Colombia’s favorite pop-star is back, celebrating the Tuesday release of her new album, “Shakira,” with a video for her single, “Empire.”
The self-titled album opened at #1 in over 60 countries, including the US iTunes charts, and the Barranquilla-native promoted her new release with performances on “The Tonight Show” with Jimmy Fallon Tuesday night and “The Today Show” Wednesday morning.
The video for “Empire,” which Shakira performed on Jimmy Fallon, opens with the international pop sensation entering a church in a white dress and other imagery referencing her recent marriage to Barcelona FC soccer star Gerard Pique. Shakira was married in 2010, during the two and a half year recording of her album.
The song is sung exclusively in English, and contrasts tender, romantic verses with heavier, more rock-inspired choruses.
That diversity of sound is typical of Shakira’s tenth studio album, which features numerous songs about her family and lovelife and incorporates a myriad of musical influences from genres ranging from reggae and rock, to folk and pop, and even a little bit of American country.
MORE: Shakira to release new self-titled album
She sings different tracks in English, Spanish and Catalan, an homage to her adopted home of Barcelona.
Her fans have been long anticipating Shakira’s new release after her popular and provocative collaboration with fellow Caribbean pop star Rihanna, in “Can’t Remember to Forget You,” which already has well over 200 million views on Youtube.
MORE: Shakira follows up No. 1 video with Spanish version release/
After only a few hours online, her latest video is making progress itself, with 2 million views already. That’s should come as no surprise to Shakira, one of the best selling pop stars of all time.
Her album is already topping international charts, and is available for purchase on the iTunes store.
Sources