Live from Paris

Combining highlights from two concerts performed in Paris in June of 2011, Live from Paris is a live set available as either a Blu-ray, DVD, or CD, all containing a similar program (the CD runs 19 tracks, while the video contains the full 22-song program). Supporting her 2010 album Sale el Sol and, particularly, its hit single "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)," Shakira leans heavily on glitzy electro-dance crossovers but finds room for quieter moments, whether it's a stripped-down cover of Metallica's "Nothing Else Matters" or her own "Gypsy," keeping the momentum running throughout a lengthy set, then bringing down the house with "Waka Waka." Certainly, the video versions of Live from Paris give a greater indication of the size of the spectacle, not to mention how they emphasize Shakira's intense charisma, but as an album this envelops you with its energy. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine