That's the deal my dear!

It was a very mixed moment early Monday when I learned of Shakira’s upcoming song Can’t Remember to Forget You featuring Rihanna, set for release January 13 as the first single of her new album.  Mixed for so many reasons that to discuss them all with any degree of accuracy would fill an entire library of 1000 page leather-bound volumes.  In the interest of brevity and fiscal responsibility I have decided to shave it down to a much more manageable paragraph or two. 

It can be truly said that Shakira is one of the most important artists to me.  To take it further the argument could easily be made (by myself when talking to myself about myself) that Shakira one of the two most important artists ever to me in terms of the development of my interest/obsession/passion with music and art.  I recall with face numbing clarity first hearing her music in an introductory level Spanish class.  I do not remember which song (though I suspect it was from her MTV Unplugged album) nor could I understand any of it at the time.  What I do remember is being struck at how incomparably beautiful it sounded.  It was like discovering an entire new world of artistry and aural pleasures, an altogether unexpected and different kind of beauty.  In that instant I realized for one to put any limits on the music to which s/he listens – or any type of limits on any art form – is unbelievably arrogant and stupid.  A tiny thing like a language barrier could not prevent me from feeling the glory contained in her voice.  I feel a great swell of pity for people who do let things like that stop them from exploring.  But I digress. 

Point being, suddenly there were no limits in the music I could and should savor and there are dozens of artists – some among my favorites – which I never would have given a chance, were it not for her.  So you see, Shakira represents something massive to me, something philosophical and ideological whose value could never fully be measured.  But even stripped of this she still remains one of my all-time favorite recording artists.  Her first disc – Pies Descalzos – is very likely a top 5 desert island type album for me.  Her discography is not massive and so the discovery of her artistry and my subsequent exploration of her catalogue did not take as long as a Prince or a Bob Dylan for instance. But as with anyone discovering and exploring an artist, the journey was uniquely rich and rewarding and hearing albums like Donde Estan Los Ladrones? and Laundry Service (purchased at the same time as Californication by the Red Hot Chili Peppers from the local Best Buy) for the first time, and then the hundredth time, rewinding part of songs – or sometimes just hitting repeat – like Que Vuelvas and Poem to a Horse just to hear certain amazing and wholly unique vocal inflections are wonderful musical memories. 

And of course came the anticipation of the next album which was special being the first one I was able to look forward to.  As such the bonding with Fijacion Oral Volumen 1 was particularly strong, as intense as the evolution she showed on that album and the experiments with bossa nova and synthesizers.  And with most any artist comes the inevitable disappointment, in this case the She Wolf album which I was never able to fully connect with as it seemed she was stripping away what made her unique in preference of more generic pop explorations.  My patience was rewarded however with the follow-up album entitled Sale El Sol which I view as one of the best of her career.  From the opening chord of the title track to the meringue of Addicted to You, the devastation of Lo Que Mas and the Gustavo Cerati co-written powerhouse Devocion [ an instant classic my vote for the rockingest song of 2009 (and that was a year with a new Iron Maiden album!)] the album retained all her unique characteristics while still moving her sound forward. 

Now a new Shakira album and accompanying era is upon us.  Even if the rest of her albums are complete garbage I will still be in this for the long haul for all her music has given me to this point. But I must say this: the presence of Rihanna gives me great pause. I try my damndest to remain open minded – especially about music.  Yet I think I would prefer just about anyone other than Rihanna to guest on this track.  I cannot recall ever actually enjoying a Rihanna song and this is sadly because her voice always sounds flat and awful to me.  Additionally, her songs always seem to mine the most generic, bland and uninteresting pop conventions imaginable.  I feel bad for saying this.  I do not personally know Rihanna and having avoided most press coverage for her I cannot attest to knowing anything about her work ideologies, ethics or anything which would normally be of interest to me about an artist.  It is easy to say my reactions are a tad premature since neither the album nor even the song is even available for listening. 

It is also true that singles are commonly not indicative of the album’s sound as a whole.  This is often true in Shakira’s case such as the aforementioned Fijacion Oral/Oral Fixation albums where duets like La Tortua with Alejandro Sanz and Hips Don’t Lie with Wyclef Jean were not representative – for better or worse depending on one’s perspective – of the overall sound of either of those respective albums.  It is also true that Shakira has long been savvy to trends and the importance of proper marketing and these have definitely been a priority since Laundry Service (that album makes me cry with joy).  Perhaps this single then is simply designed as a giant splash of a song to kick off this new era.  Though I do not think of her in the same way as Britney Spears (of whom I am also a fan), Shakira’s musical landscape undoubtedly functions differently from someone like Bruce Springsteen or Rush and requires different types of marketing and release strategies.  Though my ultimate fear is that Rihanna’s presence and this song will signify another She Wolf type album wherein I will have to patiently await the following release for my preferred Shakira fix. 

I pride myself in being emotionally honest at all times (impressive, I know) and especially in reaction to the works of my favorite artists be it writer, singer, director or whatever.  No one should force themselves to slavishly like something nor should any fan think they have an obligation to enjoy or support something.  Upon listening to this new song 59 times I like to think I will make an honest proclamation as to whether I think it is brilliant, horrible or somewhere in between.  I also like to think I will be honest in what things I enjoy or dislike about the song; if Rihanna’s part wins me over I hope to admit as such and if Shakira lets me down (no artist is infallible after all, both Mick Jagger and David Bowie thought it was a good idea to go Dancing in the Streets) I hope I can spit this out as well.  But if everything about it blows my mind I will throw a listening party at my posh flat and will invite all my readers and the whole block for drinks, hot-tubbing and claim jumping!    

In the final analysis I am still undoubtedly excited to have a new Shakira era upon us and a disc of new music to pour down my gaping waxy earhole.  Also, I never noticed until yesterday but Tu by Shakira sounds a heck of a lot like Open Arms by Journey.  Coincidence?