Review: Shakira El Dorado

I finally saw Shakira's El Dorado concert at SAP San Jose today. The concert was initially planned for February, but due to Shakira's vocal problems, it was rescheduled for September 6.

I like listening to some of Shakira's songs during my fitness workouts, so I hope to feel some energy during the show. Although she does not have a strong voice, she is known to put on energetic and entertaining shows.

The concert was supposed to start at 19:30, but didn't begin until 21:00. During this time, some other act played a mix of really annoying music. Had I known this, I would have arrived much later. 

I have seen numerous concerts at SAP Center, including The Eagles, Leonard Cohen, and Sarah Brightman. Usually, the acoustics at SAP Center sound acceptable. During Shakira's show, however, I could hear the loud bass and her thin voice, but the mid-range was extraordinarily muddy and drowned out by screaming fans. It was like listening to music with earplugs.

Although the fireworks and theatrics in the show were quite spectacular, the energy I was looking for was missing. The poor acoustics contributed to this feeling, but I didn't enjoy the concert. It did not match (or even approach) her performance in Live in Paris.

Here is a YouTube video from Shakira's El Dorado concert in Cologne.

Set List

1. "Estoy Aquí" / "¿Dónde Estás Corazón?" (remix)
2. "She Wolf"
3. "Si Te Vas"
4. "Nada"
5. "Perro Fiel" (contains elements of "El Perdón" with Nicky Jam on screen)
6. "Underneath Your Clothes" (remix)
7. "Me Enamoré"
8. "Inevitable"
9. "Chantaje" (featuring Maluma on screen)
10. "Whenever, Wherever" (contains elements of "Ojos Así" and "Despedida")
11. "Tú"
12. "Amarillo"
13. "La Tortura" (Alejandro Sanz on screen)
14. "Antología"
15. "Can't Remember to Forget You" (reggae mix, drum mix at the end with Rihanna on screen)
16. "Loca" / "Rabiosa" (Medley)
17. "La La La (Brazil 2014)" / "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" (Medley)Encore (Education Video Interlude)
18. "Toneladas"
19. "Hips Don't Lie"
20. "La Bicicleta" (Carlos Vives on screen)

I hated the concert; it was the worst concert I had ever witnessed.