Best Songs of 2009 – #3
Shakira is like the villain in a horror movie. Whenever you think she’s down for the count — thanks to some absurdity like, say, the video for ‘She Wolf’ — she emerges stronger than ever. That was the case with She Wolf the album, which I’d come to sort of dread after the acrobatic unitard silliness of that first video. Why was this woman squandering her talent?
But she wasn’t, not at all. She just has very bizarre ideas about how she should express it. She Wolf (the album) turned out to be fantastic, full of thick beats, infectious melodies and the sort of continent-hopping musical experimentation for which Shakira is known. I’ll never doubt her again.
The song that leaped out at me on first listen was ‘Spy,’ a collaboration with Wyclef Jean that celebrates voyeurism and Colombian swagger. Shakira previously teamed up with Wyclef on ‘Hips Don’t Lie,’ her biggest hit but far from a favorite of mine. I expected more of the same from this track but was pleasantly surprised by the disco mash-up they delivered.
The thing that makes this song work above all else is Shakira’s “bah bah bah” vocal horn part that starts the song and surfaces throughout. It’s so weird and fun, I never get tired of listening to that.
Blinds are see-through
Let your mind go
Imagine that I kiss you
Turn off the lights and open up your eyes now
You can take a glimpse into my soul for tonight
Do you got the heat on girl? (Yes I do)
Can you turn up the temperature? (You bet I could)
Colombian with a swagger. (Yes I am)
Whatever it takes to make this thing work, we gonna
There’s a spy by my window
I know it’s you
You like to keep an eye on me
I know you like to keep an eye on me
There’s a spy by my window
I know it’s you
Won’t you like to keep an eye on me?
I know you like to keep an eye on me
Keep an eye on me
But if you want it, got to let it be
I know you
Dream about me
And it turns me on to think about it
This is the finest game
It ain’t even got a name
I just wanna see how far it takes us tonight
Do you got the music on girl? (Yes I do)
Can you get a little closer? (You bet I could)
Colombian with a swagger. (Yes I am)
Whatever it takes to make this thing work, we gonna
There’s a spy by my window
I know it’s you
You like to keep an eye on me
I know you like to keep an eye on me
There’s a spy by my window
I know it’s you
Won’t you like to keep an eye on me?
I know you like to keep an eye on me
Keep an eye on me
But if you want it, got to let it be
When the dog’s away that’s when the cat’s play
You’ll be my girl, I’ll be the spy
Like the James Bond flick girl I’m ready to ride
When the cat’s away that’s when the mouse will play
You’ll be my girl, I’ll be the spy
Like the James Bond flick girl I’m ready to die, die, die
There’s a spy by my window
I know it’s you
You like to keep an eye on me
I know you like to keep an eye on me
There’s a spy by my window
I know it’s you
Won’t you like to keep an eye on me?
I know you like to keep an eye on me
Keep an eye on me
But if you want it, got to let it be
Lipstick’s on
Stockings up
Skirt’s short
Heels are high
Take your time
Buckle up
Close your eyes and enjoy the ride
Meet Me In Montauk 
You don’t like “Hips Don’t Lie?” I find that to be one of the most infectious songs ever. This song is pretty cool, but it ain’t no “Hips Don’t Lie.”
Cool song; I like it. Look forward to the inevitable mash-up on Glee 😉