Stars On Madonna / Фен клубове / Музикални / Madonna

Shakira is the new face of world rock

By Ramiro Burr
San Antonio Express-News

Web Posted : 01/24/2003 12:00 AM

Global superstar Shakira unleashed her new rock world order at a loud, packed SBC Center Thursday night.

In the course of her 90-minute, 18-song performance Shakira showed the scope and depth of her talent, fusing rock grooves, Arabian rhythms, reggae flavors and more into a bewitching stew that mesmerized her fans and kept them on their feet for most of the show.

Opening at about 8:45 p.m. with the exotic hit tune "Ojos Asi," the long-blond-tressed Shakira stepped out on stage beneath a towering mechanical cobra. Wearing black, skin-tight leather pants and black top, Shakira snaked across the stage in her signature move, swinging her hips and her rear like an expert bellydancer, eliciting whoops and cheers as the mostly Latino audience roared its approval.

Most stayed on their feet as Shakira ran down a hypnotizing run that included the urgent "Si Te Vas," the brutally honest "Fool" and the "Ciega Sordomuda," her paean to blind love.

She demonstrated she could also have fun when she tore into Aerosmith's "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)" and AC/DC's retro "Back in Black."

Her nine-piece backing band, which included a violin and horn player, competently segued from Arabian/pop grooves to arena rock and even reggae rhythms.

Despite the cold weather outside, hundreds of young Latinas stalked the corridors wearing skimpy tops, hip-hugger blue jeans and colorful scarves trying desperately to emulate their hero.

The vision recalled the cultural impact of an '80s icon named Madonna

The show peaked on Shakira's feverish tune "Estoy Aquн," whose intro she rearranged as a slow-tempo bluesy number before exploding into the urgent singalong choruses.

On "Octavio Dia," she unveiled another facet of her artistry -- the rare artist willing to make a political statement. While she sang, a video showed President George Bush and Saddam Hussein puppets playing a game of chess. At the end, the Grim Reaper was revealed as the puppetmaster.

Shakira, 25, is the sound and vision of the new American rock. A strange statement to make considering Shakira comes from Colombia.

But as the history books show us, rock has always been defined by the unique distillation and fusions of various influences from pop, rock, blues, to soul, metal, rap and more.

Shakira brought her new interpretation of seminal American pop/rock, wrapped with Colombia cumbia and Arabian flavors to produce a new recipe that has somehow found an appreciative world audience.

On Thursday night, Shakira reminded us of pop icons past, yet her originality still stood out.

She is not as contrived as Madonna, as prefabricated as N'Sync, or as shallow as Paulina Rubio. She has the wild rock energy of Aerosmith but with brains. Her vocals recall the yodeling Alanis Morissette, but she adds political purpose.

Shakira's inspiring concert performance demonstrated that despite the fact that she is Latina and from Colombia, (opposite the rock stereotype), she is the new face of relevant world rock today.