Shakira is a girl on fire as a runaway bride in her latest glamorous video for her wailing single "Empire," the second single off her new self-titled tenth studio album, her first studio album in four years, out Tuesday. Love, motherhood, rock roots, a dab of country here, a drop of reggae there, and of course, Latin dance rhythms. Her new album may at first blush sound as if it could be a disparate affair, but instead, it's a cohesive, organic set, with roots that lie mostly in melodic pop-rock and unexpected touches from multiple influences. There's not much Latin-ness to be found here, but it doesn't matter. The album works on the strength of the songs.
Steve Mac-produced "Empire," is a mid-tempo rock-influenced song, described as being Shakira's biggest rock transition in a long time since her earlier music. Critics had immediately noticed the '90s piano rock influences in "Empire," which is a beauty of a rock ballad that begins pared-down with vocals over solo piano in acoustic mode with a sparse intro before Shakira unleashes her inner head-banger and howls her way through the chorus. Lyrically, the track talks about a bursting passion that the singer simply cannot express in words.
On the track, which has the 37-year-old Latin songstress channeling Kate Bush, she sings about the power of one particular man's love, but he is not the man she is set to marry, "Like the empires of the world unite/ We are alive/ And the stars make love to the universe/ You're my wildfire every single night." Pretty intense. Describing the kooky rock song as surprising would be an understatement. Colombia's finest export has dabbled in guitar-pop over the years, but "Empire" is her rowdiest rock adventure by far.
In the clip, Shakira plays a runaway bride, who enters what looks like a devastated church and is about to say 'I do' to an unknown man, only to realize she's not really ready. So, she turns around and bolts out the door and leaving her guests and groom behind. The video then takes us on a visual journey as Shakira breaks free from her past relationship, literally setting it on fire. After fleeing and dancing through a grassy field in a flowing wedding dress, the singer is seen in front of the church singing the powerful rock-pop "Empire" chorus as the veil and back of her traditional white wedding dress go up in flames.
Steve Mac-produced "Empire," is a mid-tempo rock-influenced song, described as being Shakira's biggest rock transition in a long time since her earlier music. Critics had immediately noticed the '90s piano rock influences in "Empire," which is a beauty of a rock ballad that begins pared-down with vocals over solo piano in acoustic mode with a sparse intro before Shakira unleashes her inner head-banger and howls her way through the chorus. Lyrically, the track talks about a bursting passion that the singer simply cannot express in words.
On the track, which has the 37-year-old Latin songstress channeling Kate Bush, she sings about the power of one particular man's love, but he is not the man she is set to marry, "Like the empires of the world unite/ We are alive/ And the stars make love to the universe/ You're my wildfire every single night." Pretty intense. Describing the kooky rock song as surprising would be an understatement. Colombia's finest export has dabbled in guitar-pop over the years, but "Empire" is her rowdiest rock adventure by far.
In the clip, Shakira plays a runaway bride, who enters what looks like a devastated church and is about to say 'I do' to an unknown man, only to realize she's not really ready. So, she turns around and bolts out the door and leaving her guests and groom behind. The video then takes us on a visual journey as Shakira breaks free from her past relationship, literally setting it on fire. After fleeing and dancing through a grassy field in a flowing wedding dress, the singer is seen in front of the church singing the powerful rock-pop "Empire" chorus as the veil and back of her traditional white wedding dress go up in flames.
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