Timor (song)
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| “Timor” | |||||
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| Song by Shakira | |||||
| Album | Oral Fixation Vol. 2 | ||||
| Released | 2008 | ||||
| Recorded | 2005 | ||||
| Genre | Dance-pop | ||||
| Length | 3:32 | ||||
| Label | Epic Records | ||||
| Writer | Shakira | ||||
| Producer | Shakira | ||||
| Oral Fixation Vol. 2 track listing | |||||
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"Timor" is a dance-pop song written, produced and performed by Colombian singer Shakira. It is the eleventh track on her second English language studio album, Oral Fixation Vol. 2. It is the twelefth track on the re-release of the album.
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[edit] Song information
"Timor" is described as a protest song for its criticism of the judiciary system ("the system never fails, the good guys are in power and the bad guys are in jail"), the concept of democracy ("it's alright just as long as we can vote, we live in a democracy and that's what we promote"), the mass media ("it's alright if the news says half the truth, hearing what we want is the secret of eternal youth") and teenager alienation ("it's alright if the planets split in three, 'cause I'll keep selling records and you've got your MTV").
[edit] Significance of the title
The name of the song is a reference to East Timor, a developing Portuguese-speaking Asian country which received major attention from Western media during the time it was struggling to become independent, and now that the country needs humanitarian help to develop (it has the lowest per capita GDP in the world and the second worst HDI in Asia), it was "forgotten". Because of this, Shakira describes the East Timorese as "the people who don't matter anymore".
[edit] Retitle of the song in Indonesia
"Timor" was retitled "It's Alright" in the Indonesian version of Oral Fixation Vol. 2, because the East Timorese independence is still a highly controversial issue. The album cover was also changed there, as it was in other Muslim nations.[citation needed]
[edit] Critical response
Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide reviewer, stated that "even when the album dives into pulsating neo-disco, it's in the form of a protest song in the closer, "Timor", which isn't exactly by-the-numbers pop. And that's a pretty good description of Oral Fixation Vol. 2 in general — it's pop, but it's unconventional". [1]
Alexis Petridis, reviewer of The Guardian, stated in the newspaper that the song "answers the question of what Franz Ferdinand would sound like if they employed a children's choir and antiquated "syn-drums" that bring to mind either Kelly Marie's disco hit "Feels Like I'm in Love", or early 1980s cartoon Pigeon Street, depending on the listener's age. Admittedly, this isn't a question that anyone other than Shakira has spent much time pondering, but the result is bewildering and exhilarating. And you could happily apply the same adjectives to the whole of Oral Fixation Vol 2." [2]
Michael Paoletta, reviewer of the Billboard magaine, stated that "this wonderful disc closes with jagged dance track "Timor", a political call to arms that manages to recall Cyndi Lauper's "She Bop". [3]
[edit] Personnel
- Lyrics and music: Shakira
- Producer: Shakira
- Executive producer: Rick Rubin
- Co-producer: Lester Mendez for Living Stereo
- Main vocals: Shakira
- Background vocals: Shakira, Mario Inchausti
- Choir: Church of the Epiphany Chamber Choir
- Choir director: Patrick Dupré Quingley
- Bass guitar: Chris Chaney
- Keyboards: Lester Mendez, Pete Davis
- Guitar: Lyle Workman, Tony Reyes
- Programming: Pete Davis, Lester Mendez
- Recording Engineers: Rob Jacobs, Kevin Killen
- Mix Engineer: Gustavo Celis
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ All Music Guide review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine.
- ^ The Guardian review by Alexia Petridis.
- ^ Billboard review by Michael Paoletta.
[edit] External links
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