SHAKIRA (JUNE 2002)

SHAKIRA FEVER!

By Yasmine Shihata

For the first time in the Middle East, Enigma’s Editor-in-Chief Yasmine Shihata gets up close and personal with Shakira…

In the past year, Shakira has appeared at the Grammy’s, the MTV Video Music Awards and in Pepsi commercials in Latin America. A child prodigy who wrote her first song at the age of five,  Shakira speaks three languages; however, Spanish is the language of her heart. Known as a perfectionist who spends hours in the studio, she often presents a contrasting image of herself, like how she is a wild child with a passion for electric guitars. She is a youthful beauty, but she is far older than her 25 years. One of the most famous quotes about her is from Nobel Prize winning author, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, who wrote:  “Shakira’s music has a personal stamp that doesn’t look like anyone else’s.  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.”

Shakira’s continued success is the stuff of Latin American legend.  At age 13, she signed her first contract with Sony Music Colombia and released her first album Magia (Magic).  After secondary school, Shakira decided to dedicate her life to music, recording Peligro (Danger) and Pies Descalzos (Barefeet). In the following years, she became a hit in Latin America, Brazil and Spain.  Her next album, Do`nde Est`an Los Ladrones? went multi-platinum in the US, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Central America and Mexico, and achieved platinum status in Spain. Then she was awarded a Grammy and two Latin Grammies followed by key TV Appearances that made her an international star.

Shakira is also a woman of many contradictions. “I was born and raised in Colombia, but I listened to bands like Led Zeppelin, the Cure, the Police, the Beatles and Nirvana,” she says.  “I was so in love with that ‘rock’ sound, but at the same time, because my father is 100 per cent Lebanese, I am devoted to Arabic tastes and sounds. Somehow I’m a fusion of all of those passions, and my music is a combination of elements that I make coexist in one song”. And it’s the songs that make her new album, Laundry Service (her first English-Language album), a breakthrough album for her. From the tango-inflected Objection, to the Middle Eastern flavour of Eyes like Yours, to the lyrical innovations of Underneath your Clothes, to the pop rock of Whenever Wherever, Shakira is definitely making her mark.

Still, it was not easy for this Latin star to write lyrics in English. “The first song I wrote by myself for this record was Objection,”  she remembers.  “I prayed and asked God to send me a good song and started writing a couple of hours later. I wrote the music and lyrics at the same time. When that happens, it’s really magical to me.” When she completed Objection, she knew that she could write ten more and come up with new songs that were more introspective and passionate than any of her previous material. “I would feel love in Spanish, but I would think about how to express that love in English. Afterwards, that became such a natural process.”

Shakira’s new album is full of old-fashioned rock and soulful, bluesy singing styles; even the sounds of wailing guitars are instrumented. But Shakira can not help being herself, which means that Whenever Wherever permeates lots of Latin influences such as Andean pan flutes and Brazilian drums. And Eyes like Yours has great Arabic influences, which are perfect for belly dancing. And for those longing to hear Shakira’s voice in her native language, Laundry Service also includes four new tracks in Spanish. Yet, whatever your musical tastes may be, you cannot help but be impressed by Shakira. Her unique voice, memorable lyrics and amazing dancing ability make her the most original new star of the millennium.

You have been described as a child prodigy. When did you start to write lyrics and sing?

My mom always said that every time she saw me performing, she would see that something from inside would overcome me. Something would grow. I would be more grown up on stage than I was off stage, and she couldn’t believe that it was the same person. It’s like my alter ego somehow comes out.

When did you get into music and did you always know you wanted to be a performing star?

I got into music when I discovered Dalida. That was my passport to the world – to the entertainment world, that is. When I did my first performance in front of an audience, I fell in love with that sensation. I always knew somehow that I was going to be a public figure. So when it actually happened, it didn’t catch me by surprise because I always expected it. I believe it was some kind of fate or destiny.

Were your parents also in the entertainment business?

No, they weren’t, but they always felt sure about my career as well. They noticed early on that I was pretty artistic. When I was five years old, I wrote a song; and when I was 10, my mom suggested I start participating in singing concerts, which I did. From that moment, I just know I wanted to be a singer for the rest of my life. And my parents encouraged and supported me in every possible way.

I know you were born and raised in Colombia and that your father is Lebanese, right?

Yes. Well, he was born in New York and raised in Colombia, but he is originally from Zahlaa. Actually, he moved to Colombia when he was six years old, but he’s 100 per cent Lebanese. I am the one who’s mixed up!

And does he speak Arabic?

Oh, yes, of course. I am totally proud of my Arabic blood. I do feel that part of me is alive and present and in every aspect of my life.

Because Shakira is an Arabic name, do you ever get mistaken for an Arabic singer? Do you sing in Arabic or do people maybe associate you with Arabs?

No, not really. Most people don’t know exactly where my name comes from or, at least, didn’t know much about me before. But in the past few months my life has changed in many ways. And now people who didn’t have a clue  who I was and what I was doing all these years  know everything about me!

Do people recognize you now in the streets?

Yeah.  Of course, they always did in Latin America and the US, because there is a large Latin community there.  But now I’ve started  getting recognised when I go on vacation!

Your look has totally changed in the past year, when you became blonde.  Why did you decide to change your look, and do you think that being  blonde has helped you get more attention?

No, I don’t think so. Actually, I was thinking it would be much better to have my hair dark now – there’s too much confusion! But I’m a blonde just because I wanted to try it; it’s a decision based on pure vanity. I was a brunette for most of life, until I was 22. Then I changed my hair colour to red; it was very fun though, I love red hair! After having red hair, I wanted to try something new , so I dyed it blond. As you can see, I’ve bleached it many, many times!

So is it true?  Do blondes have more fun?

Well, they should change it to ‘blondes work more’, because now I’m working harder then ever!

I’ve also heard that you’ve been compared to Britney Spears? Is that something that you are offended by or do you admire her?

I cannot be offended by something like that, because she’s a very beautiful and talented woman. I also understand the nature of the comparison; maybe it’s the blonde, petite thing. Yet, because our musical performances are different, I think people will know the difference and recognise my music as unique. I also hope that people will understand exactly what I am about as an artist, but at this point, it is premature to expect that.

Well, to me, the difference is very obvious. You are a big hit right now, and your song Whenever, Wherever is a very powerful song, with a very different sound.

Yeah, I think it shows some aspects of who I am, but this song is not representative of the album.  I think the album has so many different sounds and directions. I don’t like to put myself in one category; I’d like to be able to work in different fields.

Laundry Service is filled with hopeful love songs, while some of your past albums were angrier. Any reason?

For a long time, my songs were written from another place. In Spanish, we have a word which means the opposite of love but is not exactly hate. How do you say this in English… dislove?  Let’s make up a new word: dislove.  So I used to write from the place of dislove.  I have a better understanding now of what love means and how important it is. You know how when something good happens to you – you have this impulse of going out and sharing it with the world and wishing everyone could experience the same?

And that’s why you named your album Laundry Service?

I went through a stage when I felt cleansed, renewed, thanks to love and music, which are like soap and water…  So I highly recommend laundry service, not specifically my record, of course, but the idea of love and music improving your life.  I know it sounds cheesy, but love is cheesy sometimes!

Would you ever consider singing in Arabic? Or doing a duet with an Arabic singer?

I’d love to. Actually, I want to do the performances I used to do in my hometown, where I used to belly dance and sing. I used to sing Fairouz songs, in Arabic, especially. They used to call me “little Fairouz” in the Arabic community club, where I sang as a child. So I would really enjoy doing that again.

Do you know any Arabic music artists?

I know the classical ones, like Fairouz and Um Kulthum, because I was raised with that music. Now I know of people like Amr Diab; he’s amazing.

On this topic, where did you learn how to belly dance so well? And have you always used belly dancing in your routines? Because, by the way, everybody who sees you dance is very impressed?

Really? It’s something that just runs through my veins; I never actually learned it.

Does anyone else in your family belly dance as well?

No, my parents are so stiff; they can’t move! I was always so in love with belly dancing movements that I used to do them even for ballet. With ballet I would somehow move in an oriental style, and that became my trademark.  Then I got the chance to remake a song with strong Arabic influences. That’s when I really went crazy with the dancing. So now I take more advantage of this talent and do it more often. And, of course, I do it on my tour.

And I’m sure the crowd loves it…

Yeah, I mean its something that the whole world appreciates, and it is the kind of dance that really puts a woman in touch with her sensuality and her feminine side. And any woman can do it!

What is your next release?

Well, now they are releasing the second single, which is a ballad called Underneath Your Clothes, and then they are releasing Objection. It’s a really up tempo song, but it’s  got a lot of electric guitar and little bit of tango too.

I hear you write your own music. How do you get inspired?

I tend to write a lot about what happens to me in my personal life. I use my music as a vehicle to discharge my views, my emotions, my concerns and my frustrations. It is really like having a psychiatrist but for free!

You have a reputation for being in control of every aspect of your career. Is it hard being a strong woman in an industry dominated by men?

I used to have more difficulties at the beginning of my first album when I was 13. I was very opinionated and sure about what I wanted, and it was very hard to be part of the adult world and give my opinion every 20 seconds and people wouldn’t understand that. Executives just wanted to have control of my career. But I realized as time went by that I was right, and I needed to follow my instincts. So that’s what I’ve been doing, following my instincts. Thank God I’m stubborn!

As you’re now getting very popular in the Middle East, would you consider performing there?

Oh yeah, of course. I’m dying to go and really looking forward to performing there. Performing in both Lebanon and Egypt would be like a dream for me.

If you could sing anywhere in the world where would it be?

Oh, the Pyramids or the ruins of Baalbek.

Do you have any artists that you would like to perform a duet with? Anybody you admire?

I would say Mick Jagger – he’s one of the living legends of rock n’ roll!  I’d love to do something with him.

Do you have any aspirations outside the music world?

I am dying to get married, be a mother and have children – all those things! I don’t believe in reincarnation. I believe we have only one life. So why not live it many different ways or live many lives at once?

Well, I don’t think you’ve wasted any time!