Love is Shakira’s kryptonite. However for individuals who dare betray her, the aftermath might be utter torture.
For 20 years now, the contagious rhythm and fiery lyrics of “La Tortura,” together with its steamy music video, have continued to ripple by way of the airwaves, reminding audiences that Shakira’s feelings are to not be toyed with. (Don’t say she didn’t warn you, Pique.)
Launched on April 11, 2005, “La Tortura” got here at a particular level within the pop star’s profession. 4 years earlier, the Colombian singer had wooed English audio system along with her first crossover album, “Laundry Service,” which sold 13 million copies worldwide. As L.A. Occasions reporter Agustin Gurza wrote, the English-language album was “a smash that launched her global career.”
However Shakira was already thought-about an unstoppable drive in Latin America after reaching industrial success along with her 1998 pop-rock album, “Dónde Están los Ladrones?” The 2005 launch of her sixth studio album, “Fijación Oral, Vol. 1,” appeared to mark her humble homecoming to the language that had supported her for the reason that starting — crossover be damned!
Some music critics, like Gurza, lambasted “Fijación Oral, Vol. 1” for its lovesick lyrics in tracks like “En Tus Pupilas” — which the singer wrote whereas in a long-term romance with Antonio de la Rúa, son of Argentina’s former president Fernando de la Rúa. The album’s lead single, nevertheless, managed to stave off the harshest criticisms.
“[‘La Tortura] is deliciously pop,” writes Gurza. “Radio loves it and the golf equipment will too.”
Shakira produced the tune with an infectious rhythm of reggaeton, a style that was quickly taking over the Latin music scene on the time. Co-written with composer Luis Fernando Ochoa, “La Tortura” additionally featured Spanish singer Alejandro Sanz, whose raspy flamenco vocals offset Shakira’s rapid-fire quips: “Mejor te guardas todo eso a otro perro con ese hueso y nos decimos adiós,” which interprets to “You higher maintain all that to a different canine with that bone, and we’ll say goodbye.”
Behind the scenes, “La Tortura” would take a look at the boundaries of Shakira’s perfectionism; up till that time in her profession, she had by no means collaborated with one other artist. She recalled that susceptible course of to People en Español in 2005: “I bear in mind saying to [Sanz], ‘Can’t you modify this little word?’ And he simply stated, ‘What?’ He nearly threw a document at my head.” But the expertise kick-started a life-long friendship for the duet, so tight that they had been usually rumored to be lovers.
“La Tortura” debuted in the US at No. 98 on the Billboard Scorching 100, peaking at No. 23. Shakira and Sanz would later snag two wins on the seventh Latin Grammy Awards, together with document of the yr and tune of the yr.
But maybe what cemented the tune as a Latin pop traditional was its music video, which was one of many first Spanish-language videos to flow into throughout U.S. channels MTV and VH1, following the lead of Daddy Yankee’s music video “Gasolina,” which aired earlier in 2004.
Directed by Michael Haussman, the three-minute clip contains a scorned Shakira reverse an untrue Sanz. In a single scene, Sanz peeks by way of the window to catch a glimpse of his tearful ex-love. As his ego assumes she is mourning their breakup, the digital camera strikes to disclose her slicing onions.
“It has a timeless vibe as a result of there’s nothing stylistically tying it to any time interval,” Haussman tells The Occasions. “Besides in case you take a look at the [flip] telephones.”
There’s additionally the enduring oil-soaked sequence that includes a chest-pumping Shakira, who whips her wavy hair back and forth. Although not initially within the director’s plan, the look has develop into a favourite amongst followers, who’ve tried to copy her strikes on TikTok.
“The grease scene got here from Shakira,” stated Haussman. “She confirmed me somebody with grease black oil. It was a really cool picture and he or she stated, ‘Can we do one thing like this?’”
Among the music video’s flashback scenes had been so intimate with Sanz that Shakira reportedly consulted a priest to make sure it was correct to hold on, given her relationship with then-fiancé La Rúa. (In accordance with Elle Magazine, she obtained the inexperienced gentle.)
The duo later carried out their hit reside on the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards, the place they made historical past as the primary act to take action in a language aside from English. The music video was nominated in three classes: feminine video, dance video and viewer’s selection award.
Though Shakira didn’t stroll away with a Moonman statue that evening, “La Tortura” will at all times be the primary Spanish-language music video to be nominated within the esteemed classes.
20 years later, the tune’s lyrics nonetheless chew — particularly now that the singer is in the midst of her post-separation victory lap, also called her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran world tour. She is ready to carry out June 20 at te SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
