Having a unique moniker can elevate a recording artist’s status, as seen with the likes of Madonna, Prince, and Beyoncé. Shakira, who was born as Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, has definitely earned her place in this league. As the most successful Colombian artist of all time, she has sold more than 50 million albums globally. Nonetheless, sales figures only make up one part of her remarkable career, which includes mesmerizing choreography, captivating music videos, philanthropic work, and a colossal fan base worldwide. With her “Oral Fixation Tour” still ongoing and already boasting 111 shows, Shakira is filling stadiums in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
Shakira is known for her unique style of songwriting, combining poetic lyrics with catchy Latin rhythms influenced by her Lebanese heritage. Her love for Middle Eastern rhythms was sparked by the doumbek drum which she first heard at her father’s favorite restaurant. However, her talents were not always appreciated, as the nuns at her school denied her a spot in the choir due to her insistent vibrato, which they likened to a goat’s bleat. Despite this setback, Shakira persevered and eventually gained success in the music industry. Her third album, Pies Descalzos , was a major hit, selling over five million copies. Her fourth album, ¿Dónde Están Los Ladrones?, produced by Emilio Estefan, cemented her position as a prominent Latin artist.
Back in 2001, Shakira changed the game with her album crossover. With the help of Gloria Estefan, she transformed the tracks from her previous album, ¿Dónde Están Los Ladrones?, into English versions and even wrote new songs for the project titled Laundry Service. Even though the album was geared towards English-speaking audiences, it still featured four Spanish tracks, such as the beautiful “Que Me Quedes Tú” (That I Have Left You). The album was a huge success, selling over 13 million copies worldwide and featuring hit songs like “Whenever, Wherever,” “Underneath Your Clothes,” “Te Dejo Madrid” (I Leave You Madrid), “Objection (Tango)” and “The One.” With its global recognition, Laundry Service solidified Shakira’s position as a powerful force in the North American mainstream music scene.
In 2002, Shakira released her Spanish greatest hits album, called Grandes Éxitos. She won the International Viewer’s Choice Award at the MTV Video Music Awards for her song “Suerte,” and continued to win five more MTV Video Music Awards through her crossover strategy. She performed “Dude (Looks Like A Lady)” for Aerosmith’s MTV Icon Award, and joined Celine Dion, Anastacia, Cher, and the Dixie Chicks for “VH1 Divas Live: Las Vegas.” Additionally, a DVD and ten-track album called Live & Off the Record were released in 2004, commemorating Shakira’s “Tour of the Mongoose.” After a brief absence from the limelight, Shakira revealed her bilingual concept called Oral Fixation. Fijación Oral Vol. 1, featuring songs in Spanish, was released in 2005 and spent 25 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart. The following year, she released Oral Fixation Vol. 2, which included songs in English and sold eight million copies. One hit from the album, “Hips Don’t Lie” with special guest Wyclef Jean, became Shakira’s first number one single on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and UK Singles Charts.
Shakira and Alejandro Sanz collaborated once again for the song “Te lo Agradezco, Pero No” on Sanz’s album called El Tren de los Momentos. She also released “Illegal,” featuring Carlos Santana, which was a major hit in Europe and on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play and Hot Dance Airplay charts. Shakira partnered with Beyoncé Knowles on “Beautiful Liar,” which set a record on the Billboard Hot 100 chart by ascending 91 positions. Apart from her music, Shakira founded Fundación Pies Descalzos, a charity that provides education to underprivileged children in Colombia. She is a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF and performed at the Live 8 benefit concert in France. While her international stardom is undeniable, it is her purposeful and personal songs that truly make her shine. Her name, which means “full of gratitude” or “full of grace” in Arabic, perfectly describes this inspiring and dazzling star.
