When life gives you lemons, you have to make lemonade – and that’s exactly what Shakira did after her heartbreak. When the Colombian pop star learned in 2022 that Gerard Piqué, her partner of 11 years and the father of her two sons, was cheating on her, I’m sure she felt as if her life was on the line. broken. But when she couldn’t bear the pain and betrayal, she did what most musicians do – turned it into art.
The first song Shakira released directly related to the breakup was 2022’s “Te Felicito” with Puerto Rican Latin artist Rauw Alejandro. The song not only marked Shakira’s comeback, but was also the first in a series of singles that showcased her healing journey to the world and eventually became part of her latest highly anticipated album Her song, “Las Soones Ya no Lloran”, was released on March 22.
Following “Te Felicito”, a satirical song congratulating an ex on finding a new love, Shakira released a hit song with Ozuna titled “Monotonía”. But it was Shakira’s famous diss song that changed her career. The track “Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53”, a collaboration with Argentine producer Bizarrap, was such a hit with fans that it garnered over 63 million views on YouTube in 24 hours, became the most viewed Latin debut song on YouTube. history. The song also skyrocketed onto Spotify’s Global Top 50 chart, breaking the record for the most streamed song in a day in Spotify history, and it ultimately earned Shakira a Latin Grammy for the song. song of the year.
And that’s the song that sets the theme for her first album in seven years. “Las mujeres Ya No Lloran” is literally a line taken from “Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53”, only in the track does she complete the thought by singing “Las mujeres ya no lloran, las mujeres Facturan”, meaning “Women don’t cry anymore, they make money.”
Each song Shakira released in 2022 and 2023 plays a different role in Colombia’s healing and reconstruction process. “TQG”, a collaboration with Karol G that also appeared on her 2023 album “Mañana Serà Bonito”, is a song about being too good for a man who hurt her – haunting her. refers to Anuel AA, Piquè and Karol G’s ex. “Copa Vacía” is a pop-reggaetón song in which she collaborated with Colombian singer Manuel Turizo about not receiving enough love and affection from a partner, in when “El Jefe” is a norteño Mexican song with Fuerza Regida about taking control of your destiny, something fans have seen the artist do since publicly breaking up. “Última” is a touching song that Shakira told the New York Times was the last song she would release about her ex Piquè.
“In her journey to pick up the pieces after her public breakup, Shakira is showing us that although dreams don’t always turn out as we envisioned, she I don’t shy away from my scars.” , an award-winning journalist and creator/host of Paramount+’s Latin music docuseries “De La Calle.” “By taking control of her own narrative, Shakira is inspiring listeners with her bold transformation, while proving to our community and the world that vulnerability is powerful.” best.”
What makes this album a masterpiece is not only the journey we see Shakira take to heal her pain, but also the way it invites hope and new beginnings. Tracks like “Cohete” with Rauw Alejandro and “Puntería” with Cardi B acknowledge the appeal of experiencing a new love – even though Shakira has shared that she can’t imagine falling in love again.
Then there’s “Acróstico,” a beautiful piano-led ballad that emphasizes Shakira’s role as a mother and features her two sons, Milan and Sasha. This is most prominent for Barili.
“Raised by a single mother herself,” says Barili, “the love letter between her and her sons speaks to those of us who are left behind after our parents separate, reminding us that there is These bonds will never be broken.” “Shakira has brought a relief not only to herself but to anyone who has been through a breakup, while also proving that she is still the queen of Latin pop.”
“La Soones Ya No Lloran” is Shakira’s first album in 7 years since the release of her 2017 album “El Dorado”. If this album does anything it proves that the greatest work of art and whose greatest impact is often created through pain and heartbreak – hence Shakira’s diamond tears featured on the cover art.
“It’s also why an artist’s debut album is often their best work,” said Jesús Trivino, Latin pop culture expert and senior music and content executive at Tidal. them, because struggle often creates masterpieces.” “Similarly, whenever there is a challenge in life, you take it as an experience and learn from it. If you are a creative person like Shakira, you throw yourself into your work and often Introspective, empowering music comes through. With ‘Las Soones’ Ya No Lloran,’ Shaki has done just that.”
Shakira’s exceptional comeback album filled with back-to-back hits and major collaborations with artists including Cardi B, Rauw Alejandro, Ozuna etc. also speaks to the importance she places on maintaining despite the How saturated the Latin music world has become. Either way, the breakup needed to happen to inspire her to use her pain, anger, and sadness to create her most raw and vulnerable work. As she has said in many interviews, this experience allowed her to “turn pain into productivity”.
“One of the superstars who started the Latin boom in the late 90s, early 2000s is still around and has never lost it. Shakira, more than other Latin artists of the time, had to introduce herself and an entire country (Colombia) to the US and global market,” Trivino said. “In this album, she is uplifting the fellow Colombians (Karol G), co-signing today’s stars (Rauw Alejandro), as well as shining a light on other genres (Mexican music). I hope listeners don’t waste their time. chat and instead enjoy Shakira’s greatness while she was on this planet.”
Sometimes our world has to fall apart to bring us back into alignment with our passion and purpose. One thing is for sure: our favorite loba is here to stay.
Johanna Ferreira is the content director of POPSUGAR Juntos. With over 10 years of experience, Johanna focuses on how intersectional identities are a central part of Latinx culture. Previously, she spent nearly three years as deputy editor at HipLatina, and she has freelanced for multiple outlets including Refinery29, Oprah magazine, Allure, InStyle, and Well+Good. She has also moderated and spoken on numerous panels on Latine identity. .
