Shakira - Chantaje (Official Video)

Shakira - Album songs

Born: Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll

Date of Birth: February 2, 1977

Place of Birth: Barranquilla, Colombia

Nationality: Colombian

Occupation: Singer, Songwriter, Dancer, Record Producer

Known For: Unique blend of Latin pop, rock, and Middle Eastern sounds

Shakira was born in Barranquilla, Colombia, to a Lebanese father and a Colombian mother. Her name, which means "thankful" in Arabic, reflects her father's heritage. At age two, she experienced a profound tragedy when her older half-brother was killed in a motorcycle accident. Six years later, at age eight, she composed her first song, "Tus Gafas Oscuras" (Your Dark Glasses), inspired by her father's grief, who wore dark glasses to hide his sadness.

From a young age, Shakira was a born performer. At age four, she discovered a passion for belly dancing after her father took her to a local Middle Eastern restaurant. She would spontaneously climb onto tables to dance. However, she was rejected from the school choir because her strong vibrato, according to the music teacher, made her sound "like a goat."

At age 13, she signed her first record deal with Sony Music Colombia. Her first two albums, Magia (1991) and Peligro (1993), were commercially unsuccessful. This led her to take a brief hiatus from music. She returned with full creative control for her third studio album, Pies Descalzos (1995), which became a massive success across Latin America. Her follow-up, ¿Dónde Están los Ladrones? (1998), further cemented her status as a superstar in the Spanish-speaking world.

In 2001, Shakira made her English-language crossover with the album Laundry Service. The lead single, "Whenever, Wherever," became a global smash hit, solidifying her international fame. The album sold over 13 million copies worldwide and paved the way for other Latin artists to enter the mainstream English-language market.

She continued her global success with the dual album project Fijación Oral, Vol. 1 (2005) and Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 (2005). The single "Hips Don't Lie," from Oral Fixation, Vol. 2, became her first number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. and one of the best-selling singles of all time. Her song "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" was chosen as the official anthem for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, becoming a worldwide sensation. More recently, her 2023 collaboration with producer Bizarrap, "Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53," broke multiple streaming records.

Beyond her music career, Shakira has engaged in various other projects. She was a coach on the American reality TV series The Voice for two seasons. She also voiced a character and contributed to the soundtrack for the Disney animated film Zootopia (2016).

Shakira is a dedicated philanthropist. In 1997, she founded the Pies Descalzos Foundation (Barefoot Foundation), which provides education and nutrition to children in impoverished communities in Colombia. She has also served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2003.

With an estimated net worth of $300 million, she is one of the wealthiest and most successful female artists in the world. Shakira's ability to seamlessly blend different cultures and musical styles has earned her numerous accolades, including multiple Grammy Awards and Latin Grammy Awards, and cemented her legacy as the "Queen of Latin Music."