Once described as Colombia's "second biggest export", Shakira is amongst a raft of Latin American stars that kicked down the doors to superstardom in the late nineties. Refreshingly unselfconscious, she combines Latin pop with belly-shaking elements of Arabic music, to chart-busting effect. In 2001, she broke through into the English-speaking market with the release of her first album in that language, Laundry Service, which sold over 3.5 million copies in the United States.
Shakira’s biggest hits are "Whenever, Wherever", "Underneath Your Clothes" "Te Dejo Madrid" (I Leave You Madrid), "Objection (Tango)", and "The One". "Whenever, Wherever" climbed into the Top Ten of the singles chart, peaking at number six. The follow-up "Underneath Your Clothes" also hit the Top Ten. Less than a year after its release, Laundry Service had gone triple platinum. Reviews of Laundry Service were divided, but nearly all agreed on her unique poetic imagery.
Shakira began the writing process for her next release and soon had 60 songs ready to go, some in English, and some in Spanish. Twenty of the songs were selected and divided up by language to make two different albums. Both appeared in 2005 and both hit the Top Ten, with the Spanish-language album Fijacion Oral, Vol. 1 leading the way. This was followed by an English-language album, Oral Fixation, Vol. 2.
Shakira’s hit single, Hips Don't Lie, is nominated at the 2006 Billboard Music Awards for Pop Single of the year. She has also won the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album for MTV Unplugged. |
