Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, born in Colombia in 1977, has ascended to become a monumental figure in Latin music since the 1990s in Latin America and the 2000s in the United States. Her unique blend of Latin and Middle Eastern influences distinguishes her within the music industry.
As a singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, record producer, and dancer, Shakira has captivated audiences worldwide with her original, creative, and boundary-pushing music.
Her lyrics are notable for their unusual poetry, such as the line, “You bit the apple and renounced paradise, and condemned a serpent, being the one who wanted it so.” This illustrates her unique ability to craft evocative and thought-provoking verses.
She has mastered the art of creating unique rhymes, seamlessly adapting her style to English after her crossover in 2001.
Her first English album, “Laundry Service,” became a massive hit and contributed significantly to her collection of Grammy Awards. Standout tracks like “Underneath Your Clothes” and “Whenever, Wherever” gained immense popularity. Shakira’s music features a diverse blend of pop, Middle Eastern rhythms, tango, Latin elements, and other innovative sounds.
Following “Laundry Service,” she released “Fijación Oral Vol. 1 and 2,” which included collaborations such as “La Tortura” with Alejandro Sanz, “Hips Don’t Lie” with Wyclef Jean, and “Beautiful Liar” with Beyoncé, all achieving substantial success.
Shakira’s heritage, a mix of Catalan-Italian and Lebanese ancestry, contributes to her distinctive style, setting her apart from other artists.
She wrote her first poem, “La Rosa de Cristal,” at the age of four and continued writing, eventually turning her poems into songs. At eight, following the death of her brother in a motorcycle accident, Shakira penned her first song, “Tus Gafas Oscuras.”
Shakira’s personality is expressed through her lyrics and poetry. She has expressed controversial political opinions, including comments perceived as anti-Israel, reflecting her Lebanese background and views on the Middle Eastern conflict.
Once linked romantically to Antonio de la Rua, son of a former Argentine President, her personal choices have remained separate from her success as a singer and dancer, celebrated across South America, the United States, Spain, and beyond.
Her style has been compared to Alanis Morissette’s, but with an added sensuality and belly-dancing prowess. A key moment in her international breakthrough was the release of her MTV Unplugged album, “Donde Están los Ladrones,” in 1999, which reached millions of homes across the United States and Europe.