Shakira's 1996 debut album, Pies Descalzos set the stage for one of the international community's most celebrated and exciting stars. The album took a while to gain momentum, but once it did, the young chanteuse ascended to dizzying commercial heights that were only magnified with her more electrifying later releases. The more tranquil Pies Descalzos, however, finds the young singer/songwriter balancing heartfelt, earnest ballads (such as "Te Necesito") with catchy, jangly pop/rock. The album opens with the infectious and melodic pop/rocker "Estoy Aqui" and continues with the ballad "Antologia" before breaking into the dancehall-lite of "Un Poco de Amor." As can be seen from the diversity of the material, Shakira seems to still be finding her own voice, but the results are nonetheless engaging. Other highlights include the catchy "Se Quiere Se Mata," "Donde Estas Corazon," and the cool, jazzy "Te Espero Sentada," which unfortunately loses momentum during the chorus. All in all, Pies Descalzos is a solid debut from a young artist who was still evolving and would later further fulfill her artistic potential. ~ Jose F. Promis, All Music Guide
Tracks
Track Title
Composers
Performers
Time
Estoy Aqui
Luis Fernando Ochoa, Shakira Mebarak
Shakira Mebarak
(3:55)
Antología
Luis Fernando Ochoa, Shakira Mebarak
Shakira Mebarak
(4:18)
Un Poco de Amor
Luis Fernando Ochoa, Shakira Mebarak
Shakira Mebarak
(4:04)
Quiero
Luis Fernando Ochoa, Shakira Mebarak
Shakira Mebarak
(4:12)
Te Necesito
Luis Fernando Ochoa, Shakira Mebarak
Shakira Mebarak
(4:03)
Vuelve
Luis Fernando Ochoa, Shakira Mebarak
Shakira Mebarak
(3:56)
Te Espero Sentada
Luis Fernando Ochoa, Shakira Mebarak
Shakira Mebarak
(3:27)
Pies Descalzos, Sueños Blancos
Luis Fernando Ochoa, Shakira Mebarak
Shakira Mebarak
(3:28)
Pienso en Ti
Luis Fernando Ochoa, Shakira Mebarak
Shakira Mebarak
(2:28)
Donde Estas Corazon
Luis Fernando Ochoa, Shakira Mebarak
Shakira Mebarak
(3:54)
Se Quiere...Se Mata
Luis Fernando Ochoa, Shakira Mebarak
Shakira Mebarak
(3:38)
Credits
Luly Deya (Assistant Engineer), Luis Fernando Ochoa (Guitar (Acoustic)), Luis Fernando Ochoa (Bajos), Shakira Mebarak (Producer), Gonzo Vasquez (Shaker), Gonzo Vasquez (Pandereta), Shakira (Vocals), Victor DiPersia (Engineer), Luis Fernando Ochoa (Vocals (Background)), Shakira Mebarak (Coros), Patricia Bonilla (Photo Montage), Gonzo Vasquez (Coros), Juan Antonio Castillo (Mixing), Jose Garcia (Bajo Sexto), Alvaro Farfan (Director), Luis Fernando Ochoa (Percussion), Gonzo Vasquez (Drums), Andrea Piñeros (Vocals (Background)), Jose Gaviria (Coros), Patricia Bonilla (Photography), Freddi Niño (Assistant Engineer), Luis Fernando Ochoa (Producer), Howard Glassfor (Guitar), Gonzo Vasquez (Programming), Howard Glassfor (Vocals), Nacho Pilonieta (Bass), Javier Hincapie (Design), Nacho Pilonieta (Bajo Sexto), Jose Gaviria (Vocals (Background)), Michael Fuller (Mastering), Shakira Mebarak (Vocals (Background)), Luis Fernando Ochoa (Harmonica), Luis Fernando Ochoa (Programming), Alvaro Farfan (Direction), Jose Garcia (Bass), Camilo Montilla (Engineer), José "Chito" Martínez (Assistant Engineer), Gonzo Vasquez (Timbales), Felipe Dothe (Graphic Design), Luis Fernando Ochoa (Bass), José Martínez (Assistant Engineer), Camilo Montilla (Piano), Javier Hincapie (Graphic Design), Eusebio Valderrama (Trumpet), Luis Fernando Ochoa (Coros), Luis Fernando Ochoa (Organ (Hammond)), Luis Fernando Ochoa (Artistic Producer), Luis Fernando Ochoa (Guitar (Electric)), Andrea Piñeros (Coros), Shakira Mebarak (Performer), Luis Fernando Ochoa (Keyboards), Miguel Angel Velandia (Photography), Gonzo Vasquez (Vocals (Background)), Samuel Torres (Percussion), Alejandro Gomez (Harmonica), Victor DiPersia (Mixing), Luis Fernando Ochoa (Engineer), Gonzalo Vásquez (Engineer), Luis Fernando Ochoa (Mixing), Felipe Dothe (Design), Sonido Azulado (Engineer)
Pies Descalzos (English: Bare Feet) is the first studio album by Colombiansinger-songwriterShakira, released in 1996. This album has sold more than 4 million copies worldwide[1] and is widely considered as her breakthrough album because of the poor success of her two previous promotional albums. In Brazil, it received a new edition including Portuguese versions and remixes of the album's songs. The album features the hit singles "Estoy Aquí" and "¿Dónde Estás Corazón?". The album was re-issued in 1997 (Brazil only) with bonus tracks, again in 2002 under the title "Colección de Oro", and finally in 2005, to promote the sales of Oral Fixation Vol. 2.
Shakira was under a lot of pressure while producing this album. If she had failed to produce a suitably successful record, this would've been her third and last album, most likely ending her singing career. Shakira managed to produce the majority of the album. In the end, her efforts to keep her career alive paid off. Recording for the album began in February, 1995, after the success of her single "¿Dónde Estás Corazón?", Sony gave Shakira $100,000 to produce the album since they predicted that the album would not sell past 100,000 copies. Shakira rewrote many of her old songs with new melodies along with her partner Luis F. Ochoa. When promoting the album, Shakira was only given a small auditorium, the guests consisting of people who had heard about the press conference of the album. Shakira explains that the album is basically about her experiences in life and how she views society.
