Shakira | Stats, Early Life, Education, Award, & Impact

Shakira is a Colombian singer, songwriter, and dancer known worldwide for her unique voice, energetic performances, and contribution to Latin music. Some of the songs she wrote and sang include “Hips Don’t Lie,” “Waka Waka,” and many others. These songs made her an international celebrity as well as ensured a position among the most successful artists in the world—a Latin one.

Shakira Stats

Here are some key stats and facts about Shakira:

Full Name	Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll
Birthdate	February 2, 1977
Birthplace	Barranquilla, Colombia
Nationality	Colombian
Height	5 feet 2 inches (157 cm)
Occupation	Singer, songwriter, dancer, philanthropist
Genres	Latin pop, rock, reggaeton, world music
Languages	Spanish, English, Portuguese, and some Italian.
Notable Songs	“Hips Don’t Lie” “Whenever, Wherever” “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” “She Wolf”
Albums Sold	Over 80 million albums worldwide
Awards	3 Grammy Awards 12 Latin Grammy Awards Numerous MTV, Billboard, and American Music Awards
Children	Milan Piqué Mebarak (born 2013) Sasha Piqué Mebarak (born 2015)
Philanthropy	Founder of the Pies Descalzos Foundation
Social Media Presence	Instagram: Over 85 million followers Twitter: Over 53 million followers

Early Life and Family Background

Shakira, born on February 2, 1977, in Barranquilla, Colombia, is a full name Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll. Her father, William Mebarak, is of Lebanese origin, whereas her mother, Nidia Ripoll, is Colombian. A multicultural family raised Shakira, and she was exposed to the Latin and Arabic genres, which give her an exceptional musical style.

Shakira’s Passion for Music

Writing Songs at a Young Age

Shakira demonstrated an enthusiasm for music from an early age. When eight years old, she wrote her first song and was soon singing in local talent competitions. For this, from a very young age, her strange voice and fresh ideas already distinguished her.

First Record Deal

Shakira received her first record deal at the age of 13 when she signed with a local label. Two album releases did not see much success in the market, but they still helped Shakira in gaining experience and polishing her musical talent.

Shakira Education

Shakira’s academic education is short, since at a young age, she dedicated most of her time towards advancing her music career. Shakira attended the Catholic school in Barranquilla, Colombia; at an early age, Shakira demonstrated interest in music, poetry, and dancing. Although Shakira did not go to college, as education is self-acquired by her, she speaks four languages: Spanish, English, Portuguese, and Italian. The areas of great cultural and historical interest for Shakira are history and culture.

Later, she resumed her career studies with Western Civilization courses at UCLA after a hiatus. This is an exemplification of her need to learn and grow throughout life in addition to her artistic development.

Debut Albums and Early Career

Early 1990 saw the release of Shakira’s first two albums, Magia and Peligro. These albums did not bring much recognition to the singer but paved the way for her to be a global superstar.

Breakthrough with Pies Descalzos

Her third album, Pies Descalzos, released in 1995, was the actual breakthrough in Latin America. The album included hit songs such as “Estoy Aquí.” She once again became famous with her single, unique sound combining both Latin, rock, and pop sounds.

International Success with Laundry Service

Hit Songs Like “Whenever, Wherever”

Shakira’s Laundry Service was the first English-language album she released in 2001 and shot her to international fame. The album included global hits like “Whenever, Wherever” and “Underneath Your Clothes.” Her kind of Latin rhythms mixed with pop music resonated well with the ears of millions of people around the globe.

Blending Latin and Pop Music

Under Laundry Service, Shakira did perfectly well with the entrance into the English-speaking market; she introduced her style to the world. Shakira was different and distinguished from all the rest by her Latin beats, pop melodies, and energetic dance moves.

Shakira as a Global Pop Icon

Famous Collaborations

She has worked with some of the world’s greatest stars in its orbit, including Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Carlos Vives, among many others. Her collaborations with these artists have resulted in many hit songs and branded her as a global icon in pop music.

Hit Albums and Singles

Some of her most popular hits include albums such as Fijación Oral, Vol. 1, Oral Fixation, Vol. 2, and El Dorado, which boasts hits such as “Hips Don’t Lie,” “La Tortura,” and “Chantaje.”.

Shakira’s Role in World Cup Anthems

“Waka Waka” in 2010

Shakira recorded “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” in 2010. The official song of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, the song became a huge hit and one of the best-selling World Cup anthems.

Global Popularity of Her World Cup Songs

This song, “Waka Waka,” was one of Shakira’s songs that showed she can unite all kinds of cultures through their music. It went very well at the world level and brought her even more fame; she was at the World Cup’s closing ceremony and became loved by the world.

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Shakira’s Contributions to Latin Music

Shakira has proved to be a giant in bringing Latin music to global audiences. She has been highly influential in breaking down Latin artists’ barriers in doing both English and Spanish-language albums, and hence a pioneer in this field.

Shakira Songs List

Popular Songs by Shakira

Here’s a list of some of Shakira’s most iconic and popular songs across her career:

English Songs

1. Hips Don’t Lie (feat. Wyclef Jean)
2. Whenever, Wherever
3. Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)
4. Underneath Your Clothes
5. She Wolf
6. Beautiful Liar (with Beyoncé)
7. Can’t Remember to Forget You (feat. Rihanna)
8. Try Everything
9. Empire
10. Dare (La La La)

Spanish Songs

1. La Tortura (feat. Alejandro Sanz)
2. Ojos Así
3. Ciega, Sordomuda
4. Suerte (Spanish version of “Whenever, Wherever”)
5. Loba (Spanish version of “She Wolf”)
6. Chantaje (feat. Maluma)
7. Me Enamoré
8. Antología
9. Pies Descalzos, Sueños Blancos
10. Te Felicito (feat. Rauw Alejandro)

Collaborations

1. Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53 (with Bizarrap)
2. Clandestino (with Maluma)
3. TQG (with Karol G)
4. La Bicicleta (with Carlos Vives)

Shakira’s diverse discography reflects her ability to blend Latin pop, rock, and world music influences, making her a global superstar.

Awards and Honors

Shakira has a litany of awards during her career for her contributions to music; those include Grammy Awards, Latin Grammy Awards, and Billboard Music Awards. Her accolades position her among the most influential musicians across the globe.

Shakira’s Work as a Humanitarian

Shakira is also identified as a humanitarian. She established Barefoot Foundation (Fundación Pies Descalzos) to fulfill the needs of educating the children of Colombia. Her commitment to improving the lives of homeless children has given her global humanitarian status.

Shakira as a TV Personality

Judging on The Voice

In 2013, Shakira was associated with the popular show, The Voice, as a judge. There, she was guiding aspiring singers and, therefore, introduced to the American audience, revealing a nurturing personality.

Other TV Appearances

Shakira has appeared on many TV programs, thereby taking her appeal outside the borders of music. Her judgment and performances have placed her in a common position on the international entertainment stage.

Personal Life and Relationships

Though her long-term relationship with one of the Spanish footballers, Gerard Piqué, whom she met on the set of a music video, has brought Shakira two sons: Milan and Sasha, the great singer dedicates at least some part of her very busy life to her family and does not miss any opportunity to share moments from her personal life with the world.

Shakira’s Influence on Pop Culture

Shakira has played a lasting role in pop culture through her special take on fusing Latin rhythms with pop and rock. What mostly identifies the performances is the break dancing, particularly the belly dancing performance. However, this has inspired many artists to perform beyond various national boundaries.

Conclusion: Shakira’s Legacy in Music

Shakira has transformed from a small city in Colombia to an icon, one of the world’s most successful artists, through talents, high performance levels, and love for music. Through thousands of hit albums, dozens of awards, and various contributions to charity, Shakira has made sure that an indelible mark is made not only on Latin music but also on the international level of pop culture. The legacy Shakira has created through being a unifying culture of music and the help offered in her duration will continue to inspire generations to come.

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