ShakiraShakiraShakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll (born February 2, 1977), known simply as Shakira, is a Colombian pop singer. Shakira is a name which came from the Arabic word for "graceful". She speaks English, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, and Italian, and she can perform Arab belly dancing, which was taught by her Lebanese grandmother. Shakira was born in Barranquilla to a Lebanese father and a Spanish-Italian mother, and moved to Bogotá at the age of thirteen. She released her first album, Magia (Magic), one year later, on the Sony label. The album was only moderately successful, and Peligro (Danger), her second album, was no better received. Shakira turned to acting and played a role in a Colombian telenovela ("El Oasis"), but returned to the music business in 1995 with the album Pies descalzos (Barefeet), which established her commercial success. The hit "Estoy aquí" became known internationally. The Remixes was created and featured remixes from the songs on Pies descalzos. Following this, Shakira met Emilio Estefan, Jr., who would become the executive producer of her next album. ¿Dónde están los ladrones? (Where are the Thieves?) was a huge production which cost over $3 million US. It was a huge hit which gained wide critical acclaim and which many consider to be her best album ever. It produced the singles "Inevitable" and the worldwide mega-hit, "Ojos así". Its successful blend of rock and Latin soundscapes made it an immense success. Shakira also produced Shakira MTV Unplugged, a live album based on ¿Dónde están los ladrones?. She became widely known throughout the entire Spanish speaking world. Shakira next turned her sights towards the English-speaking market, improving her English enough to begin writing Laundry Service. With a more rock-edged feel, Laundry Service was aimed at the international English market although it contained some Spanish songs. Some people said that Shakira's English skills were too weak for her to write in English, but Laundry Service was nevertheless a big hit, best known for the infectious single "Whenever, Wherever" (English version of "Suerte"), and for being one of the top albums of 2002. Shakira is well known for intense, athletic performances involving belly dancing and arabic rhythms. In 2002, Shakira also released the greatest hits volume Grandes éxitos. Shakira: Live & Off the Record, a DVD and a 10-song CD from her 2002-03 world tour (the "Tour of the Mongoose"), was released March 30th, 2004. "The Tour of the Mongoose" was so-called because a mongoose is the only animal that can defeat a cobra without being killed by its poison. The concerts were interspersed with visuals of a mongoose fighting a cobra. Shakira is currently writing and recording her next album, scheduled to come out in early 2005. This is rumoured to be a Double CD featuring both Spanish and English songs. She co-writes and co-produces her songs with Luis Fernando Ochoa and Lester Méndez. Vocal compilations by Rita Quintero. Shakira is considered by many to be a great talent. As Gabriel García Márquez once wrote of her, "Shakira's music has a personal stamp that doesn't look like anyone else's and no one can sing or dance like her, at whatever age, with such an innocent sensuality, one that seems to be of her own invention." Since 2000, she has been engaged to Antonio de la Rúa, the son of the former President of Argentina. In light of the humanitarian and social crisis in Argentina, many members of the press lampooned the relationship as frivolous and arrogant. In response, Shakira gave an unprofitable concert in Buenos Aires and further promoted her humanitarian children's foundation "Pies Descalzos" (Bare feet), named after her third album. This was decried by many as a simple celebrity public relations move. Discography
DVDs, films
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This was decried by many as a simple celebrity public relations move. Spyro Gyra has received the following Grammy nominations:. In response, Shakira gave an unprofitable concert in Buenos Aires and further promoted her humanitarian children's foundation "Pies Descalzos" (Bare feet), named after her third album. He recalls:. In light of the humanitarian and social crisis in Argentina, many members of the press lampooned the relationship as frivolous and arrogant. The name "Spyro Gyra" is a misspelling of spirogyra, a kind of algae which Beckenstein had written a college biology paper on years earlier. Since 2000, she has been engaged to Antonio de la Rúa, the son of the former President of Argentina. It all came together, this oddball mix, until we found a middle ground, our own groove". As Gabriel García Márquez once wrote of her, "Shakira's music has a personal stamp that doesn't look like anyone else's and no one can sing or dance like her, at whatever age, with such an innocent sensuality, one that seems to be of her own invention.". We did simple music and esoteric stuff. Shakira is considered by many to be a great talent. Wall has commented that their sound was a "gutbucket of rhythmic tradition. Vocal compilations by Rita Quintero. Over a year, Beckenstein's and Wall's work evolved into Spyro Gyra. She co-writes and co-produces her songs with Luis Fernando Ochoa and Lester Méndez. In Beckenstein's description of the Buffalo club scene of the time;. This is rumoured to be a Double CD featuring both Spanish and English songs. Wall teamed up with Beckenstein, and the two started playing instrumental music — mostly covers of R&B songs — together. Shakira is currently writing and recording her next album, scheduled to come out in early 2005. Beckenstein had been working in clubs in Buffalo since his junior year of college, backing various vocalists. The concerts were interspersed with visuals of a mongoose fighting a cobra. Although they headed in different directions during college — Beckenstein to the State University of New York in Buffalo and Wall to Cal Arts, they spent summers together playing outdoor concerts, and Wall moved to Buffalo soon after graduating. "The Tour of the Mongoose" was so-called because a mongoose is the only animal that can defeat a cobra without being killed by its poison. Spyro Gyra emerged around Jay Beckenstein and keyboardist Jeremy Wall, who had met and formed a band during their high school years. Shakira: Live & Off the Record, a DVD and a 10-song CD from her 2002-03 world tour (the "Tour of the Mongoose"), was released March 30th, 2004. With the exception of alto saxophonist, songwriter and founding bandleader Jay Beckenstein, the member configuration has changed somewhat over the span of time as well as between the studio and the live stage. In 2002, Shakira also released the greatest hits volume Grandes éxitos. They have nevertheless been praised as skilled instrumentalists and for their live performances. Shakira is well known for intense, athletic performances involving belly dancing and arabic rhythms. Although generally considered to be more "jazz" than "smooth", Spyro Gyra's music has been criticized for being light-weight and for emphasizing melody over improvisation. Some people said that Shakira's English skills were too weak for her to write in English, but Laundry Service was nevertheless a big hit, best known for the infectious single "Whenever, Wherever" (English version of "Suerte"), and for being one of the top albums of 2002. Their music, which has been influential in the development of smooth jazz, combines jazz with elements of R&B, funk and pop music. With a more rock-edged feel, Laundry Service was aimed at the international English market although it contained some Spanish songs. Among their most successful hit singles are "Shaker Song" and "Morning Dance". Shakira next turned her sights towards the English-speaking market, improving her English enough to begin writing Laundry Service. With over 20 albums released and 10 million copies sold, they are among the most prolific as well as commercially successful groups of the scene. She became widely known throughout the entire Spanish speaking world. Spyro Gyra is a still-active American jazz fusion band that was formed in the early 1970s. Shakira also produced Shakira MTV Unplugged, a live album based on ¿Dónde están los ladrones?. 1985 - Best Jazz Fusion Performance for "Alternating Currents". Its successful blend of rock and Latin soundscapes made it an immense success. 1985 - Best Pop Instrumental Performance for "Shakedown". It produced the singles "Inevitable" and the worldwide mega-hit, "Ojos así". 1984 - Best Jazz Fusion Performance for "Access All Areas". It was a huge hit which gained wide critical acclaim and which many consider to be her best album ever. 1983 - Best Jazz Fusion Performance for "City Kids". ¿Dónde están los ladrones? (Where are the Thieves?) was a huge production which cost over $3 million US. 1982 - Best Jazz Fusion Performance for "Incognito". Following this, Shakira met Emilio Estefan, Jr., who would become the executive producer of her next album. 1982 - Best Rhythm & Blues Instrumental Performance for "Stripes". The Remixes was created and featured remixes from the songs on Pies descalzos. 1980 - Best Jazz Fusion Performance for "Catching the Sun". The hit "Estoy aquí" became known internationally. The Deep End (2004). Shakira turned to acting and played a role in a Colombian telenovela ("El Oasis"), but returned to the music business in 1995 with the album Pies descalzos (Barefeet), which established her commercial success. Original Cinema (2003). The album was only moderately successful, and Peligro (Danger), her second album, was no better received. In Modern Times (2001). She released her first album, Magia (Magic), one year later, on the Sony label. Got The Magic (1999). Shakira was born in Barranquilla to a Lebanese father and a Spanish-Italian mother, and moved to Bogotá at the age of thirteen. Road Scholars (live) (1998). She speaks English, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, and Italian, and she can perform Arab belly dancing, which was taught by her Lebanese grandmother. 20/20 (1997). Shakira is a name which came from the Arabic word for "graceful". Heart Of The Night (1996). Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll (born February 2, 1977), known simply as Shakira, is a Colombian pop singer. Love And Other Obsessions (1994). Live & Off the Record (2004). Dreams Beyond Control (1993). MTV Unplugged (2000). Three Wishes (1992). Live & Off the Record (2004). Fast Forward (1990). Grandes éxitos (2002). Point Of View (1989). Laundry Service (2001). Rites Of Summer (1988). MTV Unplugged (2000). Stories Without Words (1987). ¿Dónde están los ladrones? (1998). Breakout (1986). The Remixes (1997). Alternating Currents (1985). Pies descalzos (1995). Access All Areas (live) (1984). Peligro (1994). City Kids (1983). Magia (1991). Incognito (1982). Freetime (1981). Carnival (1980). Catching The Sun (1980). Morning Dance (1979). Spyro Gyra (1978). |