• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Fans shocked after discovering how Shakira wrote her first album without knowing any English

Home> Music> News

Published 19:20 28 Aug 2024 GMT+1

Fans shocked after discovering how Shakira wrote her first album without knowing any English

'Shakira, Shakira's' musical talent clearly knows no bounds

Joe Yates

Joe Yates

To write, sing and release a whole album in a foreign language... I just can't comprehend how you would do that.

But that's exactly what Shakira did for her debut English album, and fans have been left stunned that the Colombian star managed to come up with multiple hits without knowing English.

You aren't here to listen to my input, and frankly I'm sure you don't care... but... if I tried to sing a Spanish song for example, I think I'd know the beat but there would be no way I could sing the whole song without slipping up.

Advert

It is easy to memorise songs in our native tongue as you can understand what the artist is singing about through the lyrics.

Anyway, I digress.

Shakira, or to give her her full name Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, released her fifth studio album in 2001 Servicio de Lavandería, which translated to Laundry Service in English - her first in the language.

And her music was a banger, so much so that one song on the record has been listened to over 632 million times. The song? 'Whenever, Wherever' - an absolute tune.

Advert

Shakira performing her album in 2001 (Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images)
Shakira performing her album in 2001 (Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images)

So how did the 'Hips Don't Lie' icon write her first English album?

Well, the year was 2001 so she couldn't really rely on Google Translate, I mean we didn't even have iPhones back then.

Instead, she used a dictionary.

Advert

Speaking about it herself in a 2009 interview, the singer explained: "Writing songs used to be so difficult for me. A few years ago I could barely speak English and I used to write my songs with a dictionary.

Shakira during the Copa America final 2024 (Omar Vega/Getty Images)
Shakira during the Copa America final 2024 (Omar Vega/Getty Images)

"It was a real labour of love and I would sit there for hours just looking up words. But now thankfully it comes to me more naturally and spontaneously."

She did it with the help of her former manager Emilio Estefan Jr, and his Cuban-American singer wife Gloria Estefan.

Advert

Following its release and seeing how well it did across the US and the world, she released a further three albums in English.

If you were a fan of Shakira beforehand, I'm sure you're in awe of her now.

Featured Image Credit: Patricia J. Garcinuno/WireImage/Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

Topics: Music, US News, Celebrity

Joe Yates
Joe Yates

Joe is a journalist for UNILAD, who particularly enjoys writing about crime. He has worked in journalism for five years, and has covered everything from murder trials to celeb news.

X

@JMYjourno

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • People shocked after learning Sean Paul doesn't actually say Sean de Paul in any of his songs
  • Shakira abruptly walks off stage after she spots fan 'filming up her dress' while dancing
  • Billie Eilish fans stunned after discovering her mom is actually famous
  • How one woman stole $53 million from her hometown for over two decades without being caught

Choose your content:

3 days ago
4 days ago
16 days ago
17 days ago
  • 3 days ago

    Sabrina Carpenter slammed for X-rated album cover but some fans think it has a hidden meaning

    Sabrina's fans are up in arms over her artwork and concept

    Music
  • 4 days ago

    The Beach Boys singer Brian Wilson has died aged 82

    Brian Wilson has died at the age of 82, his family have confirmed

    Music

    breaking

  • 16 days ago

    Taylor Swift makes major announcement on her music after Scooter Braun controversially purchased it all for $300,000,000

    Taylor Swift has long been teasing a huge announcement to her fans

    Music
  • 17 days ago

    Scientists made guinea pigs listen to Adele for a week and discovered horrifying truth

    The guinea pigs listened to one of Adele's songs on loop for four hours

    Music