Timor (song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Timor"

Song by Shakira
from the album Oral Fixation Vol. 2
Recorded	2004–2005
Genre	Pop/dance
Length	3:32
Label	Epic Records
Writer(s)	Shakira
Producer(s)	Shakira
Oral Fixation Vol. 2 track listing
"Something" (10)	"Timor" (11)	bonus track on special editions only (12)

"Timor" is a song written and performed by Colombian singer Shakira. This track is found on her second English language studio album, Oral Fixation Vol. 2, which was released in December 2005.

1 Song information
2 Song credits
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Song information

"Timor", which is the only song of the album written solely by Shakira, can be described as a protest song for several different reasons. Some of these reasons are listed below:

On the first lines Shakira criticizes the judiciary system: "the system never fails, the good guys are in power and the bad guys are in jail".

Then, she goes on to criticizes politics and voting system: "It's alright just as long as we can vote, we live in a democracy and that's what we promote".

The singer then goes on to heavily criticizes the media as shown in the lines: "It's alright if the news says half the truth, hearing what we want is the secret of eternal youth" and "It's alright, they don't show it on TV, so we won't really know it just by watching (beeped)BC". BC are the two final letters of some television networks acronymous, such as NBC, ABC, BBC and CBC, meaning "Broadcasting Company/Corporation".

Shakira also criticizes teenager alienation in the lines: "It's alright if the world splits in three, 'cause I'll keep selling records and you've got your MTV".

[edit] Signification of the title

The name of the song comes after East Timor, a developing Portuguese-speaking country which received the full attention of the Western media during the time it was struggling to become independent, and now, that the country needs humanitary help to develop (it has the lowest per capita GDP in the world), it was forgotten by the media. Because of this particular fact, Shakira says, on the song, that the East Timorese are "the people who don't matter anymore".

After the 2006 riots, the situation of the country seems to have been getting reasonably stable due to the military intervention of Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and Portugal; nations who are now trying to support the development of East Timor.

[edit] Retitle of the song in Indonesia

"Timor" has been retitled as "It's Alright", for the album release in Indonesia.

"Timor" was rentitled "It's Alright" in the Indonesian version of Oral Fixation Vol. 2, because the East Timorese independence is still a highly controversial issue. The album cover was also changed there, as it was in other Muslim nations.

[edit] As a dance song

Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide reviewer, noted that "Timor" is not only the most politically motivated song of the album, but is also the most danceful one. ^[1]