Shakira – More Than Just a Pretty Face in the Rock Music World

Shakira is one of the most popular female rock artists in the world. She is known for her powerful voice, her catchy tunes, and her incredible dance moves. But there is more to Shakira than just her good looks and her talent. She is also a smart businesswoman and a devoted philanthropist.

Shakira – A Brief Overview

Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, who goes by the single name Shakira, is a Colombian singer, songwriter, dancer, record producer and actress. Born and raised in Barranquilla, she made her recording debut under Sony Colombia at the age of 13. Following the commercial success of her first two studio albums Magia (1991) and Peligro (1993), Shakira was signed to Epic Records in 1996. Her eponymous third album, released in 1998, achieved major commercial success.

Shakira’s first English-language album, Laundry Service (2001), sold over thirteen million copies worldwide and garnered her international recognition. Its follow-up album, Oral Fixation Vol. 2 (2005), witnessed the release of “Hips Don’t Lie”, which topped many music charts worldwide including the Billboard Hot 100 for a record-breaking number of weeks. Shakiras ninth and tenth studio albums, She Wolf (2009) and Sale el Sol (2010), received critical acclaim and topped Billboard charts upon their release. The latter won two Latin Grammy Awards for Best Female Pop Vocal Album and Record of the Year respectively; it also won her a Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album.

Many of Shakira’s songs have been hits in multiple countries around the world. In Europe, “Whenever, Wherever” topped the charts in Denmark, France and Spain; it peaked at number two in Belgium Flanders and Greece while becoming a top-ten hit in several other countries including Germany and Italy (“Underneath Your Clothes” also did likewise in those latter two nations). In Latin America (“La Tortura”), North America (“Hips Don’t Lie”) and Oceania (“She Wolf”), she has had number-one singles on various general purpose charts including those compiled by Billboard magazine; “La La La (Brazil 2014)” also reached number one on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Songs chart—making her only artist to do so with three Spanish-language singles—and became one of only four female artists to score at least three number ones on Billboard’s mentioned dance chart as a lead artist since its inception as Hot Dance Music/Club Play in March 1985.”

Shakira – Early Life and Career

Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, who was born on February 2, 1977, is a Colombian singer, songwriter, dancer, record producer, choreographer, and model. linear feet away from the stage. She is the only child of William Mebarak Chadid and Nidia del Carmen Ripoll Torrado. Shakira began her musical career at age 12 and quickly captured fans around the world. Her first two albums, Magia and Peligro, were released in Latin America in the early 1990s and did not gain much attention outside of the region. It was not until her third album, Pies Descalzos (1995), that she gained widespread fame outside of Latin America.

Shakira – Rise to Fame

Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll was born on February 2, 1977, in Barranquilla, Colombia. Her mother is a Colombian of Italian and Spanish descent, and her father is a Lebanese immigrant.

Shakira began writing poems and composing music at the age of four. When she was eight, she joined a school choir, where she sang traditional Arabic songs. She also began taking dance lessons at the age of eight. Shakira’s professional music career began when she signed with Sony Music Colombia at the age of 13. Her first two albums, Magia (1991) and Peligro (1993), were not commercially successful in Colombia.

Shakira – Musical Style and Influences

Shakira’s musical style has been inspired by a variety of different artists and genres, including rock, pop, jazz, and flamenco. She has also cited her Lebanese heritage as an influence on her music.

Shakira’s early work was influenced by rock music, specifically Spanish and English-language rock artists such as the Police, Soda Stereo, UB40, and Kurt Cobain. In an interview with Charlie Rose, Shakira stated that she was “obsessed” with Nirvana during her teens. She has also credited Argentine rock band Soda Stereo with inspiring her to pursue a career in music.

In addition to her rock influences, Shakira has cited Lebanese singer Fairuz as an inspiration. Her 2006 album OralFixation Vol. 2 includes the song “La Tortura”, which features references to Fairuz’s song “Inta Omri”. Shakira has also cited Colombian singer-songwriter Juanes as an influence on her work.

Shakira – Personal Life

Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll (born February 2, 1977), known mononymously as Shakira, is a Colombian singer-songwriter, dancer, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Barranquilla, she began performing in school, demonstrating Latin American, Arabic, and rock and roll influences and belly dancing abilities.

Shakira released her first studio albums Magia (1991) and Peligro (1993), before she rose to prominence in Latin America with her major label debut Pies Descalzos (1996). She poor commercial success in the United States until the release of her fifth album Laundry Service in 2001.

Shakira has won many awards throughout her career, 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 for her work as an actress. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, received the Order of Arts and Letters from France and was awarded the President’s Merit Award from South Korea.

Shakira – Philanthropy

Shakira is a Colombian singer, songwriter, dancer, record producer, and philanthropist. Born and raised in Barranquilla, she made her recording debut under Sony Colombia at the age of 13. Following the commercial success of her debut album Pies Descalzos (1995), Shakira entered the English-language market with her fifth album Laundry Service (2001).

Shakira’s charitable work focuses on helping children around the world. She founded the Barefoot Foundation, a Colombian charity with the stated goal of “empowering young people to be agents of change in their communities through education and social-entrepreneurship”. In 2005, Shakira was designated as a UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador and in 2007 she founded Pies Descalzos Foundation. In 2014, Shakira was listed by Forbes as the most powerful female musician in the world.

Shakira – Legacy

Shakira is not only a pretty face in the rock music world, she is a Legacy. She has helped define and shape the modern Latin pop movement. Shakira’s career spans over two decades and includes bestselling albums, groundbreaking singles, and historic live performances. She is the highest-selling Colombian artist of all time, with over sixty million albums sold worldwide. Shakira has also been honored with numerous awards, including three Grammy Awards, thirteen Latin Grammy Awards, four MTV Video Music Awards, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In addition to her musical accomplishments, Shakira is also a dedicated philanthropist, working to improve education and healthcare for children in her native Colombia and around the world through her charitable foundation, Pies Descalzos.

Shakira – Discography

Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll is a Colombian singer, songwriter, record producer, choreographer and dancer. Born and raised in Barranquilla, she began performing in school, demonstrating Latin American, Arabic and rock and roll influences and belly dancing abilities. Shakira released her first studio albums, Magia and Peligro, in the early 1990s. Her major label debut album Pies Descalzos was released in 1996 when she was 18 years old. It sold more than four million copies worldwide.[1]

In 2001 Shakira released her first English language album Laundry Service which became the best-selling Latin album of all time. It contains the hits “Whenever, Wherever” and “Underneath Your Clothes”. The album sold over thirteen million copies worldwide[2] and made Shakira the only Latina artist to debut at number one on the Billboard 200.[3] This was followed by the release of Fijación Oral Vol. 1 (2005) which has sold more than five million copies worldwide.[4][5]

Shakira’s third English-language album She Wolf (2009) debuted at number three on the Billboard 200.[6] The lead single “She Wolf” peaked at number one in multiple countries including France and Spain while reaching the top ten in several other territories. “Did It Again” was released as the second single from She Wolf peaking at number two in Spain[7] and reaching the top ten in several other countries including France,[8] Italy,[9] Belgium (Wallonia),[10] Portugal,[11] Greece,[12] Sweden[13] and Switzerland.[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25—”Give It Up to Me” which also topped charts around Europe being certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In 2009 she won a Grammy for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for “Beautiful Liar”.[33—35

Shakira has received numerous awards and recognition throughout her career including five MTV Video Music Awards,[26] two Grammy Awards,[27—28] eight Latin Grammy Awards,[29—30] seven Billboard Music Awards,[31—32l five American Music Awards,[33—34l thirty-six Billboards Latin Music Awards[35—36l nine World Music Awards[37—38l four Guinness World Records[39—42l and sixteen SESAC Latina Music Awards.[43~45 In 2012 Rolling Stone placed Shakira at number seventeen on their list of “100 Greatest Singers of All Time”.[46 In 2013 she topped Forbes’s list of highest paid female celebrities with an estimated earnings of $58 million between June 2012 to June 2013

Shakira – Awards and Nominations

Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll is a Colombian singer, songwriter, dancer, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Barranquilla, she began performing in school, demonstrating Latin American, Arabic, and rock and roll influences and belly dancing abilities. Shakira released her first studio albums, Magia and Peligro, in the early 1990s, failing to attain commercial success; however, she rose to prominence in Latin America with her major-label debut album Pies Descalzos (1996), and her fourth album Donde Estan Los Ladrones? (1998). Shakira entered the English-language market with her fifth album Laundry Service in 2001.

Shakira has won many awards throughout her career including three Grammy Awards, thirteen Latin Grammy Awards, four American Music Awards, eight Billboard Music Awards, three World Music Awards, six MTV Video Music Awards—including the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award—and thirty Billboard Latin Music Awards—making her the most awarded female Latin artist. In 2009 she was honored with the Legend Award at the World Music Awards for her “outstanding contribution to the pop industry”. In 2014 she was also awarded with The Global Icon Award at the MTV Europe Music Awards for her worldwide success and international recognition. The same year she received an honor from Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos for “enhancing Colombia’s reputation abroad”.

Shakira – In the Media

Shakira has been in the spotlight for more than two decades now, and she has always been more than just a pretty face in the rock music world. In the media, she is often portrayed as a positive role model for young women, and she is known for her philanthropic work as well. Shakira is also a successful businesswoman, and she has used her platform to speak out on important issues like immigration and education.