Eight of Shakira’s Best Collaborations

Queen of Latin Music and multi-dimensional, multiple award-winning artists, Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll known globally as Shakira is a trailblazer who played a crucial role in connecting the Latin American and United States music markets when Latin music was largely considered a niche genre.

 After achieving success with four Spanish-language albums, she broke into the American market with her hit single “Whenever, Wherever” in 2001, showcasing her crossover potential. Her first English-language album, “Laundry Service”, debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and received triple platinum certification. Shakira has maintained a successful career for more than twenty years due to her versatile nature. She adapts her musical style to fit contemporary trends without appearing to force it, all while promoting emerging artists in the industry.

Today, few performers can deliver impressive vocals alongside expertly choreographed dance routines, but Shakira excels at both. She showcases her skills as a talented belly dancer and incorporates elements of her Lebanese heritage into her performances.

Shakira has collaborated with numerous musical legends to create worldwide hits, enhancing tracks with her signature hip-swaying style and distinctive vocals. With such encapsulating performances, it’s no wonder Shakira tickets are always in high demand.

Whether she’s working with American icons like Rihanna, Wyclef Jean, and Beyoncé or joining forces with Latin stars such as Rauw Alejandro, Karol G, and Nicky Jam, few artists grasp the strength of effective sonic fusions as well as the adaptable Shakira.

Xsnoize brings you eight of Shakira’s best collaborations over the past decades.

Shakira ft Alejandro Sanz — “La Tortura”

Shakira collaborated with Spanish singer, Alejandro Sanz to produce “La Tortura” which was one of her earliest musical collaborations was one of Shakira’s initial collaborations.

The sultry track along with its captivating music video, represented a pivotal moment in Shakira’s rising fame, as she embraced a reggaetón style that complemented her Latin sound. The infectious hit earned her both the Record of the Year and Song of the Year awards at the 2006 Latin Grammys.

Shakira ft Wyclef Jean, — “Hips Don’t Lie”

The track swiftly turned into a worldwide sensation, topping charts in more than 50 nations and earning the title of one of the best-selling singles ever. It combines aspects of reggaeton, Latin pop, and worldbeat music while highlighting Shakira’s renowned belly dancing.

It marked Shakira’s first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, where it remained for two weeks in April 2006. The collaboration “Hips Don’t Lie” with Wyclef Jean propelled the Colombian artist to new levels of success, earning her the Billboard Latin Music Award for “Hot Latin Song” vocal collaboration of the year. With its catchy chorus and whimsical lyrics, the song has become iconic, continuing to resonate with fans around the globe. “Hips Don’t Lie” also received multiple nominations, including a Grammy.

Shakira ft Beyoncé — “Beautiful Liar”

Shakira has a remarkable talent for crafting powerful love songs, and her 2014 single “Can’t Remember to Forget You,” featuring Rihanna, elevated the stakes even further. Included on Shakira’s self-titled tenth studio album, the song tells the story of two women unable to shake the memories of a past lover. With a vibrant mix of ska and pop-rock influences, this upbeat track stands out as a highlight in the discographies of both Shakira and Rihanna, making it a replay-worthy hit.

“Beautiful Liar” received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals at the 50th Grammy Awards in 2007, while its Spanish version was up for a Latin Grammy Award for Record of the Year at the same event. In 2008, it won an Ivor Novello Award for Best-Selling British Song.

Commercially, “Beautiful Liar” achieved significant success, reaching number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and marking the largest upward movement on that chart until 2008. The song also reached number one in several European nations, including France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Alejandro Sanz ft Shakira —”Te Lo Agradezco, Pero No”

Two years after their hit “La Tortura,” Shakira and Alejandro Sanz collaborated again on “Te Lo Agradezco, Pero No,” which can be loosely interpreted as “thanks but no thanks.” Unlike the danceable vibe of “La Tortura,” “Te Lo Agradezco” features a pop-infused bolero with mambo elements. The emotional track showcases both artists harmonizing as they navigate the complexities of a relationship that ultimately didn’t work out. Set against the backdrop of Brooklyn, the music video highlights the sultry chemistry between Sanz and Shakira. The song reached No. 1 on the Hot Latin Songs chart in 2007.

Shakira ft Prince Royce — “Deja Vu”

Shakira’s first introduction to Dominican melody called bachata, came in her first-ever collaboration with Prince Royce.

This dynamic pairing showcases her mature and vibrant vocals, highlighting the Colombian superstar’s adaptability while featuring a sultry bachata rhythm and atmospheric melodies. “Deja Vu” reached No. 4 on the Hot Latin Songs chart in 2017.

Shakira ft Calle 13 — “Gordita”

“Gordita” is perhaps one of Shakira’s most overlooked collaborations, yet it remains a true standout. The track skillfully blends René Pérez’s rap verses with Shakira’s rich vocals, resulting in a flirty and clever composition supported by edgy reggaetón beats, live instrumentation, and a samba-rock transition. In the lyrics, René expresses his preference for the Colombian star when she was “más gordita, con el pelito negrito y la cara redondita, así medio rockerita” (a little bit chunkier, with black hair, and her round face when she was a rocker girl). The duo has performed the song together on several occasions, including at Rock in Rio in Argentina in 2010.

Shakira ft The Black Eyed Peas — “Girl Like Me”

Shakira’s collaboration with The Black Eyed Peas in 2020 served as a nostalgic tribute to the early 2000s, featuring a catchy beat and a sway-inducing chorus that gets listeners on their feet. Featured on The Black Eyed Peas album “Translation”, the song celebrates the essence of falling in love with everything a Latina queen like Shakira embodies.

The track achieved significant success, earning The Black Eyed Peas and Shakira the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Latin Airplay Chart. Commercially, it reached the top ten in twelve countries and earned Diamond certification in France. Additionally, it is certified Platinum or higher in eight other countries, including Poland, Peru, Switzerland, the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Italy, and across Central America.

Shakira ft Freshlyground — “Waka Waka” (This Time for Africa)

Shakira teamed up with South Africa’s band, Freshlyground to produce one of the most iconic songs in FIFA World Cup history.

The song was released on May 7, 2010, as the official anthem for the 2010 FIFA World Cup held in South Africa. Titled “Waka Waka (Esto es África)” in its Spanish version, it features samples from the original Cameroonian makossa track “Zamina mina (Zangaléwa)” by Golden Sounds. The lyrics inspire players to pursue their goals with the determination of soldiers on a battlefield.

“Waka Waka” reached number one on numerous record charts globally and was the most successful song of 2010 in seven different countries. In the United States, it peaked at number 38 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for surpassing one million units sold. The single achieved multiplatinum status in several nations, including diamond certifications in Brazil, France, Germany, and Sweden. By 2019, “Waka Waka had sold 15 million downloads worldwide, making it one of the best-selling singles ever.