Find out which song tops our rankings.
On June 19, 1999, Shakira performed in New York.
Bill Tompkins/Getty Images
Where is the thief? Shakira’s 1998 album marked a turning point in the Colombian superstar’s career. Her first record, backed by super-producer Emilio Estefan, established Shakira as one of the most important Latin American artists of her generation.
Where?then barefoot Since 1995, it has been home to some of Shakira’s best songs, including the now classics “Inevitable”, “Tú”, “Si te vas” and “Ojos Así”. Shakira’s seminal album is driven by sounds ranging from rock to pop ballads, mariachi trumpet and Middle Eastern influences, with powerful lyricism. A troubadour at heart, the Colombian superstar lets her emotions take center stage, singing about believing in love (“Tú”), heartbreak (“Si te vas”), superficiality (“Octavo día”) and Young Love (“Ciega, Deaf-Silent”).
The album’s title track was inspired by an event that changed everything for Shakira. While traveling, a suitcase containing lyrics to a new song was stolen, causing her to suffer from writer’s block. When he finally put pen to paper, the end result earned him his first No. 1 Latin album. billboard. Where is the thief? led chart 11 weeks.
Shakira will speak at Billboard Latin Music Week in Miami from October 2-6.buy tickets here.
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“Wish you came back”
through steel strings, nasal Featuring electric guitar and occasional distortion, “Que Volveres” takes on a gritty rock quality – complete with lush choruses that have become a hallmark of Shakira’s rock style. It’s a raw, emotional song that conveys the inner struggle of wanting someone back in your life while battling the weight of self-esteem. The repeated plea, “I want you to come back, come back,” is both heartbreaking and powerful.
Have a listen here.
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“The Eighth Day”
In this brilliantly satirical song, Shakira points to a superficial classist society in which even God would not want to live. In the sobering lyrics, the artist sings that on the eighth day, after “so much work,” God took a trip to outer space, only to return to “hell’s chaos.” If God decided to leave, “we would have to worship Michael Jackson or Bill Clinton or Tarzan,” he declared. This catchy song is no exception: Shakira has always challenged the status quo through her songs and/or music videos.
Have a listen here.
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“Your Shadow”
“Sombra de ti” kicks off with a melancholy jazz melody as the Colombian singer-songwriter is melancholic and vulnerable, still crying over lost love and admitting that “it’s getting harder to be happy.” “Sombra,” co-produced and co-written by Shakira and Luis Fernando Ochoa, is a soft rock ballad, with Shakira’s powerful yet melancholy voice lamenting in the chorus: “Your shadow continues to surround With me (…) the words we said/and the kisses we gave/as always, I miss you today.”
Have a listen here.
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“I do not think so”
In full rock mode, “No Creo” is one of the album’s most energetic songs: catchy rock that then transitions into conga and strong salsa rhythms. Along the way, Shakira also showed off her harmonica playing skills. This feel-good song is an honest love letter to someone who loves you unconditionally. “Only you know who I am/That’s why my heart belongs to you/Only you double my reasons/That’s why I go where you want to go.” The song is called “I Don’t Believe” because she In the lyrics, she expresses that she doesn’t believe in anything or anyone, not even herself, but she believes in the smile of that special person. “No one will ever love you like I do,” he declares on the heartfelt song.
Have a listen here.
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“Where is the thief?”
The song was Shakira’s response to a thief who stole her suitcase full of new songs, leaving her mentally sluggish with no new music for several years after her successful debut album. barefoot. The situation inspired a poignant and critical song about harsh social realities that ultimately gave the album its title. A negative experience turned into a fruitful project that marked the beginning and end of his career.
Have a listen here.
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“There are flies in the house”
In the late 1990s, this song was played on a loop on the radio. It’s an acoustic pop ballad written by Shakira and the perfect title for a resentment song, in which the Colombian star loosely describes the feelings of emptiness and sadness that come with an emotional breakup.Although the song was originally released without a music video, a black and white clip was featured during its live performance MTV Unplugged next year.
Have a listen here.
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“The eyes look like this”
Shakira plays with fire in her passionate and hypnotic “Ojos Así.” Its lyrics in Spanish and Arabic pay homage to the traditional sounds of the Middle East, telling the story of a journey from Bahrain to Beirut and the burning desire to live in the eyes of those you love.The Colombian superstar performed the song in a bodysuit at the inaugural Latin Grammy Awards in 2000 red, while dancing inside a ring of fire. The captivating song peaked at No. 22 on the Hot Latin Songs chart and No. 9 on the Latin Pop Airplay chart.
Have a listen here.
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“you”
In “Tú,” Shakira offers her lover her entire being and her possessions—from her bones and neurons, to her silence and her nose—as long as he stays with her forever . “Because of you, my sun, the faith I live by/the power of my voice, the feet I walk on,” he emphatically delivers in the chorus. “It’s you, honey, that makes me laugh/I don’t know how to say goodbye/Because I’ll never be able to live without you.” This beautiful ballad, with simple and witty lyrics, is one of the artist’s greatest love songs. His fans seem to agree. ‘Tú’ Tops Hot Latin Songs and Latin Songs Charts billboard.
Have a listen here.
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“Blind, deaf and dumb”
With passionate trumpet and acoustic guitar work, “Ciega, Deafmuda” exudes a fiery attitude that’s impossible to ignore. The powerful Colombian conveys through Shakira’s passionate voice a complex love that defies reason and advice. She paints a vivid picture of her struggles, describing herself as “savage, blind, tone-deaf” and displaying vulnerability and obsession. “‘Ciega, deafmuda’ is my tribute to Mexican music,” says Shakira billboard in his recent cover interview. “It was very exciting because shortly after the song was released, we made MTV Unplugged We brought a mariachi band. So I was able to sing the song in the purest Mexican style. “Ciega, Sorormuda” topped many charts including Hot Latin Songs and Latin Airplay.
Have a listen here.
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“If you leave”
“Si te vas” isn’t just a heartbreaking song, it’s a gory song used by women as a breakup anthem. Long before “BZRP Music Sessions Vol. 53,” Shakira was singing deeply mesmerizing lyrics. “When wrinkles dig into your skin and cellulite invades your legs, you will come back from hell again with your tail between your legs, but by then, I will be away from this huge city for a million nights, away from “you , driven by electric guitar and powerful drum beats, he confidently sang this rock song. “Si te vas,” voted the second best song on the album by our team, resonated with people at the time and showed that Shakira is still willing to be vulnerable, honest, and raw in her emotions.
Have a listen here.
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“inevitable”
Shakira is brutally honest and vulnerable in this classic rock ballad, admitting that she’s completely in love, from not knowing how to make coffee or take a shower on a Sunday, to maybe having been unfaithful.But “no one sees you the way I do,” he lamented bitterly, “even if it doesn’t matter to you.” The heartbreaking song stayed on the Hot Latin Songs chart for 12 weeks billboard, It reaches number three, starting softly with guitar before exploding into a powerful rocker with intense riffs, Shakira’s powerful voice soaring in a way that only she knows how to do.It is inevitably not only one of the most famous works Where is the thief?but his career.
Have a listen here.