Shakira
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| Shakira |
| Born | Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll February 2, 1977 Barranquilla, Colombia |
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| Nationality | Colombian |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1990–present |
| Partner(s) |
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| Children | 1 |
| Musical career | |
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Shakira entered the English-language market with her fifth album, Laundry Service (2001). Its lead single, "Whenever, Wherever", became the best-selling single of 2002. Her success was solidified with her sixth and seventh albums Fijación Oral, Vol. 1 and Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 (2005), the latter of which spawned the best-selling song of the 21st century, "Hips Don't Lie". Shakira's eighth and ninth albums, She Wolf (2009) and Sale el Sol (2010), received critical praise but suffered from limited promotion due to her strained relationship with label Epic Records. Her official song for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)", became the biggest-selling World Cup song of all time. With over 720 million views, its music video is the seventh most-watched video on YouTube. Since 2013, Shakira has served as a coach on the American version of The Voice, having appeared in two of its six seasons (4 and 6). Her tenth album Shakira (2014) is preceded by its lead single "Can't Remember to Forget You".
Shakira has won many awards, including five MTV Video Music Awards, two Grammy Awards, eight Latin Grammy Awards, seven Billboard Music Awards, 28 Billboard Latin Music Awards and has been Golden Globe-nominated. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and she is one of the best-selling artists of all time, having sold more than 60 million records worldwide.[4] Outside of her work in the music industry, Shakira is also involved in philanthropic activities through charity work and benefit concerts, notably her Pies Descalzos Foundation, her performance at the "Clinton Global Initiative" created by former U.S. President Bill Clinton, and her invitation to the Oval Office by President Barack Obama in February 2010 to discuss early childhood development.[5] As of 2014, she is listed as the 58th most powerful woman in the world by Forbes.[6]
Contents
- 1 Early life
- 2 Career
- 2.1 1990–95: Beginnings
- 2.2 1995–2000: Latin breakthrough
- 2.3 2001–04: English transition with Laundry Service
- 2.4 2005–07: Fijación Oral, Vol. 1 and Oral Fixation, Vol. 2
- 2.5 2008–12: She Wolf and Sale el Sol
- 2.6 2013–present: The Voice and Shakira
- 3 Artistry
- 4 Legacy
- 5 Other ventures
- 6 Personal life
- 7 Activism
- 8 Discography
- 9 Tours
- 10 Filmography
- 11 See also
- 12 References
- 13 Further reading
- 14 External links
Early life
Shakira was born on February 2, 1977 in Barranquilla, Colombia. She is the only child of William Mebarak Chadid and Nidia Ripoll. Her paternal grandparents emigrated from Lebanon to New York City, where her father was born.[7][8][9][10] From her mother, Nidia Ripoll, she has Spanish (Catalan and Castilian) and Italian descent.[11][12] She has eight older half-siblings from her father's previous marriage.[13] Shakira spent much of her youth in Barranquilla, a city located on the northern Caribbean coast of Colombia. Shakira wrote her first poem, titled "La Rosa De Cristal" ("The Crystal Rose") when she was only four years old. As she was growing up, she was fascinated watching her father writing stories on a typewriter, and asked for one as a Christmas gift. She got a typewriter at the age of seven and has continued writing poetry since then. These poems eventually evolved into songs. When Shakira was two years old, an older half-brother was killed in a motorcycle accident and at the age of eight, Shakira wrote her first song, titled "Tus gafas oscuras" ("Your dark glasses"), which was inspired by her father, who for years wore dark glasses to hide his grief.[14]When Shakira was four, her father took her to a local Middle Eastern restaurant, where Shakira first heard the doumbek, a traditional drum used in Arabic music and which typically accompanied belly dancing.[15] She started dancing on the table, and the experience made her realize that she wanted to be a performer. She enjoyed singing for schoolmates and teachers (and even the nuns) at her Catholic school, but in second grade was rejected for the school choir because her vibrato was too strong. The music teacher told her that she sounded "like a goat".[15][16] At school, she says she had been known as "the belly dancer girl", as she would demonstrate every Friday at school a number she had learned.[15] "That's how I discovered my passion for live performance," she says.[13][17] To instill gratitude in Shakira for her upbringing, her father took her to a local park to see orphans who lived there. The images stayed with her and she said to herself "one day I'm going to help these kids when I become a famous artist."[13]
Between the ages of 10 and 13, Shakira was invited to various events in Barranquilla and gained some recognition in the area.[18] It was at about this time that she met local theater producer Monica Ariza, who was impressed with her and as a result tried to help her career. During a flight from Barranquilla to Bogotá, Ariza convinced Sony Colombia executive Ciro Vargas to hold an audition for Shakira in a hotel lobby. Vargas held Shakira in high regard and, returning to the Sony office, gave the cassette to a song and artist director. However, the director was not overly excited and thought Shakira was something of "a lost cause". Vargas, not daunted, was still convinced that Shakira had talent, and set up an audition in Bogotá. He arranged for Sony Colombia executives to arrive at the audition, with the idea of surprising them with Shakira's performance. She performed three songs for the executives and impressed them enough for her to be signed to record three albums.[19]
Career
1990–95: Beginnings
Shakira's debut album, Magia, was recorded with Sony Music Colombia in 1990 when she was only 13 years old.[20] The songs are a collection made by her since she was eight, mixed pop-rock ballads and disco uptempo songs with electronic accompaniment, however it was hampered by a lack of recording and production cohesion. The album was released in June 1991 and featured "Magia" and three other singles. Though it fared well on Colombian radio and gave the young Shakira much exposure, the album did not fare well commercially as only 1,200 copies were sold worldwide.[15] After the poor performance of Magia, Shakira's label urged her to return to the studio to release a follow-up record. Although little known outside of her native Colombia, Shakira was invited to perform at Chile's Viña del Mar International Song Festival in February 1993. The festival gave aspiring Latin American singers a chance to perform their songs, and the winner was then chosen by a panel of judges. Shakira performed the ballad "Eres" ("You Are") and won the trophy for third place. One of the judges who voted for her to win was then 20-year-old Ricky Martin.[20]Shakira's second studio album Peligro was released in March, but Shakira was not pleased with the final result, mainly taking issue with the production. The album was better received than Magia, though it was also considered a commercial failure due to Shakira's refusal to advertise it. Shakira then decided to take a hiatus from recording so that she could graduate from high school.[20] In the same year, Shakira starred in the Colombian TV series The Oasis, loosely based on the Armero tragedy in 1985.[21] Since then, the albums have been pulled from release and are not considered official Shakira albums but rather promotional albums. Shakira originally recorded the song "¿Dónde Estás Corazón?" (later released on her album Pies Descalzos) for the compilation album Nuestro Rock in 1995, released exclusively in Colombia.[22] The album Pies Descalzos brought her great popularity in Latin America by the hit singles "Estoy Aquí," "Pies Descalzos, Sueños Blancos" and "Dónde Estás Corazón."[20] Shakira also recorded three tracks in Portuguese titled "Estou Aqui", "Um Pouco de Amor", and "Pés Descalços".
1995–2000: Latin breakthrough
In March 1996, Shakira went on to her first international tour named simply the Tour Pies Descalzos. The tour consisted of 20 shows and ended in 1997. Also in that year, Shakira received three Billboard Latin Music Awards for Album of the Year for Pies Descalzos, Video of the Year for "Estoy Aqui" and Best New Artist.[26] Pies Descalzos later sold over 5 million copies,[27][28] prompting the release of a remix album, simply titled The Remixes. The Remixes also included Portuguese versions of some of her well known songs, which were recorded as a result of her success in the Brazilian market, where Pies Descalzos sold nearly one million copies.[18]
Her fourth studio album, Dónde Están los Ladrones?, produced entirely by Shakira herself and Emilio Estefan, Jr. as the executive producer, was released in September 1998. The album, inspired by an incident in an airport in which a suitcase full of her written lyrics was stolen, became a bigger hit than Pies Descalzos. The album has reached a peak position of number 131 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and held the top spot on the U.S. Latin Albums chart for 11 weeks. It has since sold over seven million copies worldwide[29][30][clarification needed] and 1.5 million copies in the U.S. alone, making it one of the best selling Spanish albums in the U.S. Eight singles were taken from the album including "Ciega, Sordomuda", "Moscas En La Casa", "No Creo" which became her first single to chart on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, "Inevitable", "Tú", "Si Te Vas", "Octavo día", and the "Ojos Así". The latter two songs won Shakira one Latin Grammy each with six of the eight singles reaching the top 40 on the U.S. Latin chart.
Shakira also received her first Grammy Award nomination in 1999 for Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album.[31] Shakira's first live album, MTV Unplugged was recorded in New York City on August 12, 1999. Highly acclaimed by American critics, it is rated as one of her best-ever live performances.[32] The live album earned the Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album in 2001 and gained sales of five million worldwide. In March 2000, Shakira embarked on her Tour Anfibio, a two-month tour of Latin America and the United States. In August 2000, she won an MTV Video Music Award in the category of People's Choice — Favorite International Artist for "Ojos Así". In September 2000, Shakira performed "Ojos Así" at the inaugural ceremony of the Latin Grammy Awards, where she was nominated in five categories: Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album for MTV Unplugged, Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for "Octavo Día", Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Best Short Form Music Video for the video for "Ojos Así".[33] She won two Grammy awards.
2001–04: English transition with Laundry Service
Main articles: Laundry Service and The Mongoose Tour
Upon the success of Dónde Están los Ladrones? and MTV Unplugged, Shakira began working on an English crossover album.[34] She worked for over a year on new material for the album. "Whenever, Wherever" ("Suerte"
in Spanish countries) was released as the first and lead single from
her first English album and fifth studio album throughout the period of
August 2001 and February 2002. The song took heavy influence from Andean music, including the charango and panpipes
in its instrumentation. It became an international success by reaching
number one in most countries. It was also her first success in the U.S.,
by reaching number six on the Hot 100. In 2003, Shakira wrote a song
called "Come Down Love" with Tim Mitchell for the Hollywood movie The Italian Job starring South African actress Charlize Theron and Mark Wahlberg, but the song was not included on the soundtrack of the movie.
In 2002, at Aerosmith's MTV Icon in April 2002, Shakira performed "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)". She also joined Cher, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Mary J. Blige, Anastacia, and the Dixie Chicks for VH1 Divas Live Las Vegas. In September, she won the International Viewer's Choice Award at the MTV Video Music Awards with "Whenever, Wherever". She also won the Latin Grammy Award for the category of Best Short Form Music Video for the Spanish version of the video. In October, she won five MTV Video Music Awards Latin America for Best Female Artist, Best Pop Artist, Best Artist – North (Region), Video of the Year (for "Suerte"), and Artist of the Year. In November, she embarked on the Tour of the Mongoose with 61 shows occurring by May 2003. The tour was also her first worldwide tour, as legs were played in North America, South America, Europe and Asia. Shakira's label Sony BMG also released her Spanish greatest hits compilation Grandes Éxitos. A DVD and 10-track live album, called Live & Off the Record, was also released in 2004, reaching sales of three million worldwide, and commemorating the Tour of the Mongoose.
2005–07: Fijación Oral, Vol. 1 and Oral Fixation, Vol. 2
Shakira's sixth studio album, Fijación Oral, Vol. 1, was released in June 2005. The lead single from the album, "La Tortura" reached the top 40 of on the Hot 100. The song featured the Spanish balladeer Alejandro Sanz. Shakira became the first artist to perform a Spanish language song at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2005. Contrary to low expectations, the album was extremely well received. It debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 157,000 copies in its first week. It has since sold over two million copies in the U.S., earning an 11× Platinum (Latin field) certification from the RIAA. Due to its first week sales, the album became the highest debut ever for a Spanish language album. After only a day of release in Latin America, the album earned certifications. In Venezuela, it earned a Platinum certification, in Colombia, a triple Platinum certification, while in Mexico demand exceeded shipments and the album was unavailable after only one day of release. The album sold over one million copies in three days worldwide. Four other singles were also released from the album. "No", "Día de Enero", "La Pared" and "Las de la Intuición", with each single reaching number one in countries worldwide. Fijación Oral, Vol. 1 has since sold over four million copies worldwide.[30] On February 8, 2006, Shakira won her second Grammy Award with the win of Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album for Fijación Oral, Vol. 1.[39] She received four Latin Grammy Awards in November 2006, winning the awards for Record of the Year, Song of the Year for "La Tortura", Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album for Fijación Oral, Vol. 1.[40]
In late 2006, Shakira and Alejandro Sanz collaborated for the duet Te lo Agradezco, Pero No, which is featured on Sanz' album El Tren de los Momentos. The song was a top ten hit in Latin America, and topped the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart. Shakira also collaborated with Miguel Bosé on the duet "Si Tú No Vuelves", which was released in Bosé's album Papito. In early 2007, Shakira worked with American R&B singer Beyoncé for the track "Beautiful Liar", which was released as the second single from the deluxe edition of Beyoncé's album B'Day. In April 2007, the single jumped 91 positions, from 94 to three, on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, setting the record for the largest upward movement in the history of the chart at the time. It was also number one on the official UK Singles Chart. The song earned them a Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. Shakira was also featured on Annie Lennox's song "Sing", from the album Songs of Mass Destruction, which also features other 23 other female singers.[44] In late 2007, Shakira and Wyclef Jean recorded their second duet "King and Queen". The song was featured on Wyclef Jean's 2007 album Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant. Shakira wrote the lyrics and co-wrote the music for two new songs that are featured in the movie Love in the Time of Cholera, based on the acclaimed novel by Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez. García Marquez himself asked Shakira to write the songs.[45] The songs that Shakira lent to the soundtrack were "Pienso en ti", a song from Shakira's breakthrough album Pies Descalzos, "Hay Amores" and "Despedida". "Despedida" was nominated for Best Original Song at the 65th Golden Globe Awards.
2008–12: She Wolf and Sale el Sol
Shakira performing with Usher and Stevie Wonder at the We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial (2009)
"She Wolf", the lead single from Shakira's eighth studio album, premiered on July 13, 2009.[49][50][51] Shakira wrote and produced the song with John Hill, and Sam Endicott (lead singer and songwriter of The Bravery).[52] The Spanish version, titled "Loba", premiered on the same day as well. "She Wolf" and "Loba" then became available for digital download the following day.[38] The video for "She Wolf" premiered on MTV on July 30, 2009.[38] The single was successful worldwide, reaching number one in Latin America, number two in Germany, Ireland, Italy, Estonia and Spain, number three in Switzerland and Austria, number four in the UK, France and Greece, number five in Canada and Belgium, number six in Finland, number nine in Japan, and number eleven in the US. The album, She Wolf, was released in October 2009 internationally and on November 23, 2009 in the U.S. The album received mainly positive reviews from critics, but only managed to sell 89,000 copies in its first week in the U.S., earning the number fifteen spot on the Billboard 200. It has gone on to sell only 300,000 records in the U.S., becoming her least successful album there. However, the album has been moderately successful worldwide, having been certified Gold in Russia, Ireland, Switzerland, Poland, France, Argentina, Greece, and Hungary, Platinum in Spain, the United Kingdom, and the Middle East, 2x Platinum in Colombia and Mexico, and 3x Platinum in Taiwan. To date the album has sold 2 million copies worldwide, becoming Shakira's least successful studio album to date in terms of sales.[53]
In May, Shakira collaborated with the South African group Freshlyground to create the official song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)", which is based on a traditional Cameroonian soldiers' Fang song named "Zangalewa" by the group Zangalewa or Golden Sounds.[54] The single later reached the top 20 in Europe, South America and Africa and the top 40 in the U.S. and was performed by Shakira at the World Cup kick-off and closing. It became the biggest-selling World Cup song of all time.[55][56] In October 2010, Shakira released her ninth studio album, Sale el Sol. The album debuted at number-seven on Billboard 200 in its first week, and at the top spot on the Billboard Top Latin Albums. The lead single "Loca" was number one in many countries. The album had sold over 1 million copies worldwide in 6 weeks,[57] and over 4 million since its release.[58] In September, Shakira embarked on The Sun Comes Out World Tour, in support of her two most recent albums. The tour visited countries in North America, Europe, South America, Asia, and Africa with 107 shows in total. The tour was met with positive reactions from critics, who praised Shakira's stage presence and energy during her performances. On November 9, 2011, Shakira was honored as Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year and performed a cover of Joe Arroyo's song "En Barranquilla Me Quedo" at the Mandalay Bay Events Center as a tribute to the singer who died earlier that year.[59][60] In 2010 Shakira collaborated with rapper Pitbull for the song "Get It Started" which is the lead single from Pitbull's upcoming album Global Warming. The single was released on June 28, 2012.[61] She was also signed to Roc Nation under management purposes for her upcoming studio album.[62]
2013–present: The Voice and Shakira
In November 2011 Shakira said about her tenth album: "I already started to write new material. I've begun to explore in the recording studio whenever I have time in Barcelona and here in Miami. I'm working with different producers and DJs, and I try to feed off from that and find new sources of inspiration and new musical motivation. I'm anxious to return to the studio. My body is asking for it".[63] She worked with producers such as Benny Blanco, Tïesto, RedOne, Max Martin, Dr. Luke, LMFAO, Akon,[64] Fernando Garibay, Sia, Ester Dean,[65] Skrillex, The Runners, Terius "The-Dream" Nash, Tricky Stewart, Shea Taylor and Billboard.[66] Originally, the first single from her new album was expected to be a song named "Truth or Dare".[67] The music video was filmed in Lisbon on June 29, 2012.[68] But due to her unexpected pregnancy, plans to release the single and video were postponed. In August 2014, Shakira revealed that she was pregnant with her and Pique's second child.On September 17, 2012, it was announced that Shakira and Usher would replace Christina Aguilera and CeeLo Green for season four alongside Adam Levine and Blake Shelton. Shakira announced that she would focus on her new album in the fall and returned for the season six in February 2014. On September 1, 2013, Shakira gave an update on her album, stating: "Amazing day in the studio! 2 years and I finally feel in these songs as comfortable as [I do] in my torn jeans!".[69]
Peter Edge - the CEO of RCA Records - told Billboard magazine in October 2013: "[There's this] new song from Shakira that’s gonna be an event single, we plan on having it out before the end of [2013]".[70] On November 23, 2013, Shakira stated that she is writing the final lyrics for the album.[71] In December 2013, it was announced that Shakira's new single has been delayed until January 2014 and that the featured artist on the song is Rihanna.[72][73] On December 8, 2013; Shakira tweeted: "I Just finished the video for my first single with director Joseph Kahn!".[74] On January 6, 2014, both Shakira and Rihanna tweeted that new single would be titled "Can't Remember to Forget You" and was released on January 13, 2014.[75][76] Shakira's self-titled tenth studio album was released March 25, 2014.[77]
On July 13, 2014, Shakira performed "La La La (Brazil 2014)" with Brazilian musician Carlinhos Brown at the closing ceremony of 2014 FIFA World Cup at the Maracanã Stadium.[78] It made her third consecutive appearance at the FIFA World Cup.[79][80]
Artistry
 |
"Devoción" (2010)
"Devoción" is a
Spanish Rock song written by Shakira, Jorge Drexler, John Hill, Sam
Endicott and Gustavo Cerati with musical composition.
"Ojos Así" (1999)
Shakira is influenced by Arabic music and is one of the first singers to combine Arabic music with Rock and Roll.
|
| Problems playing these files? See media help. | |
She Wolf is primarily an electropop album that combines influences from the musical styles of various countries and regions, like Africa, Colombia, India, and the Middle East.[87][88] Shakira termed the album as a "sonic experimental trip", and said that she researched folk music from different countries in order to "combine electronics with world sounds, tambourines, clarinets, oriental and Hindu music, dancehall, etc."[89] Her 2010 album, Sale el Sol, is a return to her beginnings containing ballads such as "Lo Que Más" and "Antes de las Seis", rock songs like "Tu Boca" and "Devoción", and Latin dance songs like "Loca".[90][91] Shakira possesses a contralto vocal range.
I have been a Cerati fan all my life when he was part of Soda Stereo and before knowing him I had already gone to three of his concerts. Both Gustavo [Cerati] and Santana have enriched me, they are my small wonders.
“
”
— Shakira in 2006 speaking on Spanish language rock and how she is indebited to the Argentine rock power trio Soda Stereo and to the Mexican American band Santana.[92]
Shakira made several covers of prominent artists such AC/DC and Aerosmith, using them to sing in her tours, resulting in performances of "Back in Black"[99] and "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)" during her Tour of the Mongoose. She also sang the classic Elvis Presley song "Always on My Mind" at the VH1 Divas Live.[citation needed] In her 2010–2011 tour called The Sun Comes Out World Tour, she sings "Nothing Else Matters" by the heavy metal band Metallica in an oriental style. She is also strongly influenced by Andean music and South American folk music, using her native instrumentation for the Latin dance-pop "Whenever, Wherever" and "Despedida".[100] Shakira recently[when?] performed two songs for two separate Haiti benefit events: "I'll Stand By You", by The Pretenders, and "Sólo le pido a Dios" by León Gieco.
Legacy
Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Shakira
According to Yahoo!, her song "Hips Don't Lie" is the best-selling single of the last decade.[43] According to Forbes Magazine, Shakira was the fourth highest-earning woman in music for 2008 behind Madonna, Barbra Streisand and Celine Dion.[107] According to Nokia in 2010, there were more Shakira music downloads in the prior year than for any other Latino artist in the last five years, and She Wolf topped the Top 10 Latino downloads.[108] Additionally, she is the only artist from South America to reach the number-one spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, the Australian ARIA chart, and the UK Singles Chart.[109] In 2010, she was ranked number five on the 'Online Video's Most Viral Artists of 2010' with 404,118,932 views.[110] She has become a YouTube sensation having surpassed 1 billion views on the website with "Waka Waka" accounting for over 550 million views. She is the third person ever to have done this, after Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber.[111][112][113] On July 18, 2014, Shakira became the first person to reach 100 million likes on Facebook.[114]
In 2011, Shakira was honored at the Latin Grammys as 2011's Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year.[115] She also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located at 6270 Hollywood Blvd.[116][117] Originally, she was to be given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2004, but she turned the offer down.[118] In 2012, she received the honor of Chevalier De L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.[119]
Shakira is the first musical act to perform third time at the FIFA World Cup.[80]
Other ventures
Shakira became the 2010 celebrity spokesperson for the Freixenet traditional Christmas TV commercial. Each year, this Cava company taps into a world-famous celebrity to be the face of its much-awaited holiday TV spot. For her latest venture, Shakira dressed up as a golden sparkling wine bubble, "This year, let's toast so that the sun shines more than ever. The best is yet to come. Merry Christmas," Shakira says in the ad. In a press conference in Barcelona, Shakira presented the Christmas commercial, which will start airing in Spain on December 9. Shakira also took the opportunity to announce that she used the $500,000 EUR ($662,085 USD) honorarium given to her by the Spanish bubbly to finance two schools run by her foundation, Pies Descalzos. The partnership between Shakira and Freixenet also includes a Pies Descalzos Foundation promotional video, directed by longtime Shakira collaborator and fellow Catalan Jaume Delaiguana.[124]
Shakira began her own beauty line, "S by Shakira", with parent company Puig, in 2010.[125] The brand has released two perfumes, "S by Shakira" and "S by Shakira Eau Florale," along with lotions and body sprays. She made her first terminal tattoo, which she dedicated to Pique, to promote a healthy way of making tattoos. At a release event for the first fragrance, Shakira stated: "The type of women who feel a connection with this fragrance would be independent and strong, but also a woman with a great capacity to love and a strong sense of who they are. It's for a woman who believes in herself." In 2012, she released a new fragrance "Elixir by Shakira".
Personal life
Shakira is a native Spanish speaker who speaks fluent English and Portuguese, as well as some Italian, French, Catalan and Arabic.[126][127][128] Shakira is a Roman Catholic,[129] and met Pope John Paul II in 1998. She is interested in world history, and she frequently studies the history and languages of the countries she visits.[130] After her Oral Fixation tour ended in the summer of 2007, Shakira attended a summer school class in Los Angeles at UCLA Extensions, where she took courses in History of Western Civilization. She used her middle names, Isabel Mebarak, and told the professor she was visiting from Colombia so as to avoid being recognized as a celebrity.[131] Shakira is also reputed to have an IQ of 140.[132] Shakira is a cousin of model, and 2005–2006 Miss Colombia, Valerie Domínguez.[133][134] In an interview on The Paul O'Grady Show, she referred to herself as a mutt due to her diverse ancestry, which she noted as a theme behind her song "Gypsy".[135]
Shakira is currently in a relationship with the Spanish football player Gerard Piqué, centre back for FC Barcelona and the Spanish national team.[140][141] They met in spring 2010 when Piqué appeared in the music video for Shakira's song "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)", the official song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.[138] Shakira officially confirmed their relationship on March 29, 2011 via Twitter and Facebook, posting a picture of the two with a caption reading, "I present to you my sunshine." It was the first time she had ever spoken of the relationship after several months of media speculation.[142] In September 2012, Shakira confirmed that she and Piqué were expecting their first child together.[143][144] Shakira gave birth to the couple's son, Milan Piqué Mebarak, on January 22, 2013 in Barcelona, Spain, where the family resides.[145] The couple are now expecting their second child together.[146]
Activism
Main article: Pies Descalzos Foundation
On April 3, 2006, Shakira was honored at a UN ceremony for creating the Pies Descalzos Foundation. At the event, Shakira said, "Let's not forget that at the end of this day when we all go home, 960 children will have died in Latin America."[152] On September 28, 2007, at the Clinton Global Initiative, it was revealed that Shakira received a commitment of $40 million from the Spanish government to help the victims of natural disasters. An additional $5 million was to be donated to four Latin American countries, to be spent on education and health. As part of the May 2007 concerts, her ALAS Foundation was able to solicit commitments of US$ 200 million from philanthropists Carlos Slim, Mexico's richest man, and Howard Buffett, son of U.S. investment guru Warren Buffett, Shakira announced on April 15, 2008.[153]
Shakira, Alejandro Sanz and Juan Carlos I, The King of Spain during the IberoAmerican Summit of El Salvador.
On December 7, 2009, Shakira was honored as a guest at the University of Oxford to give a speech about her work with children and education. She was chosen by the Oxford Union and joined the ranks of Albert Einstein, several US Presidents, Mother Teresa, and the Dalai Lama XIV, as a chosen speaker. During the speech, Shakira said, "That is how I want the youth of 2060 to see us: That our mission for global peace consisted of sending 30,000 educators to Afghanistan, not 30,000 soldiers. That in 2010, world education became more important than world domination."[157]
In March 2010, she was awarded a medal by the UN International Labor Organization in recognition of being, as UN Labor Chief Juan Somavia put it, a "true ambassador for children and young people, for quality education and social justice."[158] In November 2010, after performing as the opening act of the MTV European Music Awards, the Colombian singer also received the MTV Free Your Mind award for her continuing dedication to improve access to education for all children around the world.[159] In February 2011, the FC Barcelona Foundation and Pies descalzos reached an agreement for children's education through sport.[160] On October 5, 2011, US President Barack Obama announced that Shakira was appointed as a member of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics.[161] Shakira was honored at the Latin Grammys as the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year on November 9, 2011, for her philanthropy and contributions to Latin Music.[162]
Discography
Main article: Shakira discography
- Magia (1991)
- Peligro (1993)
- Pies Descalzos (1995)
- Dónde Están los Ladrones? (1998)
- Laundry Service (2001)
- Fijación Oral, Vol. 1 (2005)
- Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 (2005)
- She Wolf (2009)
- Sale el Sol (2010)
- Shakira (2014)
Tours
Main article: List of Shakira concert tours
- Tour Pies Descalzos (1996–97)
- Tour Anfibio (2000)
- Tour of the Mongoose (2002–03)
- Oral Fixation Tour (2006–07)
- The Sun Comes Out World Tour (2010–11)
Filmography
Main article: Shakira videography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | El oasis | Luisa Maria | |
| 2001–09 | Saturday Night Live | Herself / Musical Guest | "Gerard Butler/Shakira" (35.4) "Alec Baldwin/Shakira" (31.8) "Derek Jeter/Shakira/Bubba Sparxxx" (27.7) |
| 2002 | Taina | Herself | "Abuelo Knows Best" (2.8) |
| 2009 | Ugly Betty | Herself | "The Bahamas Triangle" (4.8) |
| 2010 | Wizards of Waverly Place | Herself | "Dude Looks Like Shakira" (3.12) |
| 2013 | The Voice | Herself (coach and judge) | Season 4, 6 |
| Alice's Birthday | Captain (Spanish Latino dub) | Voice | |
| 2014 | Dreamland | Herself | Season 1, episode 3 |
