Shakira - Oral Fixation Tour [DVD + CD] [2007]

for shakira's fans it is a must have dvd. personally i was impressed by her energy and the nice athmosphere on the stage. the minuses are that if you expected to hear more from oral fixation cd's songs you'll be disapointed, but anyway its really good concert dvd.

Sony presents Shakira: Oral Fixation Tour in 1080p high definition inside a 1.78:1 frame. Seeing as this is the first concert I have seen on Blu-ray, or any home video format for that matter, I don't really have a base of comparison to judge it against, but I cannot imagine any other program of this nature looking any better. As expected, there is a lot of smoke to be seen in the image, especially up against the bright lights around the stage, but it never gets in the way of the image. Clarity is amazing. Color reproduction is stunning, and details, even on distant shots of the stage and crowd, appear to be of the highest caliber. Blacks, too, are solid. This image almost looks too real. You wouldn't have had a better view of the show in real life, and I doubt even a front row seat would have been a marked improvement over the image you see on this disc.

The 2.0 channel PCM track and the 5.1 Dolby Digital tracks sound amazing on their own, but the PCM uncompressed 5.1 track running at 6.9 Mbps is obviously the one to listen to, if your equipment can decode it. The show kicks off with the hit song Estoy Aqui and the viewer is immediately transported to the show. If you were sitting dead center in the auditorium with the pulsating beats and the crowd noise all around you in perfect harmony, you would approach the level of sonic wonder produced with this disc. Bass is powerful yet clear. Shakira's remarkable ability to produce both high pitches and deep lows with her voice is reproduced with an uncanny and lifelike accuracy. Suffice it to say, this is one of the most immersive, lifelike tracks I've ever heard, probably because it is real. This track goes to show just how good real life can sound. Studios and processing are fine, but what we get here is a true to life sonic adventure that left me speechless at times. If this disc isn't running as demo material at stores all around the world, it should be. This is a system seller.

Shakira fans are in for a treat as this disc contains a nice selection of extras. Around the World in 397 Days (480p, 11:26) is a chronicle of the 125 stop tour. This is a good look at the inner workings of the tour in other countries, including stops in Mumbai, India and Cairo, Egypt. Barefoot (480p, 21:21) is a look at Shakira's life philosophies and philanthropic endeavors. A video clip of Las De La Intuicion (480p, 3:46) is included. Live: 'Obtener un Sí' (1080p, 3:35) is a live performance of this song not included in the main feature. Live: 'La Pared' (480p, 3:56) is another performance of the song featured in the concert as performed in a separate venue. A photo gallery of stills from the concert is available for your perusal.

The primary extra is the inclusion of an audio CD that contains a musical intro and live performances of the songs Estoy Aquí, Don't Bother, Inevitable, La Pared, and Hips Don't Lie.

Shakira: Oral Fixation Tour is sure to please hardcore Shakira fans, concert fans, and Blu- ray fans. Shakira puts on a great show that is highly energetic and entertaining. If you are not familiar with this artist, this Blu-ray disc is perhaps the best introduction to her music. Outside of attending a real live concert, this disc is the absolute best Shakira presentation you will experience. This is a top-notch release that features video and audio quality of the highest magnitude. Extras are nice, including the addition of the audio CD. Recommended for Blu-ray fans, and a must buy for Shakira fans.

Is there anyone out there who hasn't got Shakira yet? If there is, this DVD might fix it.

It is a recording of one of the dates in the "Oral Fixation" tour of 2006. It was filmed in Miami, which is important, because the city's huge Hispanic population means that Shaki was playing to a home crowd.

Sporting a shock of dark-blonde hair, Shaki looks great from the off. Despite the global stature she has attained, she clearly still suffers from stage nerves, but by half-way through the first number, the old fave "Estoy Aqui," that's all forgotten and the bopper from Barranquilla is firing on all cylinders and the party gets a-hopping. By the end of that song, she has the crowd eating out of the palm of her hand, and from there proceeds to rip through a selection of older songs and material from the "Oral Fixation" series.

While Shakira has always presented herself as a solo act, in fact she works with a small pool of dedicated musicians, some of whom have been with her for ten or more years, including her musical director and guitarist, Tim Mitchell, with whom she has co-written many songs. Her band is a powerhouse of talent, a solid, tight underpinning that complements Shakira's vocals perfectly.

And then there's those vocals. Shakira can be stylised and operatic, laid back and soulful; she can rock, reggae and jazz. She can miaow like a cat and snarl like a tiger. I can think of no other contemporary singer who exceeds her range of vocal expression, and what is more, Shaki is no studio-produced confection; she does it all, and more, live.

Shakira long ago proved she had the Midas touch as a pop composer, and her back catalogue contains some of the best examples of the genre ever written, like "Ojos Asi," "Un Poco de Amor," "Inevitable," "Whenever, Wherever," "La Tortura," "No;" this list goes on and on. Those who speak Spanish or who took the trouble to find translations know she is witty, gritty, and most of all enormously romantic and appealing in her lyrics, a tradition she has built on with her move into songwriting in English, now unafraid to deal with political and moral issues.

But this DVD is about more than that; it is about the sheer, infectious joy that this pint-sized but hugely talented artist takes in performing, in singing and dancing in front of an audience.

In a world full of pretentious, dull, derivative "indie" music and insufferable, instantly forgettable music-industry product, Shakira is that welcome breath of fresh air, an original, sincere, committed and most of all incredibly talented artist.

If you didn't realise that before, this DVD should convince you.