Ojos Así Explained

Ojos Así
Cover:Shakira - Ojos Así (Official Single Cover).png
Alt:Closeup of Shakira's face
Type:single
Artist:Shakira
Album:¿Dónde Están los Ladrones?
Studio:Crescent Moon Studios, Miami, Florida
Genre:Dance-pop[1] • Worldbeat • Arabic music
Label:Sony Discos
Lyricist:Shakira
Composer:
Producer:
  • Shakira
  • Pablo Flores
  • Javier Garza
Prev Title:No Creo
Prev Year:1999
Next Title:Moscas en la Casa
Next Year:1999

"Ojos Así" is a song by Colombian singer Shakira from her fourth studio album, Dónde Están los Ladrones? (1998). Infused with nuances of Arabic pop, the lyrics tell of the singer traveling the world but not having seen eyes like her lover's. It was released as the album's fifth single in October 1999 by Sony Discos. It was written by Shakira, composed and produced by her, Pablo Flores, and Javier Garza. The song was later adapted into English by Gloria Estefan as "Eyes Like Yours" and included on her first English studio album Laundry Service (2001).

Music critics praised "Ojos Así" as one of the album's best tracks. "Eyes Like Yours", however, was met with a less favorable reception, with reviewers commenting that it paled compared to the original. At the inaugural Latin Grammy Awards in 2000, "Ojos Así" won Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and received a Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) Latin Award in 2002.

An accompanying music video that depicts Shakira performing the song in front of a crowd and belly dancing was nominated in the category of Latin Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video in 2000. The song was included in the set list for the Tour Anfibio (2000), Tour of the Mongoose (2002–03), and The Sun Comes Out World Tour (2010–11). Shakira also performed an acoustic version of the song for her first live album, MTV Unplugged (2000). It ranked on several charts in Europe and was a top-ten hit on the Billboard Latin Pop Airplay chart in the United States.

Background and composition

After rising to prominence with the success of her major-label debut album Pies Descalzos (1995), Shakira was introduced to Emilio Estefan, then the most important producer in the Hispanic market, by her promoter and longtime friend, Jairo Martínez. Estefan was renowned for launching the careers of several Hispanic singers, including Thalía and his wife Gloria Estefan. He decided to work with Shakira as he identified her potential to break into the US Latin market, though one of Shakira's concerns about working with him was creative control over her music. Before signing their contract, the roles and duties were finalized: Estefan would be her manager and executive producer, but she would be in charge of all material and arrangements and have final approval over her records. She later stated about Estefan, "He had a great respect for me as an artist and trusted me totally on this project." They started working on Estefan's Crescent Moon Studios in Miami, Florida.[2] [3] She insisted on perfection, working on the material to the point of exhaustion. "I made two or three demos of each song. I became a human being so demanding of myself that until the song made my hair stand on end, I wouldn't stop".[3]

Equipment for the recording of her subsequent album Dónde Están los Ladrones? included old amplifiers to achieve a better sound, a 40-year-old German microphone, and several innovations in the instrumental mixes.[4] The album took nine months to produce, longer than Shakira's previous records since more people were involved. Shakira commented, "To me it's a normal time, the gestation period for a baby. But many people wag their finger and tell me that the next one cannot take so long..."[3] Shakira was involved with the compositions for all the tracks in the album, including "Ojos Así".[5] "Ojos Así" was written by Shakira and composed and produced by her along with Pablo Flores and Javier Garza.[6] Infused with nuances of Arabic pop,[7] the song characterizes Shakira as a globetrotter jaded by life's experiences whose soul is revitalized by the amorous gaze of her crush.[8] The singer bemoans that, despite having traversed the distance from Beirut to Bahrain, she has yet to encounter "eyes like yours".[9] The track is sung mostly in Spanish, a few verses in Arabic, and has a backing chorus performing in the latter language.[3] [10]

The success of Dónde Están los Ladrones? prompted Gloria Estefan, to persuade Shakira to record the album in English and attempt to cross over into the mainstream pop industry.[11] However, she was initially hesitant to record songs in English as it was not her first language, so Estefan offered to translate "Ojos Así" into English in order to show her that "it could translate well". Shakira then began translating the song herself and showed it to Gloria Estefan, and would say, "Quite honestly, I can't do this better!" As Shakira wanted to have full control over her recordings, she decided to learn English better to enable her to write her own songs. She was supposed to return to the studio to record an English-language version of the album in January 1999.[12] It did not come to fruition, and a new album titled Laundry Service was released instead as her first crossover album.[13] Despite the cancellation of the project, the English-language version of "Ojos Así" still appeared on Laundry Service as "Eyes Like Yours".[14]

Promotion

"Ojos Así" was released to radio stations worldwide by Sony Discos as the album's fifth single in October 1999.[15] It was later included on her greatest hits album Grandes Éxitos (2002).[16] Its music video was directed by Mark Kohr and filmed in Los Angeles.[17] [18] The film depicts Shakira interspersed with her belly dancing and performing in front of a crowd.[19] At the inaugural Latin Grammy Awards in 2000, it was nominated in the category of Latin Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video,[20] which went to "No Me Dejes de Querer" by Gloria Estefan.[21] The video won the International Viewer's Choice Award (North) at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards, and was also nominated for the same award in the South category, losing to "La Vida" by Los Fabulosos Cadillacs.[22] [23]

Live performances

"Ojos Así" was included on the set list for the following tours: Tour Anfibio (2000),[24] Tour of the Mongoose (2002–03),[25] the Oral Fixation Tour (2006–07),[26] and The Sun Comes Out World Tour (2010–11),[27] In August 1999, Shakira sang an acoustic version of "Ojos Así" during an episode of MTV Unplugged in New York City.[28] The performance was included on her first live album, MTV Unplugged (2000).[29] She also performed "Ojos Así" at the 2000 Latin Grammy Awards.[30] During a specific rendition of "Ojos Asi" in San Diego in 2003, Shakira commenced her concert with this song, eliciting exultation from the audience as she belly-danced in sync with the tune.[31] She sang it during the Rock in Rio festivals in Portugal in 2006 and Spain in 2007.[32] [33] It was also performed at the 2010 Glastonbury Festival and the Super Bowl LIV halftime show in 2020.[34] [35]

Reception

AllMusic reviewer Alex Henderson compared Shakira to Alanis Morissette and stated, "it would be hard to imagine her coming up with something as poetic as the Middle Eastern fantasy that Shakira vividly describes on her Arabic-influenced mega-hit 'Ojos Así'".[36] John Lannert of Billboard called "Ojos Así" the album's "most satisfying track".[37] The Hispanic magazine editor Mark Holston felt that the song "evokes the singer's Middle Eastern roots on a performance that effectively blends World Beat rhythms with Shakira's earthy vocals".[38] Writing for The Modesto Bee, Steve Morse elucidated how Shakira, through her song "Ojos Asi", did not forsake her Middle Eastern heritage, as evidenced by the presence of distinct Arab musical elements in the piece.[31] The Los Angeles Times reviewer Ernesto Lechner called it "superb".[39]

Critics were less favorable towards the English version. While calling the translation an "admirable" attempt, the Democrat and Chronicle writer Ramiro Burr commented that it "doesn't have the fire and snap of the original".[40] In a scathing review of the album, Arturo Garcia from The Wichita Eagle criticized it as "nothing less than a perversion of the original".[41] Writing for the Knight Ridder, Elio Leturia felt that while the track is "[v]ibrant and highly romantic, it loses its richness of its Spanish counterpart".[42] The Sacramento Bee reviewers Chris Macias and Bruce Dancis described the song as a "clunky trip to the nightclubs of Kashmir".[43]

At the inaugural Latin Grammy Awards in 2000, "Ojos Así" won Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.[21] It won an award at the 2002 BMI Latin Awards.[44] In 2022, it was listed as one of the 200 greatest dance songs of all time by Rolling Stone.[45]

Commercially, "Ojos Así" ranked in several European charts including Belgium (in both Flanders and Wallonia), France, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. In the United States, the track peaked at number 22 and 9 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs and Latin Pop Airplay charts.

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Dónde Están los Ladrones?.[6]

Track listings

European Maxi CD[46]
  1. "Ojos Así" (album version) – 3:57
  2. "Ojos Así" (Thunder Mix Radio Edit) – 3:52
  3. "Ojos Así" (Thunder Mix) – 10:15
  4. "Ojos Así" (Desert Mix) – 9:31
  5. "Ojos Así" (Mirage Mix) – 5:34
Colombian Maxi CD[47]
  1. "Ojos Así" (Thunder Mix) – 10:15
  2. "Ojos Así" (Thunder Mix Radio Edit) – 3:52
  3. "Ojos Así" (Desert Dub) – 9:31
  4. "Ojos Así" (Mirage Mix) – 5:34

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1999)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Honduras (Notimex)[48] 3
Chart (2003)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Romania (Romanian Top 100)[49] 27

Year-end charts

2003 year-end chart performance for "Ojos Así"
Chart (2003)Position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[51] 68
France (SNEP)[52] 96

Adaptations

The song was adapted in Greek by Natasa Theodoridou with the title "Καταζητείται" (Wanted) in her 2001 album Υπ' ευθύνη μου (I'm in charge).[53] [54]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Breihan . Tom . February 6, 2023 . The Number Ones: Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie" (Feat. Wyclef Jean). February 6, 2023 . Stereogum.
  2. Web site: Driven: Shakira. 2 January 2017. VH1. 15 January 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070115032138/http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/driven/96614/episode_about.jhtml. dead.
  3. Book: Diego, Ximena . Shakira: Woman Full of Grace . 2001 . . 978-0743216234 . registration . 83–84, 90.
  4. News: Shakira contraataca. 25 September 1998. 9 January 2017. El Tiempo. es. 5 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170905140020/http://www.eltiempo.com/archivo/documento/MAM-848144. live.
  5. Web site: Henderson. Alex. Dónde Están los Ladrones? – Shakira. 31 December 2016. AllMusic. 22 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170222020716/http://www.allmusic.com/album/d%C3%B3nde-est%C3%A1n-los-ladrones-mw0000045951. live.
  6. Dónde Están los Ladrones? . . 1998 . CD liner notes . . EPC 485719 6.
  7. Web site: Patton . Alli . 10 Essential Shakira Songs from "Beautiful Liar" to "Hips Don't Lie" . . December 2022. April 12, 2023. https://archive.today/20230412161131/https://americansongwriter.com/10-essential-shakira-songs-from-beautiful-liar-to-hips-dont-lie/. April 12, 2023.
  8. News: Semon . Craig S. . Shakira Cleans Up with 'Laundry Service' . 4 October 2022 . . 30 December 2001 . L5 . . subscription . ProQuest . 4 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230204071332/https://www.proquest.com/docview/268818966 . live .
  9. News: Roche . Michael . Shakira: Donde Estan los Ladrones? . 6 November 2022 . . 1 January 1999 . X4 . Newspapers.com . 7 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221107021644/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112665179/the-orlando-sentinel/ . live .
  10. News: Cobo-Hanlon . Leila . Leila Cobo . Colombian Pop Star Shakira Sets Sights on America . 7 November 2022 . . 4 October 1998 . 8C . Newspapers.com . 7 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221107023244/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112667111/the-miami-herald/ . live .
  11. Web site: Romero. Angie. Gloria Estefan Week: Will There Ever Be Another Shakira? Gloria Thinks So!. Latina. 10 November 2013. 29 September 2011. 10 December 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131210013522/http://www.latina.com/entertainment/music/gloria-estefan-week-will-there-ever-be-another-shakira-gloria-thinks-so. live.
  12. Lannert. John. Pondering Shakira's anglo crossover. 5 December 1998. 7 July 2017. Billboard. 0006-2510. 110. 49. 74.
  13. Web site: Heuy. Steve. Shakira – Biography. AllMusic. 31 December 2016. 29 December 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131229210602/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/shakira-mn0000790797/biography. live.
  14. Latin Music 6-Pack . Billboard . 6 October 2001 . 113 . 40 . LM-4 . 7 November 2022 . 0006-2510 . 4 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230204071329/https://books.google.com/books?id=WxEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA52 . live .
  15. Web site: Gaytán . Ilse . Ojos Así de Shakira habla de su muerte y resurrección . Notigram . 7 November 2022 . es . 4 October 2021 . 7 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221107025708/https://notigram.com/internacional/tendencias/ojos-asi-de-shakira-habla-de-su-muerte-y-resurreccion-20211004-630227 . live .
  16. Web site: Adaime . Iván . Shakira – Grandes Exitos . AllMusic . 9 June 2022 . 9 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220609210306/https://www.allmusic.com/album/grandes-exitos-musart--mw0000228609 . live .
  17. Complete List of Nominations For First-Ever Latin Grammy Awards . Billboard . 29 July 2000 . 112 . 31 . 46 . 7 November 2022 . 0006-2510 . 4 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230204071330/https://books.google.com/books?id=kxEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA46 . live .
  18. News: Villegas . Lizeth . Estara Shakira 'desenchufada' . 7 November 2022 . . 15 September 1999 . 5 . . es . subscription . ProQuest . 4 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230204071332/https://www.proquest.com/docview/374451072 . live .
  19. Shakira (performer). Ojos Así. Television. Columbia Records. 1999. 6 November 2022. 5 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190905094201/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BzkbSq7pww&gl=US&hl=en&has_verified=1&bpctr=9999999999. live.
  20. Web site: The Full List of Nominations . Los Angeles Times . 26 July 2022 . 8 July 2000 . 26 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220726164743/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-jul-08-ca-49420-story.html . live .
  21. Web site: 1st Annual Latin Grammy Awards Winners . The New York Times . 26 July 2022 . 16 September 2000 . 10 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210710073716/https://www.nytimes.com/2000/09/16/arts/1st-annual-latin-grammy-awards-winners.html . live .
  22. News: Navarro . Juan Manuel . Un premio que apantalla . 7 November 2022 . 3 September 2000 . 40 . . es . subscription . ProQuest . 4 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230204071333/https://www.proquest.com/docview/315972878 . live .
  23. News: Aburto . Gonzalo . Alterlatino: Los Mejores Conciertos del ano . 7 November 2022 . El Diario de la Prensa . 22 September 2000 . 37 . . es . subscription . ProQuest . 4 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230204071333/https://www.proquest.com/docview/368619734 . live .
  24. News: Shakira Se Quedó En el Corazón . 5 June 2022 . El Tiempo . 8 April 2000 . es . 5 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220605195946/https://www.eltiempo.com/archivo/documento/MAM-1232176 . live .
  25. Web site: Erlewine . Stephen Thomas . Stephen Thomas Erlewine . Shakira Live & Off the Record . AllMusic . 5 June 2022 . 12 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210612113556/https://www.allmusic.com/album/live-off-the-record-mw0000331045 . live .
  26. Web site: Ruhlmann . William . Shakira – Oral Fixation Tour (DVD/CD) . AllMusic . 5 June 2022 . 5 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220605201207/https://www.allmusic.com/album/oral-fixation-tour-dvd-cd--mw0001232421 . live .
  27. News: O'Hara . Lilia . Shakira dio un grandioso espectáculo en San Diego . 5 June 2022 . . 21 October 2010 . es . 5 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220605201208/https://www.chicagotribune.com/sdut-shakira-dio-un-grandioso-espectaculo-en-san-diego-2010oct21-story.html . live .
  28. Web site: Shakira – MTV Unplugged. https://web.archive.org/web/20140204031851/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/770951277/. Rotten Tomatoes. 4 February 2014. 13 June 2013.
  29. Web site: MTV Unplugged – Shakira. Alex. Henderson. AllMusic. 13 June 2013. 27 June 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130627223217/http://www.allmusic.com/album/mtv-unplugged-mw0000604924. live.
  30. Web site: Valdez . Maria G. . Shakira Performing "Ojos Así" . Popsugar Latina . 7 November 2022 . 13 November 2019 . 7 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221107041235/https://www.popsugar.com/latina/photo-gallery/46889676/image/46889686/Shakira-Performing-Ojos-As%C3%AD . live .
  31. News: Morse . Steve . Forget References to Pop and Its Fading Stars - Latin Music Sensation Shakira Has Always Possessed A Rock 'N' Roll Soul . April 12, 2023 . . January 17, 2003.
  32. Web site: Portugal. Rádio e Televisão de. 90.000 encheram Parque da Bela Vista e vibraram com Shakira. 28 March 2021. 90.000 encheram Parque da Bela Vista e vibraram com Shakira. pt. 6 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170906035639/https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/cultura/90000-encheram-parque-da-bela-vista-e-vibraram-com-shakira_n157353. live.
  33. Web site: S.A.P. El Mercurio. 6 June 2010. Choque de caderas en el pop: Shakira se enfrenta a Rihanna en Rock in Río de Madrid Emol.com. 28 March 2021. Emol. Spanish. 7 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220307073158/https://www.emol.com/noticias/magazine/2010/06/06/417401/choque-de-caderas-en-el-pop-shakira-se-enfrenta-a-rihanna-en-rock-in-rio-de-madrid.html. live.
  34. Web site: Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show Setlist: Every Song Jennifer Lopez, Shakira Performed . Elizabeth . Swinton . 2 February 2020 . . 3 February 2020 . 3 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200203021054/https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/02/03/super-bowl-liv-halftime-set-list-jennifer-lopez-shakira . live .
  35. Web site: Shakira. 28 March 2021. BBC. 13 August 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100813141402/http://www.bbc.co.uk/glastonbury/2010/artists/shakira/. live.
  36. Web site: Henderson . Alex . Shakira – Dónde Están los Ladrones? . AllMusic . 7 November 2022 . 24 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221024231123/https://www.allmusic.com/album/d%C3%B3nde-est%C3%A1n-los-ladrones--mw0000045951 . live .
  37. Lannert. John. Reviews & Previews. 110. 41. 23. 0006-2510. Billboard. 10 October 1998. 16 June 2013. 3 July 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140703140120/http://books.google.com/books?id=FQoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA23. live.
  38. Holston . Mark . Music . Hispanic . March 1999 . 12 . 3 . 75 . 3 October 2022 . 0898-3097 . . subscription . 4 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230204071333/https://www.proquest.com/docview/236991385 . live .
  39. News: Lechner . Ernesto . Shakira, Powerful and in Touch With Young Latina Audience . 7 November 2022 . Los Angeles Times . 22 April 2000 . 5 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220605201842/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-apr-22-ca-22268-story.html . live .
  40. News: Burr . Ramiro . Pop Artist Shakira Leaps Over Language Barrier . 7 November 2022 . . 17 November 2001 . 1C . ProQuest . 7 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221107053557/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112673847/democrat-and-chronicle/ . live .
  41. News: Garcia . Arturo . Music . 7 November 2022 . . 18 November 2001 . 3E . Newspapers.com . 7 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221107053555/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112674111/the-wichita-eagle/ . live .
  42. News: Leturia . Elio . Leight Has What it Takes to 'Conquer' Fans . 7 November 2022 . . 11 January 2002 . 18 . Newspapers.com . 7 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221107053553/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112674449/lincoln-journal-star/ . live .
  43. News: Macias . Chris . Dancis . Bruce . From Latin Angst to S. African Soul . 7 November 2022 . . 25 November 2001 . 8 . Newspapers.com . 7 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221107053555/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112674632/the-sacramento-bee/ . live .
  44. Web site: Latin Awards Winners List . . 4 October 2022 . 8 May 2002 . 4 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221004010328/https://www.bmi.com/press/entry/534704 . live .
  45. Web site: 200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time . Dolan . Jon . 22 July 2022 . . 7 November 2022 . 8 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220808144545/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/200-greatest-dance-songs-of-all-time-1372888 . live .
  46. Ojos Así. Shakira. 1999. Sony Discos. United States. CDP-14192.
  47. Ojos Así. Shakira. 1999. Columbia. United States. PMD 54099.
  48. Web site: Britney Spears se coloca entre las más escuchadas . . Spanish . 88 . October 17, 1999 . June 1, 2023.
  49. Web site: Romanian Top 100: Editia 42, saptamina 3.11 – 9.11, 2003. ro. Romanian Top 100. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20050514165839/http://www.rt100.ro/editie-top-100_x10093.html. 14 May 2005. 8 November 2022.
  50. Web site: Brazilian Top 100 Year-End 2000. April 3, 2018. Crowley Broadcast Analysis. January 30, 2022.
  51. Web site: Rapports Annuels 2003 . Ultratop (Wallonia). Hung Medien . 8 December 2013 . fr . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080417014822/http://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2003 . 17 April 2008 .
  52. Web site: Classement Singles – année 2003 . . 8 December 2013 . fr . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120915002012/http://www.snepmusique.com/fr/pag-259376-Classements-Annuels.html?year=2003 . 15 September 2012 .
  53. Web site: Πετρωτού . Ελευθερία . 2022-11-21 . Τριάντα ελληνικά τραγούδια που είναι διασκευές ξένων - Οι εκπλήξεις της λίστας (vids) . 2023-12-22 . mynews.gr . el.
  54. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPyzJzoXAnA

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