Octavo Día
Encyclopedia
"Octavo Día" is a song written and performed by Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira
. The song was released only as a radio single in some countries from her multi-platinum album
Dónde Están los Ladrones? (1998), but received more attention when it created controversy while performed live in her 2001-2002 world tour Tour of the Mongoose
. This song expresses for the first time (before "How Do You Do") Shakira's opinion about God.
No music video was filmed, so it was released only as a radio single. The song is also found on Shakira's live albums, MTV Unplugged and Live and Off the Record.
. In the Tour of the Mongoose
, behind the stage was a black and white backdrop video of George W. Bush
and Saddam Hussein
playing chess, and on the stage some of the musicians were wearing masks of Richard Nixon
and Cuba
's dictator Fidel Castro
. Shakira
wanted to deliver a message more complex than just criticizing the war against Iraq
.
However, some members of the audience were confused with Shakira's criticism when she performed "Octavo Dia." David Hiltbrand, a journalist from The Philadelphia Inquirer
, said that it was an atypical show number. "I thought it was a mistake, personally, not as a journalist," said Hiltbrand referring to "Octavo Dia." "What I took from it [is that] our leaders are caught up with themselves," Hiltbrand said.
During the video at the show, Hussein's and Bush's puppets suddenly became restless and violent as they started playing with nuclear bombs instead of chess pieces. Then the Grim Reaper appeared behind the two leaders and moved the strings that control the puppets. Shakira said during the concert that pop singers typically do not talk about politics nor about politicians, but this time, her tour had a political view. "[Some] think pop stars are made to entertain. Period. I don't see it that way," said Shakira during her concert in Britain, which was reported by Siobhan Grogan from The Guardian
.
The symbolism of the video clip was that Bush and Hussein were treating the war as if a game, as if not treating it with much importance.
In an interview with MTV
, she said that sometimes governments do not represent their people nor make the right decisions because "governments are controlled by just a few." The video and the song ended with a quote from Jimi Hendrix
in the back screen of the stage:
"When the power of love overcomes the love for power, the world will know the peace."
While the clip was playing, Shakira's speech was, as seen in Live & off the Record:
This speech garnered much favouritism amongst the audiences at various venues.
Shakira
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll , known professionally as Shakira , is a Colombian singer who emerged in the music scene of Colombia and Latin America in the early 1990s...
. The song was released only as a radio single in some countries from her multi-platinum album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
Dónde Están los Ladrones? (1998), but received more attention when it created controversy while performed live in her 2001-2002 world tour Tour of the Mongoose
Tour of the Mongoose
-Tour Dates:-Broadcast and recordings:The tour was shot in Rotterdam, The Netherlands on April 22, 2003.The tour was chronicled on Live & off the Record. The disc included the concert along with a documentary showing the performer preparing for the show, her song writing process and her ideas about...
. This song expresses for the first time (before "How Do You Do") Shakira's opinion about God.
Song information
The song describes how, on the eighth day, God decided to take the day off after creating the world, only to come back and find his creation in a disastrous mess.No music video was filmed, so it was released only as a radio single. The song is also found on Shakira's live albums, MTV Unplugged and Live and Off the Record.
Political criticism in the Tour of the Mongoose
Shakira has performed 'Octavo Dia' song during all of her tours except for the Oral Fixation TourOral Fixation Tour
Oral Fixation Tour is the concert tour by Colombian singer-songwriter, Shakira, in support of her fourth and fifth studio albums, Fijación Oral Vol. 1 and Oral Fixation Vol. 2...
. In the Tour of the Mongoose
Tour of the Mongoose
-Tour Dates:-Broadcast and recordings:The tour was shot in Rotterdam, The Netherlands on April 22, 2003.The tour was chronicled on Live & off the Record. The disc included the concert along with a documentary showing the performer preparing for the show, her song writing process and her ideas about...
, behind the stage was a black and white backdrop video of George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
and Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
playing chess, and on the stage some of the musicians were wearing masks of Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
and Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
's dictator Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
. Shakira
Shakira
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll , known professionally as Shakira , is a Colombian singer who emerged in the music scene of Colombia and Latin America in the early 1990s...
wanted to deliver a message more complex than just criticizing the war against Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
.
However, some members of the audience were confused with Shakira's criticism when she performed "Octavo Dia." David Hiltbrand, a journalist from The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer is a morning daily newspaper that serves the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, metropolitan area of the United States. The newspaper was founded by John R. Walker and John Norvell in June 1829 as The Pennsylvania Inquirer and is the third-oldest surviving daily newspaper in the...
, said that it was an atypical show number. "I thought it was a mistake, personally, not as a journalist," said Hiltbrand referring to "Octavo Dia." "What I took from it [is that] our leaders are caught up with themselves," Hiltbrand said.
During the video at the show, Hussein's and Bush's puppets suddenly became restless and violent as they started playing with nuclear bombs instead of chess pieces. Then the Grim Reaper appeared behind the two leaders and moved the strings that control the puppets. Shakira said during the concert that pop singers typically do not talk about politics nor about politicians, but this time, her tour had a political view. "[Some] think pop stars are made to entertain. Period. I don't see it that way," said Shakira during her concert in Britain, which was reported by Siobhan Grogan from The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
.
The symbolism of the video clip was that Bush and Hussein were treating the war as if a game, as if not treating it with much importance.
In an interview with MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
, she said that sometimes governments do not represent their people nor make the right decisions because "governments are controlled by just a few." The video and the song ended with a quote from Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
in the back screen of the stage:
"When the power of love overcomes the love for power, the world will know the peace."
While the clip was playing, Shakira's speech was, as seen in Live & off the Record:
"Pop stars are not supposed to stick their noses into politics. I don't know if that's accurate or not, but tonight, I don't want to talk about politics...or politicians... I prefer to talk about something that is above all that...love. Because love is lacking leaders, and leaders are lacking love. Why is it so difficult to love each other and understand each other? I wonder. For example, would you hold the hand of the person standing next to you right now, even if you don't know him... and would you tell him that you love him? Would you forgive him? Can you love him? Can you love her? Can you love me? Can you love her, and him, and him(...) ?"
This speech garnered much favouritism amongst the audiences at various venues.
Awards
| Year | Category | Title | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Latin Grammy Award | Best Female Rock Vocal Performance Latin Grammy Award for Best Rock Solo Vocal Album The Latin Grammy Award for Best Rock Solo Vocal Album is an honor presented annually at the Latin Grammy Awards, a ceremony conducted by the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences to "recognize excellence and create a wider awareness of the cultural diversity" and contributions of Latin... |
"Octavo Día" | Won |