Shakira’s ‘Fijación Oral, Vol. 1’ Turns 20: All Songs Ranked from Worst to Best
Which track has best stood the test of time? See our ranking below.
Shakira receives the award for Best Female on stage at the 12th annual MTV Europe Music Awards 2005 at the Atlantic Pavilion on November 3, 2005 in Lisbon, Portugal. MJ Kim/Getty Images for MTV
Twenty years ago today (June 3), Shakira dropped her sixth studio album, Fijación Oral, Vol. 1, via Epic Records — the follow-up to her debut English-language LP, Laundry Service, released in 2001.
After a successful debut in the English market with tracks such as “Whenever, Wherever” and “Underneath Your Clothes,” the Colombian superstar returned to singing in her native language for Fijación Oral, where she reeled in producers such as Gustavo Cerati, Lester Méndez, Luis Fernando Ochoa, and José “Gocho” Torres.
Home to 10 tracks — including singles “La Tortura” (2005), “No” (2005), “Día de Enero” (2006), “La Pared” (2006), and “Las de la Intuición” (2007) — the set debuted at No. 1 on Top Latin Albums for 17 weeks, marking her fourth champ then (she has scored seven No. 1s to date). It also debuted at No. 1 on Top Latin Pop Albums, where it dominated for 25 weeks between 2005-06, and at No. 4 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart.
Fijación Oral also gave fans the timeless collaboration with Alejandro Sanz, “La Tortura.” The pop urban-tinted track, with dancehall and acoustic elements, peaked at No. 1 on Hot Latin Songs chart dated June 4, 2005, and ruled for 25 weeks. It was also the only track from the album that entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
The album was followed by Oral Fixation, Vol. 2, released in November 2005, where the global hit “Hips Don’t Lie” in collaboration with Wyclef Jean, lives. Vol. 1 is home to 10 Spanish-language songs and Vol. 2 to 10 English-language ones.
“The idea of making a double project was never planned or premeditated, it just happened,” Shak previously shared in an interview with MTV. “I found myself writing 60 songs and put myself on the mission of selecting my favorite ones, which happened to be 20.”
Below, Billboard editors rank all 10 songs on Fijación Oral, Vol. 1, from worst to best.
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“Lo Imprescindible”
A romantic ballad with sensual overtones that include whispered German verses — “Bleib, baby, bleib, baby/ Geh nicht wieder weg” (Stay, baby, stay, baby/ Don’t leave again) — “Lo Imprescindible” (Spanish for indispensable) speaks of the need to connect physically and emotionally with a loved one, to the point of obsession. “The pain is suffocating, and now all that matters is that you come back to me… Come back, don’t torture me like this,” Shakira sings on this track, one of the less-remembered songs on Fijación Oral.
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“Obtener un Sí”
In “Obtener un Sí” (Receive a Yes), the Colombian artist is completely head-over-heels for her love interest. Using figurative language, she sings about having dark circles under her eyes from looking at him so much, dying for him and being unable to forget him, and loving him because he’s clear like the sole of her feet. Shak’s sweet and sensual vocals are accompanied by a 1950’s-inspired Brazilian bossa nova melody.
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“Escondite Inglés”
This song might not be her best, but it’s certainly unique, sounding like something straight out of The Addams Family — evoking Bobby Pickett’s classic “Monster Mash” — with a whimsical, almost eerie organ melody at the beginning. Then it transitions into a ska-tinged rock en español track, where Shakira pours out pure rockera energy, teetering on playful and mischievous. Her lyrics are daring and irreverent, filled with clever metaphors and flirtatious provocations (“Yo seré tus deseos hechos piernas/ El objeto y la causa de tu perdición”) that wink at the listener while keeping them guessing. Sure, it’s not for everyone, but its oddball allure is precisely what makes it worth a listen.
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“La Pared”
This soft pop-rock ballad heartbreakingly describes the feeling of being trapped and isolated in a relationship. “After you, the wall/ Never leave me/ Beneath the asphalt and further down I would be/ Without you,” Shakira sings with pathos in this song, which she wrote and produced with Lester Méndez. “La Pared” features an even more evocative acoustic version performed only on piano.
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“Día Especial” (feat. Gustavo Cerati)
“Día Especial” feels like a conversation between two musical worlds, where Shakira’s evocative storytelling meets Gustavo Cerati’s atmospheric, celestial-like guitar work. Written with Cerati and Luis Fernando Ochoa, the track features Shakira’s poignant vocals paired with the legendary Argentine’s ethereal background harmonies, weaving a soundscape that is equal parts dreamy and introspective. Lyrics like “Adelanté las agujas del reloj/ La lágrima secó, se aleja el temporal” speak to forgiveness and renewal. “Día Especial” stands out as an otherworldly highlight in her discography, offering listeners a melodic leap toward healing and reflection.
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“En Tus Pupilas”
The album kicks off with Shakira singing in French: “Quand je regarde dans tes yeux/ Je vois que Dieu existe,” she effortlessly chants. “En Tus Pupilas” (in your pupils) is a heartfelt love letter, where she opens up about a chemistry so strong that she’s convinced God is real, and declares it’s the best thing that has happened to her between the mundane and the sacred. “And I feel something in you, something between us/ That makes me insist/ When I look into your eyes, I know that God has not ceased to exist/ You make him live,” she gushes over the soft, pop-rock ballad.
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“Día de Enero”
In “Día de Enero,” Shakira offers a tender, acoustic ballad that departs from her signature pop-rock intensity to embrace a softer, more intimate sound. Written and produced by the artist herself as an ode to a blossoming love, the song captures the vulnerability and joy of new beginnings. With poetic lyrics referencing astrological signs and shared memories (“Y ahora que andamos por el mundo/ Como Eneas y Benitín”), the Colombian artist paints a vivid picture of love’s warmth: “Conozco la razón que hace doler tu corazón/ Por eso quise hacerte esta canción.” The stripped-down arrangement of guitars and her heartfelt delivery make this track a standout for its simplicity and sincerity.
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“Las de la Intuición”
“Las de la intuición” is a synth-pop and euro house track in which Shakira sings about a woman’s intuition for love when she’s about to embark on a new relationship. Written by the Colombian superstar with Luis Fernando Ochoa and co-produced with Lester Méndez, the song begins almost like a whisper, building in crescendo before reaching the powerful chorus: “And I think I’m beginning to understand/ Slowly, slowly you begin to fall/ We wanted each other since before we were born…” It also features a music video directed by Jaume de Laiguana that spawned one of the artist’s most memorable looks: the one with the purple wig that many of her fans wear to her shows to this day.
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“No” (feat. Gustavo Cerati)
The most tender ballad on the album finds Shakira (a rockera at heart )and Gustavo Cerati (the illustrious rockstar of Soda Stereo fame) joining forces. The majestic tune laces the late Argentine artist’s dream-pop guitar riffs and quiet, luminous vocals with the Colombian songstress’ soulful and quivering powerhouse vocals. In “No,” Shak sings about the hardships of toxic love as she builds up towards a potent stance and says, “No!” The song peaked at No. 2 on Latin Pop Airplay in 2005.
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“La Tortura” (feat. Alejandro Sanz)
Oozing with passion and anguish, “La Tortura” is a spellbinding duet that captures the raw emotions of betrayal and desire. Shakira and Alejandro Sanz come together in this sultry exchange, where heartbreak becomes a dance of seduction, regret, and longing. The track unfolds like a fiery argument between two lovers who’ve been torn apart by infidelity — but are still magnetically drawn to each other. Shakira’s fervent delivery sears with vulnerability, while Sanz’s smooth, remorseful tones counter her pain with a sensual charm that feels irresistible. The timeless hit reached No. 23 on the Hot 100, while topping the Hot Latin Songs chart for 25 weeks.
Link to the source article – https://www.billboard.com/lists/shakira-fijacion-oral-vol-1-album-all-songs-ranked/
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