Shakira

Shakira

Biography

Shakira (born Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll; 2.2.1977)
Shakira is a Colombian singer, songwriter, dancer and musician.

Childhood: Shakira was born and raised in Barranquilla, Colombia, to Nidya del Carmen Ripoll Torrado and William Mebarak Chadid. Shakira has eight half-brothers and sisters from her father's previous marriage.

As a child, Shakira wrote her first poem at the age of four. It was called 'La Rosa De Cristal' ('The Crystal Rose'). At the age of seven, she was given a typewriter as a Christmas gift and her poems soon evolved into songs. When one of her half-brothers was killed in a motorcycle accident, Shakira's father wore shades to hide his emotions and Shakira's first song was entitled 'Tus Gafas Oscuras' ('Your Dark Glasses').

Shakira's love of dancing and performing started when her father took her to a Middle Eastern restaurant and she joined in with the belly dancing. She was four at the time and decided then that she wanted to be a performer. When auditioning for the school choir, though, she was told that she sounded like a goat, as her vibrato was too strong.

Shakira would perform at local events in Barranquilla and it was here that she met Monica Ariz, a theatre producer. Ariz organised an audition with Sony Columbia executive Ciro Vargas. Eventually, she was signed for a three album deal.

Music Career: Shakira's debut album, Magia, was recorded in 1990. She was 13 years old at the time. The album was a collection of songs that she had written since the age of 8. Magia was released in 1991 and did well on Colombian radio, though only 1200 copies were sold.

In 1993, a 20-year old Ricky Martin voted for Shakira in Chile's Vina del Mar International Song Festival.

Peligro was Shakira's second studio album, released in 1993. She was unhappy with the production of the album and refused to promote it. That same year, Shakira appeared in the Colombian TV series 'The Oasis'. She then took a break from her music career in order to graduate from high school.

In 1995, Shakira returned to recording, after her recording of '¿Dónde Estás Corazón?' was the only hit on a Colombian compilation album, Nuestro Rock. Her third album was entitled Pies Descalzos (Bare Feet). She was given $100,000 to record the album, as they were not expecting sales of the album to exceed 100,000 units. Shakira began producing her own music and developed her singing technique. At the time, she was influenced by American and British bands such as Pretenders. Upon its release in 1996, the album reached number one in eight countries, though it only hit number 180 in the main US album chart. When she toured the album, a number of fans died in her home town of Baranquilla, because of a lack of control in the 50,000-strong crowd. The album sold over 5 million copies.

Shakira's fourth studio album, Dónde Están los Ladrones? (Where Are the Thieves?), was released in 1998, to huge success. Eleven of the tracks were released as singles, including 'Ciega, Sordomuda' and 'Moscas En La Casa'. It earned her a Grammy Awards nomination for Best Latin Rock / Alternative Album. The following year, she also recorded a session for MTV Unplugged in New York City, hailed by many as her finest live performance.

Following in the footsteps of Enrique Iglesias and Ricky Martin, who had both had success as English Language pop artists, Shakira began working on a crossover album. The debut single from the new album was 'Whenever, Wherever', which became a huge success. The album, Laundry Service, was released in 2001, debuting at number three in the US charts. Among the seven tracks released as a single, 'Underneath Your Clothes' was probably the most popular.

In 2002, Shakira joined forces with Whitney Houston, Mary J Blige and Cher, among others, for the VH1 Divas Live Las Vegas series.

For her next album, Shakira worked with producer Rick Rubin, who has also worked with Johnny Cash and Beastie Boys. The album was called Fijacion Oral Vol. 1 (Oral Fixation Vol. 1) and was released in 2005. The lead single from the album, 'La Tortura', featured the Spanish singer Alajandro Sanz.

February 2006 saw Shakira win her second Grammy Award and five more Latin Grammy Awards. Shakira performed 'Don't Bother' at the 2005 Europe Music Awards, shortly before releasing Fijacion Oral Vol.2. the tracks 'How Do You Do?' and 'Timor' were controversial at the time, in Muslim countries, as was the cover art for the album, which depicted her as Eve.

In 2006, Shakira recorded 'Hips Don't Lie' with Wyclef Jean. The tracks became her first number one in the US. The final single from the album was 'Illegal', featuring Carlos Santana.

In 2009, it was announced that Shakira's next album, entitled She Wolf would be released in October 2009 and features a song co-written by Sam Endicott of The Bravery.

In 2010, she featured on the official FIFA World Cup anthem 'Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)' with South African band Freshlyground. It broke the record for best-selling World Cup song ever. That year she released ninth album 'Sale el Sol' which topped the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart and featured the number one single 'Loca'. She followed the album release with her The Sun Comes Out World Tour.

2012 saw her replace Christina Aguilera on the fourth season of televised singing competition 'The Voice'.

She signed with Roc Nation for the release of her self-titled album, which came out in 2014. The album featured several top producers including Benny Blanco, Tïesto, LMFAO, Akon, Sia and Skrillex.

Personal Life: Shakira dated Antonia de la Rúa, the son of the ex-Argentinian president, from 2000 to 2010. Although initially amicable, trouble soon arose when de la Rua filed a lawsuit for $100 million after Shakira allegedly made a sudden move to end their business partnership.

In 2010, she began dating Spanish footballer Gerard Piqué. The pair have a son together named Milan Piqué Mebarak.

Shakira is multi-lingual with her mother-tongue being Spanish. She is a Roman Catholic and enjoys studying world history; something which she pursued with a class at UCLA Extensions.



Biography by Contactmusic.com

2020's Most Searched For Artists On Google


Kanye West Shakira Cardi B EDDIE VAN HALEN Grimes Van Halen

After a crazy year of CoVID19 enforced lockdowns this year's most searched for things on Google were likely to have been skewed somewhat by the abnormality of the circumstances. Joe Wicks certainly got people interested in his fitness routines whilst banana bread and sourdough recipes were de rigueur. Among Us rose to the top of the gaming pile whilst the how to's list included, how to cut men's hair and how to make hand sanitizer. People we'd previously never heard of became household names, including Joe Exotic and Carol Baskin, and sadly, others like Caroline Flack were searched for altogether different reasons.   

Politics played a huge part in driving our searches with Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Boris Johnson and Kanye West leading the way and the Black Lives Matter movement came to the fore, prompting many searches including Juneteenth. 

Of course our main focus was on Coronavirus which, as was to be expected, topped the overall most searched for topic on Google in the UK. In entertainment there were a few obvious chart toppers but also a few wild cards. Let's take a look at who you searched for in 2020. 

Continue reading: 2020's Most Searched For Artists On Google

Halloween Pop Party: The Spooky Pop Tunes You Need For Your Playlist


Billie Eilish Taylor Swift Rihanna Childish Gambino Kesha Shakira

Most people seem to think that rock and gothic tunes are the best suited to Halloween playlists, but the truth is you can have just as much of a spooky blast with upbeat, danceable pop songs if guitars just aren't your thing. We've put together a playlist of the most fun horror-inspired contemporary pop numbers perfect for your socially-distanced Halloween gatherings.

Billie Eilish at the 2020 Democratic National Convention / Photo Credit: Democratic National Convention v/DPA/PA ImagesBillie Eilish at the 2020 Democratic National Convention / Photo Credit: Democratic National Convention v/DPA/PA Images

Bury A Friend - Billie Eilish

Continue reading: Halloween Pop Party: The Spooky Pop Tunes You Need For Your Playlist

Shakira Charged With Alleged Tax Evasion In Spain


Shakira

Shakira has been officially charged with tax evasion in Spain, almost a year after an investigation regarding her finances was launched.

Spanish tax authorities officially charged the Colombian singer, 41, with tax evasion on Friday (December 14th) according to the Associated Press. Specifically, Shakira has been accused of not paying more than $16 million in taxes between 2012 and 2014.

The basis of the Spanish prosecutors’ case alleges that Shakira listed her official residence as the Bahamas for tax purposes, when actually she was living in Catalonia, Spain with her partner, Barcelona footballer Gerard Pique, and their two young children.

Continue reading: Shakira Charged With Alleged Tax Evasion In Spain

Gerard Pique Posts Picture That Quashes Split Rumours


Shakira

The world marvelled at the perfection of such a beautiful couple when Colombian singer Shakira and Spanish footballer Gerard Pique got together in 2010. However, the pair have been fighting off rumours of a potential split after eagle-eyed fans noticed the two had not been pictured together on social media since June this year.

Shakira and Gerard PiqueThe couple share two sons together

Now FC Barcelona star Pique has come out to defend his seven-year relationship and posted a family-orientated snap of Shakira and their two sons, Milan, four, and Sasha, two.

Continue reading: Gerard Pique Posts Picture That Quashes Split Rumours

Shakira Is In Deep Trouble For Alleged Tax Evasion


Shakira

Shakira has become the latest celebrity embroiled in a tax evasion scandal after investigators unearthed that she failed to pay income tax when she moved to Spain, before she made it her home officially three years ago. She is currently fighting her case, the results of which are expected to come this summer.

Shakira at the 'Zootopia' premiereShakira at the 'Zootopia' premiere

The 40-year-old Colombian singer could be facing jail time now that Spanish authorities believe that she wasn't paying taxes between 2012 and 2014 when she moved from the Bahamas to Barcelona, just before she made the city her home officially.

Continue reading: Shakira Is In Deep Trouble For Alleged Tax Evasion

Shakira Reveals The First Time She Met Her Boyfriend In New Song


Shakira

Colombian singing superstar has recalled the first time she met her boyfriend, and the father of her two children, Gerard Pique in a new track and it seems she considered the ten-year age gap when they initially got together.

Shakira and Gerard PiqueShakira has revealed the first meeting between her and boyfriend, Gerard Pique

The Hips Don’t Lie hitmaker has released a new tune, Me Enamore, and gives her fans an insight into how she and the Barcelona footballer started their relationship.

Continue reading: Shakira Reveals The First Time She Met Her Boyfriend In New Song

Zootopia [aka Zootropolis] Review

Very Good

The filmmakers behind Tangled and Wreck-it Ralph join forces for this entertaining animated action comedy, which has clearly been planned as a franchise-launcher. Energetic and funny, the movie is packed with wonderfully engaging characters and animated with clever visual inventiveness. But even though it's a lot of fun, it's difficult to escape the feeling that Disney is trying to sell us a whole new range of products.

The setting is a world populated only by animals, where predators and prey have learned to get along. The story centres on feisty rabbit Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin), who grew up under pressure to work in the family carrot-farming business. But she wants to be a cop, even though no bunny has ever made the force. Top of her class at police academy, she's assigned to the Zootropolis Police Department, where Chief Bogo (Idris Elba) makes her a meter maid. But she's too ambitious to write parking tickets all day, and teams up with con-artist fox Nick (Jason Bateman) to look into the strange case of a missing otter, which might be linked to a series of unexplained events in which predators suddenly became aggressive and dangerous.

The writers and directors have a great time with the premise, peppering scenes with knowing references mainly to other movies but also to resonant aspects of society, such as the genius casting of sloths as government workers. And there are also much bigger themes rattling around the edges, from how other peoples' expectations constrain us to how politicians use fear to control the public. There's also a cleverly pointed undercurrent about prejudice and diversity. And at the centre, Goodwin and Bateman give solid vocal performances as natural enemies who find a way to trust each other. Of the supporting cast, Elba is the standout as a buffalo who is all bluster.

Continue reading: Zootopia [aka Zootropolis] Review

Shakira , Sasha Piqué Mebarak - Shakira leaving her hotel with her son Sasha - New York City, New York, United States - Thursday 24th September 2015

Shakira and Sasha Piqué Mebarak

Shakira's Song Not Copied From Songwriter, Judge Rules


Shakira

Columbian born singing sensation Shakira has had a case thrown out in which she was accused of plagiarising her hit Latin chart topping song, Loca. The judge in the case ruled that the claimant had lied and that the cassette tapes on which his claims were based were fake.

ShakiraShakira has been at the centre of copyright allegations

Dismissing the copyright infringement, US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein said: "There was a basic issue of fraud in the trial."

Continue reading: Shakira's Song Not Copied From Songwriter, Judge Rules

Enrique Iglesias Is Second Biggest Victor At 2015 Latin Music Awards


Enrique Iglesias Anthony Romeo Santos Drake Carlos Santana Jenni Rivera Marc Anthony Shakira Roberto Carlos

Romeo Santos, commonly known as The King of Bachata, was not unpredictably the top winner at the 2015 Latin Music Awards, scooping ten separate accolades for his work as a musician and producer while Latino heartthrob Enrique Iglesias came in close behind with nine prizes.

Enrique Iglesias at Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation AwardsEnrique Iglesias wins big at Latin Music Awards

The former Aventura frontman was not only Artist, Producer and Songwriter of the Year, but he also stormed the Tropical categories with awards for Tropical Songs Solo Artist of the Year and Albums Solo Artist with his second album 'Formula, Vol. 2' winning Tropical Album of the Year and Top Latin Album of the Year and his single 'Odio' featuring Drake scooping the Tropical Song of the Year. His other two awards were Hot Latin Songs Male Artist and Top Latin Albums Male Artist.

Continue reading: Enrique Iglesias Is Second Biggest Victor At 2015 Latin Music Awards

Shakira Celebrates Arrival Of Second Son By Helping Other Vulnerable Mothers


Shakira

Towards the end of last month Shakira and Gerard Pique welcomed their second child together, a boy they named Sasha, and now the Columbian-born pop star is using her high-profile status to give back to other mothers around the globe.

Shakira
Shakira and Pique with their firstborn, Milan

The celebrity couple, who are also parents to 2-year-old son, Milan, are teaming up with UNICEF to throw a 'World Baby Shower,' which aims to help vulnerable mothers as well as their children - and in some cases save their lives.

Continue reading: Shakira Celebrates Arrival Of Second Son By Helping Other Vulnerable Mothers

Shakira - 2014 Billboard Awards Red Carpet at the MGM Grand Resort Hotel and Casino - Las Vegas, United States - Sunday 18th May 2014

Shakira

Shakira Monday 19th October 2009 2009 Whitney Museum Gala at The Whitney Museum of American Art New York City, USA

Shakira

Shakira Thursday 24th September 2009 arrives at the BBC studios to record a seesion for Radio One's Live Lounge London, England

Shakira

Shakira and MTV - Sunday 13th September 2009 at Radio City Music Hall New York City, USA

Shakira and Mtv
Shakira

Shakira

Date of birth

2nd February, 1977

Occupation

Musician

Sex

Female

Height

1.57




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Shakira Movies

Zootopia [aka Zootropolis] Movie Review

Zootopia [aka Zootropolis] Movie Review

The filmmakers behind Tangled and Wreck-it Ralph join forces for this entertaining animated action comedy,...

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