Shakira - Live & Off the Record (CD & DVD)
|
List Price: Our Price: $6.84 You Save: $1.15 (14%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $3.81 (click here) Category: Music CD See more new music releases 
|
|---|
Canadian Music Store
Free Music Notes for Live & Off the Record (CD & DVD)
Free Music Review: review from allaboutjazz.com
Hit: 5 Stars
LOS ANGELES, CA - On March 30, 2004, Grammy-winning, acclaimed recording artist/songwriter/producer Shakira, who set the world on fire with her breakthrough English album debut Laundry Service will release Shakira Live and Off the Record (En Vivo y En Privado) a 2 1/2 hour DVD that includes 90 minutes of live concert footage and an insightful behind-the-scenes look one of the most interesting and unique figures in contemporary music. A companion audio CD of ten live recordings never before available will also be included in the package. Socially conscious, multilingual and multi cultural, Shakira was followed by an international crew of filmmakers during her critically acclaimed Tour of the Mongoose. During stops in Paris, London, Madrid, Rome, New York, Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Bogata and other cities around the world, the camera filmed Shakira back stage and during private moments catching an intimate look at her most important relationships: She writes a song with her band; she shares a kiss with her fiancé Antonio de la Rua, and she prays with her parents. During a segment filmed in Mexico, Antonio awakens her on Valentines' Day with a kiss and a surprise serenade by a group of Mariachi.
Fans will get their first listen to "Shakira-speak", the songwriter's quirky and poetic expressions: "We were fresh as carrots"; "Why does something have to be right when it can be great?" "Most of the things I say, I mean, but some things not so much." "I feel nostalgia for things I have never lived."
In the course of the documentary, Shakira also discusses her thoughts about social responsibility and her personal commitment to helping the children of her war torn country, Colombia.
Another of Shakira's primary relationships is with her fans, and that connection is evident during the 90 minute concert that forms one of the most exciting elements of Shakira Live and Off the Record. By April 22, 2002, when the concert at the Sport Paleis Ahoy, in Rotterdam, Netherlands, was filmed, Shakira had been on tour for many months and was at the peak of her performing prowess. Enthusiasm from the fans and critics was unbounded: "She's an exciting performer, bringing fresh brio and the sensuality of a young Bardot", wrote one reporter and "she upped the ante for female pop divas", wrote another. The DVD gives viewers a front-row seat to the remarkable show, which balanced elements of beauty and spectacle with impeccable pacing, bravura performances, and a quality of showmanship that only the greats can deliver. Tour of the Mongoose was sponsored internationally by Pepsi and Reebok and presented by MTV in North America.
Shakira Live and Off the Record will include bonus footage, specialized web links and other elements not available elsewhere. The audio cd will include full recordings of the live performances featured on the CD, including some of Shakira's most successful such as "Whenever, Wherever", and others not available on any album, such as "Back in Black."
Laundry Service was released in the U.S. and Latin America in November 2001 and rocketed to #2 on the charts in its first week of release in the U.S. and #l throughout Latin America. The album sold 12 million units wordwide, over 3.5 million in the U.S. alone, going multi-platinum in 20 countries including Canada, India, Australia Japan and much of Europe where she was the #1 Selling Artist of 2002, platinum in 12 countries and gold in 10 more. The singles "Whenever Wherever/Suerte," "Underneath Your Clothes," "Objection," and "The One" all received major airplay worldwide and the distinctive videos became a staple on television everywhere. She has used her success to focus attention on the plight of poor children around the world through her Pies Descalzo (Bare Feet) Foundation and was recently named an Ambassador for UNICEF. Shakira is currently writing and recording her next album due in 2004.
Free Music Review: A Feast for the Ears, Eyes and Mind--and a Terrific Value
Hit: 5 Stars
Shakira has outdone herself! With a top notch concert/behind the scenes DVD included with a live music CD, I've never seen an artist give you so much bang for your buck. The DVD rivetingly captures her entire concert from the "Tour of the Mongoose". My son and I attended this concert in Philadelphia on his birthday, and had a wonderful time. The DVD included in this package put us in the front row or closer, and it was great to re-live that experience. I loved the way Shakira and her band handled a multitude of styles, from hard rock (doing a cover version of AC/DC's "Back in Black") to disco ("Are You Ready for the Good Times") to pop ("Whenever/Whereever"} to ballads ("Underneath Your Skin") to Exotic World Music ("Ojos Asi".} Plus she puts a rock and latin spin on just about all the aforementioned styles, frequently blending each of those styles in the same song! Her songs definitely had more of a rock edge to them in concert than they did on the original CDs, and that's just the way I like them.
Then, besides the musical excellence, it's a bonus that Shakira is very easy on the eyes and can dance like a whirling dervish. Her belly dancing on "Ojos Asi" was especially memorable. Plus, on top of all that, she presents a socially concious message that each of us has got to love others, that love must be allowed to conquer the human tendency toward hatred.
In addition to the complete concert, the DVD had a special feature offering extensive behind the scenes coverage of what it was like putting on this production in city after city throughout the world. Shakira revealed her personality and mannerisms unguardedly.
Oh yes, also included with this package was the music CD of her live in concert. The interesting thing about this package is that the DVD looms in my mind as being the best part about it, yet the package was marketed and priced as a music CD, seemingly with the DVD included as a free bonus. Smart move, Shakira; if this package were in the DVD section at a higher price, far fewer people would buy it. But they'll buy it for the CD, and be absolutely BLOWN AWAY by the DVD, and probably show or lend it to their friends, thereby increasing her popularity.
This CD/DVD is one of the best values I've ever seen in the music business. Get two copies and give one away to a friend!
Free Music Review: The Best Shakira CD?
Hit: 5 Stars
I'd like to disclose upfront that I am an avid Shakira fan. I have and enjoy all of her albums and compilations, in both Spanish and English.
This is my favorite Shakira CD. If you are a Shakira fan, it is a must-have. She has some of her greatest hits here, and the energy of the audience at the live concert makes this a very uplifting, energizing listening experience.
Note that this is not a collection of her best songs, and I believe most fans will agree. However, everything on the disc is good, and these are new, refreshing live versions.
What is so amazing about this CD, besides the energy of the live versions of the songs? Shakira is a very talented musician and songwriter, unlike many teenybopper artists in the USA. She has been recording great stuff in Spanish since her mid-teens or so, before she was known in the USA.
The most striking feature in all of Shakira's songs is her voice. Amazing! She has great vocal talent and control. I wish I were a trained musician to describe it better. You have to listen to songs from different albums, in their entirety, to experience the variety and subtlety of her singing.
That said, to enjoy Shakira's work, and this CD in particular, you need to be able to understand Spanish, or at least be willing to listen to songs in Spanish is you don't understand the lyrics. Half of this CD is in Spanish. In my humble opinion (as a bilingual person who has hear all her work), her best stuff is in Spanish; what she has produced in English is good but just scratches the surface of her talent.
While this is an amazing CD, it is probably not the best intro to Shakira if you have never heard her. I generally like remixes and live versions of an artist once I have appreciated the original.
If it is your first exposure to Shakira, I'd suggest her earlier best-of album, Grandes Exitos, which is purely in Spanish and a truly outstanding album by any measure. If you want English, try Laundry Service, which is a great album.
As far as songs on this CD go, "Underneath Your Clothes" and "Ciega, Sordomuda" are so outstanding they are worth the price of admission alone, but everything else is great too.
Listening to this CD, I wish I had not missed Shakira's Mongoose Tour!
Free Music Review: Worth every penny!
Hit: 5 Stars
I have been a loyal Shakira fan since "Pies Descalzos". I have been following her career since then: she's one of the few artists that I can say I have liked every single record she has produced. This CD and DVD are a great compilation of her astonishing music career so far and is a must for every fan! Only very few artists can get such a crowd to sing their songs along (both in Spanish and English!). Only few artists can enter and hit the top music charts in both Europe and North America, not to forget Latin America! In this concert performed at Rotterdam, you won't miss any of her greatest hits: "Estoy Aquí" from "Pies Descalzos" (DVD only); "Ciega Sordomuda" and "Ojos Así" from "¿Dónde están los ladrones?"; "Whenever, Wherever" and "Underneath Your Clothes" from her latest record "Laundry Service"; as well as an incredible cover of "Back in Black" from AC/DC.
The behind-the-scenes footage included in the DVD confirms that Shakira is a true artist and a person with very good moral convictions. You can tell she is the one still driving her music career, and not her record company. She included Buenos Aires in her tour, despite the strong opposition from her manager. She was really close from touring in Israel and the Middle East if it hadn't been for the war in Iraq. She is really proud of her background, her country and her hometown Barranquilla. I once read in a magazine that she was offered to produce a record in English a long time ago, but she refused because she wanted to become more proficient in English to be able to write her own songs; and when she did, it was a total success!
PS: There is another edition of this product which comes in a DVD case instead, but they both contain the same CD and DVD and are about the same low price. This is the DVD track listing: Ojos Así - Si Te Vas - Ciega, Sordomuda - The One - Back In Black - Rules - Inevitable - Estoy Aquí - Underneath Your Clothes - Octavo Día - Ready For The Good Times - Tú - Poem To A Horse - Objection (Tango) - Whenever, Wherever
Free Music Review: Well Worth Your Money (if you're a die-hard Shakira Fan)
Hit: 5 Stars
Shakira's LIVE AND OFF THE RECORD CD/DVD is the greatest live record out there! The part you will probably like most about it is the 90 minute live concert and behind the scence footage on the DVD. Shakira performs all your favorite songs off her album LAUNDRY SERVICE and even a couple from DONDE ESTAN LOS LADRONES and PIES DESCALZOS. She even performs "Back in Black" (pretty well might I add)! I assure you that you'll enjoy this DVD, not only because you get to watch Shakira perform live, but because you kind of get to follow her around in the documentary during her tour "The Tour of the Mongoose." It really helps you get to know Shakira a little better. The CD is okay, it could have had more songs on it but the ones on it are great too.On the DVD you should definately watch Octavo Dia. She sends out a great message during this song "When the power of love overcomes the love of power we will know peace" Definately watch the little movie playing in the background for this song. It's wicked! This set is really well worth your money! You are bound to enjoy this concert and maybe even the CD too.