Oral Fixation, Vol. 2

After attaining international success with her third studio effort, Laundry Service, in 2001, Shakira opted to create a two-part follow-up record. Having co-written nearly sixty tracks for Laundry Service, she put herself "on the mission of selecting [her] favorite ones" to record for Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 and its predecessor, the Spanish-language Fijación Oral, Vol. 1.[2] While recording the project, Shakira worked with previous collaborators Gustavo Cerati, Lester Mendez, Luis Fernando Ochoa and Rick Rubin, and newer partners Jerry Duplessis, Wyclef Jean, Tim Mitchell and The Matrix.[3]

For the album, Shakira wrote all the lyrics, and the majority of the music. "To start seeing people's first reactions, and how people start relating to these songs and appreciating every single piece of work I have done over the past two years, is the best reward an artist can have after so much hard work," says Shakira. "I will not lie to you; it was not a path of roses. It was painful at times to come up with two albums, to write more than 60 songs and to fight my own insecurities and doubts."[4] While speaking about the difference about expressing herself in Spanish and English, Shakira said, "When I express myself in Spanish, I find elements that help me express an idea in perhaps a different way than when I do it in English. There are different aesthetics, but there is a certain style to the way I write my own songs, a particular way of describing feelings and emotions that I have developed over all these years making songs. I have gotten in touch with my own gift - I am sure, 10 years ago, I was not half as good as I can say I am today, and I am still not good enough. There is a long way to go."[4]

The album's cover was influenced by the biblical figure of Eve (pictured).

Shakira designed the artwork for both Oral Fixation records, and commented that they were inspired by the biblical figure of Eve, elaborating that she wanted "to attribute to Eve one more reason to bite the forbidden fruit, and that would be her oral fixation" and that "[she always felt] that [she has] been a very oral person. [It is her] biggest source of pleasure". The second volume's cover sees an unclothed Shakira covered by a tree's branches and leaves while holding an apple in her hand. The baby girl she held in her arms on the cover of the first volume is sitting in the tree, alluding to psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud's theory that infants begin discovering the world through their mouths during the oral stage of psychosexual development.[5]

For Jon Pareles of The New York Times, "For obvious reasons, it's eye-catching, as was the cover of the Spanish-language companion album, Fijación Oral, Vol. 1".[5] On Middle East versions of the album, Shakira was covered up with leaves which left her standing behind a bush, which surprised the singer.[6] Complex magazine selected the album cover as the eleventh "sexiest album cover of all time", writing that it is "the hottest portrayal of Eve in the Garden of Eden we can imagine."[7] Maxim also listed the album's cover as one of the "sexiest album covers", writing that, "A naked girl holding up an apple in a garden is played out, but not when the girl is hip-shaking Shakira. Damn, it could happen all over again, couldn't it?"[8]

For Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic, the album touches on everything from the expected Latin rhythms to glitzy Euro disco, trashy American rock & roll, and stomping Britpop, all punctuated by some stark confessionals.[1] "How Do You Do" is a bold opening track that features Gregorian chants and an eerie reciting of "The Lord's Prayer" before thrusting the listener into a song similar to Sarah McLachlan's 'Dear God', according to Kristina Weise of Songwriting Universe. It presents bitter questions regarding faith and religion. The lyrics say, "How many people die and hurt in your name?/Hey does that make you proud, or does it bring you shame?" Shakira affirms, "I decided in the bridge of the song to include chants from different religions like Islam, Judaism and Christianity. And the three chanters are saying basically the same: they are asking for forgiveness," she said off the track.[4]

The first single, "Don't Bother", presents the final chapter of a relationship and the confusion that faces anyone in a break-up. It includes the lyrics, "For you I'd give up all I own and move to a communist country/If you came with me, of course/And I'd file my nails so they don't hurt you." She quickly follows with: "And after all I'm glad I am not your type/I promise you won't see me cry/So don't bother/I'll be fine, I'll be fine." For Shakira, "I think 'Don't Bother' has a lot of pain in it as a song, but also a lot of humor and sarcasm. Yes, it is a way of exorcising all of these feelings, a form of catharsis, getting rid of all of those emotions that torture us women at some point in our lives."[4] "Illegal" features a guitar solo by Mexican guitarist Carlos Santana, and features lyrics such as, "You said you would love me until you died/And as far as I know you're still alive", which were compared to Alanis Morissette's "You Oughta Know", according to Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic.[1]

"I'd like to be the owner of the zipper on your jeans," she sings on the racy "Hey You," which was compared to the works of American rock band No Doubt, by Slant Magazine.[9] Mariachi horns bump up against surf guitars in "Animal City", a don't-go-there warning against fame and fake friends, while bossa nova accents wind through "Something", one of only two tracks reprised from Fijación Oral, being called En Tus Pupilas on the first edition.[10] "The Day and the Time" is on the first edition, with the title "Día Especial".[11] Meanwhile, gypsy-caravan violin and marauder guitar complete "Your Embrace," a teardroppy, adult-contemporary ballad, whilst "Costume Makes the Clown" talks about her cheating on her guy, over battering-ram guitars.[10] Shakira also dives into pulsating neo-disco on the closing track, "Timor", but in the form of a protest song.[1]

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	74/100[12]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Blender	[13]
Boston Herald	[14]
Entertainment Weekly	B−[15]
The Guardian	[16]
Los Angeles Times	[17]
PopMatters	9/10[18]
Rolling Stone	[11]
Slant	[9]
Stylus	B−[19]

At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, "Oral Fixation" received an average score of 74 based on 15 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[12] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic gave the album a rating of 4 stars (out of 5), calling it "a deadly serious, ambitious pop/rock album, most assuredly not frivolous dance-pop, [...] it's pop, but it's unconventional".[1] Erlewine also wrote that Oral Fixation "is not only a markedly different album from Fijación Oral, but from every other record in her catalog -- or, most importantly, from any other pop album in 2005."[1] Matt Cibula of PopMatters agreed, writing that Oral Fixation is "the best pop record of the year".[18] Alexis Petridis of The Guardian wrote that "Oral Fixation is the sound of an utterly unique voice in a uniform world."[16] Agustin Gurza of the Los Angeles Times wrote the album "is a stronger work as a whole, with sharper edges and darker undertones," praising its music, writing that "this work stands on its own, squarely within the mainstream of U.S. pop and rock with a lot less Latin flavor."[17]

David Browne of Entertainment Weekly gave the album a B- rating, writing that, "Although Oral Fixation is hardly the first time a Latina act has aimed straight for the middle of the North American road and nearly lost control of the wheel in the process, it's among the most disappointing. For all the musical ingredients at her disposal, Shakira winds up with a relatively bland dish."[10] Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine wrote that the weakest part in some songs on the album are "the main(stream) hook, an attempt at radio-accessibility that white-washes the personality that sets Shakira apart from her competition."[9] Barry Walters of Rolling Stone acknowledged that, "Occasionally clumsy but most often clever, Shakira's English lyrics and performances still lack the confidence of her Spanish tracks, yet Oral Fixation manages to maintain the musical credibility that Fijacion Oral won back."[11] Edward Oculicz of Stylus Magazine concluded that, "Oral Fixation Volume 2 strikes a good balance between the creative audacity of its more extreme songs, all of which work as good pop, and the filler, which is well crafted and catchy."[19]

In Austria, Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 entered the Ö3 Austria Top 40 albums chart at number seven and peaked at number six, spending a total of 45 weeks on the chart. The album was certified platinum by the IFPI Austria for sales over 30,000 copies. In the Dutch-speaking Flanders region of Belgium, it entered at number 90, and peaked at number eight which became its peak position where it remained for four weeks and spent a total of 51 weeks, while it debuted at number 97 in the French-speaking Wallonia region of the country, and peaked at number 12, spending 48 weeks in the chart. The album was certified Gold in Belgium for sales of 25,000 shipped copies. In Finland, Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 had some troubles to match the success and chart-run of her previous album Laundry Service on the Finnish Albums chart. It debuted at number 31 and spent two weeks on the chart. It re-enters at number 35 after one-week abstinence on the chart and spent five weeks on the albums chart. It re-enters newly after 14-weeks absence at number 21 and reached its peak position of number 13 and spent a total of 19 additional weeks in the chart. By the end of 2007, it was certified Gold for sales of 15,085 copies. In France, Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 debuted at number 37 and reached number eight in May 2006 which became its peak position after 24 weeks on the chart and due to the success of "Hips Don't Lie". It spent 65 weeks in the chart and was certified platinum by Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique (SNEP) for sales over 200,000 copies. In Germany, it debuted at number six and peaked at number four on the Media Control chart and charted for 71 weeks, becoming one of the longest-charting albums to date. Bundesverband Musikindustrie (BVMI) certified Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 triple-gold in Germany for shipments of 300,000 units. After debuting at number nineteen on the Italian Albums Chart, Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 ascended to number six in its fourth week and spent four non-consecutive weeks. The album was the 18th best-selling album of 2006 in Italy and sold 130,000 copies according to Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana (FIMI). While her song "Hips Don't Lie" became the most successful song of the year in the country. In Spain, Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 debuted at number twenty-one on December 4, 2005, and after descending the chart it spent nine weeks on the chart. It entered on the albums charts three weeks later at number ninety-one and reached its peak position of number three on July 2, 2006, fueled by the success of "Hips Don't Lie". The album was certified Platinum for by PROMUSICAE for sales over 80,000 copies. In Sweden, Oral Fixation, Vol. 2, debuted at number twenty-nine and every following week began descending until it left off the chart after eight weeks. It returned on the Swedish Albums chart at number eight on May 4, 2006, and reached its peak position of number four three weeks later, on May 18, 2006, and remained at that position for three non-consecutive weeks. It has spent a total of 30 weeks in the chart. The album was certified gold by Swedish Recording Industry Association (GLF). In Switzerland, Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 debuted at number five on December 11, 2005, and began descending the albums chart seventeen weeks before completely left out the chart in April 2006. It entered the charts again four weeks later at number ninety and reached its peak position of number three on May 28, 2006, also aided by the commercial success of "Hips Don't Lie" and spent a total of 57 weeks in the chart. The album was certified platinum by the IFPI Switzerland.

In the United States, Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 debuted at number 5 on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 128,000 copies. However, those first-week sales were comparatively less than those of Shakira's previous album Fijacion Oral, Vol. 1 released earlier in June 2005, and sold 157,000 copies in its first week, while her debut album Laundry Service sold at least 200,000 copies in its first week of release. In its second week it dropped to number 26 and continued descending the Billboard 200 albums chart at numbers 37, 42 and 47 in its third, fourth and fifth week respectively. Oral Fixation, Vol, 2 had not experienced the same commercial success of Laundry Service in terms of longevity in its chart positions and sales. Its low sales and chart performance was attributed to the poor performance of the album's lead single "Don't Bother" which barely cranked the Billboard Hot 100 top 40. The album rebounded in the Billboard 200 albums chart with the success of "Hips Don't Lie" from the album reissue, the album moved from number 98 to number 6 on the week of May 6, 2006, selling 81,000 copies.[20] By 2007, the album sold over 1.7 million units in the country.[21] The album was certified Platinum by the RIAA in the United States. Shakira additionally received 18 Platinum certifications for the sales of Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 in the following countries: Argentina, Austria, Canada, Chile, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Italy, Mexico, Norway, Peru Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, United States, United Kingdom, and her home country, Colombia. Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 was named the ninth best selling album of 2006 worldwide. Also it was the 23rd best selling album in the United States of 2006. After the performance of "Hips Don't Lie" at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards, which featured Shakira dancing in an Indian outfit,[22] the album topped India Charts and was certified Platinum selling 80,000 units.[23] In Canada, Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 debuted and peaked at number three and spent 15 weeks in the chart. Despite its short chart-run on the Canadian Albums Chart it was certified double-platinum by Music Canada for sales of 200,000 copies.

In the United Kingdom, Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 debuted at number twenty-two on 18 March 2006 and spent only three weeks on the UK Albums chart before it left out the chart on 1 April 2006. It re-entered for a second run at number fourteen fueled by the success of "Hips Don't Lie" on 21 July 2006, which also became her first UK number-one single in the country and eventually became the third most successful single of 2006. The album reached its peak position of number twelve -three weeks later- after its second chart run and spent 24 weeks on the chart. In April 2007, Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 re-entered the UK Albums chart at number seventy, the same week "Beautiful Liar", Shakira's duet with Beyoncé, entered the singles charts at No. 10 solely through downloads.[24] It later moved to #69. The song became her second UK number-one single and to date her last top-five hit single in the country. In total Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 has spent a total of 30 weeks on the chart and was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for sales of over 300,000 copies. It has sold over 404,000 copies to date.

Shakira performing during the Oral Fixation Tour, 2006

To further promote Fijación Oral, Vol. 1 and Oral Fixation, Vol. 2, Shakira embarked on the Oral Fixation Tour. It was launched on 14 June 2006, at the Feria De Muestras in Zaragoza, Spain.[25] With the assistance of the Creative Artists Agency, she visited ninety-four cities and performed forty-one shows across five continents.[26] The tour concluded on 9 July 2007, at the Turkcell Kuruçeşme Arena in Istanbul, Turkey.[27] It grossed over $42 million in North and Latin America, and grossed $100 million worldwide.[28] The set list primarily consisted of Spanish-language tracks, and additionally included earlier singles from Shakira's albums Pies Descalzos (1996), Dónde Están los Ladrones? (1998), and Laundry Service (2001).[29]

In November 2007, Epic Records released the Oral Fixation Tour live album, filmed during a show in Miami, Florida in December 2006. Robert Silva from About.com provided a positive review, describing the recording as a "very entertaining and lively performance"; he expressed an additional interest in the bonus behind-the-scenes footage.[30] William Ruhlmann from Allmusic shared a similar sentiment, complimenting her vocals and dancing abilities.[31]

The lead single, "Don't Bother", was released on 4 October 2005. The song received mixed reviews from music critics, who were ambivalent towards its production and songwriting. Commercially, the song was a moderate success, reaching the top ten in Austria, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and UK, while it only peaked at number 42 in the US, reaching a lower peak than "La Tortura", the lead single of Fijación Oral.[32]

After the moderate success of "Don't Bother" and of the album, her label Epic Records asked Wyclef Jean, in early 2006, to remake his song "Dance Like This" with Shakira, attempting to revive sales of the album. After that, "Hips Don't Lie" was released as the second single from the album (first from the reissue) on 28 February 2006. The song received positive reviews from critics, while it gained 6 awards. Commercially, the single proved to be more successful than "Don't Bother", peaking at number one in more than 13 countries, including Australia, France, Ireland, the UK and the US, becoming her most successful single to date.[33]

The third and final single, "Illegal", was released on 14 November 2006. The song received favorable reviews from music critics, due to the inclusion of Carlos Santana on it. However, the song didn't perform well on the charts, after the huge success of "Hips Don't Lie", only managing to peak inside the top ten in Austria, Italy and the Netherlands, while elsewhere it reached the top forty, including the UK. In the US, the song didn't enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[34]

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Oral Fixation, Vol. 2.

Notes

• ^{^a} signifies a co-producer
• ^{^b} signifies an additional producer
• ^{^c} signifies a pre-producer