Shakira

Shakira
Born on February 2, 1977 in Barranquilla, Columbia, Shakira is a well-known Latin pop singer. Of course, it was not always that way. She was born into a large family with a mother of Spanish and Catalan descent and a father of Lebanese and Macedonian descent.

    However, from the early age of 8 years old, Shakira knew what she wanted to do with her life. This was the age she wrote her first song and even though she was rejected by the school choir for having a voice that was “too strong”. Shakira didn’t let it stop her from pursuing her dream, though. From competing in singing competitions to singing at a variety of events in her hometown, Shakira soon became a local celebrity. By the tender age of 13, she had been signed on for three albums by Sony.

At the age of 15, Shakira’s first album, Magia, did not do well and less than a thousand
copies were purchased. This was mostly due to the fact that the recording and production of the album was not coordinated. However, since Shakira’s success, this album is now considered to be sought-after by many collectors. The second album, Peligro, did better, however, at this point Shakira took a break and decided to put her time into high school
and graduation. Five more albums would come through before Shakira became the star she is today. In 2001, she was back in and working on an album that was a crossover
to English. Working with Gloria Estafan, she worked on Dónde Están los Ladrones and another album, Laundry Service. Laundry Service was a hit and selling over 13 million, Shakira became a household word with her hit, “Whenever, Wherever” and “Underneath Your Clothes”.

Since Laundry Service, Shakira has put out another six more albums and continues to shine. She is noted for her belly dancing skills, which many claim it to be natural to her
as she comes from a Lebanese heritage. The fact is Shakira can dance like no other
and watching a video of her, you’ll see why she wrote the song, "Hips Don’t Lie".

Currently, Shakira is engaged to Antonia de la Rua, which put her in the spotlight even more, as he is the son of the former president of Argentina. There was, of course, some turmoil as Argentina’s economy collapsed while under his
presidency and it led to Tower Records no longer selling Shakira’s albums due to her association with them. Shakira, however, did not let this interrupt her relationship and is still engaged and planning to marry when her fiancé graduates from college.

This was not the only controversy Shakira has been in. In 2002, there was rumor that while making an appearance on MTV Europe, Shakira stated she would not speak to those callers who were Jewish or Israeli. This, however, has been
refuted and many believe this rumor may have been started due to the tension in the Middle East and her Lebanese heritage.

Shakira is a top performer and nothing gets in her way of performing. With swinging hips and a quality voice, she will continue to do well in her career. After all, in April 2006, Shakira took home six awards at the Latin Billboard Music Awards, including the best female Latin pop album of the year award. She was also given the Spirit of Hope award for all of her work to help improve the conditions for Colombian children.

More recently, on July 9th, 2006, Shakira was honored to be asked to perform live before the FIFA World Cup Germany
2006 Final match. The players were Italy and France in Berlin and Shakira impressed the audience with her hit, "Hips Don’t Lie".

Shakira Latest news:

Shakira’s concert controversy

The pop diva Shakira’s concert has sparked a controversy in Afghanistan after a national TV network was blasted by the country’s government for broadcasting it. The Muslim clerics and religious officials got angry at showing the 30 year old beauty’s raunchy moves. But the Tolo TV owner, Saad Mohseni has defended his decision to broadcast the programme. He claims that the show was “not that provocative” and “Shakira was pixellated (across her chest)” to reduce the offence the concert display might cause.

Mohseni who has been brought up in Australia believes that his company is being penalized for nothing. He says that “The government is looking for an excuse to have a go at us. When we give air time to the Taliban we are ‘talking to terrorists’; when we air people criticizing the government, we are told we are ‘opposing peace and reconciliation’.”

However, the Afghani President Hamid Karzi is now looking to implement new censorship laws which will give the government “greater powers to limit broadcasts that are deemed damaging to Afghanistan and its culture.”

Shakira decides to marry

The Latin Grammy Award winning Colombian, Shakira has decided to tie knots with her beau, Antonio De La Rua, in September this year.

The two well known figures were going around from last seven years. Shakira is a singer, musician, songwriter etc. whereas Antonio is a lawyer and the first son of the Argentine former President Fernando de la Rua, yet the two gel up very well. It is also heard that the big wedding will “be taking place at Shakira’s luxury mansion in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.”

Shakira rules the charts

The child prodigy Shakira and Beyonce Knowles are ruling the European singles chart at number one position. Their suet ‘Beautiful Liar’ is the continent’s number one single for the fifth running week.

Nelly Furtado has climbed up three places on the chart with Say It Righ, and reaches at the number two spot again this week. This has brought Avril Lavigne’s Girlfriend down to number three.

Timbaland's collaboration with Justin Timberlake and Furtado, Give It To Me, steps down to the fourth place, while Rihanna Feat and Jay-Z are at five with Umbrella.

The Linkin Park are enjoying a second week at the top of the European albums chart with Minutes To Midnight, while Michael Buble relaxes at number two with Call Me Irresponsible. At the third place is Mika's Life In Cartoon Motion, while Maroon 5's It Won't Be Soon Before Long and Nelly Furtado's Loose are at numbers four and five respectively.

Shakira rocks in the Mexico City

The queen of pop, Shakira rocked the beautiful Mexico City with her shaky and thrilling dance numbers. According to reports around 210,000 people had gathered to dance on the tunes of ‘The Hips Don’t Lie’ diva. The concert was held at the Mexico City’s central Zocalo square which has the capacity to support a strength of around 100,000 people. As a result the adjoining streets too were jammed with people. Numerous fans of the gorgeous pop star had camped in the areas near the Zocalo the previous night while the square itself had closed due to getting a good place.

Shakira free of cost Mexico concert was the last one on her current world tour Oral Fixation. The tour will end next week in the northern Mexico City of Monterrey. Shakira says “This has been a month of absolute joy. I have fed off you, and I leave with my heart full,” Shakira told the crowd. The Colombian singer adds that she has a long-lasting “love story” with Mexico, reports TNN.

Wedding bells for Shakira

The ‘Hips Don’t Lie’ singer, Shakira is heard of tying knots with Antonio de la Rua, in September 2007. The Colombian singer and Rua have been engaged for seven years and are living together since then. But now they have finally made up their minds to give a name to their relationship. The news of marriage has brought great happiness to their fans who had eagerly waited for this day. It is said that the venue of the wedding will be Shakira’s mansion in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.

The date of marriage id not yet known but it is speculated that the ceremony will take place in the month of September. As of now, Shakira is on her Oral Fixation World Tour and gave a remarkable performance in the Mexico City where she was greeted with 50,000 fans. During her tour so far Shakira has delivered 119 performances and has gained the attention of two million fans across the world. Her tour will end on June 9, 2007 with a show in Istanbul.

Shakira has no moving down

The child prodigy Shakira still rules the number one position. It is the second week that Beyonce and Shakira are enjoying the top position at the European singles chart because of the ‘Beautiful Liar’ song which is still considered the continent’s best song. The number two position has been occupied by the Avril Lavigne’s Girlfriend and at number three is the Justin Timberlake’s and Nelly Furtado’s ‘Give it to Me’. The fourth position is occupied by Furtado’s Stay it Right. The Sweet Escape is at the fifth position. On the other side, Michael Buble’s ‘Call me Irresponsible’ is at the top position in the European albums chart. At the second postion is the Furtado’s Loose and at number three is The Best Damn Thing of Lavigne. The fourth position is still held by Mika with Life in Cartoon Motion and at the fifth place is the Arctic Monkey’s Favorite Worst Nightmare.

Shakira rules at no. 1

Good news for all the fans of Shakira and Beyonce. The duo of the two hot and sexy singers still rules the number one position. It is the second weak that their single ‘Beautiful Liar’ dominates the charts.

The Rapper Timbaland has crawled back to the second position with the song ‘Give It to Me’ featuring Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake. Besides the singles, the Arctic Monkeys’ Favorite Worst Nightmare is crowned number 1 in the album’s chart.

Shakira tops the UK Singles charts

The ravishing pop diva, the one who has grabbed every well known award in the field of singing, the “perfectionist”, Shakira, has topped the UK Singles Charts. She and Beyonce have beaten the rockers Arctic Monkeys with their duet ‘Beautiful Liar’. The Arctic Monkeys song, Brainstorm has stepped to the second position and the last week’s chart topper Timbaland has drifted to the third number with the Give it to Me that features Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake. Contactmusic quotes a spokesperson for HMV saying that it looked like the queens of pop would “rise up to be number one”. At number four and five are Avil Lavigne’s Girlfriend and Mark Ronson’s, Stop me Falls respectively.

Eminent Indians await Shakira’s show in Mumbai

The ace choreographer of the Indian cinema, Farah Khan is eagerly waiting for Shakira’s rocking performance in Mumbai on March 23, 2007. With Farah are all the Mumbaities who would do anything to take a glimpse of the sensational and ravishing diva and dance on her tunes. The Bollywood choreographer who has made the beast as well as the worst of dancers (actors and actresses of Hindi cinema) dance on her skilful and beautiful choreography plans to abduct the Queen of Hearts, Shakira and to take her to one of her closest friends, Shahrukh’s bungalow. Farah had a harmonious relationship with Shakiralast year when she had applauded the Latina dance steps for her ‘Hips Don’t Lie’ number. Farah Khan says “I would love to invite her to Shah Rukh Khan’s house’. The daughter of the on of the famous and versatile actor of the Hindi cinema adds that It will really depend on Shakira's schedule. I can't say anything now," Farah said. It would also be the first step towards her fantasy of choreographing an item number between the two hot stars. "Oh, I would love to do that. It would be my dream," admitted Farah wistfully.

Shakira and Beyonce to appear together

The Columbian beauty, the globally acclaimed Latin pop diva, Shakira and the ten-time Grammy award winner Beyonce will soon show up together in their mega collaboration “Beautiful Liar”. It is said that in the video the two sexy beauties behave like lesbians and it is difficult to distinguish. This is because of Shakira’s and Beyonce’s similar attire and madly engrossed scenes with one another. So sometimes Shakira is confused for Beyonce and Beyonce is mistaken for Shakira.

Besides the renowned Grammy Award winner American singer-songwriter Norah Jones said for the “Hips Don’t Lie” glamorous beauty that she greatly admires the hot Shakira. In fact the Come Away with Me beauty is so damn impressed with the beauty and assets of “Whenever Whereever” and “Underneath your clothes” diva that she would even let her boyfriend sleep with Shakira! Jones is such a great fan of Shakira and would not mind sharing her boyfriend with her.

So the winner of six awards at the Latin Billboard Music Awards Shakira has bewitched not only the millions of guys around the world but has also won the heart of the lady who is herself a sensation in the world of singing and glamour. Well done Shakira!