The production that made Shakira global turns 25 years old

25 years ago, Shakira excitedly released her fourth studio album, “Where are the thieves?”, and she had no idea that this production, which includes classics like “Ojos Así” or “Inevitable”, would change her career. , make her a global artist.

The process of this work, however, was not easy. He the album is precisely called “Where are the thieves?” because his suitcase was stolen at the airport in Bogota, in which were written the songs he intended to publish that year, so he had to start from the beginning.

“When I was at the airport, my suitcase was stolen, and one of those suitcases was mine Songs and I didn’t have a copy, I didn’t remember anything, it was traumatic. I just started this new album (…) all the songs were uncorrected,” said the young Shakira in an interview with MTV in 1998, who combed her hair into braids and dyed her hair in various colors.

And although “thieves never appeared, neither Songs neither one nor the other”, in the end there were “nine months of studio work, not seeing light because there are no windows in the studio”, which catapulted the career of an artist who was already famous in Latin America at the time.

Open door

“Where are the thieves?”, which at that time became an in album best selling Spanish in the United States, Not only did it boost Shakira’s career, but it opened the door to other markets for Latin American artists of that generation, says radio director Alejandro Villalobos, who has worked at Colombian youth stations for more than 20 years.

“Shakira was clearly the one who opened doors not only for artists Colombians but to Latin artists in this music genre (pop),” says the expert for EFE.

For Villalobos, his compatriot “put him on the radar a lot of young people to sing in Spanish and that gave an opportunity to that whole generation that wanted to make that kind of music.”

The influence of the album was so great that in 1999 MTV recorded the album unplugged – composed mainly of songs from the song “Where are the thieves?” – which became the first in Spanish to be broadcast by an American network on its original television channel.

In that album, Shakira confirmed the versatility that allowed her to move between different genres throughout her career and remain relevant for three decades, during which she collaborated with all kinds of artists.

“Shakira is versatile, but still maintains her own style. If you hear the album ‘El Dorado’ (2017), her latest studio album and singles released this year, and comparing it to what was released 25 years ago, she still has the same sound. She has no problem putting out a pop song or a super urban song,” says Villalobos.

Tribute

This very Friday, Spotify will honor the Colombian by declaring September 29 as “The Day of Shakira” for the 25th anniversary of “Where are the thieves?”.

“A significant moment in my career since I debuted in the world with ‘Where the thieves are here’ means singing at three world championships, participating in the Super Bowl and debuting in the Billboard Top 10 after more than 30 years!” the artist told Spotify’s blog For The Record.

The head of relations with artists and record companies for Spotify in the Andes region, Manuela Echeverry, points out that “this initiative is a tribute to an artist who has proudly represented Colombia to the world for years.”

Shakira is experiencing a new golden moment after breaking up with him football player Gerard Piquéafter which he released hits such as “Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53” and “TQG” (featuring fellow countryman Karol G), which topped Spotify’s Global Top.

“Just like she said on her first album ‘Magia,’ that’s what she’s got. She’s dealing with it the magic of knowing how to connect with people at the right moment, he knows when to position himself and capture the sound, and at the same time combine it with the songs of his roots. She knows how to measure time, appear and disappear when she needs to,” concludes Villalobos.