Shakira - "Laundry Service" (2001)

[🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲]

Her fifth studio album and first English language album released on November 13, 2001 by Epic Records. The album peaked at #3 on Billboard 200 and #6 on Top Internet Albums. It's been certified 4x Platinum. The album is listed at number 172 of the "Definitive 200" by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Spanish album version is titled "Servicio de Lavandería".

The album title was inspired by Shakira's passion for love and music, which she compared to soap and water, saying "The reason I named it "Laundry Service" is because I've spent the year dedicated to my two great passions: love and music. Those two elements are like soap and water. It was a deep cleansing, almost like being reborn." The musical influences on the album were inspired by her mixed heritage, saying "I am a fusion. That's my persona. I'm a fusion between black and white, between pop and rock, between cultures - between my Lebanese father and my mother's Spanish blood, the Colombian folklore and Arab dance I love and American music."

I don't typically listen to rock music, but she really is the Colombian Alanis Morrissette. This era brings a lot of great memories to when I became a fan from watching her videos on TRL and the Spanish music program "Pepsi Musica". I was in middle school back then. I remember my Spanish teacher from high school had liked her and was amazed that I also had liked her too. I still have a Shakira calendar from back then. I don't remember the year of the calendar. My interest and fascination in the Latin culture was at its peak (all time high) during that time. It's like I wanted to absorb everything relating to the Latin culture as much as I can...the food, the language, the music, and the boys...but that's for another discussion. 

I love all the singles, along with "Ready For The Good Times". Definitely my fave album by her.

"Whenever, Wherever"/"Suerte"
#6 Hot 100
#32 Adult Top 40
#3 Dance Club Songs
#4 Mainstream Top 40
#27 Rhythmic
#4 Top 40 Tracks
#1 Latin Songs
#1 Latin Pop Airplay
#2 Tropical Airplay




"Te Dejo Madrid"
#45 Latin Songs
#22 Latin Pop Airplay



"Underneath Your Clothes"
#9 Hot 100
#25 Adult Top 40
#5 Dance Club Songs
#40 Latin Pop Airplay
#4 Mainstream Top 40
#39 Rhythmic

2020:
#10 Latin Digital Songs



"Objection (Tango)"/"Te Aviso Te Anucio (Tango)"
#55 Hot 100
#25 Dance Club Songs
#21 Mainstream Top 40
#16 Latin Songs
#7 Latin Pop
#10 Tropical Airplay



"Que Me Quedes Tú"
#1 Latin Songs
#1 Latin Pop Airplay



"The One"
*Never peaked inside the U.S.; hard to believe, but it performed well in some parts of Europe and Australia.

[God]

One of her better albums. My mom kept this in rotation during our car rides to and from school for at least a year lol so this always brings back tons of memories.

[Az Paynter]

I've always wondered what the story is with 'Ready For The Good Times', was that ever in the running for a single? I'm curious as to why it got the remix treatment (by Thunderpuss, their second remix for Shakira after 'Underneath Your Clothes') if it was never actually a single.