Who: Shakira
When: 22 March 2024
Genre: Electropop dance-pop reggaeton Bachata EDM Afrobeat Regional Mexican
Length: 51.13
Label: Sony Latin
Producers: Shakira, Albert Hype, Bizarrap, Ciey, DallasK, Edgar Barrera,Ily Wonder ,L.E.X.U.Z,KEITYN,Tainy,Yeti Beats,Ovy on the Drums
Track Listing:
1)Punteria (with Cardi B)
2) La Fuerte (with Bizarrap)
3) Tiempo Sin Verte
4) Cohete (with Rauw Alejandro)
5) "Entre Parentesis" (with Grupo Frontera)
6) Como Donde Y Cuando
7) Nassau
8) Ultima
9) Te Felicito (with Rauw Alejandro)
10)Monotonía (with Ozuna)
11) Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53 (with Bizarrap)
12) TQG (with Karol G)
13) Acrostico ( with Milan + Sasha)
14) Copa Vacia (with Manuel Turizo)
15) El Jefe (with Fuerza Regida)
16) Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53 (Tiesto Remix)
Did you know that it has been 7 years since her last album (El Dorado) was released? She has renewed the attention of the world partly due to her session with Bizarrap where she "dropped the tea" and shared her point of view on the very public and messy breakdown of her marriage to Spanish footballer Gerard Pique and the alleged affair with Clara Chía Martí. Safe to say there is a lot of people curious on what this album will sound and if more drama is unfolded.
It's almost worth mentioning that out of the 16 songs from the album 7 have already been released as singles since 2022 with the drop of Te Felicito and Monotonía
The album opens up with the song Punteria with appear with the rapper Cardi B. Did I expect them to sound together? No. Did it work on the track. Actually Yes. However, my slight critique is that Cardi B's lyricism in this song is nothing new. It's not the first time she sang sexual innuendos as she so finely said:
"I got a empanada, mama, that he love to eat"
And it will probably will not be the last time Cardi B will rap sexually.
The dance pop beats and instrumentals are the main stylistic choice in this album. However, saying that, there are some exceptions. Songs like (Entre Paréntesis) and El Jefe are heavily influenced by regional Mexican music which is a genre that is new to the Colombian singer. Though I'm not used to hearing Shakira singing with Mexican instrumentation it was a pleasant surprise. Another eye opening moment was the song Acróstico with her two sons Milan and Sasha was a sweet addition to the album that had heart warming lyrics. The song Como Dónde y Cuando also gets a shout out as this track brought out the old school 2000s' Shakira (think the song from her first English language album Laundry Service, Te Aviso, Te Anuncio).
However, the issues that arises personally in this album is that I feel that there's no natural flow or rhythm to the album itself. It feels a bit like a hot podge mixture of genres which are good and enjoyable but don't mix well together. For example there is a whiplash/big genre jumps between song 8. Última and song 9 Te Felicito. This happens again with songs 13. Acróstico and 14. Copa Vacia. I personally believe this could be due to the fact as I mentioned earlier that 7 of the 16 tracks were released as singles.
Overall:
I do want to stress the fact that I don't think its a bad album it's decent/good enough. Unfortunately I don't believe it's one of her best. There are tracks that definitely stand out however, the rest will definitely need to be listen more and potentially a live setting (in concert/in a club) will enhance the listening experience of the listener.
Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
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