She Fail*
(image found at: http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/_/32970873/Shakira++She+Wolf.jpg)
Dear Shakira,
We’ve been friends for a long time, you and I. I have loved your music since the Whenever, Wherever days and my friends and I even choreographed a dance to match the song (complete with not-so sexy crawling moves as seen in your video. Sadly, my mom wouldn’t let us bring mud into the house to make it complete. Mothers. *sigh*).
I think your voice is amazing because it is SO unique and your sound is so… original. I covet your fabulous hair with great coveting, and wish my Hips Didn’t Lie like yours. Really, there is a lot of love here.
So when I heard the beginning of your new song on the radio this week I was SO excited. Seriously. I’ve even managed to get the Hubs to appreciate your music (and he really doesn’t enjoy a lot of my music collection… ha). I was LOVING She Wolf as it started… and then I heard something that I thought had to be a mistake. I wasn’t watching Twilight and there certainly were no werewolves around… but no. It played again and there it was…
The “howl”.
Ohhh hunny. I wish you had called and asked me if it might be a fun addition to the song, to which I would have kindly told you…
HECK NO. (with all the love that I possess, of course.)
I’m trying hard to find some way to appreciate the howling in a non-mocking way but was having difficulty just listening to the song (which is actually quite catchy and fun otherwise), so I thought that watching the video might help. The Hubster and I looked it up last night and let me tell you–I now understand the need for the psychotic heavy panting in the song…. but I’ll get to that in a minute.
Now I was just a little confused… was your video supposed to be somewhat of a Thriller knock off? I’m hoping that you were just trying to honour MJ in your own special way. But then the whole full moon bit passed and, oh, Shakira… we need to talk.
First things first–I’m worried about you! Have they cut your budget, or simply your clothes? It appears that you’re missing half of your leotard! Was it stolen? Was it moths? I bet it was moths. Those devils can chew holes like no tomorrow. Tsk, tsk. You should’ve borrowed a snuggie from Kristina P… I bet it would have been a little warmer for you, and think of the alliteration magic! She Wolf could become She Snuggie, Snuggie Wolf, or even She Snuggie Wolf! You really should have called.
+
And since we’re BFF’s and you trust my opinion more than everyone else’s and all, I need to tell you to fire your costume manager like, right now. I bet he/she didn’t even tell you that your cage suit made you look NUDE! (*gasp*) Seriously. You almost look naked. Because you’ve hit the gym once or twice and look great it wasn’t terrible, but I’m sure that suit would have looked much prettier in tie-dye or neon (since we’re flashing back to MJ videos anyway).
And then the dancing. It was just… wrong.
And not just a little bit of wrong… it was a motha truckload of wrong! The clawing at your boobs move? Your crazy robot back bend (the Hubster’s personal favourite)? The weird “I’m-sooooo-flexible” shoulder and leg moves in the cage? It was like Cirque du Soleil meets Animal Safari.
*shakes head*
Shakie, darling, listen up–you’ve got wicked hip moves, but when those movements extend to the rest of your body, sadly, it just doesn’t work. The dancing was CRAZY, and not even a good crazy. It was more of an “I can’t believe this is actually the music video for this song” crazy. (Mind you, that was followed by an, “Oh wait, she howled in this song so maybe it works” moment.)
Next time stick with the hips–they won’t lie to you.
Much love,
P.s. I’m now on the hunt for other hilariously bad / funny music videos! What’s the one you love to mock / the one that makes you laugh?
P.p.s. The Hubster found some hilarious parodies of this song last night, but this was his favourite. I give you: The She Worf.
30 Comments
KristinaP
I have so many questions. Is this in the Twilight soundtrack? I heard this song on the radio, but somehow missed the ever so mockable howling. And OF COURSE she was supposed to look naked in that cage.
But good call on the Snuggie. Snuggies make everything better.
Mummy Maggie
this is a great post. as a huge shakira fan since the mid-90s, i can appreciate her quirkiness. i think, despite the weirdness of the howl, she makes it work. i thought her outfits were downright modest compared to some of shaki's counterparts (lady gaga, britney spears, xtina aguilera, and the like). i think we all need to howl a bit more – ahwoooo!!!!
Erin
Hehehe I'm not even ashamed to admit how much I love this song. Even the howl. Especially the howl? I KNOW it's awful, but I can't stop listening to it… and dancing around my apartment to it… and in my car…. and changing the lyrics so they're about my cat. Yup, I am just that awkward.
Lil' Woman
Lol…that howl was hilarious, hopefully it doesn't catch on :)
Ashley
Hmm… One of my favourites recently: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj-x9ygQEGA
Shakira (like many) has changed a fair bit. My sister was so obsessed with Shakira when “Whenever, Wherever” came out that I became turned off by her music (my sister played that video about 10 times a day). I did get to meet her and her band though and I have to say they are a nice bunch of people.
Erin
Wow. Just…wow. There really are no words. I'm amazed that you could articulate such a well-put letter after the horror that was that video.
She FAIL, is right!
Shop Girl*
Umm… I hope so too. Seriously.
dearjennymac
SO FUNNY! I had never even heard of this song until this weekend..the parody? Excellent.
Shop Girl*
Isn't it fabulous?? There were already several parodies made, but the Hubs insisted I share that one. haha
Shop Girl*
haha well, it was trying, but I do LOVE Shakira. Her new song is just a little too out there for me!!
Shop Girl*
haha I LOVE that video!! Thanks for sharing!!! And you've MET Shakria?? Details, lady! ;)
Shop Girl*
Umm… I hope so too. Seriously.
Shop Girl*
Hahaha… it IS a fun song, even with the howl. It's very catchy and I'm sure it'll find it's way onto my running playlist eventually. ;)
Shop Girl*
When you put it that way, she was rather modest! haha! I did feel like she was channeling a bit of Britney with her cage dancing (or maybe it was just the “naked” look that Brit Brit loves).
Shop Girl*
Sadly, I doubt it will make the Twilight soundtrack although I think it's PERFECT for it. The howling just really reminded me of it. haha!
Jill Pilgrim
Hahahaha!
I must say that I do love me some Shakira!
Shop Girl*
Oh meeee too… we're BFF's and all. I am just not sure about the howling… haha
Becca Christensen
Nude unitard? No no. Ha ha…nice entry. This video weirds me out. Completely.
Name
yikes!!! That is all wrong!
Classroom Confessions
I am so glad you posted this! I first heard this song in Zumba and didn't really pay attention to the words since I was too busy dancing my butt offf! Then later I looked up the video and I was just in shock! I too have loved Shakira for a long time and I was dissapointed by the raunchy and confusing sexuality of this video. So weird!
brownbelle
I knoooow! It's a fun song, bu the video cracked me up so much I made my boyfriend watch it. Ever since then we've been imitating that howl and dying laughing! And the dancing–what the heck?!?
Shop Girl*
Haha I love that you made your boyfriend watch it too!! My Hubs and I love the psycho dancing, he likes her backwards robot bend the best!
Shop Girl*
I love how you phrased that– “raunchy and confusing sexuality”. That just about hits the nail on the head!
I was weirded out too… but I got a laugh out of it so life is good. haha
Shop Girl*
Haha I thought so too!!!!
Shop Girl*
Ahh I could probably write an entire post about how much I love the word “unitard”. haha
Classroom Confessions
Oh me too!
Veggie Carrie
How funny, and very wrong indeed! I always loved Shakira too, but agree – what is going on here with the nude body suit (not a good look)? The 80's style music, panting and howling too, what's happened?
Shop Girl*
Haha I'm not sure what happened… the whole thing is just bizarre!
Shop Girl*
Haha I'm so glad you think it's crazy too!! I almost want to go dancing just so I can show off some of hew fabulous moves…
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