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Shakira

Colombia

With over 100 million records sold worldwide, Shakira stands as one of the most renowned musicians globally and a prominent star from the Spanish-speaking world.


Shakira burst onto the music scene in Colombia at the age of 13, releasing two promotional albums early in her career. However, it was her first official album, Pies Descalzos, in 1995, that catapulted her to significant fame within the Spanish-speaking music community.


Her second official album, Dónde Están Los Ladrones, released in 1998, built on the success of her debut, achieving remarkable success in the United States with over 1.5 million copies sold. This unexpected triumph set the stage for her international breakthrough. With the assistance of fellow Latin artist Gloria Estefan, Shakira learned English and recorded Laundry Service, featuring songs in both English and Spanish. The album’s lead single, "Whenever, Wherever" (or Suerte in Spanish), propelled the Barranquilla native to global stardom.


As Shakira's career progressed, she continued to release songs in both Spanish and English, maintaining her relevance in both the Spanish-speaking and international markets. She has collaborated with numerous high-profile artists, including the career-defining hit "Hips Don't Lie" with Wyclef Jean. Other notable collaborations include Beyoncé, Rihanna, Karol G, Alejandro Sanz, Manuel Turizo, Bizarrap, Maluma, Cardi B, and the Black Eyed Peas.


Shakira's successful music career has led to a long-standing partnership with FIFA, enabling her to perform at three FIFA World Cup closing ceremonies and contribute two original songs: "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" in 2010 and "La La La" in 2014. This platform also allowed her to venture into acting, lending her voice to the character Gazelle in Disney's 2016 animated film Zootopia, for which she performed and released the song "Try Everything".


Beyond her musical achievements, Shakira is deeply committed to philanthropy and advancing education in Colombia. In 1997, she founded the Pies Descalzos Foundation, dedicated to providing quality education to disadvantaged children in her home country. Her efforts have helped thousands escape poverty and earned her numerous humanitarian awards, solidifying her legacy as a champion for social change.

Shakira

Discover Shakira's music below (links open on external pages/platforms):


*Note, some of the content of the linked songs/videos is explicit.


Click here to open Shakira's Spotify Artist page.


Click here to test your listening skills with Shakira's Lyricstraining Artist page.


Below are YouTube links to some of our favourite Shakira songs in Spanish:

Discover more with her YouTube Artist page here.


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