Shakira’s Album ‘She Wolf’ Celebrates its 14 Anniversary

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On October 9, 2009 (14 years ago), Shakira released her eighth studio album titled She Wolf through Epic Records and Sony Music Latin. It was her third English/Bilingual album, and it marked a departure from her previous work, especially her more rock-oriented sound on the album Oral Fixation, Vol. 2. Instead, She Wolf (or ‘Loba’ in Spanish) introduced a more electronic and dance-pop style, all while maintaining Shakira’s trademark dose of sexiness.

Musically, the album departs from both Latin pop and pop-rock, which were Shakira’s traditional musical styles. In a conversation with Billboard, the Colombian singer said about changing her style: “I felt very curious and intrigued about the electro-pop world and everything it has to offer,” she continued. “I wanted to make sure that this album was very bassy and that the kicks hit really hard, and I wanted to concentrate on the beat. But my music, to a certain extent, is very complex –because I always try to experiment with sounds from other parts of the world.” 

One thing is undeniably true: Shakira appears to fear nothing, especially when it comes to musical experimentation, as she continues to demonstrate to this day. A prominent example of this is her recent collaboration with one of the forefront artists in the corridos tumbados genre, Fuerza Regida, on their track «El Jefe.» In this song, Shakira embraces a more Mexican rhythm, demonstrating, once again, her versatility in music.

She Wolf Tracklist

1. She Wolf
2. Did It Again
3. Long Time
4. Why Wait
5. Good Stuff
6. Men in This Town
7. Gypsy
8. Spy
9. Mon Amour
10. Lo Hecho Está Hecho («Did It Again» in Spanish Version)
11. Años Luz
12. Loba («She Wolf» Spanish Version)

First Single: «She Wolf» (Loba)

This song served as the album’s first single and is likely one of its most renowned tracks. In both the song and its music video, Shakira unmistakably embraces her ‘lycanthropic’ version. She starts the song singing, “S.O.S. she’s in disguise S.O.S. she’s in disguise there’s a she wolf in disguise coming out, coming out, coming out,” and soon continues with “There’s a she wolf in the closet, open up and set it free there’s a she wolf in the closet, let it out so it can breathe”.

As she maintains and strengthens her signature style, Shakira gracefully portrays the typically agonizing transformation from human to wolf in the song, confidently asserting her status as both a talented singer and a skilled dancer. This song unquestionably had more than a few people howling along the way.

«Did It Again» (Lo Hecho Está Hecho)

This song was another one of the most popular. The song talks about the regret of making the same mistake again, but being unable to avoid ‘stumbling’ over the same stone due to temptation, as the Spanish version mentions. As for the music video, it contains several subtle references, including the Korean drums at the beginning, but what truly captures attention is the ‘fight/dance’ sequence between Shakira and her co-star.

Since her beginnings, Shakira has been a strong presence in the music industry, making a significant impact in the mid-90s. Her talent and versatility have propelled her to become one of the most prominent international pop stars. She Wolf achieved commercial success, and both «She Wolf» and «Did It Again» have become enduring hits, solidifying her as a musical icon. Undoubtedly, Shakira will continue to hold a prominent position in the Latin music scene, and the dedication of a day in her honor is just one example of her profound influence on the audience.