Cultural impact of Shakira
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll is a Colombian singer and songwriter. Born and raised in Barranquilla, Shakira has been referred to as the Queen of Latin Music and is considered to be the most recognizable face of Latin music around the world.[1] She is listed as the best-selling Latin female artist in history.[2] According to a report by Forbes, as of 2018, Shakira has become the female Latin artist who has sold the most albums in history making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time.[3] Her legacy and impact have transcended language barriers, achieving the popularization of Latin music in the world, being one of the artists that catapulted Latin music to the international market and paving the way to the world market for a whole generation of new latin artists who would later debut in the industry including Bad Bunny, Karol G, Jbalvin, Maluma, Becky G and more. [4][5] Forbes magazine has also noted that Shakira's influence knows no boundaries be it in the fields of music or philanthropy.[6] She is also one of the most influential Latinos and the most influential Latina female artist in the world.[7] The Guardian describes Shakira as "the most successful female Latin artist of all time".[8] Her has reached far beyond music, she has managed to impact the world in a social and political way in a way never seen before for a Latino person.
Global icon[]
Many Latino acts have benefitted from Shakira's departure from the 90s version of herself. By globalizing her music and brand, Shakira broke records and language barriers, allowing for younger artists like Bad Bunny and J Balvin to have their songs played on American radio. There were many figurative walls to destroy before songs composed by Latinos would be trendy enough for American audiences. Shakira is largely credited for breaking those walls.
Jose Soto[9]
Although before Shakira there were already successful Latinos in the United States, Shakira's appearance in the international market was different from the other crossovers, Ricky Martin and Gloria Estefan had managed to make the Latin explosion years ago,[10] however with Shakira's crossover this Explosion achieved a globalization never seen before. Latin rhythms and dances took a lot of strength, being a fundamental pillar for Latin music to gain strength in international territory, being great examples of songs with Latin rhythms such as Whenever Wherever, Loca, La Tortura and more.[11]
Shakira is noted to be a "global phenom" whose impact has reached every corner of the world.[6] pop music, The New York Times credits Shakira for globalizing the genre, describing her as its "21st century Latina bombshell."[12] Published by the US Bureau of International Information Programs, the journal Global Issues (2006) cites Shakira as an example of a celebrity "in today's globalized world" who "made it big by sharing the uniqueness of their talent and culture with the global community."[11] Shakira is known to be a global music icon [13] who according to the official website of Colombia, has become an "ambassador" for Colombia with her "movements" and "unforgettable voice" that have "left a trace on every corner of the world."[14] AllMusic's biographer Steve Huey described her as a "Wildly inventive diva who created a cross-cultural pop sound rooted in her native Colombia but encompassing nearly every territory in the world.[15] Shakira is usually remarked as being a global superstar without relying on the United States, and United Kingdom markets, which is considered an anomaly in the music industry. Live Nation has noted that Shakira's popularity outside the US is "crazy."[16] Her popularity is considered to be so immense which directly translated to popularity on social media that Rolling Stone titled her as "the most popular person on Earth."[17] Columnist, Erynn Ruiz considered Shakira "a trailblazer for women and artists all over the globe."[18] "El Correo del Golfo" describes Shakira as an "artistic link between the west and the east" for popularizing Middle Eastern sounds in the west, and western sounds in the East (mainly The Middle East).[19]
In 2021, it was revealed that "Shakira" is the most popular name derived from Latin or Arab musicians in The United Kingdom in the 21st century, also the name ranks 8th overall among "UK's Most Popular Music-Inspired Baby Names."[20]
Impact in the Middle East[]
Due to her popularity in the Arab World, Shakira is noted to have directly impacted the Middle Eastern popular culture. The book titled "The Cambridge Companion to Modern Arab Culture" by Dwight Reynolds (PhD) Dwight Reynolds Professor of Arabic Language & Literature, by the Cambridge University Press not only credits Shakira to have introduced Middle Eastern rhythms and belly-dancing to the pop culture in the Americas and Europe but also points out the artist's impact on the Arab pop culture. The book names Lebanese singers Myriam Fares, and Nawal El Zoghbi to have echoed Shakira's sound and looks in the Middle East.[21] Similarly, a publication titled Popular Culture in the Arab World: Arts, Politics, and the Media published by American University in Cairo Press further asserts Shakira's impact on popular culture in the Arab World. Author Andrew Hammond credits the Colombian artist for impacting and shifting the images of Arab pop stars such as Moroccan Samira Said and Lebanese Nawal Al Zoghbi. Asserting the impact he writes, "[they] have shifted their image and sound in an attempt to follow in her (Shakira's) footsteps".[22]
In India[]
Shakira's multicultural approach of including ethnic dances in her music has allowed her to be a household name in India. Tons of Indian artists have shown aspiration to follow the Colombian performer's steps in hip-shaking.[23][24] Many claim that Shakira has popularized belly-dancing in India in the early 2000s.[25] The country and the subcontinent have multiple songs and movies revolving around Shakira.[26] Some of Shakira's biggest hits are remade and translated and used in movies, one example could be Indian composer Anand Raj Anand's remake of the song "Ojos Así" to "Yeh Pyaar Hai" for a Bollywood movie.[27]
Latin music[]
Shakira is a pioneer who has redefined the scope of Latin American singers and has become one of the most intriguing voices in Latin pop/rock today.
Dana Rodriguez, BMI Foundation[28]
Shakira is considered the world's most popular Latin artist, she asserts that while topping and dominating multiple spots on the downloads charts in Finland, Germany, Switzerland, China, and over 35 countries. A survey concluded that Shakira dominates the global reach of Latin music.[29] A 2021 survey conducted by LATFEM, a Latin American feminist organization concluded that Shakira is the most influential female artist among Latin Americas females and the LGBT community. Also, Shakira's 4th studio album, Donde Estan Los Ladrones has come out as the most influential album within the surveyed population. Mexican journalist, Natalia Szendro said, "...many girls were directly influenced by Shakira and I am that generation, in which I felt identified for the first time with someone at that level." The survey also adds, "with age comes the recognition and it becomes very easy to see the legacy and the deep impact that "Shaki" has left." Shakira's third studio album Pies Descalzos also made an appearance on the list.[30] Her introduction of Latin music to mainstream media has been defined as one of her many "revolutionary industry acts."[18]
Latin rock[]
Initially a rock musician in the 1990s, according to The New York Times, Shakira was lauded "innovator in Latin alternative rock."[12] Rolling Stone's Leila Cabo has noted that Shakira in the 1990s was "redefining the parameters" of Rock en español and bringing about the inclusion of women in the genre.[31] Refinery 29 columnist Nicole Collazo Santana has credited the Colombian artist to have "laid out the foundation for Latina rockeras.".[32]
Latin pop[]
Generally, Shakira is credited to have introduced Latin artists to pop music.[33] The New York Times has named the Colombian artist "The Titan of Latin Pop" for her leading and outstanding output in the genre for more than three decades.[34] A comparative statement between Shakira and her fellow Latin peers was made, calling the latter "polished" and contrasting Shakira's persona which is "raw and unpredictable. Political, abrupt, outspoken, and talented in every way."[9] Public Broadcasting Service recognizes Shakira as one of the fuelers of the "Golden Age of Latin Music" which is credited to have reshaped America's cultural landscape for the twenty-first century".[35]
Reggaeton[]
The authors of Reggaeton, published by Duke University Press, have named the Barranquillera as an artist who popularized the genre (reggaeton) in North America, Europe, and Asia in the mid 2000s.[36]
Latin music in the United States[]
Shakira is noted to have broke language barriers in the United States and had success both in English and Spanish music. In 1999 Shakira's MTV Unplugged became the program's first episode to be broadcast entirely in Spanish[37] The concert is also noted to be the first time a Latin pop act attempted an Unplugged, as well as the first Latina solo act to do so.[38] In 2001 Shakira's "Whenever Wherever" music video was aired on MTV with both the English and Spanish versions. According to a spokesman for the channel, this is noted as "the first time that U.S. MTV has aired a Spanish-language video."[39] In 2005, "La Tortura" became the first ever full Spanish-language music video to air on MTV without an English version.[40] The same year it also became the first ever Spanish song to be nominated and performed at the MTV Video Music Awards.[41] The 2006 global smash hit "Hips Don't Lie" was selected as one of the greatest songs by 21st century female artists by US National Public Radio, ranked at number 65.[42]
Female representation in Latin music[]
Shakira is coveted to have broken the gender barriers in the Latin music industry which is considered to be " historically male-dominated" and passed their numbers. A fact that helps girls like her to have the same opportunities as her.[43] Nicole Collazo Santana has mentioned that "Shakira reclaimed the male-dominated genre (pop rock) with music, turned the form into her personal diary, and gave it to us as a little annotated guide to navigate machismo in all the places we find it in the world."[32]
Crossover[]
Shakira's most notable and impactful career move has been her unprecedented crossover success. Shakira's success was a reason for other Latin American artists to attempt crossing over to the American market, one example is Mexican pop star Paulina Rubio. MTV asserts that "there's no question that Shakira opened doors in this country for artists like Rubio to succeed."[44] Similarly Spin credits Shakira to have paved the way for other Latin artists to crossover, naming names like Maluma and J Balvin.[45]
What tends to happen with Latin artists is that they tend to have one big English-language record or two and then they revert back tom making Spanish records... She (Shakira) does a very good job of managing to synergize those two careers. Shakira is competing against iconic female artists and completely standing on her own, but she also has a career in Spanish as well, so she's completely unique in that respect [46]
Rob Stringer, Billboard, 2009
Los Angeles Times has noted that Shakira has successfully made it possible to cross-back-over after a successful crossover. This had not been observed in Latin music. In the public's eyes, artists usually become stuck in their previous "selves" before crossing over and lose their initial fanbase/market. Shakira has made the idea of crossing back over to Latin music after commanding the international audience the fact that would inspire future generations.[47]
Dance[]
She (Shakira) came with the belly dancing era and everybody, like, in Washington Heights, in the Bronx, they wanted to be, like, belly dancers and everything...Even girls that don't speak Spanish, or they don't really know Spanish, they were just, like, belly dancing. It was just, like, a crazy era.
Shakira is noted to have a unique and distinctive dancing style, a combination of Latin dancing with Middle Eastern belly dancing,[49] the latter is derived from her Lebanese heritage. Shakira is credited to have popularized belly dancing in popular culture, inspiring many young female artists. Her approach to dancing was much more influential compared to other artists' follow-the-leader style in dance.[50] Shakira often uses her signature movements in music videos which has led for Billboard to credit her for having "redefined the role of dancing in music videos" while listing her as the best Latin female music video artist of all time.[51] Her hip-shaking has become a cultural phenomenon which is mentioned in a handful of songs such as Fifth Harmony's "Brave Honest Beautiful",[52] and Cardi B's Me Gusta. Her signature hip-shaking moves have become popular dance routines, classes, and contests in North America and the world, these classes and contests are often titled "Shake it like Shakira."[53][54] The book titled "The Cambridge Companion to Modern Arab Culture" by Dwight Reynolds (PhD) Dwight Reynolds Professor of Arabic Language & Literature, by the Cambridge University Press notes that Cabaret performers in Cairo, Egypt have "copied" Shakira's sensational belly-dance looks which are often censored in the country.[21] A publication titled "The Beauty Trade: Youth, Gender, and Fashion Globalization" published by the Oxford University Press by Angela B. McCracken credits Shakira to have popularized Arabian, Hawaiian, and Tahitian styles of dances which are often "body-centric" and have specific dance attires.[55]
Shakira is known to dance various regional and cultural dances in her performances rather than typical popular dances, the dances include tango, bachata, salsa, mapale, champeta, cumbia, merengue, flamenco, etc...
Impact on fashion[]
Due to Shakira's popularization of belly dancing and its imagery around the globe, Arabian coin belts which are usually worn as a part of bellydancing attire are commonly referred to as "Shakira Belts." The naming is most common in Turkey "Shakira Kemeri".[56] Coin belts were also referred to as "Shakira belts" by Egypt's adviser to minister of tourism which led to controversy in the country, because the belts were already popular in the country before Shakira's use of them. The naming was viewed as a "marketing technique" by the Egyptian media.[57] In 2004, Shakira's use of different belts often inspired by different cultures revived the production and trend of belts in the fashion industry.[58]
Middle Eastern music visibility[]
Shakira is cited to have popularized Middle Eastern sounds in pop culture and the west.[19] Her music is known to be a melange of her national Colombian, and Latin American sounds and her ethnic Middle Eastern music. Shakira is noted to have debunked a myth of belly dancing in Hollywood by de-sexualizing it. Usually bellydancing in western cultures is mythologized idea of it being a promescuous dance surrounded by men. Roxanna Hadadi points that Shakira usually dances alone in non-sexualized settings, and tends to bring forward the "communal attitude of this dance" which she describes it to be "very difficult."[59] The Atlantic Council writes that Shakira's use of Arabian sounds in her music has led to many discussions on cultural diversity and the various cultures that have made America the place it is today.[60]
On another note, western artists who make use of Middle Eastern sounds in their music are often compared to Shakira. One example is Celine Dion's Eyes On Me, the song was heavily compared to Shakira's musical styling by critics, having Nick Levine from Digital Spy describing the styling choice as "Shakira territory."[61]
Colombian symbol[]
She is seen as something of a saint in her own country. There are statues to her. Writhing teens love her for putting Latin American dance-music around the world: nuns revere her for building schools for orphans..
Euan Ferguson, The Guardian, 2009'[62]
Next to an unfortunate popular link between Colombia and Drug lords, Coffee and Shakira remain rather positive links that popularize the country.[63] In an article about Shakira, El Espectador, with the pen of Dagoberto Páramo Morales, equates Shakira to a "symbol of national identity." Further elaborating that Shakira has successfully managed to "...put Colombia at the top of the artistic world, making it known that Colombians are much more than the corrosive stereotypes with which they have wanted to identify us. We (Colombians) are joy, art, party, culture, sensuality."[64] In an article on Esquire Isabella Garces similarly notes that Shakira unified Colombia, and that she became a positive symbol instead of the negative association of the country with Pablo Escobar and drugs. Garces added, "Shakira fueled Colombia's pride. Journalists praised her, politicians saw her as a true example for her generation, and Colombia's national newspaper".[65] In 2021, Shakira was awarded as the "image of Colombia to the world" by the Premios Nuestra Tierra.[66] A study by María Elena Cepeda finds Shakira as the "Idealized Transnational Citizen" who has people in Colombia and US Latinos identifying with her persona. Further, the study discusses Shakira as a symbol of "Colombianidad" and even more as a symbol of "Latinidad".[67]
In 2011, Shakira became the first Colombian artist ever to receive a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame.[68]
Multiculturalism[]
A key factor differentiating Shakira from other artists, which is also a trait considered to have impacted pop culture, is her multiculturalism. Her Latin identity fused with her Lebanese heritage have made a lasting impact in America.[69] Her Cross-cultural approach in music has made her one of the few musicians to have a strong fan-base in all corners of the World. Culturs magazine notes that Shakira has a big and diverse fanbase in Latin America, United States and places as odd as Saudi Arabia. Journalist Brook Farely with a background in ethnic studies wrote "She (Shakira) exposes her U.S. listeners to music that is influenced by different cultures other than their own... Shakira's music transcends cultural norms, and takes on a life and personality of its own."[70] In a 2002 article, Bruce Britt from BMI Foundation wrote that Shakira's multicultural influences have helped Shakira to "shake up the pop world. He also added, "If a team of scientists were commissioned to build the perfect pop star, chances are the result would bear a striking resemblance to Colombian singing sensation Shakira."[71]
Impact on women's image[]
In an article about Shakira's not-so-typical pop star looks, Carolina Maldonado from Her Campus points out Shakira's impact on women and their image. Unlike most pop stars, and despite being "beautiful" and "fierce" Carolina says "Shakira rarely ever straightens her hair or wears makeup when she performs. She is usually not seen wearing heels or super over-the-top outfits. On stage, she is who she is and all of her performances are based on her talent. She doesn't need a bunch of lights, dancers, props, or even a crazy stage to draw and keep the attention of her audience. Her simple performances, in which she is usually barefoot, are a homage to the art of dance. It's just her and her microphone." This has impacted Latin women to rely on their talents and roots rather than looks.[72]
Artists inspired by Shakira[]
Shakira for us in Colombia and I think in the entire Latin industry, she's one of the most important singers in the world because she's been able to crossover. She speaks and sings in English and Spanish, so she has everything. She also has three songs in the World Cup. I want to do that in the future—I want to be a legend, not just a singer. A legend. Somebody that you can remember forever.
Many celebrities Latino as well as non-Latino have named Shakira as one of their inspirations. Notable names include Lauren Jauregui,[74] Fergie,[75] Maluma,[76] Karol G,[77] Natti Natasha,[78] Kali Uchis,[79] Camilo,[80] Lele Pons,[81] Nicky Jam,[82] Prince Royce,[83] Andres Cuervo,[84] Wendy Sulca,[85] Belinda, [86] Jbalvin, [87] Camila Cabello,[88] Anitta,[89] Christina Aguilera,[90] Becky G,[91] Beyoncé,[92] Rihanna,[93] Justin Bieber,[94] Katy Perry,[95] Kylie Jenner,[96] Britney Spears,[97] Taylor Swift,[98] Selena Gomez,[99] Brie Larson, [100] Will.i.am,[101] Farina,[102] Pitbull,[103] Cardi B, [104] Harry Styles,[105] Niall Horan,[106] Miley Cyrus,[107] Dua Lipa,[108] Ed Sheeran,[109] Rita Ora,[107] Alih Jey,[107] Adam Lambert,[107] Zendaya,[107] and Demi Lovato[110]
Shakira has also received the admiration of intellectuals and writers such as Nobel Prize winner Gabriel García Márquez who has exclaimed that "No one of any age can sing or dance with the innocent sensuality Shakira seems to have invented".[111]
List of artists who have shown admiration for Shakira:
| Artists | Country of origin | Primary Inspiration |
|---|---|---|
| Lauren Jauregui |  United States
|
Inspired by artists like Marc Anthony, Maná, Juanes and Shakira, Jauregui says that it is their ability to be authentic that she resonates with.
"Young Shakira especially gets me,' she added. "When she was in her alternative singer-songwriter phase." [112] |
| Cardi B | United States
|
"I already knew that Shakira was going to perform 'I Like It.' For me to even know that she was going to perform "I Like It," I just be like, 'Yo, that s**t is crazy...Do they even understand [that] I grew up listening to these people? Sometimes I just cannot believe this s**t. This is crazy."[113] |
| Eminem | United States
|
Em appeared on a radio show in Los Angeles and talked about how much he loves and admires her Cd, Laundry Service. He says he respects Shakira because she writes her own songs. One of his favorite Shakira tunes is Poem To A Horse, which is about being in a relationship with someone who is selfish. Em says it reminds him of someone he knows.[114] |
| Ed Sheeran | United States
|
"Crecí con todas las canciones de Shakira y me las sé todas, por esta razón me encantaría hacer un dúo con ella". "Pero también podría ser con Camila Cabello. Ellas son muy buenas"[109] |
| Fergie | United States
|
After Super Bowl 2020 Fergie gave a small message on Twitter: "So much pure energy and talent blessed that stage tonight.
Legendary
|