Track Listing

1. Octavo Dia
2. Si Te Vas
3. Donde Estan Los Ladrones
4. Moscas En La Casa
5. Ciega Sordomuda
6. Inevitable
7. Estoy Aqui
8. Tu
9. Sombra De Ti
10. No Creo
11. Ojos Asi

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #49933 in Music
• Released on: 2002-03-25
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Live

CD Description
The easy thing would be to dub Shakira the "Latin American Alanis". Certainly her popularity in the world of Latin pop is equivalent to the success of Ms. Morissette, and Shakira lends a similar quavering/yodeling vocal style to her pop-rock arrangements. But the overall feel is more in line with the jangly acoustic/electric sound of Natalie Merchant.
Numerous acoustic stringed instruments are present, and while there's an expansiveness to many of the tunes, there's also an inherent earthiness. This disc documents the Colombian 21-year-old's concert for MTV's Unplugged series, so there's more of a reliance on acoustic instruments than usual, but even Shakira's preceding studio efforts betray the kind of fealty to roots that's absent in many of her contemporaries.

Customer Reviews

Shakira Unplugged - Simply amazing.
In terms of the tracks included on the CD, this is really a 'live take' on Shakira's magnificent 1999 studio album 'Dónde Están Los Ladrones'. It loses nothing for this comparison, which merely serves to prove that the brilliance of 'Dónde' had nothing to do with slick production values. Although a live recording can never be the same as actually being there, this CD certainly shows that Shakira makes the grade performing live - and then some.
If you like 'Dónde' buy this! If you are only acquainted with the album "Laundry Service", but have ever wondered what Shakira might sound like live, or indeed what her earlier work has to offer, then at the very least you should try to beg or borrow it.

It is invidious to pick highlights because this album is uniformly excellent, and also difficult to review because all the tracks are familiar from "Dónde"!
I will not even attempt to review all the tracks on this album, but I will try to explain how I feel five of the tracks differ from the studio versions.

·Octavo Día: Not really a standout track on "Dónde" for me, but the live version is somehow more compelling and powerful, and a perfect lead into this album.
·Moscas en la Casa: A favourite of mine since I first heard it on "Donde". The live version has a guitar part that reminds me of something Mark Knopfler might have conjured up in his heyday. Thinking about it, he was another who broke the mould and combined various sounds and influences while sticking to a guitar-led format, and a writer of many superb narrative songs. (Whatever your thoughts on that particular subject, don't let it put you off this album!)
·Ciega, Sordomuda: Nothing is sacred! The track that launches "Dónde" so effectively sounds very different here. You'll recognize it, but I think that you will also agree that Shakira is not just content to just sing 'from the album'. Luckily she seems able to reinterpret her songs effortlessly.
·Estoy Aquí: Originally a track from "Pies Descalzos" (1997), it also appears again on "Donde", but this time it gets an impressive overhaul. I liked the original, but this is the 'big surprise' of the album for me. Stunning!
·Inevitable: Not too far removed from the version on "Donde", though the instrumental accompaniment is perhaps rather more prominent (the audience participation certainly is!), but Shakira's voice (she accompanies on acoustic guitar) is still the defining influence. Live or otherwise, it is her lyric that makes 'Inevitable' so remarkable.

In choosing these five tracks I have failed to mention other songs just as good. You'll just have to listen to all of them.

Pure Genius!
If you have the studio album "Donde Estan Los Ladrones" then you'll know these songs already. Shakira's songs sound even more impressive live! The lowest point of this album is "Estoy Aqui", but even Shakira at her lowest is better than most other artists at their best. However, there are parts to this album when you wish that you weren't listening to it in your room at home but watching it live. When she performs "Ojos Asi" and "No Creo" there are instrumental parts where you know she's doing her belly dancing!All but one of the songs comes from "Donde..", and I would have prefered it if there had been more from "Pies Descalzos".
Saying that, this really is a fantastic album. The music is really strong, and you are able to see just how unique Shakira's voice really is. She never misses a note. This is the perfect companion to "Donde...." and I'd advise all Shakira fans to buy it.

The best MTV unplugged album!!!
Over the years MTV have showcased many artists in their "unplugged" series, this happens to be one of the very best. Winning Shakira her first Grammy and a whole new audience.

The album is essentially a live version of Shakira's "Donde Estan Los Ladrones" album missing just one track (Que Vuelvas) and replacing it with Estoy Aqui (from "Pies Descalzos"). It is more acoustic than the studio album, but both are brilliant. If you like latin music, you'll love this album.

I also reccomend the DVD which has backstage footage and the whole show has optional english subtitles. ESSENTIAL!!!