sort of make sense in a weird kind of way. It’s like you don’t get what on earth she is on about until the second or third line of each verse. It is about somebody - a man – who she fancies and he turned her down. She sings about always having her heart set on him and chasing the soles of his shoes.
*Te dejo Madrid This is not in English so I do not understand it - if only I could. I think that it might be to do with Madrid (In Spain), hence the title, but I could be very wrong! I do like the tune though and some of the instruments that are played are fab. I like the ‘Ohhhhhs’ and ‘Ahhhhhs’ though; they bring life to the song. The lyrics are not memorable for me (although you wouldn’t expect them to be) but the melody is.
*Poem to a horse I know that Shakira has a love for horses and enjoys going riding, so she would have more of an idea about them. I am not however sure that this is entirely about a horse as the lyrics could also apply to humans. The main source of evidence for this is that there is a line that goes as the following:
‘ So what’s the point of wasting all my words If it’s just the same or even worse Then reading poems to a horse’
This song is good to relax to. I love the lyrics ‘If I say my heart is sore, sounds like a cheap metaphor. It has that tingle down your spine effect on me.
*Que Me Quedes Tu Another one in a language that I cannot understand although it is actually in my top six (it would be top five but I just couldn’t make my mind up!) for this album. When you look at the words for this song in the songbook it doesn’t take up much room, but it still lasts for the same sort of time, if not longer. I guess the verses ARE a bit boring but I love the Chorus, it is so different to the rest of the song!
*Eyes Like Yours A very fast song and you can only just understand it. I love the beat and the extra vocals in it are really cool. Have you seen the Scooby Doo movie? If you have some of the song is like the bit where everyone that is hypnotised is doing that dance while chanting in unison!
*Suerte This is Whenever, Wherever, just in Spanish. I have tried my hardest to learn these proper words, I have even played it back to back for half an hour odd, but I just can’t seem to learn them! Even using the songbook I can’t sing it properly!
*Te Aviso, Te Anuncio (Tango) Objection but not in English. A tiny little bit easier to read the Suerte!
*Whenever, Wherever (Sahara mix) The first part is just music and nothing else so it is probably longer than the normal one.Quite different to the original and <thankfully> in a language I can understand. This song contains a lot of different instruments, including the Bongos.
*Underneath Your Clothes (acoustic version) Just the same, the only noticable differences being that there is no electrical instruments and the song is very slightly different.
*Objection (Afro-Punk version) There is a very long instrumental at the start then it starts to get more like the tune that it usually is like. The next part is brill, it is very Rock music. This is so much longer than the usual version of the song though.
Que Me Quedes Tu, Whenever Wherever, objection (tango), Underneath Your Clothes, Ready for The good times and Eyes like Yours complete my favourite six! There are songs that are not quite as good as some of the others but I wouldn’t go as far as to say that they were weak links.
Hope this is of use folks! Leigh-Ann x
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Coming clean Review ofLaundry Service - Shakiraby
theediscerning
Advantages: Some great tracks... Disadvantages: ...again and again, with merely good tracks in between
Yes, Shakira’s debut English album may be some months old now, but it is still one of the successes of the last two years, and still selling well. Proof of this is the fact that theediscerning’s copy went within hours on amazon’s marketplace. So at risk of losing mucho street cred by posting this op, he may as well reveal what he was passing on so rapidly.
Well, the first three tracks are the hugely successful singles, and if someone expects much ... ...of which they know nothing. Of the three, theed’ much prefers Objection (Tango), the thumpingly good Latino-tinged stompalong with the accordion-style backing. It is Underneath Your Clothes, however, that continually provides the biggest surprise in pop ~ the surprise being why The Bangles haven’t sued for it ripping off Eternal Flame note for note.
After Whenever, Wherever, track three, and the launch single (the one with the annoying ‘le do le ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: great mixture, very varied and catchy songs Disadvantages: some dull songs
Shakira is a young singer from South America, she has been singing since a very young age but has only started releasing singles worldwide recently, she impressed everyone with her worldwide debut 'Whenever Wherever' but it isn't a debut for her just the world. Her style of music is a mixture of everything, native really and maybe latino? It's a different sound but seems to have surprised everyone. The reason she has released this album worldwide ... ...I think it's impressive and she has done words well to her songs considering she isnt't a born English speaker. Shakira doesn't have a normal ordinary singing voice she has a good voice which can reach lots of nots but it can go deep to, it's hard to describe, she always puts on a great performance by shaking her hips and getting the audiences all high. TRACKLISTING 1.Objection (Tango) 2.Underneath Your Clothes 3.Whenever Wherever 4.Rules ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: See review, too many to list Disadvantages: Aimed more at the pop market, may disappoint older fans, a few filler tracks
...of the mainly English language Laundry Service in 2001 really catapulted her almost uncategorisable, very distinct brand of Latin-pop cross-over onto the global market. The golden locked Colombian?s music draws from numerous influences and by her own admission this former child musical prodigy (who released her first million selling album aged just 13 years old) tries to incorporate as many of those styles as possible onto her albums which makes ... ...always very varied in style, Laundry Service itself being no different with bluesy tracks, mixing it with Latin rump-shakers, a little country, mournful or just plain balls-out electric guitars, Andes pan pipes and even an Arabic belly dancing track and many more all making their way onto this album and all the while Shakira's sumptuous vocals and disjoint poetic lyricism running throughout. Laundry Service itself might not be the best album she ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Great cd, a little bit different Disadvantages: Some weak songs, a bit like Eurovision
Believe me, I want to hate Shakira ("woman full of grace") for being so beautiful, slim and successful (I take comfort in the old pictures of her!). It's just that there's something endearing about her lyrics. If I had to describe her style I'd say she was a kooky mic of Alanis Morissette, Gwen Stefani (No Doubt) and Gloria Estefan, but that would be unfair because Shakira has a style of her own, leaning on many influences but making them new. "I ... ...bands like Led Zeppelin, the Cure, the Police, the Beatles and Nirvana," said Shakira. "I was so in love with that rock sound but at the same time because my father is of l00% Lebanese descent, I am devoted to Arabic tastes and sounds. Somehow I'm a fusion of all of those passions and my music is a fusion of elements that I can make coexist in the same place, in one song." The Arabic tastes that Shakira mentioned shows up in 'Eyes Like Yours (Ojos ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Fantastic album Disadvantages: Need to brush up on your Spanish
It is an unfortunate fact of life for the many thousands of talented latin musicians that, if you want to make it on a worldwide scale, you have to learn to sing in English. This was powerfully illustrated in the late 1990s by Ricky Martin, and in 2001 when Shakira's third studio album - but only her first in the English language - expanded her appeal from the confines of the Spanish-speaking world and sent her global. Of course the fact that the ... ...coupled with the fact that Shakira herself is a multi-talented mega-babe, did her progression no harm at all. The album itself is an appealing mix of traditional latin beats, pop and ballads, with a number of tracks still sung in her native tongue - but not enough to make the album unlistenable to the monolingual masses (of which I am one). OBJECTION - Starting with a typical Tango-Argentino introduction, the song bursts into life with a lyrical ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Some good, energetic pop tunes Disadvantages: This special edition isn't good value for money
...favours, taking one look at her blonde hair and good looks and dumping her with the title of "Colombia's answer to Britney Spears".
Yes, there's a slight resemblance in appearance and "LaundryService" sold over 13 million copies worldwide, so there's some resemblance in sales figures as well. But the important thing is the music and Britney's dreadful version of "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" proved that she doesn't have the voice for a rock song. If Shakira was to shake the comparison, she would have to do it musically.
For someone trying to prove she is not a Britney Spears clone, "Objection (Tango)" is a great way to start. There's a very Latin style intro, before being joined by a guitar that sounds very reminiscent of a Ricky Martin's "Living La Vida Loca". It's a high tempo and very energetic guitar led Latin pop song, which really...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: great voice, good range of songs Disadvantages: not her best album, not enough hits from it
...I was disappointed when i purchased this album, im a big fan of Shakira and loved the LaundryService album but i felt this effort was below par. She has an outstanding voice but i feel the songs just arent good enough. Songs like hips don't lie made me buy this album and there are a few great songs but most of them didnt grow on me at all well and i havent listened to it much since buying it, a lot of the songs dont have the quality and consistency as the album laundryservice, one good point is that the lyrics are fantastic as expected on a Shakira album. From a true shakira fan i do not recommend this album....
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: Good composition in lyrics Disadvantages: Shakira's voice
....
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More or them are like a rock and it has some ballad song as "The day and that has good songs as music and probably not about lyrics, and Shakira as a singers she doesn'y like me specialyy on the higher notes that probably if she partipapes on this pageants like "Operacion Triunfo" in Spain, she probably doesn't pass the casting.
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If I compare this album with Fijacion Oral Vol I it is the same, and if I compare with another Shakira's album as "LaundryService" and probably the Spanish Language Album "Pies Descalzos", "Peligro" and "Donde estan los ladrones" it could be one of the worst Shakira's album...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Label / Distributor: Epic / Sony Music/Arvato Services
Producer: Shakira
Pieces in Set: 1
Studio / Live: Studio
Stereo: Stereo
Format: Performer
EAN: 5099749872028
Catalogue Number: 4987202
Additional notes
Album Notes: Personnel includes: Shakira (vocals, harmonica); Bryan Ray, Tim Pierce (guitar); Hector Del Curto, David Alsina (bandoneon); Ed Calle (tenor & baritone saxophone); Jim Hacker (trumpet, piccolo trumpet); Tony Concepcion (trumpet); Dana Teboe (trombone, bass trombone); Lester Mendez (Hammond organ, keyboards); Pablo Aslan (acoustic bass); Paul Bushnell (bass); Abraham Laboriel, Jr. (drums); Richard Bravo, Archie Pena (percussion); Rita Quintero, Brendan Buckley, George Noriega (background vocals). "Te Aviso, Te Anuncio (Tango)" was nominated for the 2003 Latin Grammy Award for Best Rock Song. Though she was already a star in the Latin pop world, Shakira broke through to the international mainstream in 1998 with DONDE ESTAN LOS LADRONES, followed up by a live UNPLUGGED album. Thus, her next studio effort, 2001's LAUNDRY SERVICE, played a pivotal role in the budding pop diva's career. Not one to disappoint, Shakira made LAUNDRY SERVICE a career milestone. As such, the album earned a 2002 reissue where it was accompanied by a bonus CD with a video and a live track, and also featured a remix of the smash "Whenever, Wherever" as well as a couple of alternate versions of other tracks from the album. In itself, LAUNDRY SERVICE as Shakira's countless fans have come to know and love it, is a brash, personality-filled mixture of Latin pop with distinctly Alanis-like angry-young-woman rock, along with a smattering of R&B and hip-hop production moves thrown in. It all adds up to perhaps the definitive-to-date release from this fetching young star.
Album Reviews: Q (3/02, p.127) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...There's an alluring scent of unfettered eccentric about her: her lyrics are suprisingly earthy...An exuberant mess..."
Titles on disc 1
1.: Objection (tango)
2.: Underneath Your Clothes
3.: Whenever Wherever
4.: Rules
5.: One
6.: Ready For The Good Times
7.: Fool
8.: Te Dejo Madrid
9.: Poem To A Horse
10.: Que Me Quedes Tu
11.: Eyes Like Yours (Ojos Asi)
12.: Whenever Wherever
13.: Te Aviso Te Anuncio (tango)
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Listed on Ciao since : 15/04/2002
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