La Tortura

Template:Single infobox2 "La Tortura" (English: The Torture) is a Latin-pop song performed by singers Shakira and Alejandro Sanz. It was recorded for Shakira's sixth studio album [Fijación Oral Vol. 1] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help), released in June 7, 2005. The song was released as a single in April 2005 (see 2005 in music), and achieved a large success on different radio and chart formats. This song won two Latin Grammy Awards for Song Of The Year and Record Of The Year.

Song information

The single is a duet between Shakira and Spanish balladeer Alejandro Sanz, and it was composed by them and Luis Fernando Ochoa. It tells the story of a woman who has been emotionally "tortured" because her boyfriend left her; however, when he returns begging for forgiveness, she humiliates him and says that she is not going to shed tears over him. Check the translated lyrics here[[1]] The single is Shakira's sixth in the United States, following the commercial success of her 2001 album Laundry Service.

Chart performance

Since its release as a single, the song has become one of the most important Latin songs to move into the mainstream English-speaking culture in the U.S. and Canada. The music video of the song was nominated for the Viewer's Choice Award on the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards, during which Shakira performed with Sanz (notably, the first time a guest performed a song entirely in a language other than English). "La Tortura" reached a position on the top 30 (#23) of Billboard's Hot 100 in less than twenty weeks after its release.

The track debuted at #1 in Spain Singles Chart and was a huge hit all over Europe, but was never released as an official single in the United Kingdom in 2005, therefore could not chart on the UK Singles Chart. However, following the success of "Hips Don't Lie" the single will be released in the UK in the Autumn of 2006 . "La Tortura" broke the record on the Billboard's Hot Latin Tracks chart, appearing at #1 more than any other single (a total of 25 non-consecutive weeks). "La Tortura" was chosen as the fifth favorite song of the world in a global survey made by Sony Ericsson, in which 700,000 music fans of 66 countries contributed.

At Billboard magazine's year-end chart (that shows the hottest songs of the year); "La Tortura" was announced as the #1 song on the Hot Latin Tracks chart. It also topped the Latin America's Top Latino year-end chart.

Music video

Shakira and Alejandro Sanz in "La Tortura" video.

The music video for "La Tortura", directed by Michael Haussman, is quite simple. From his apartment, Sanz spies on Shakira as she goes to her apartment and changes clothes. He remembers things they'd done in the past as a couple, while Shakira dances erotically, covered in black paint. The music video is in itself somewhat notable, as it was the first time MTV showed a whole episode of their Making the Video series in another language (with English subtitles). It was also the second Spanish-language video ever to enter in Total Request Live's countdown. It can also be noted that the video for "La Tortura" was one of the first in the Spanish-language to get heavy rotation on mainstream American and Canadian music channels such as MTV, VH1 and MuchMusic. The remix version of the song (known as "La Tortura (Shaketon Remix)") has it own video, which features new scenes.

Remixes

The single and the album also included a remix of the song entitled "The Shaketon Mix", merging a reggaeton rhythm with the original rhythm of the song. A separate music video (also directed by Michael Haussman) was also made for this remix. This video also entered on TRL's countdown.

There is another official reggaeton remix called "E. Arroyo Reggaeton Remix". Another official mix has surfaced, the "Tracy Young Special According Mix" and other remixes have also been made by independent DJs. An alternative version of this song, which had been previously leaked on the internet, is featured in the re-release of Oral Fixation Vol. 2, with the chorus sung partially in the English-language.

In late 2006, a special all English translation will be made available via Shakira's official website.

Charts

Chart (2005)[2] [3] [4] Peak U.S. Billboard Hot 100 23 U.S. Billboard Hot Digital Songs 22 U.S. Billboard Hot Latin Tracks 1 (25) U.S. Billboard Pop 100 27 U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Airplay 21 U.S. Billboard Hot Ringtones 9 Argentina Top 40 Singles 1 (4) Austria Top 75 Singles 3 Belgium Top 50 Singles 8 Brazil Top 100 Singles 21 Canada Top 50 Singles 21 Chile Top 20 Singles 1 (14) Denmark Top 20 Singles 7 France Top 100 Singles 7 Finland Top 20 Singles 6 Germany Top 100 Singles 4 Greece IFPI Top 50 Singles 4 Italy Top 50 Singles 3

Chart (2005) Peak Netherlands Top 40 Singles 3 Norway Top 20 Singles 11 Portugal Top 20 Singles 1 (5) Russia Top 100 Airplay 2 Spain Top 40 Singles 1 (4) Sweden Top 40 Singles 6 Switzerland Top 100 Singles 2 Taiwan Top 10 Singles 6 Tokyo Hot 100 (Japan) 28 Ukraine Top 40 Singles 26 Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2 United World Chart 2 Airplay World Official Top 100 Singles 1 (4) AOL Songs 3 AOL Videos Top 11 6 LAUNCH Music Videos Top 100 3 U.S. MTV's TRL Daily Top 10 Videos 1 (1)

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 trajetory
Week	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31
Position	98	97	82	80	61	52	62	51	56	58	55	53	51	51	46	46	42	41	34	24	23	26	27	30	32	32	37	42	50	48	44

Awards

Beside being nominated for the 2005 MTV Video Music Award for Viewer's Choice and Best Female Video. The song was nominated in three categories by the Latin Grammy Awards for Song Of The Year ,Record Of The Year and Video Of The Year. Shakira won Song Of The Year and Record Of The Year.

Song credits

• Invited artist: Alejandro Sanz (appears courtesy of Warner Music Benelux, BV)
• Lyrics: Shakira, Alejandro Sanz
• Music: Shakira, Luis F. Ochoa
• Vocals: Shakira, Alejandro Sanz
• Vocal arrangements: Shakira, Alejandro Sanz

Production

• Producer: Shakira
• Executive producer: Rick Rubin
• Co-producer: Lester Mendez for Living Stereo
• Additional production: José "Gocho" Torres
• Remixer: José "Gocho" Torres ("Shaketon Mix")

Engineering

• Recording engineers: Rob Jacobs, Kevin Killen
• Assistant engineers: Bryan Gallant, Juan Camarano, Felipe Alvarez
• Programming: Pete Davis
• Mix engineer: Gustavo Celis (at the Supersonic Studios, Miami, Florida)

Musicians

• Electric guitar: Lyle Workman, Luis F. Ochoa
• Acoustic guitar: Rene Toledo, Alejandro Sanz
• Keyboards: Lester Mendez
• Bass: Paul Bushnell
• Percussion: Archie Pena
• Accordion: Umberto Judex, Frank Morrocco

External link

• Shakira's Official Web Site
• Translated Lyrics [5]