Track Listing

1. How Do You Do
2. Illegal - Shakira & Carlos Santana
3. Hips Don't Lie - Shakira & Wyclef Jean
4. Animal City
5. Don't Bother
6. Day And The Time - Shakira & Gustavo Cerati
7. Dreams For Plans
8. Hey You
9. Your Embrace
10. Costume Makes The Clown
11. Something
12. Timor
13. La Tortura - Shakira & Alejandro Sanz

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8392 in Music
• Released on: 2006-06-19
• Number of discs: 2
• Original language: English
• Dubbed in: Spanish

Amazon.co.uk Review
The English-language Oral Fixation Vol. 2 finds Shakira reclaiming some of the bite she showcased on 1998's smashing Donde Estan Los Ladrones? The Colombian rock goddess is making up for lost time: this is her second disc of new material in 2005. It's quite a feat, considering the four-year gap since Laundry Service, her scattershot, English-language debut album. Oral Fixation Vol. 2 is more mature and better focused than the spin-cycle pop of that 2001 disc. Kick-off track "How Do You Do" starts with a haunting reading of "The Lord's Prayer" before launching into a risky questioning of faith and religion. Shakira touches on the highs and lows of celebrity on a trio of tracks--the bittersweet "Your Embrace," the guitar-driven "Costume Makes the Clown," and the disco-fied, politically charged "Timor." Selfish men and failed relationships--two oft-mentioned topics of interest--anchor much of Oral Fixation Vol. 2. First single "Don't Bother" is a bitter ode to strength, jealousy, and survival; "Dreams for Plans" is a wistful collage of relationship memories; and Carlos Santana slides a sexy guitar riff under soulful standout track "Illegal." The purple haze of Prince hangs over "Animal City," one of the disc's most inventive moments. It's a free-wheeling melange of rock riffs, electronic accents, mariachi horns and confident vocals. Two songs from Fijacion Oral Vol. 1 make appearances--the somber "Something" and "The Day and the Time," which improves greatly upon its Spanish counterpart. Vol. 1, while at times enjoyable, was a portrait of a gifted artist struggling to keep her footing and retain her confidence. Oral Fixation Vol. 2 finds Shakira embracing the eclectic beauty within. It's a wonderful sound. --Joey Guerra

CD Description
Second English-language studio album from Colombian-born artist Shakira. This is the follow-up to her 2001 debut 'Laundry Service' and again sees her fuse South American pop with a traditional dance sound. The album features renditions of 'En Tus Pupilas' and 'Dia Especial' which were previously released in her native tongue. Written and produced by Shakira, the recording also includes a collaboration with Carlos Santana on the track 'Illegal'.

Customer Reviews

Beautiful
I have been a fan of Shakira since her hit Whenever, Wherever hit the charts. I bought this album after hearing Hips don't lie and La Tortura. I loved both songs, and I generally love Shakira's music, so I purchased it. I love this album. There is only one song on it that I dislike (day and time) because its a replica of a spanish version on her oral cd 1...whichI had already. I can listen to the album all the way through. Illegal is a sad sounding song...its a little haunting and is beautiful.
How do you do questions the existance of god...which is why it was banned in some countries. But it makes you really think.
Animal City and Hey you are both lively, great tracks. I didnt originally like costume makes the clown, but after a few listens I loved it. Shakira's voice sounds beautiful on almost every track and I truly recommend the album.

All I would say is that there isn't so much belly dancing themed stuff on here... but its still just as catchy. I do miss the belly dance element though, being a belly dancer myself.

Is there a 4 and a half star option...?
Formerly a passing fan of Shakira, I only really got into the Colombian temptresses music with the Fijacion Oral, Vol 1. CD which, although sung in a language that I do not and will probably never understand, is simply excellent. As a result, I bought previous albums, including her first English work Laundry Service, complete with the primo pop song Whenever Wherever and the superb Donde Estan Los Ladrones?

Naturally, I was eager to listen to Oral Fixation Volume Two, even though I was rather underwhelmed by first offering Don't Bother. The release and and subsequent global success of Hips Don't Lie has since tempted me back to it and listening to the album with the benefit of a killer song like that is certainly useful.

Ultimately, there doesn't seem to be an all-round song that will likely deliver a second number one, but with a better grasp of English compared to Laundry Service, with exception to the rather curious album title, Oral Fixation is a confident release.

As for potential follow-ups to Hips Don't Lie, I would be intrigued should the bizarre, electro-pop Timor is released - corny, but deliciously captivating, it is a song that demands to be listened to, whether it is loved or loathed. Indeed, there is no middle ground for a song like this.

Costume Makes The Clown or Something would also be interesting releases, although ultimately I would kill for an English version of the superb La Tortura, arguably my fave Shakira tune yet. The Beatles-esque Hey You and aggressive Animal City are also an acquired taste, but Shakira's rather quirky image prevents them from sounding as out of place as they would anywhere else.

The only reason why I don't give the album the full five stars is the rather soppy offerings Illegal and The Day and The Time, which do little for me, but they are nonetheless beatifully written and sung.

A curious but ultimately satisfying mixture of Latin, pop and soul makes this album well worth a listen, even if just for Hips Don't Lie or La Tortura.

Shakira's best album of her career !
On this album she has decided to go back to her "Rock Chick" roots which she displayed in her Pre-Whenever, Wherever days on her spanish speaking albums. This is evident on her "Donde Estan Los Ladrones" album.
Also she has always had a firm grip on other genres of music which she has included on this non- album filler cd.

This re-release is some what dissapointing considering most fans have to buy this to gain the two exclusive songs:

1. Hips Don't Lie.

(The biggest hit of Shakira's career to date- considering it's been number 1 almost everywhere including the USA- sometimes it has revisited the top spot more than once, and has even made the biggest leaps in the charts)

2. La Tortura ALTERNATIVE VERSION,

This version has Shakira singing its chorus in English and Alejandro in spanish.

(Also a "MASSIVE" hit in Spanish speaking countries, orginally off Oral Fixation Volume One!)

This is truly the best Shakira Album ever, and equally enjoying as Volume 1!!


Track by track:

1. How do you do 10/10- Great hooky chorus, a Stadium Rocker.

2. Illegal 9/10- Santana's guitar work, fanastic lyrics, ballad in the same vein as "Underneath your clothes" but maturer.

3. Hips don't lie 10/10- Latin meets the Caribbean, Trumpet riffs.

4. Animal City 8/10- Traditional Spanish mixed with electric guitars and mexican trumpets and EVEN howling wolves.

5. Don't bother 10/10- One of my most favourites, everyone's heard it.

6. The day and the time 8/10- English version of "Dia especial" off Oral Fixation Vol 1. Reminds me of the band "The Magic Numbers" one of their mid-tempo songs!

7. Dreams for plans 10/10- Mid paced calm, sunday morning songs to relax to! warm and delicate!

8. Hey you 10/10- One word the "INTRO!!!" incredible, the quirky lyrics, the slighty punky music blended in with a chorus similar to something on a broadway musical!!

9. Your embrace 9/10- Lovely music and lyrics

10.Costume makes the clown 10/10- The best rock moment on this cd!! Led zeppy music, and some more of those quirky lyrics!!

11.Something 5/10- The english version to "En Pupilas" from Oral Fixation volume 1, i prefer the spanish version. A 60's-ish sounding french song.

12.Timor 8/10- sounds like a 80's Disco song

13.La tortura (alt. version)

Get the fuller picture and get Vol. 1, it's a Spanish Masterpiece.