Record of the month March 2026

Record of the Month

Shakira – MTV Unplugged

Some records capture a moment.Others capture a turning point.

Shakira – MTV Unplugged is one of those rare recordings where everything comes together: the voice, the songs, the atmosphere, and an artist standing right on the edge of global superstardom.

Recorded in New York in 1999 for MTV’s legendary Unplugged series, the performance introduced Shakira to an international audience long before the chart-topping pop hits that would soon follow. At the time, she was already a major star in Latin America — but this performance showed the rest of the world exactly why.

Without the heavy studio production that often surrounds pop records, the songs reveal something deeper. The arrangements are stripped down, the musicianship is front and centre, and Shakira’s voice carries the entire performance with an intensity that moves effortlessly between power and vulnerability.

You can hear the heartbeat of Latin America in these recordings — from the rhythmic drive of the band to the emotional depth of the songwriting. It is intimate, passionate and incredibly alive.

A Historic Vinyl Release

For many years this legendary live recording was never available on vinyl. That changed when Vinyl Me, Please released the album as a limited collector’s pressing.

This edition marks the first ever vinyl release of Shakira – MTV Unplugged.

Pressed on stunning magenta spinner vinyl, the album arrives as a beautifully presented 2LP set, with only 2000 numbered copies produced worldwide. Each copy is foil-stamped and individually numbered, making it one of the most desirable modern live pressings for collectors.

Like many Vinyl Me, Please releases, the pressing quality is exceptional — rich, dynamic and perfectly suited to a live acoustic recording where every nuance matters.

Why This Record Matters

More than twenty years later, the recording still feels incredibly fresh.The performance captures Shakira at a unique moment — not yet the global pop icon, but already an artist with extraordinary presence and originality.

For vinyl collectors, it is the perfect combination:

• A legendary live recording

• A historically important performance

• A beautiful limited pressing

• And a record that truly deserves to be experienced on vinyl

A True Collector’s Piece

At Mr. Hansen Records, I always try to find records that are more than just music — records that tell a story.

Shakira – MTV Unplugged is exactly that.

A remarkable live album.A stunning pressing.And a true collector’s piece.

If you are lucky enough to own a copy, you already know.

If not — this might be the one.