Where are all the thieves? (Dónde Están Los Ladrones? - Shakira)

Member Name: yahtonie

Product:	Dónde Están Los Ladrones? - Shakira
Date:	08/09/03 (230 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Staying power, you can listen to it over and over and over and over....., Original mix of latin and western music, A welcome change to the usual dirvial in the charts

Disadvantages: A few average songs on here, but not totally unlistenable

Shakira Isabel Mebarak's second album Donde Estan Los Ladrones? was released in 1998 after the massive success of her debut album Pies Descalzos. Although this in itself was a runaway success, its presence is still widely unknown in the western world. I came across this album by a close friend of mine. He had bought her Laundry Service and had become fasinated with her and began to find out more about her. Doing this he soon came across her Spanish works, with Donde Estan Los Ladrones? being the first he found. Like me, one song one this album completely changed his opinion of this lady and her musical talents. This song is Ojos Así. He had already heard this song in english (Eyes Like Yours) but sung in her native Columbian Spanish (and a little arabic) brought a whole new demention to this song. Like most of Shakira's song which have been translated into English, these songs sound so much better as you can hear that she is relaxed in singing in a more natural and familiar laugage.
And so my friend introduced me to the "Spanish" Shakira which i feel in love with. Im particularly fussy when it comes to music. I dont have a particular genre that i like. I love classical music but cant sit through a Bach or Mozart sonnet without feeling bored. I like some pop but i cant stand the like of boy/girl bands. I like R&B but im not to keen on the heavy basses. What i do like is particular songs that stir some emotion in me. No, let me clear that up a little. I adore music that causes my heart to swell, my pulse to beat along with the rhythm, shivers to go along my back and bring a lump to my throat. This is what Ojos Así caused in me the first time I heard it, and still, after years i still find myself just constantly repeating the song as i get immersed in the beauty of this tune. To get an idea of what this song is like, well, its a mixture of arabic drums, arabic strings mixed with spanish lyrics, with a hint of belly dancing music and a western base


which all blend in perfectly together.
One song and i was hooked. But, wait a minute. I didn't have the album. So i spent two weeks trying to obtain it. It would of only taken about three days normally to get this from Amazon but due to some difficults with a combination order it took numberous emails and returning of other products until i finally gained Donde Estan Los Ladrones?. Now ive noticed in another review on this album that its expensive to obtained as its shipped in from the states. However this is not the case anymore as amazon now order it in in advance so the price is cheaper (about the same as other albums) and its quicker to get (should only take three days to arrive from ordering).
The first thing i did with this album was to copy it onto my computer (for everyday listening) and the original copy went into my car (my second home) and im pleased to say that its still in my car cd player. Now this is unusal for me , as because im a fussy listener, its very rare that i listen to a whole album in my car as i tend to skip the tracks i dont like. In this case im able to listen to the album all the way through without skipping. Im also proud to say that even with a fussy listener like myself, it has been in said cd player for a total of about 3 months (give or take a few days). You might not be impressed with this claim, but honestly ask yourself. How many albums that you own can you listen to constantly for 3 months without changing or skipping tracks? Not many i bet.
Right, i believe i waffled enough on my buying habits, so i'll review the album properly. Donde Estan Los Ladrones? has a total of 13 tracks-

1. Ciega, Sordomuda
2. Si te vas
3. Moscas en la casa
4. No creo
5. Inevitable
6. Octavo dia
7. Que vuelvas
8. Tu
9. Donde estan los ladrones?
10. Sombra de ti
11. Ojos asi
12. Estoy aqui
13. Ojos asi (single version)

as i stated before, all are in spani
sh wh
ich gi
ve the ablum its latin influence. Shakira has incorporated the western rock vibe into nearly all of the songs due to her love of the genre as a kid. This is noticable with the gitars that feature. I believe that this sets Shakira aside from all other "latin Divas" as she is willing to step away from the expected. This rock is also helping this album become more noticed in the western world as its not too extremely (everyone likes what they are familiar with) and off with the totally traditional latin. Other people ive noticed have a problem with her singing style. True its not on the lines of Christina Aguilera or Mandy moore (that "proper" wabberling with defined lengths of note holding). Shakira's style is unique. Yes she can sing, yes she can hold a note, but to be honest she sounds alot better in spanish than in english (see above). This shouldn't go against her though. Her style and sound is what sets her apart from more typical divas.
On the other songs on the album, i'll begin at the begin shall i? (always a good place to start!).
Ciega, Sordomuda - Starts off with a latin, spanish trumpet kinda sound (imagine three mexican men in funny hats and youve got the idea) and a verse which leads up to a great chorous which you find your self trying to sing (basically its many words pronounced separatly like in a list). Theres also a mid chorous halfway in the song which is like the other main chorous but sung very fast! but you still find yourself trying in vain to learn it. (three months and i still cant say it!).
Si te vas - Starts off with a slow strumed electric gitar which lead into a cresendo of gitras and pounding drum, but not bassy if thats what you think.
Moscas en la casa - "flies in the house" which is a slow kind of ballard which reminds of a slow out door music with hand drums. If you hear it i think you'll know what i mean.
No creo - Immediatly into the song. Lots m
ore drums
and gitars.
With a easy chorous. Like the first song theres adiffind mid section to it which a fast chourous which you find youself trying in vain to sing along to!
Inevitable - A slow ballard. Ive heard this in english (very rare live preformance) and i actually can pick out some works and translate them now. Lead into a powerful chorous which then dies down again. Very good if tuned up loud. She really gives it her all in this.
Octavo dia - Start up of this song sets it up as a serious, sad song, but it does have uplifing chorous'.
Que vuelvas - Begins with gitars and leads into a heavy bassed verse. Another great one for being turned up.
Tu - Piano and gitar start. A brilliant ballard which starts off kinda sad, but very uplifting in the chorous. This a very emtional song. Best for a quiet time by your self.
Donde estan los ladrones? - The albums name sake which is very rock, with gitars, drums and a harmonica (played by Ms Mebarak herself). Very rock.
Sombra de ti - a slow ballard with shakira showing off some of her vocal ranges. Not the best song on here but very calming never the less.
Ojos asi - I think ive said enough on this song!!!
Estoy aqui - This is an interesting song as it first apperared on her first album. This song is what propelled Shakira into fame as it was her first release and first number one. Its very "everyone singing" songs with a large amount of people singing the chorous'. My friend really likes this song as it a real feel good song. I like it but not as keen on it as he is!
Ojos asi (single version) - is the same as the other one but with a more arabic feel to it. This was mainly released for the south american audiences where as the other one is more directed at the west.

In conclusion is is a brilliant album in my opinion and im sure to be listening to it in years to come. Out of the three albums of shakiras, this is my favourite. Of course, others ma
y disagree with
me but its nice
to get some different music to listen to then the pop thats floating aroung in the charts now days. May people will be put off with the "sung in spanish" factor which i think is a shame. I believe, unlike other european lauanges, spanish has character, especially columbean spanish which brings a latin feel to an otherwise dull song (im think lara fabian here. A french woman who songs, to me, all sound the same. Sorry any lara fabian fans!!). So, if you wish to broaden your musical horizons, look no further than Shakira.

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