Shakira

Birth date: 2 February 1977
Real Name: Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll
Birthplace: Barranquilla, Colombia
Musical genre: Latino / pop / dance / rock
Years active: 1990 - present
Instruments: guitar / harmonica / drums














Early Life

Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll was born on 2 February 1977, better known by his stage name Shakira is a singer, songwriter, dancer and Colombian producers. Shakira was born in the city of Barranquilla in Colombia, his parents being Nydia del Carmen Ripoll Torrado and William Mebarak Chadid they descended with Italians, Lebanese and Spanish. The singer has shown a spirit of creativity since an early age, composing her first poem, "La Rosa De Cristal", at the age of four years. Throughout her childhood she performed a series of short literary works, while his first song was written at the age of eight years. "Tus gafas oscuras" was inspired by a motorcycle accident that resulted in the death of his foster brothers. The term "Shakira" is the Arabic word "grateful".


Also at age four, his father invited her to an oriental restaurant, where he first heard specific sounds of music from the Middle East. Soon she began to dance on the table, so acclaimed by those present. According to the artist, this was caused by "a natural instinct to move my hips and twirl my belly to the rhythm of music. " Despite his passion for music, she was dismissed from the school choir of which was due to his vocal modulation, which was too pronounced. At the same time, his music teacher likened her voice to the sounds of a goat. The singer returned to the institution after winning his first song contest to be his teacher potential.

At age eight Shakira's father worked at the company went bankrupt. While she lived sztabiliza situation with relatives in Los Angeles, California. On returning to Barranquilla she noticed that the majority of family assets were sold. Later she said about them: "In my mind Baby, it was the end of the world. " Her father wanted to show him that the situation may be worse than that, leading it in a public place they lived in a number of orphans. After two years the singer began singing in a series of events in his birthplace, earning some notoriety.
He debuted in the early '90s in his native country, becoming known throughout the continent with the launch in 1996 the album Pies Descalzos
From the third millennium, Shakira has become known worldwide thanks to the disc Laundry sevice entire string it selling over 15 million units.

Artistic Career (Debut album 1990 - 1994)

Debut music singer to materialize after signature of a promotional contract with Sony BMG, the documents signed Stipulating that she will release three albums under the patronage of the company. Shakira has become known in Colombia since 1991, a period which began his musical career. This was achieved when the local release of Magic in summer remembered. Compact Disc format promoted by record label Columbia Records, the material contains nine compositions, and a contributing artist versuri.Genurile addressed part of this material, promoted by the singer at the age of fourteen years, ranging from Latino to pop music , its content is composed mostly of ballads. Magic was sold in more than one thousand native country vocalist,
which has triggered the process of composing a new disc. 

Launching the song "Peligro" in January 1993 announced the promotion of a new studio album from Shakira. The album received the same designation as the single disc, being released again only to Colombia in the spring of that year. The records were held during the year 1992, which directed the musical style to the singer being the same, namely, Latino and pop music. The photos show a promotion of the disc with a more mature Shakira than exposed images taken by the previous project. However, sales material were similar to those of magic, despite the changes made​​. In 1995 the singer made ​​his acting debut in the world, playing the character of Luisa Maria the Colombian telenovela El Oasis.


Pies Descalzos (1995 - 1997) 

At the end of 1995 to announce the launch of the Shakira's third studio album, Pies Descalzos. The product is considered to be the true debut of vocalist, because his predecessors were promoted only in Colombia. It was preceded by promoting the song "Estoy aqui" the first single of the material. The play was successful in the United States of America, a country where he ranked second in the hierarchy of the Billboard Hot Latin Songs. In this project, and Luis Fernando Ochoa contributed, he was executive producer of the entire album. The records were held both in Colombia and the USA. The official launch of the material took place in April 1996, while the disc distribution in the United Kingdom began in about two and a half years difference, on 1 October 1999. Pies Descalzos was met with praise from music critics specialist at Allmusic Jose F. Promis saying: "Overall, Pies Descalzos is a solid debut came from a young artist who is still evolving, and which later will carry out their artistic potential. "
"Estoy aqui" is Shakira's first successful notalbil, is enjoying his first recording to promote the USA.

The material has enjoyed commercial success in South America and the United States of America, its total sales amounting to approximately 4 - 5 million copies worldwide. Pies Descalzos was awarded a platinum disc in the U.S. and two platinum in Argentina for the large number of albums sold. [The number of copies purchased largely due to what preceding singles "Estoy aqui. " These include "Donde estas Corazón?", "Pies Descalzos, Suen Blancos", "A Poco De Amor", "Anthology" or "Quiere, Se Mata. " In support of the album and promotional tour came Pies Descalzos, which included over twenty recitals on American soil. In 1997, Shakira was honored with three awards Billboard Latin Music Awards in the categories Album of the Year "," Best Video "and" Best New Artist. "
Soon after he was released disc The Remixes, what contains a number of Portuguese-language version of the singer of hits promoted by moment.Acest that was due to the success of the album Pies Descalzos in Brazil, a territory where the material was marketed about one million copies. The Remixes aproxmativ sold 500,000 units worldwide.


Dónde Están Los Ladrones? (1998 - 2000) 

Shakira in 1998 focused on the composition of a new studio album will be promoted worldwide. He materialized when the disk appeared on the market Donde Están Los Ladrones?. It was inspired by an unfortunate episode in the life of the singer, since it has a really tempted to end his career. While recording the new material, the artist has been stolen from an airport in a suitcase in which there were a lot of texts belonging to cântece.În Despite this, records were completed and Donde Están Los Ladrones? again became a commercial success. The disk was found and critics, many reviewers noting an improvement over other albums. 

In the United States of America album was ranked top 131 in the main U.S. Billboard 200 and has remained in the top hierarchy of Latino music discs for eleven weeks. This constant presence in the lists have been reflected in music sales, Donde Están Los Ladrones? comercializându into about 1.5 million copies in North America. Selling all of the material is estimated at 7 - 8 million units globally. Promotion was achieved mainly through the release of singles, the first being "Ciega, Sordomuda" which soon became one of his most famous songs in Spanish. Other notable recordings include the singles "No Creo", "Inevitable", "Tu" and "Ojos Asi", the latter benefiting from an English version of the album next Shakira, Laundry Service.''

Just one year after the sale of the album Donde Están Los Ladrones?, singer released a disc what includes live recordings. MTV Unplugged has become one of the most popular and acclaimed albums of its kind, winning a Grammy award. For the success met by the fourth album, Shakira was honored with several Grammy Award nominations and the Latin Grammys. At the gala awards ceremony of the latter, she played the song "Ojos Asi", for which he received a statue in the same ceremony. Also, the composition of "octavo Dia" was awarded "Best Female Pop Performance.


The worldwide success obtained by Laundry service (2001 - 2004)

Following the success of Pies Descalzos and Donde Están Los Ladrones? American continent, Shakira began recording his first album in English, Laundry service. This was decided by the performance of other notable Latin music artists like Enrique Iglesias or Ricky Martin, who bucurtat global assessments.
"Whenever, Wherever" is the song that made her famous in the entire string Shakira world, and the most popular recording of 2002.
The first single in English was "Whenever, Wherever", which soon became a worldwide hit, the most famous piece of 2002. The song ranked 1 in most charts in Europe and Oceania, while the Spanish version ("Suerte") has made significant sales in Latin America. The material composition was included, Laundry Service, was released internationally a few months away, ranking 3 on the Billboard 200, the highest ranking of a disc of Shakira in a short time was promoted SUA.La ballad ' Underneath Your Clothes ", which has increased the number of units sold of the album to come, occupying a place in countries such as Australia or Austria, where he obtained regions and high sales. He was succeeded by another four entries - "Te Dejo Madrid", "objection", "Que Me Quedes You" and "The One" - the disc of origin by helping them to last for several weeks in the specialty rankings. 

Reviews made ​​by critics have been mostly favorable, but some publications have blamed the artist's premature attempt to enter the world market through a material in English. Despite this aspect, the disc has sold over fifteen million copies worldwide. To promote the disc Laundry Service was made ​​a tour called Tour of the Mongoose, a series of visiting this country from all continentele.O compilation called Grandes Exit was released in late 2002, including the most popular songs of the Spanish artist.


2005 - 2007 

Two years after completion of all forms of promotion of the disc Laundry Service , Shakira began recording new studio album , Fijación Oral Vol 1 and Oral Fixation Vol 2 . The first of these, Fijación Oral Vol 1, contains compositions interpreted in Spanish, is the first release promovat.Materialul statement was preceded by the single "La Tortura, " a collaboration with Spanish artist Alejandro Sanz. The song quickly became a success in the entire American continent, but also in Europe. The song holds the record for most weeks spent on the first rung on the Billboard Hot Hot Latin Songs, lying on top of it for twenty-five weeks.
  
Also, registration has become the first composition in the Spanish language has been interpreted on the scene MTV Video Music Awards gala at the adjacent video song received a series of nominalizări.Fijación Oral Vol 1 debuted at number four in the hierarchy of American Billboard 200, thanks to more than 157,000 copies distributed in a single week. On the first day material received triple platinum in Colombia and a platinum disc in Venezuela for two days later to already reach more than one million copies sold. Global sales of the album amounts to about four million units and is one of the best studio products comerciaizate of 2004. From the material were extracted four songs on the disc single, "No ", "ENERO DIA, " "La Pared" and "Las De La Intuition". For this disc rewards Shakira was a Grammy award for "The Best Latin music album / rock, and she won four Latin Grammy statuettes.

Shakira during a concert held in Brazil in 2006. Soon he was promoted to the single statement announcing the release of Oral Fixation Vol 2, a studio product that includes only songs in English. The composition, entitled "Do not Bother" was interpreted as the MTV Europe Music Awards Gala, which has facilitated the rise of the song in the music lists. Provenance album was released shortly after, debuting at number 5 on the Billboard 200. Shakira Cover material presents a depiction of Eve in the vicinity of the forbidden fruit, this picture gives rise to controversy. Also, in some countries had to amend Shakira photo presentation of the wheel to avoid problems.

To increase the popularity and album sales, she recorded the song "Hips Do not Lie" with hip-hop musician Wyclef Jean. Registration has been included on the reissued version of the material in question, which was launched on March 28, 2006. Composition has been successful worldwide, peaking at number one in over fifty-five countries or territories, the best-selling song of 2006. Proclaimed the official anthem of the FIFA World Cup 2006, the song was remixed and performed by singer before the finals that took place in Germany. Appointed as the last single from the album, "Illegal" was released only in Europe. Oral Fixation Vol 2 has sold over eight million copies worldwide, Shakira supporting a promotional tour for the second studio album.  

Change the style of music and rolling She Wolf (2009 - present)

Shakira along with Argentine President Cristina Fernandez (November 2009). Composing a new album began in February 2008, confirming an interview with the newspaper El Heraldo Shakira. In early summer of 2009, took the disc starts campaign to promote the single "She Wolf", which seemed to be the first single titled rolling. Registration of this change of musical style approached the singer, it migrated from the sphere of pop and Latin music to new trends, electropop and dance. Also, the video introduced a new image of the singer, a sensual, something noted by various publications. "She Wolf" has quickly become a worldwide success, while its video was called "an Internet sensation. "

In the summer of 2010 Shakira has worked with South African band Freshlyground, who started recording with "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)," the official anthem of the 2010 World Cup. Composition has enjoyed major success worldwide, becoming one of the most successful songs throughout his career Soloist, occupying the first position in a series of hierarchies in Europe and other territories. The song has sold over four million copies worldwide, becoming the best-selling digital singles in World Cup history. Also, the video became one known as one of the most watched short films on the popular website YouTube. Shakira and recording played during the opening ceremony of the sporting event, but at the end of his last performances in her being watched by an audience of over seven hundred million viewers in over two hundred countries. Soon came the first reports that the singer will release its ninth studio album in late 2010. The material, called him his Sol, is a bilingual project Shakira and was described as a flashback, reminding him of "different ages and levels" of his artistic career. Like the previous disc, the album presents an alternative version, called the Sun Comes Out, which was launched in parts of the world. The official first single of the material, "Loca" was promoted in advance, benefiting from a video shot in Spain and has been successful in several European territories. El Sol became his fourth top 10 album on the Billboard 200 Shakira, broke several sales records Soloist homeland and won the high placement in the rankings in Europe. 

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