10 Uplifting Shakira Songs That Will Teach You Spanish
Shakira’s songs in Spanish are memorable, catchy, and beautifully written. Are they part of your language class playlist?
As a language, Spanish is highly expressive and emotional. Hispanic music evokes feelings and supports language learning as you enjoy yourself.
Spanish music is the ultimate fun and practical resource for enhancing reading, listening, and pronunciation.
If you’ve yet to include the best Shakira songs in your Spanish class melodies, this guide with ten uplifting Shakira songs to learn Spanish is just for you! Ready? Hit play!
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Who Is Shakira?
Shakira is one of the most influential Hispanic singers and songwriters of all time. She was born in Barranquilla, Colombia, and signed up to her first record label when she was only 13.
She writes songs, composes melodies, sings beautifully, and is a talented guitar player and performer. Not to mention, she is also a fantastic dancer.
Shakira’s songs in Spanish have topped worldwide charts and helped her sell millions of records. She’s conquered the hearts of Latinos and people from hundreds of nationalities.
Her tunes have also earned her several awards and make her one of The Top Female Hispanic Singers Who Conquered The World.
Top 10 Shakira Songs in Spanish
I’ve enjoyed listening to Shakira since I was a kid. Her lyrics and melodies hold a special place among my favorite performers.
Her evolution as an artist continues to inspire me, and I guarantee it’ll do the same for you!
Here are the top 10 Shakira songs in Spanish that will elevate your language skills.
1. Estoy aquí (1995)
Estoy aquí (I’m here) is Shakira’s first single from her first studio album called Pies Descalzos (Bare feet). When it was released in 1995, it became an instant hit.
The song was inspired by the breakup of a close friend of hers. The lyrics speak mostly of fixing a relationship that is broken. The video shows a young Shakira playing the guitar with immense talent.
Shakira also recorded it in Portuguese to reach a Brazilian audience. Upon being released, the song was critically praised and launched Shakira as a top Latin American artist.
Shakira has an extended repertoire of Spanish songs. However, Estoy aquí stands out for being the one she has performed live the most.
2. ¿Dónde estás corazón? (1996)
¿Dónde estás corazón? (Where are you, my love?) is one of the first Shakira songs in Spanish to be released. It’s the second single from Pies Descalzos.
This melody truly shows Shakira’s talent as a songwriter and guitar player. She even plays the harmonica!
The song talks about Shakira looking for a lost love in several curious places: inside a closet, under a car, and in her coin purse. The lyrics are fast-paced and upbeat. They make an excellent and catchy song for you to practice your Spanish.
3. Pies descalzos, sueños blancos (1996)
Pies descalzos, sueños blancos (Bare feet, white dreams) is the third single from Shakira’s 1996 album of the same name.
The song shows her pop-rock style and has unforgettable lyrics. Shakira uses sarcasm and criticizes social norms and clichés.
The song made it to the United States Billboard Latin Pop Songs charts and is considered the ten most sung melodies of Shakira’s artistic career.
4. Si te vas (1998)
Si te vas (If you leave) is one of the best Shakira songs in Spanish from the album ¿Dónde están los ladrones? (Where are the thieves?). It was initially launched as a promotional single before becoming highly successful in Spain, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic.
This song was one of the first Shakira songs in Spanish to make it to Germany’s music charts. The song talks about a woman’s strong will to move on after being left by her lover.
There isn’t an official music video for Si te vas, but Shakira has performed it live throughout her career, and her performances are often unforgettable.
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5. No creo (1999)
No creo (I don’t believe) is a pop-rock song from Shakira’s second studio album ¿Donde estan los ladrones?. The song was released as the album’s fourth single.
It was remastered and relaunched for her 2000 Unplugged album. The second version combines elements of ska and funk.
This is one of my favorite Shakira songs in Spanish. It’s a romantic and upbeat melody. Shakira’s lyrics highlight how she doesn’t believe in anything except her true love. She challenges philosophical thinkers like Karl Marx and Jean-Paul Sartre.
Unlike the original version, the Unplugged version has fast-paced lyrics you’ll want to learn.
Discover 28 Spanish Love Songs.
6. Ojos así (1998)
Ojos así (Eyes like that) is one of the most unique Shakira songs in Spanish. It ‘s part of her 1998 album, ¿Dónde están los ladrones?.
The song stands out for its Arab melodies and for topping the charts in Latin America and Europe. Although it’s written in Spanish, it also has Arabic lyrics. The words in the song aren’t complicated, yet they are fast-paced and with plenty of rhythms.
The promotional video features Shakira belly dancing and honoring her Lebanese heritage.
Shakira’s performance of Ojos así during her MTV Unplugged is considered one of the best in her musical career. She recorded both a Spanish and English version of the song. She also performed it in the 2020 Super Bowl Halftime Show.
7. Te dejo Madrid (2001)
Te dejo Madrid (I leave you, Madrid) is a Spanish rock song from Shakira ‘s 2001 album Servicio de lavandería (Laundry service).
In the song, the singer displays her love for the Spanish capital. In the video, we see Shakira as a bull and her partner as a bullfighter. Las corridas de toros (bullfights) are a signature staple of Spain’s taurine culture.
Laundry Service includes only a few songs in Spanish, and Te dejo Madrid became one of Shakira’s biggest hits, surpassing many of her English hits.
The song made it to #1 in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Spain, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
Learn more about Spanish Culture, Traditions, and Beliefs.
8. Me enamoré (2017)
Me enamoré (I fell in love) is a beautifully written Shakira song with dance beats and reggaetón influences. It’s part of her ninth studio album, El Dorado.
She wrote the song inspired by how she met her husband, Spanish soccer player Gerard Piqué. After meeting her husband, Shakira relocated to Spain. They’ve been together since 2010 and share two kids.
The song has sentimental and fun lyrics that chronicle their love story. I guarantee that its catchy tune will keep you dancing and signing in Spanish for hours!
9. La bicicleta (2016)
La bicicleta (The bicycle) is a song by Shakira featuring renowned Colombian artist Carlos Vives.
Both performers wrote the song, representing an important collaborative effort between two amazing top Colombian artists. It won two Latin Grammys in 2010 and was nominated for several other award shows.
The original video shows footage from Shakira’s hometown of Barranquilla and the Colombian town of Santa Marta. It has influences from vallenato, a musical genre unique to Colombia.
La bicicleta has been streamed on YouTube close to 1.5 billion times.
Start planning a trip to Shakira’s home country with this Travel Guide to Colombia’s Culture, Food, and More.
10. Waka Waka (Esto es África) (2010)
Shakira’s Waka Waka (Esto es África), and its English version, also called Waka Waka (This time for Africa), are two of her most exciting songs.
Both versions feature the South African group Freshlyground. FIFA chose the song as the 2010 World Cup’s official song.
Waka Waka traveled the world and brought Shakira’s talent to every corner imaginable. Shakira’s memorable lyrics highlight the passion and feelings this long-awaited competition brings to fanatics worldwide.
The song became an instant hit upon its release. It made it to #1 in fifty countries. She also performed it in the 2020 Super Bowl Halftime Show.
Talk about soccer with this insightful guide to Soccer Positions in Spanish.
Practice Spanish Conversation With a Native Speaker
Shakira songs in Spanish will step up your language game and broaden your vocabulary.
As you consistently listen to these songs, you’ll become more familiar with Spanish and start using it intuitively and confidently. In addition, these catchy songs will help you to improve your listening and conversational skills.
Another great way of fast-tracking your fluency is by signing up for a free trial class with our team of certified teachers from Guatemala.
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