Originally posted by Mick
That was the direction she wanted for Sale El Sol though...it's not like merengue (especially El Cata's more urban-merengue) is a mainstream genre that was guaranteed to bring her success. She actually took a huge risk by including so much of one genre on one album (she usually never has the same genres repeated as much on a single album - but most of her songs do have a pop/rock base). She managed to pull it off in the end, but she had planned this for years (there's interviews of her scouring through different countries to find world sounds).
Waka Waka samples a traditional Cameroonian song - again, I don't see this as a mainstream genre in any way (although the original track is far more pop/rock/new-wave thanks to her collaborating with John Hill). The only one I could kind of agree with you on is the Dare - but this song was made way before she decided to have it be part of the World Cup (at least 2 years before). She then completely changed the lyrics & added traditional Brazilian sounds (again, other than the synthesizers, not mainstream by any stretch).
As far as CRTFY is concerned - this is probably the biggest example of her NOT following a sonic trend - this song is a mix of reggae/ska/punk sounds, nothing on the radio sounded like this at the time (there's also proof that this song was recorded at least 2 years prior to its release). This was also a huge risk (which, admittedly didn't pay off in a huge way as it peaked at #15 in the US) because it sounded way heavier than everything else on the radio.
Out of all of the major global pop stars, I think Shakira is the one that takes the biggest risks & marches to the beat of her own drum.
From album to album she's released lead singles that are completely different from the prior album...she's NEVER released the same lead single in her career - something that completely distinguishes her from all of her peers...
PD (Estoy Aqui - pop/rock).
DELL (Ciega, Sordomuda - traditional Mexican folk sound/house beat).
Laundry Service (Whenever, Wherever - traditional Andean pan-flute folk/mixed with pop/rock guitars/beats).
FO1 (La Tortura - accordion based traditional Colombian sound/mixed with reggaeton and even some dubstep beats).
OF2 (Don't Bother - 80's/new-wave/pop/rock & Hips Don't Lie - traditional Colombian cumbia over a dance beat).
She Wolf (She Wolf - italo-disco inspired Euro dance track with violins/synthesizers).
Sale El Sol (urban merengue/salsa/dance/synth mixture).
Can't Remember To Forget You - reggae/ska/punk/rock
Every single one of her albums has AT LEAST one rock song (most of her albums have always been heavy on the rock side)...
Pies Descalzos - Vuelve, Pies Descalzos, Sueños Blancos, Se Quiere, Se Mata,.
Donde Estan Los Ladrones? - Si Te Vas, Inevitable, Octavo Día, Donde Estan Los Ladrones?
Laundry Service - Objection/Te Aviso, Te Anuncio, Rules, The One, Fool, Te Dejo Madrid, Poem To A Horse
Fijación Oral Vol. 1 - La Pared, Día Especial, Escondite Inglés, Lo Imprescindible
Oral Fixation Vol. 2 - How Do You Do, Don't Bother, Animal City, Costume Makes The Clown
She Wolf - Why Wait/Años Luz (especially live), Men In This Town, Mon Amour, Did It Again/Lo Hecho Esta Hecho
Sale El Sol - Sale El Sol, Devoción, Tu Boca, Islands, Waka Waka (K-Mix)
Shakira. - Can't Remember To Forget You/Nunca Me Acuerdo De Olvidarte, Empire, You Don't Care About Me, Cut Me Deep, The One Thing, Spotlight, Medicine, Loca Por Ti
Each album has had rock and/or pop/rock heavy tracks...she's never ditched her rock sound on any of her albums (She Wolf was the only one where the rock influence was least obvious). Add to that the fact that she's managed to retain control of almost all aspects of her career (from her image, to her videos, to her lyrics, to the music/arrangements, to her photo shoots/album art direction, etc.) & it's impossible to say she's sold out. At least as far as her music is concerned...I can see why you or anyone would say that from a commercial standpoint (as she has had tons of endorsements from Pespi to Nokia to Panasonic to Oral-B/Crest to Activia to Fisher Price to being on The Voice to her fragrances/etc.), but she usually has stipulations in her contracts that greatly benefit her foundation(s) so I could care less what she does in that aspect.
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