She Wolf (album)
Shakira's electropop album exploring love and feminine perspectives.
She Wolf is the eighth studio album and third English-language album by Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira. Released on 9 October 2009 by Epic Records, the album marked a shift from her traditional Latin pop and pop rock styles toward electropop, incorporating influences of folk and world music. The lyrical themes, based on conversations Shakira had with her female friends, focus on love and relationships.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- Shakira
- Released
- 9 October 2009
- Label
- Epic Records
- Genre
- Electropop, world music
- Executive producers
- Shakira, Amanda Ghost
- Certifications
- Double platinum in Colombia and Mexico
- platinum in Brazil, Italy, Spain
- gold in France and the United Kingdom
- Worldwide sales
- Over two million copies
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
After the international success of her albums Fijación Oral Vol. 1 and Oral Fixation Vol. 2, Shakira began work on She Wolf, recording at Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas. She chose the studio because it had been used by artists like Bob Marley, The Cure, and AC/DC. Shakira described the album as a 'sonic experimental trip,' combining electronics with world sounds from Africa, Colombia, India, and the Middle East. The title track features 1970s disco guitars and robot effects, while other songs incorporate samba, dancehall, and Middle Eastern strings. Shakira collaborated with producers including The Neptunes, John Hill, Wyclef Jean, and Timbaland. The album's lyrics were written from a 'very feminine perspective,' covering emotions such as jealousy, fantasies, and daydreams, inspired by conversations with her girlfriends. Tracks like 'Men in This Town' reference actors Angelina Jolie and Matt Damon, while 'Mon Amour' includes lyrics about wishing an ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend be eaten by fleas in Paris.
Reader's Guide
She Wolf represents a pivotal moment in Shakira's career, demonstrating her willingness to experiment with electronic music while maintaining her signature world music influences. The album reached number one in Argentina, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, and Switzerland, and charted inside the top five in Spain, Germany, and the United Kingdom. It debuted at number fifteen on the Billboard 200 and sold over two million copies worldwide. The album's lead single, 'She Wolf,' along with its Spanish version 'Loba,' reached the top ten in several countries. Shakira supported the album with The Sun Comes Out World Tour in late 2010, which also promoted her next record, Sale el Sol. The album's blend of electropop with global sounds and its focus on female perspectives helped solidify Shakira's reputation as a versatile artist capable of crossing musical boundaries.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | She Wolf | Shakira, John Hill, Sam Endicott | 3:10 |
| 2 | Did It Again | Shakira, Pharrell Williams, Williams | 3:13 |
| 3 | Long Time | Shakira, Williams | 2:56 |
| 4 | Why Wait | Shakira, Williams | 3:43 |
| 5 | Good Stuff | Shakira, Williams | 3:18 |
| 6 | Men in This Town | Shakira, Hill, Endicott | 3:36 |
| 7 | Gypsy | Amanda Ghost, Shakira, Ian Dench, Carl Sturken, Evan Rogers, Ghost, Dench, Sturken, Rogers | 3:18 |
| 8 | Spy (featuring Wyclef Jean) | Shakira, Jean | 3:27 |
| 9 | Mon Amour | Shakira, Albert Menendez, Menendez | 4:06 |
| 10 | Lo Hecho Está Hecho | Shakira, Jorge Drexler, Williams | 3:13 |
| 11 | Años Luz | Shakira, Drexler, Williams | 3:44 |
| 12 | Loba | Shakira, Drexler, Hill, Endicott | 3:09 |
| Total length | 40:50 | ||
Track listing from the source article.
Did You Know?
- Shakira and The Neptunes' Pharrell Williams readied four tracks in five days for the album.
- The title track 'She Wolf' was co-composed by Sam Endicott of the band The Bravery.
- The song 'Mon Amour' includes lyrics about an ex-boyfriend being eaten by 'French fleas' in Paris.
More in Band Members & Collaborators
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