Shakira stuns Times Square with a pop-up concert featuring songs from her new album 

Shakira's new album is titled ‘Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran’. (Image via X/@Shakira)

It’s almost as if Shakira never went away. The Colombian pop-star has returned to the global limelight, with the launch of her new album ‘Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran’ - she performed songs from the album to an awestruck crowd of 40,000, in New York City’s famous Times Square. Dynamic and graceful in equal measure as ever, Shakira performed with the aplomb of an explosive ballerina, in the same manner that made her a worldwide phenomenon.

Queen of the Millennials

To a large section of the millennial generation, Shakira possibly represents the first breakout cross-lingual artist who came from a space other than English. Though Enrique Iglesias – the Spanish born heartthrob – embodied a certain, alternate masculinity at the time, it was really Shakira’s Hips Don’t Lie (2005) that broke through as a playful anthem of sexuality devoid of perversion. A consummate performer, Shakira’s popularity grew to the point that she would headline not just concerts but male sport (Fifa World Cup). Life, though, had other plans for her.

Shakira's high-profile marriage to Barcelona star Gerard Pique

Shakira’s marriage to former Barcelona defender Gerard Pique at the height of the Spain team’s world domination stood for a unique union of personalities. Pique was understated, hardly charismatic other than on the football field while Shakira was an icon, pined for by hordes of doting men who’d give an arm to have her by their side. The relationship, its high-visibility nature pushed the singer-dancer into the shadows.

Nueva York! Nos vemos esta noche en Times Square a las 7:15 pm! para el resto del mundo podrán ver la transmisión en directo completamente en vivo aquí https://t.co/iymTq2kDir

New York! Come join me in Times Square for a surprise performance at 7:15pm. And you can watch… pic.twitter.com/u0zSKLBGQi

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— Shakira (@shakira) March 26, 2024

The separation

In an interview with Jimmy Fallon, Shakira opened up on how her ‘husband was pulling her down’. It speaks volumes about the kind of trauma and social attrition even the most popular of public figures can face, if a relationship becomes toxic behind closed doors. Shakira has been quite open about the fact that her relationship kept her from returning to work. But now that she’s finally out, the world can again celebrate a beloved popstar and her peerless work.