Shakira, Shakira!

If you grew up in a Latino household during the 90s, then you were most likely familiar with Shakira. The Barranquilla, Colombia singer, songwriter, and dancer rose to prominence in Latin America with her major-label debut Pies Descalzos in 1996. Later followed her success in 1998 with the next album, ¿Dónde Están Los Ladrones? However, it wasn’t until the 00s, where she became a well-known mainstream Spanish-English artist.

Over the years, Shakira has sold millions of records worldwide and won numerous awards including three GRAMMYs and eleven Latin Grammys. At the age of 18, she also founded the Pies Descalzos (Barefoot) Foundation, which provides education and nutrition to over 6,000 impoverished children in Colombia.

Tomorrow, February 2nd, Shakira is celebrating her 44 years of life and in honor of her birthday, I gathered seven of my favorite Shakira’s performances to get us pumped up for her birthday. So let’s take a trip down memory lane and enjoy some of these incredible performances.

“Whenever, Wherever”

“Whenever, Wherever” live from Paris in 2011. I love how Shakira adds the perfect rock, Arabic, and belly dancing combination.

“Whenever, Wherever” can be found on Shakira’s third studio album and English-language debut, Laundry Service. In 2001, this song became the Latin pop hit that incorporated elements of Andean music, which made it much more fascinating. Instantly, “Whenever, Wherever” became Shakira’s breakthrough hit in the United States, peaking at number six on the Billboard Hot 100.

“Ciega, Sordomuda”

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“Ciega, Sordomuda” was one of Shakira’s first performances with MTV in 1999. In this particular performance, I love how she added her own twist to it by bringing along with the band, Los Maradiaga, and a mariachi band.

“Ciega, Sordomuda” was released in 1998 in Shakira’s fourth studio album Dónde Están los Ladrones? This Latin pop song expresses the clumsiness that she feels when the person that she loves is close by and doesn’t pay attention to the signal because is completely blind.

“Loca”

Following the success of “Loca” in 2010, Shakira got to perform the song during the 12th annual Latin GRAMMY Awards in 2011. In this performance, I enjoyed seeing Shakira take us through her love for Arabic and belly dancing.

“Loca” was featured in Shakira’s her ninth studio album, Sale el Sol, which was released in
2010. The Latin pop and merengue song describes Shakira’s eccentric infatuation with a man and quite honestly, “Loca” paints a vivid picture.

“Hips Don’t Lie”

“Hip Don’t Lie” at the MTV Awards in 2006, alongside Wyclef Jean really showcases another perfect performance highly influenced by Shakira’s Arabic and belly dancing. She truly showcased why “Hips Don’t Lie” became the smash-hit that it did with this performance.

“Hips Don’t Lie,” a salsa and worldbeat (a type of music genre that blends pop and rock music) song was released in 2006 on Shakira’s seventh studio album, Oral Fixation, Vol. 2. Peaking at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, this hit-song sold over 4 million digital copies and 1.9 million ringtones.

“Estoy Aqui”

I chose this “Estoy Aqui” performance from 1996 because this song made me a Shakira fan. And although I didn’t hear “Estoy Aqui” until the early 2000s, I feel this particular performance really brings out the essence of Shakira during her early singing days.

“Estoy Aquí” was released in 1996. The Latin pop lyrically discusses a willingness to correct a failed relationship. Upon its release, “Estoy Aquí” received generally favorable reviews from music critics, who recognized it as a stand-out track from Shakira’s major-label debut Pies Descalzos. Additionally, it became Shakira’s first recording to attain commercial success.

“Underneath Your Clothes”

This “Underneath Your Clothes” performance was during Shakira’s El Dorado Live Tour in 2011. This was also filmed at the Forum in Inglewood, California, and showcased Shakira’s alternative rock side.

This power ballad was the second English language single of Shakira, which debuted in Billboard’s Top 100 in 2002. Lyrically, the song tells the story of the unconditional love that a woman has for her boyfriend, with her claiming she is worthy of his love for being a good girl and having maternal instincts.

“La Tortura”

“La Tortura” is another one of my favorites. This song was another instant hit for Shakira and in this performance, she’s at the 2006 Latin Grammy Awards with Spanish singer, Alejandro Sanz.

Shakira’s “La Tortura” released in 2005 achieved large-scale success on different radio and chart formats. It became the most famous Spanish language track and the sixth most successful song in Shakira’s career behind “Hips Don’t Lie,” “Whenever, Wherever,” “Underneath Your Clothes,” “She Wolf,” and “Waka Waka (This Time For Africa).”

Honorary Mention: Super Bowl 2020 Halftime Show Performance with JLo

I could not end this Shakira tribute without mentioning her ground-breaking Super Bowl 2020 Halftime Show with Jennifer Lopez. The superstar duo made history at Super Bowl LIV as the first two Latina women to co-headline the coveted halftime show. They successfully brought each of their own unique styles to their performances in just 12 minutes. During Shakira’s choreography, she proudly showed off her Latin, Arabic, rock and roll influences, and belly dancing abilities.

It’s safe to say Shakira has won our hearts over the years. She’s made us go crazy on the dance floor with songs like “Hips Don’t Lie,” “Whenever, Wherever,” and “Waka Waka,” amongst others. So of course, I want to know what’s your favorite Shakira performance? Let me know in the comments below.