Shakira, Colombia’s most famous pop star, released her latest album El Dorado on May 26, 2017. The album reached No. 1 on its first day.
She already has a hit with Chantaje (Blackmail) featuring Colombian heartthrob Maluma. The song pretty well describes loving a Colombian. “Puro, puro chantaje, Siempre es a tú manera. Yo te quiero aunque no quiera.” (Pure, pure blackmail, it’s always your way. I love you even if I don’t want to.”)
Shakira finds her way home
After making eleven albums over a 26-year career, Shakira was feeling a little bit over it all. She is a busy mom with two young sons, Milan (4) and Sasha (2). Her partner, Gerard Piqué, is the FC Barcelona center-back. The album contains a couple of songs about their relationship.
Carlos Vives’ inspired her with his focus on traditional Colombian rhythms. He has made Vallenato, a Colombian working-class music, cool. Their work together turned into La Bicycleta, a playful romp that won two Latin Grammys last year for “Song of the Year” and “Record of the Year.”
Returning to her roots seems to have reenergized Shakira. When you get stretched out, you have to go home to find yourself.
Shakira mixes it up a lot on the album. Trap is a trap music ballad also with Maluma. Déjà vu is a Bachata with Prince Royce. Me Enamoré, with Spanish producer Rayito is about her relationship with Piqué. So is Coconut Tree.
Perro Fiel (Faithful Dog) with Nicky Jam, and What We Said, in English with Nasri Atweh are reggaetons.
The Road to El Dorado
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll was born in Barranquila, Colombia on February 2, 1977. Her belly-dancer moves are not a put on. It’s her heritage. She is Lebanese-Spanish-Italian-Colombian. We have large Lebanese communities in Colombia and Brazil where Shakira is popular as well.
Shakira recorded her first record, Magia (Sony Music Colombia, 1990), when she was just 13 years old.
Her career grew slowly until Pies Descalzos (Barefoot, 1996). Estoy Aqui (I am here). It’s interesting to see Shakira the girl, when she was just finding her voice.
Shakira hit the mainstream in the U.S. with her first English album Laundry Service (2001). Critics thought she wasn’t ready to work in English, but it became the best selling album of 2002.
Shakira’s most famous song is Hips don’t Lie with Wyclef Jean. It comes from Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 “Don’t Bother” (2005).
Shakira’s El Dorado and Chantaje
Latin Grammys 2017
Shakira earned five nominations for the 18th Latin Grammy Awards in 2017:
- Record of the Year ‘Chantaje’
- Album of the Year ‘El Dorado’
- Song of the Year ‘Chantaje’
- Best Contemporary Pop Vocal Album ‘El Dorado’ ~ WINNER
- Best Urban Fusion Performance ‘Chantaje’
Grammys 2018
El Dorado won a 2018 Grammy for “Best Latin Pop Album.”
Shakira in New York City
Shakira brings her El Dorado World Tour to Madison Square Garden on Friday, August 10, 2018 at 7:30 pm. The show was rescheduled from January 17, 2018 due to illness.
