#496 Shakira, 'Dónde Están los Ladrones' (1998)

New Entry

The second new entry in the list and yeah, I was surprised as you are to see Shakira’s name. She of ‘Hips Don’t Lie’ & ‘Whenever, Wherever’ fame. Take nothing away from Shakira. She’s a megastar. She is the highest selling Colombian artist of all time. This album is multi-platinum and has sold in excess of 7 million units worldwide.

I liked it more than I thought I would, but one thing became blatantly clear to me. Music transcends boundaries and language. No one was safe from the ‘90s. This album could have been released by Alanis Morissette. ‘Octavo Dio’ is so reminiscent of No Doubt’s ‘Don’t Speak.’ The harmonica in the title track is straight out of a Gin Blossoms song, of even the aforementioned Alanis. 

Producer, Emilio Estefan (husband of Gloria Estefan), suggested making an English version of this album but Shakira wasn’t confident enough in her English. She decided to work at it and her next record was her English debut and international breakthrough, ‘Laundry Service.’

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