It was just the time of separation from her ex-boyfriend Antonio de la Rua, with which it all 10 (or was it even 11?) Was associated years.
When I first heard by the panel and the first time I saw the video for the single "She Wolf", I have, without even knowing anything, has already suspected that something deeply changed in her. Directed were "Fijacion Oral" and "Oral Fixation" full of declarations of love (in the Acknowledgements in the booklet) to their ex-boyfriend, as told "She Wolf" a different view / setting, making it simply "different" - but intentionally and not inadvertently different! So it feels like and so it sounds to me. It sounds like a woman that changes, has developed and would have second thoughts, according to a woman who wants to get out of her life so far. I bet for the artist herself is the album "She Wolf" is a memory of a process by which they went. Now one could criticize at this point why the album actually has not one ballad and even here I have the feeling it is intentional! I am firmly convinced that it those aspects that have touched sad has processed about their former relationship in "Sale El Sol" and has also committed to first create a non-serious drive in which they want to feel free and easy, what they seemingly long no longer has. Furthermore, it should be noted that it was not yet known to the public at the time of release of the album "She Wolf" that their relationship has gone to pieces, it would therefore texts written to where they treated it, it would immediately any been clear and that was not their aim and their intention, otherwise they would have the album then brought out after the separation had become official, but she has not, she wanted it now and they wanted to tell something without it in plain text, but through creativity express and Art.
I think the album was not for the reason not a hit because it has not a good song offer, but because their fans have also a few ballads expected. What I like about Shakira: I think she knew that at this time exactly and has waived the reason it, because it has just now times felt not to ballads, grief, burden and difficulty!
Too bad I think the more that it was not sufficiently appreciated by its so-called fans that she has "their thing" pulled on the album, rather than to fixate on the success and commercialism and this is where the contradiction lies between my and so many other recessions here. Your will commercialism and a "plastic dolls image" impressed that I find more than unfair.
I call you once a pretty sure recipe for success: Get a good songwriter, let him write a deep-soaking-sad ballad for you and pack it on the album. That they did not do, because it has not felt it and also leaves no one write her lyrics, but she writes itself and that is not appreciated by many here now or ever taken for granted. Although it should be a matter of self-evident that a singer / a singer his / her own texts written or at least with every song is involved, but unfortunately that's not the case. For me, an artist can anyway only be described as such if he does it well, Shakira makes it, has always made it and is therefore for me under one of several reasons a true artist. Although she has only one song alone written with this album (She Wolf), but also worked with any other number. Something evil I take it you though, that she has not written like the previous albums more songs all by yourself, but you can on the other hand just thanks to their previous works sometimes ignore it.
"She Wolf" says clearly; this time not serious, this time sexy, feminine and all that nachholend what they seemingly could not the last years / wanted. Her appearance: If you look at, and I have the albums easily again bring as an example because they were the two twin albums before this one, "Fijacion Oral" and "Oral Fixation", so you can see a unvarnished, natural Shakira, so unadorned and natural as any other I know, female, international singer. And this time? She is slim, it is made up, her hair is blond again, oh how terrible! how terrible! So sometimes quite seriously people, what are you doing ?!
If you like an artist and appreciates and respects (and Shakira are a sufficient reason for all this), then you try it to look behind the scenes of what has inspired artists in this time and can be found, if you're lucky, in many ways it again and even if not; it is and will remain good music and that's probably the reason to buy an album. As the artist just intends to present itself and to what artistic process he currently is and what personal flavor he brings this time, does everything but all the more beautiful and exciting, is not it ?!
PS. My review follows so late because I sat a long time with the album apart and thought that if I was about to write a review, it is not the same would be like after a long time, because in the beginning has very little to my liking the album, But that changed more and more.
So, but now enough about the background and personal opinions about the person. Now it comes to the songs per se;
SHE WOLF - As mentioned above, this is the only song that they wrote all by himself. The text is insanely good and personal than believed. They processed their new perspective on their lives. Sings "I'm starting a little abused like a coffee machine to feel in an office." From musicality not one of my favorite songs by Shakira, but the text and the video is the same all out again. I like the place "SOS she's in disguise" total and the melody is super followed. Too bad that it is so short and generally the song is only quite short. 8.5 / 10
DID IT AGAIN - Terrific video. One of the best I've ever seen! Super melody! Very good and interesting text! Something new. Tear one with you! 9/10
LONG TIME - nice. More I can not think about the song is not really a. It's good, but somehow not great worth, but also not bad. The melody at the beginning is very nice though, but the text would have more depth to be able to meet the refrain. 6.5 / 10
WHY WAIT - I like it a little better than the previous song. Supertext, beautiful melody. Shakira's vocals tinged partially beautiful oriental. This time, however, I like the beginning of the melody is not as good because it reminds me of Britney Spears and "Gimme More", but the song increases in interesting ways. 7.5 / 10
GOOD STUFF - It should be noted that it seems to me as if LONG TIME, WHY WAIT and GOOD STUFF is like a long-composite song with three different sections and some (but not extreme) different-sounding melodies. Furthermore, one has the feeling at all three songs it's about a (now we know who they probably thought there) Lover. Nevertheless defying, again a very beautiful song - no question. Lyrically, however, it could be a bit more again. 7/10
MEN IN THIS TOWN - Do I hear repeatedly over the years like, reminds me of many times / phases / adventures. This song has a very special touch. Except for the text line "I got to say California is a place That I respect" which I find rather pointless and the "respect" should rhyme in my opinion, only on the following in the subsequent block at the end of word "forget", is the text otherwise simply superb and imaginative. I love the place with "It's a suicide waiting ..." soulful, innovative, never been there. Melancholic, sad aftertaste, yet funky Meldodie - there is nothing better than being able to combine the good! Out tip! With a bit more text, it would be a smooth 10 - if not even higher. The song should get more attention and in the best case a video. Very bad! 9.5 / 10
GYPSY - Not one of their best songs, but definitely beautiful! This song is absolutely no ballad, but comes a ballad closer than any other song on this album. 8.5 / 10
SPY - Cute text, nice melody, nice song. Nett. Something different, especially Shakira Gesinge- almost funny, but wanted =) 8/10
MON AMOUR - I write one thing: TOTAL WRONGLY ignored and underestimated (Just like Men in This Town)! A great pity. This song has potential. I just find the text only lonely peak and total class. Even the beat, her voice. If everything fits perfectly! And it is funny to boot, especially the final! 9/10
73.5 reached 90 possible points.
10 song is Spanish did it again on song 11 WHY WAIT in Spanish, 12 song is SHE WOLF in Spanish. So easy "in Spanish" you can but then not dismiss as any Shakira fan knows the text quite a bit then but otherwise in Spanish. I listen to all three songs in Spanish a lot and think it's great that they bilingual writes a lot of songs. BUT, and here's a big but which affect your album. How many have written here before about right, the number of 9 songs (and even if the Spanish translated songs have their own texts, so there are just somewhere the same songs and count for me personally rather than own them), is really very skinny and weak! This gives the impression that the album had to be produced quickly, to be exact the time to bring out when Shakira or the record label or both, it would like to. For that reason alone, I prefer an entire star from what is difficult for me and is really a pity, but there are only so many songs 9 and this fact alone prevents me somehow because an album to award full 5 stars.
The individual songs had told some one has to listen more often until they arrive. I truly believe the reason is that Shakira delivers generally very experimental music, what you should appreciate it. The songs are not monotonous and rippling to himself, as always new places are built into each song, the very different sound of voice and Meldodie / Beat her and you could almost think there begins a new song. However: The songs were just all need to be longer. Individual points that I find so amazing and epic, listen to a few seconds unfortunately already back on. One has the feeling that everything has to be played fast, as if the whole album would suffer from a kind of time pressure that you absolutely can not understand, especially since there is anyway only 9 songs plus 3 songs again in Spanish. Lyrically not her best work. Here and there a little looser incident rates, but added; the bar at Shakira is lyrically really very, very high, as they wrote themselves and just really damn good writing CAN and since childhood writes! Furthermore, of course must be added that many creative and lyrically good to very good and interesting lines and points are.
For booklet and CD: The CD looks magical and unique, with a full moon on it. Even with Oral Fixation I found the apple so great and at the Laundry Service Washing Machine. (The design of Sale el sol CD convinced, however, only very moderately). Booklet contains all the lyrics (as usual by Shakira). The cover like me, except for the odd piece of clothing and stiff posture, could have been more beautiful. The back like it then but, as simple as it is, very well. Conclusion: Overall good and interesting designed booklet and CD.
Who knows anything about music, is by no means only awarded one star here, that would be really not fair! Five are for me due to the meager number of songs and not in it. Also, it has no song managed to convince me so so and to cut off the stool that I have forgiven 10 points! The album should therefore realistically be between three and four stars, with some perhaps only two but good, then this is probably a matter of taste.
CONCLUSION: A must as Shakira fan. For all other dear first listen. It's an album with which it is grown, or the album with her. As it were an album that they produced during a development process, both musically and in their private lives. The album takes patience and time and some will, understandably, be disappointed at the beginning, so do; listen often and put away is not equal, it is better!
After listening through the album leaves a bitter aftertaste a la "What, that's it ...?" and "Where's the pepper?" and one would expect the next album simply more. Whatever one may define more now, each is left to itself, but more than 9 songs, it should be in any case! However, it should also be said that "She Wolf" is far from being a bad album, but Shakira's worst album to date, in my opinion.
Thus I forgive for album or 3-4 3.5 star! Since this functionality is possible and why not also always on Amazon, I have held 3 stars to forgive me yet decided 4 because it has been my personal opinion and impression, partly really criticized unfairly in some previous reviews.
