November 22, 2002
TORONTO -- Colombian pop-rock sensation Shakira wasted no time pulling out a show-stopping, sensual display of belly dancing last night at the Air Canada Centre.
The 25-year-old singer, who broke though in North America with her 2001 English language debut, Laundry Service, was crouched beneath a giant cobra on stage and rose up from under it by wiggling her toned midriff during the opening song, Eyes Like Yours (Ojos Asi).
In fact, each time she let it rip in the belly department, the crowd of about 10,000 -- well shy of a sell-out -- went completely nuts.
As it was, they were already on their feet, clapping and waving dozens of Colombian flags before the barefoot Shakira -- performing her first Toronto concert -- even took the stage.
Helping the party mood was dramatic red lighting, plenty of smoke, firebursts, a nine-piece band -- anchored by two guitarists -- and Shakira's sexy outfit of black bikini top and black leather pants with plenty of tassles.
It was an electrifying opening, and proved hard to live up to for the rest of the night, despite explosions, a cool-looking catwalk that lit up in different colours, costume changes and confetti.
Still, the audience went crazy again for such numbers as Ciega Sordomuda, EstoyAqui , Octavo Dia -- this one featuring her band in the masks of world leaders -- the reggae-drenched Un Poco De Amor and Tu, presumably material from her five Spanish-language albums.
Not working as well were Shakira's rock shout-outs via covers of Aerosmith's Dude (Looks Like A Lady) and AC/DC's Back In Black, the latter featuring Shakira performing some Brass Rail-worthy dance moves on a metal bar. (I do realize in some quarters that's a combination that is applauded.)
Shakira also seemed determined to show off her musical prowess, playing electric guitar (Fool), harmonica (Dude), acoustic guitar (Inevitable), and drums (Rules), as the hour-and-45-minute performance wore on.
She fared better when she stuck to just singing and some serious displays of dancing, like during: The disco-happy number, Ready For The Good Times, which employed no less than eight disco balls; Objection (Tango), during which she was surrounded by five drummers and fiercely shook her hips; and the encore tune and her big breakthrough hit, Whenever, Wherever, when she rose from the floor of the stage inexplicably wearing a golden candelaba on her head as she belly-danced and, eventually, sang high above the crowd on a moving, elevated platform.
Shakira has called her road trip the Tour of the Mongoose and "bite the neck of hatred" were the last words to be flashed on three video screens after she left the stage.
And while she didn't conquer evil, at the very least she put a smile on people's faces. If not always intentionally.
JAM! Rating: 3 out of 5
Air Canada Centre, Toronto - Nov. 28, 2002
Shakira shakes, rattles and rolls By JANE STEVENSON -- Toronto Sun
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