Talk:Shakira

that thing she does with her voice

What is that thing she does with her voice? is it a technique or what? you would think that there would be something about her singing style. She's the only person that I've ever heard sing like that.

68.77.109.193 19:38, 28 April 2006 (UTC)amyanda2000

• I don't know but in that regard she sounds sort of like Alanis Morrisette. ~Chris ^t.c.e.@ 13:19, 29 May 2006 (UTC)

"That thing she does with her voice"... what, sing? Any chance you could elaborate? Demonic Duck 18:20, 24 June 2006 (UTC)

S/he's referring to Shakira's "curling" of her voice. She flips out of falsetto very quickly in both directions. It somewhat sounds like yodeling, or when an adolescent's voice breaks - except she has infinitely more control over it than most singers. Alanis does it as well (particularly in her first album). Celine Dion sings this way every now and then as well, but it isn't a characteristic of her style as much as it is Shakira's. If you listen, Sarah Mclachlan uses the same technique when she sings, but she flips in and out of falsetto much more slowly, and for greater periods of time. Listen to most of the songs on (say) Surfacing to hear her do it (for example, in Angel, when she sings "fly aWaaaaaay, from here", she flips into her falsetto in "way").

It's one of my favorite parts of Shakira's voice. :^) That and her vibrato, and her low end.

I do agree that there should be mention of it in the article - as well as mention of her linguistic abilities in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, and Italian (or French - I don't remember which).

--Osx85 20:12, 24 July 2006 (UTC)

Older comments

Didn't Gloria Estefan provide English translations for Ojos Así and some of her other Spanish-language songs?

I would not be surprised. I heard Shakira in an English language interview and from that I doubt that she is able to write (or even sing...) songs in English herself. I also have doubts about the truth and NPOV of She is fluent in English, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, and Italian. 213.51.209.230 22:49, 2 Oct 2004 (UTC

She is not really fluent in Arabic or Portugueses. Her dad does speak some Arabic but she knows just basic stuff. Before she worked with Emilio Estefan her ancestry was never in the picture..I guess it was good marketing, she even took some bellydance courses where I used to go, then I heard "ojos asi" and I was not surprise (Raniya 05:52, 14 December 2005 (UTC)).

Shakira's Portuguese skills are very good. During Laundry Service promotion in Brazil she conducted many interviews in Portuguese (and not forgetting the three Portuguese tracks on The Remixes). And the English version of Inevitable was also performed at the 1999 ALMA awards.

Gloria Estefan translated Ojos Así and Ciega, Sordomuda (never released). She also translated Inevitable, a song Shakira only sang once, on the Rosie o Donnel Show.

Before the crossover the plan was to translate her spanish songs, however Shakira didnt feel comfortable with those translations and decided to master the english language to write new songs directly in english.

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I don't think that the explanation of Shakira as "woman of grace" here is quite correct. I have consulted three reference books that deal with Arabic names (A Dictionary of First Names by Patrick Hanks & Flavia Hodges, Oxford, 1990; Digest of Muslim Names by Fatimah Suzanne Al Ja'fari, Amana Publications, 1997; and The Complete Book of Muslim and Parsi Names by Maneka Gandhi and Ozair Hussein, Penguin Books India, 2004) and they all say that Shakira means "grateful, thankful" in Arabic. --Clevelandkentevans 13:45, 20 August 2005 (UTC)

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whatever, I don't give a "$%%$&^%". just enjoy the best songs of her if you like them, lol... just enjoy the music and don't care about singers profile because they don't give us moeny to care about them, do they???

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My english teacher said he saw her at south beach in Miami, Florida last weekend.

Recent Edit

Looks good! Take care. ;=) Drdr1989 03:03, 1 September 2005 (UTC)

I'll add that the addition of "Lebanese" originally was to clear up any false notion of absense of mixed ancestry per a recent edition (just before mine). Plus it's great to know where the Arabian influence of such songs e.g., Ojos Asi come from. Drdr1989 03:14, 1 September 2005 (UTC)

200.55.213.30

User:200.55.213.30 is continuing to vandalise this page after being warned repeatedly and after being previously blocked. I have requested that an administrator reblock this user. --Yamla 17:08, September 8, 2005 (UTC)

García Márquez and crossover

Where the García Márquez phrase comes from? It will be interesting to know that. Mainly because I dont find quite important what he says. That Shakira makes unique music, etc. Thats too cheap talking for an Encyclopedia... iven coming from a Nobel Prize. Everybody is unique, etc.

It was either one of his biographies or the article he wrote for his magazine Hombre de Cambio in June 1999.

Why dont you evaluate the to "eras" of Shakira, pre and post crossover. She changes a lot, beguining by her hair color... What period is more interesting? How much identity she had to sacrifice to bizz?

external links

Was reverting from a version that left out some links. What does that have to do with link spam? And why is there only one link left?? Lharvill 05:00, 19 November 2005 (UTC)

Please see WP:EL for Wikipedia's policy on external links. Wikipedia is not a link repository; this article used to be. --Yamla 16:54, 19 November 2005 (UTC)

Second single from "Oral Fixation 2"

The second single has not been decided yet. From her official site: "YOU'VE GOT MAIL FROM SHAKIRA!: Hey guys! Sometime soon, at the beggining of the next year, I'll be shooting my new video. I'd like to know which one you all think should be my next single out of Oral Fixation Vol. 2. I'll be waiting on your reply, so please don't take long writing me back! Thanks a lot y muchos besitos! Shakira". Then, you're redirected to: http://www.shakira.com/OralFijacion/content/connection/youvegotmail/songpoll_en.html where you can choose one of the tracks from Oral Fixation Vol. 2. Marianin 18:46, 21 December 2005 (UTC)

Shakira's quotes

The quotes made by Shakira have been moved to WikiQuote, a side prodject of the Wikimedia Foundation. Therefore, the quotes are not required in the Wikipedia article that is Shakira. Thank you. For more information, contact my talk page. —Hollow Wilerding . . . (talk) 14:27, 28 December 2005 (UTC)

Quotes do not belong in the main article about the subject, in this case that being Shakira. They belong at WikiQuote Shakira, another project of Wikimedia. The current project that we are socializing in is known as Wikipedia. Being an encyclopedia, quotes are not given a section of their own, and only featured in an article when attempting to help improve the quality of the writing. Please see the Wikibox that has been placed beside the "External links" in the Shakira section. —Hollow Wilerding . . . (talk) 22:00, 28 December 2005 (UTC)

Stomach Image!

The stomach picture needs to go and {{reqimage}} {{disputed}} --Jingofetts 20:19, 29 December 2005 (UTC) what do you think?

It is also copyright protected: I believe it's either from WireImage, Getty Images or FilmMagic.

If you mean the one at the top, I agree. It's a horrible shot of her, she's making a weird face, her body looks freaky...she's a beautiful woman, there must be flattering photos out there.. 68.107.251.122 03:10, 22 June 2006 (UTC)Mara

Better picutres are always wellcome, but let's not forget our preference for free-licensed images. See ya. --Abu Badali 03:22, 22 June 2006 (UTC)

And apparently a preference for ugly pictures. Check out Carmen Electra, for example. Wahkeenah 03:28, 22 June 2006 (UTC)

Honestly. She doesn't walk around with a butterface 99% of time. It would be better if we added an album picture if it was this hard to find a live one. --Osx85 20:15, 24 July 2006 (UTC)

birthplace

Someone changed this recently, is he right? Rich Farmbrough. 22:29, 13 February 2006 (UTC)

CHANGES!

It's hard to know where to start with this article. It needs serious revisions to style and grammar, and there's so much adolescent POV that it reads like a 13yr old's book report on a magazine article. Anyone agree? I don't want to tread on any toes and start hacking away at someone's labour of love... Cravenmonket 23:59, 27 February 2006 (UTC)

I thought a major copy-edit on this article was done months ago. Then again, it was months ago; therefore, many "adolescent" edits have been made since then. Drdr1989 01:48, 28 February 2006 (UTC)

incomplete

What did Shakira exactly say on MtV (trL) when a jewish fan called her? Is it true that she is racist? Why do people respect her when all she does is sell sex?

Rumour. And what is the matter with you? If someone adds bellydance to a performance, it does not mean they "sell sex" (you're not only insulting fans, but professional dancers). You will find that the only part of her body widely discussed by fans is her hair. (Spanglish 20:30, 16 March 2006 (UTC))

"Satirized"

How can one credibly claim that MadTV is an authority on satirization: "Some critics claimed that Shakira's English skills were too weak for her to write in it (she was satirized in a MAD TV sketch)" MAD TV is a third-rate sketch-show that abuses uncomfortable anti-social characterizations with B-list talent (at best). Not even SNL has the cultural authority to satirize and indict pop-culture anymore. Its quality and appeal has fallen flat. That mantel has been overtaken by Chappelle Show (though on hiatus).

• My point is that illustrating "critics' " point that Shakira is not a native-English speaker with a MAD TV example just doesn't cut it. MAD TV is not part of our contemporary zeitgeist and is an irrelevant illustration. This illustration ought be removed as impotent and uninformative.

Devout catholic?

Could it please be noted that the statement that Shakira is a devout catholic is questionable at best and should therefore not be part of this page? For example, I would think devout catholics are opposed to sex before marriage (which Shakira isn't) and that they would certainly not be able to write a song like How Do You Do.

Well, it's devout and you don't have to be perfect to be devout. I know a couple of devout catholics who have had sex before/outside of marriage (before implies that there is to be a marriage)

Death Hoax??

Has there ever been a death hoax for Shakira? I could swear that I heard or read somewhere that she had died, then again with me it could just as easily have been a dream. Cryomaniac 22:11, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

Umm... 68.22.253.39 22:46, 5 May 2006 (UTC)

I'll take that to mean that I dreamt it then... Cryomaniac 21:07, 7 May 2006 (UTC)

I just heard her on the radio featuring Eminem.

Or was it the other way around? Either way I couldn't find eithers name in either article and/or several related articles. The song in question was Without me/Whenever, Wherever although this particular track may have been called something different.--Greasysteve13 10:39, 16 May 2006 (UTC)

It was probably a "mashup" where a DJ (or anyone) will mix two or more songs together. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 172.194.95.222 (talk • contribs) .

La Tortura

Within this article, this statement is made: "The lead single "La Tortura" (English: The Torture, featuring Alejandro Sanz) eventually reached number one in Spain and number twenty-three on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, the highest position for a Spanish song in the United States." This either needs to be clarified or removed, as there are other Spanish-language songs which have, in the past, peaked higher. Examples include "Eres Tu" by Mocedades and the Los Lobos remake of "La Bamba." I know "La Tortura" had a notable run atop the Hot Latin Tracks chart, but is there a real Hot 100 feat to which this statement is alluding, or does it simply need to be removed as inaccurate? GassyGuy 00:26, 23 May 2006 (UTC)

Yes, "La Bamba" holds the distinction of being the only spanish song to reach #1 on the Billboard charts.

She's Colombian BORN. Not "Colombian"

People sometimes think that she is "Colombian", but actually, if we want to be accurate, she technically is NOT colombian, she is colombian BORN ! In fact she does not have a single colombian gene in her entire body ! Now ok she is a colombian CITIZEN, as she was born there! But there IS a DIFFERENCE between where someone is born and what their genetic (or "ethnic") background is. Therefore, for the sake of ACCURACY and CLARITY, it should be stated that Shakira is Colombian BORN, but genetically/ethnically is NOT colombian and is in fact a mixture of spanish, Italian and Lebanese genetics/ethnicity! - Plex 30.5.2006

• So, by that logic, no person of European ancestry born in the USA is "American"? Wahkeenah 17:35, 30 May 2006 (UTC)
• In fact, that other user is right. There is no one who has a "Colombian gene". Wahkeenah 18:53, 30 May 2006 (UTC)

It has nothing to do with ethnicity/race. She was born in Colombia and she is a Colombian citizen, so that makes her Columbian. --Musicpvm 21:44, 30 May 2006 (UTC)

• Shakira is Colombian because she describes herself as Colombian. I've seen pictures of her mother and I call BS on claims to her exclusive European ancestry. Her mom has the proverbial cactus on her forehead.--Zacatl 01:36, 12 July 2006 (UTC)

fair use of MTV screenshot

I believe it is fair use to use the MTV screenshot, low-res version, to identify the MTV awards that Shakira was a part of. See fair use for program ID. It would not be fair use if the caption did not mention the program---but it does. 69.142.21.24 03:24, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

...anyway, we now have a free alternative and there's no need to use taht one. --Abu Badali 14:25, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Picture

I think the picture of her at the Wal-Mart shareholders meeting is unflattering. The picture of her receiving the MTV award is better and should be reinstated as the main picture at the top of the article. SCRA5071 22:12, 22 June 2006 (UTC)

The Wal-Mart picture is released under a creative commons license, thus we cannot claim fair use for the copyrighted MTV picture in the infobox because we have a "free" picture already. See Wikipedia:Image use policy for more info and Wikipedia:Public domain image resources to find a better image if you wish. -- getcrunk ? 22:22, 22 June 2006 (UTC)

Found new free photo, hope this one is better. Dbertman 15:08, 23 June 2006 (UTC)

- Please, Somebody change that infamous picture for Christ sake!! Gonzakun

- Well, It's done. You are welcome. Gonzakun

As discussed, free images should be prefered. I reverted it. --Abu Badali 13:42, 12 July 2006 (UTC)

Erm, many other pages don't have free pictures, if there aren't any good ones. E.g. there are very unflattering pictures of Drew Barrymore, but the main picture is from one of her movies. So why not a screencap from one of her videos?

I used a picture from Hips Don't Lie, I realize it isn't free. But it is fairuse, and we can roll with it for now. Yanksox 13:28, 16 July 2006 (UTC)

According to Wikipedia's fair use policies, we can't claim fair use when there's a free alternative. We're building a free encyclopedia. Finding free images is part of the task. I'll take a look at the Brew Barrymore article. If there are free images available for this person, we shouldn't be using non-free ones. Not even screenshots. --Abu Badali 03:13, 17 July 2006 (UTC)

It seems as if you're going out of your way to keep the butterfaced Walmart picture. Add me to the list of people thinking it should be changed. One man's vendetta against Shakira shouldn't determine her picture on the second-most popular Shakira page on the internet. --Osx85 20:19, 24 July 2006 (UTC)

Language

What happened to the sentence that said she spoke fluent Spanish, Arabic, English, Italian, and Portuguese? Is it not true? --Speakslowly 06:45, 24 June 2006 (UTC)

I doubt it. Maybe three of them. Drdr1989 02:37, 30 June 2006 (UTC)

Even if it's just three, it should be in the article, as it's a notable part of her identity. I'm adding English, Spanish, and Portuguese back. --Osx85 20:20, 24 July 2006 (UTC)

Her name

I heard it means 'grateful', is it true ? 86.16.112.11 04:25, 13 July 2006 (UTC)

theres different translations in arabic it could be full of grace or grateful. shakira says she identifies more with the second translation. I think it also means godess of light in hebrew. shakilover 20:36, 13 July 2006 (UTC)

ot didi

hello skakira i am didi and het em my fevorit

macedonian?

wow, are u serious, where did u get that from

just a dumbass, who is writing this in the german wikipedia as well, then he uses the english wikipedia as a source.

clever guy, ey. --85.180.38.127 20:44, 16 July 2006 (UTC)

Trivia

I've removed the following trivia section and placed it here so we can decide if it's important enough or relevant enough for the article. I'm usually a defender of trivia, but this doesn't seem necessary

"== Trivia ==

- Shakira was selected as part of a tourism promotion in Tunisia, the artist who had recently started her tour and also smashed Nº1's in several countries with "Hips Don't Lie" was very demanding, such as the organizers decided to turn out the offer to Mariah Carey who was finally selected to perform and the concert will be part of "The Adventures Of Mimi Tour".

- Shakira was named back as La Colita of 1996 in Colombia and did a bikini session as honored the award.

- Usually MTV Unplugged series bring new songs to fans, in the Shakira's case she performed almost of the songs of her second album and the hit singles of "Pies Descalzos". The album did included a different version of "Ciega Sordo Muda" with a Mexican Mariachi group.

- Shakira was booed in Spain while she performed in English in her Mangoose Tour, since then her tours in latinamerican countries are very meticulous with the tracklist avoiding sing songs in English. In the Oral Fixation Tour she only performed 5 songs in English.

- Shakira was considered at her beginning as the "Latin Alanis Morissete". Although the nickname was then dismissed after she changed her rock style to a more pop sound.

- Fans in latinamerica have a pre-laundry service and post- laundry service era. While some fans stayed on her Pre - Laundry Service release when she was rocky, less worked out and with more in deep lyrics. Others followed her career until now. It's well known the quote "Me gustaba cuando cantaba en español" (I liked her when she sang in Spanish) Though she still does sing in Spanish, some fans considered she doesn't anymore.

- Hips Don't Lie wasn't in the initial tracklist of Oral Fixation Vol. 2. Based on low accepting of Don't Bother worldwide and low sales in US, Epic decided to re-released the album with Hips Don't Lie and a Spanglish version of La Tortura. Fans who didn't have the re-released but already owned the original version could download the songs in her webpage. Then the fans realized the versions weren't compatible to MP3 Players.

- Before Hips Don't Lie was delivered as second single, Shakira asked fans to vote for a possible second single to the album." Yanksox 22:35, 16 July 2006 (UTC)

First two major albums

Why is there barely even any mention of Pies Descalzos and ¿Dónde Están Los Ladrones? Yes, they're described on their own pages, but we still have to know how they fit into her chronology, etc. I'll try and start this if no one else does... --Galaxiaad 23:59, 18 July 2006 (UTC)

Award list

There is non award list

-- 80.140.219.244

Belly Dancing For Shyness?

I seem to have heard in other places that her grandmother or someone taught it to her so she'd stay true to her Arabic roots. And the citation stated says, to me, that it helped her overcome shyness, but not that she learned it for that specific purpose. Sorry if I'm just confused, or something, but could someone clear this up? She Mourns 01:22, 22 July 2006 (UTC)

• I think it needs to be stated that shakiras father is of christian Lebanese decent since there is a huge ethnic and racial difference between Muslim and Christians in Lebanon. Even though everyone in Lebanon speaks Arabic because of the Arab conquest, the Christian Lebanese people are of Phoenician, Armenian, greek and French decent whereas the Muslims have Arab blood.

Estoy aqui

I know you americans know Shakira 2001 to present but she was a big phenomenon in Latin America with Estoy Aqui [end of 1996-begin of 1997]