Shakira’s recent album, “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran,” has sparked conversations not just for its raw emotion and resilience following her highly publicized divorce from Gerard Piqué, but also for a notable absence: English songs. Unlike her previous albums that seamlessly blended Spanish and English tracks, this latest offering is entirely in Spanish, save for a verse by Cardi B. This has led many fans to reflect on Shakira’s journey into English music and when this global superstar first decided to bridge linguistic divides in her discography.
To understand Shakira’s foray into English songs, we need to rewind to the turn of the millennium. While already a massive star in Latin America with Spanish albums like “Pies Descalzos” and “Dónde Están los Ladrones?”, Shakira’s global breakthrough arrived with her fifth studio album, “Laundry Service,” released in 2001. This album marked her official crossover into the English-speaking market and the world stage at large.
Alt text: Shakira’s “Laundry Service” album cover, showcasing her long brown hair and denim outfit, representing her English language debut in 2001.
“Laundry Service” was a strategic and artistic turning point for Shakira. It featured iconic hits like “Whenever, Wherever” and “Underneath Your Clothes,” both of which became massive international successes. “Whenever, Wherever,” with its Andean panpipe-infused melody and Shakira’s signature belly dancing in the music video, became an instant earworm and introduced her unique brand of Latin-infused pop-rock to a global audience. “Underneath Your Clothes,” a softer ballad, showcased her versatility and further solidified her appeal across different demographics.
The album itself was a bilingual endeavor, featuring both English and Spanish tracks. This approach allowed Shakira to cater to her existing Spanish-speaking fanbase while simultaneously conquering new territories. Tracks like “Objection (Tango)” and “Que Me Quedes Tú” (Spanish versions of English songs) further cemented this bilingual approach, demonstrating her commitment to both languages.
Alt text: Shakira performing “Whenever, Wherever” at Rock in Rio Lisboa 2006, highlighting her energetic stage presence and the global popularity of her English crossover hit.
Following the monumental success of “Laundry Service,” Shakira continued to incorporate English songs into her subsequent albums. Albums like “Oral Fixation, Vol. 2,” “She Wolf,” and “Sale el Sol” all featured a mix of English and Spanish tracks, producing further English-language hits such as “Hips Don’t Lie” (featuring Wyclef Jean), “Beautiful Liar” (with Beyoncé), “She Wolf,” “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),” and “Can’t Remember to Forget You” (featuring Rihanna). These collaborations and hits cemented her status as a truly global, bilingual artist capable of topping charts in both English and Spanish-speaking markets.
So, why the shift back to primarily Spanish in “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran”? As Shakira herself explained, singing in Spanish, her mother tongue, provides a different level of creative freedom and emotional depth. For this deeply personal album, born from heartbreak and resilience, she chose to express herself in the language closest to her heart. “Singing in English is also an adventure every time I do it. Writing in English is an intellectual challenge, whereas writing in Spanish is total freedom,” she stated.
In conclusion, while Shakira became a global phenomenon with her English crossover in 2001 with the “Laundry Service” album, launching hits like “Whenever, Wherever,” her musical journey has always been enriched by her bilingualism. “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran” marks a temporary return to her Spanish roots, emphasizing artistic freedom and emotional expression in her native language, while acknowledging her impressive legacy of English-language hits that broadened her global appeal.
