Shakira is about to release her first album in four years and first since her son, Milan was born in January 2013. The Masterpiece will be released in five weeks, and it's not finished. Shakira is in the studio, listening to the final mixes, taking notes and making last-minute tweaks.
Shakira has labored over albums since she was 18, when she put behind the bland pop she had been releasing since 13 to make her breakthrough record, 1996's "Pies Descalzos." Since then, she has achieved global stardom and recognition unprecedented for a Latin-born act. This next Album ‘Shakira' is of utmost importance, the first under a Live Nation deal signed in 2012 for a reported $30 million with Sony RCA and Sony Latin Iberia.
"It's been two-and-a-half years of making songs, trashing them, doing them again, doing eight versions of each song, having a baby, doing "The Voice," coming back to the studio, reconnecting with my songs,” Shakira says.
There are splits between her Latin roots and her mainstream stardom, her Spanish and her English (which she learned specifically to make her first U.S. album in 2001), her sex appeal and her activism (education is her issue. She has met with President Obama at the White House and spoken at Harvard and Oxford, not stops for dilettantes. In three days, she will fly to her native Colombia to inaugurate a sixth school funded through her Pies Descalzos (Barefoot) Foundation. Then, after nearly two months away, she will return to Barcelona, Spain, where she lives with Pique.
"Sometimes I yearn to stay at home with Gerard and Milan," she says. "For so long I decided to have what I have now, this family, that it's logical for me to feel divided. A part of me - well, all of me - wants to be with them all the time and be a housewife. But there's another part of me that still wants to make music and that's still pleased with success. I won't deny it. I know it sometimes sounds almost immoral to admit you like success, but I like it -- I like it."
Shakira is pursuing new fans, even as she strives to remain faithful to the Latin base that has stood by her through the years.
In November 2012, while pregnant, she began filming her first turn as a coach on NBC's "The Voice." She returns for the current season. The first two episodes, Feb. 24 and March 3, attracted an average of 15.7 million viewers and her album will launch a few weeks before Voice goes to live shows. She has recently collaborated with Rihanna (both are managed by Roc Nation) for the first single from Shakira, "Can't Remember to Forget You," which is No.8 on the World’s best Singles chart this week and has received 172 million worldwide views on YouTube.
Pharrell Williams' smash hit “Happy” stays at no.1 for the 6th week on the World’s best Singles chart with "Mae Shika Mukanee", the new single by Japanese pop phenomenon AKB 48 close on its heels at no.2. It's the 21st global Top 10 smash for AKB 48.
Katy Perry’s “Dark Horse” featuring Juicy J slips from no.2 to 3 and Pitbull’s “Timber” slips from 3 to 4.
The biggest gainer of the week is John Legend's "All Of Me", which climbs from no.7 to no.5.
At no.6 down from no.4, A Great Big World’s “Say Something” featuring Christina Aguilera, at no.7 down from no.5, Jason Derulo’s “Talk Dirty” featuring 2 Chainz, at no.8 up 2 from no.10, Shakira’s “Can’t Remember To Forget You” featuring Rihanna, and down from no.8 to 9, Avicii’s “Hey Brother”.
OneRepublic’s “Counting Stars” closes this week’s Top 10 World's best-selling Singles Chart.
All five debuts on this week's hitlist are from Asia: behind AKB 48 starting with Girls' Generation's “Mr.Mr." at no.26, 2NE1's "Come Back Home" at no.30, E-Girls' "Diamond Only" at no.36 and CN Blue's "Can't Stop” at no.39.
New Entries outside the top 40 include Tiesto's "Red Lights" at no.48, Avicii's "Addicted To You" at no.53, Bruno Mars’ "Young Girl" at no.57 and Mr.Probz’ “Waves” (Robin Schulz Remix)' at no.58 for their first appearance on the World chart.
The 27 year-old American rapper ScHoolboy Q debuts with the highest entry on this week’s best-selling Albums chart with “Oxymoron” and157.000 copies. 138.600 of those Albums were sold in the US, 10.200 in Canada and 4.300 in the UK.This is ScHoolboy Q’s #rd studio Album. He became world famous with his collaboration with Macklemore and Ryan Lewis on their last single smash 'White Walls’.
Walt Disney's soundtrack “Frozen” slips to no.2 after selling another 144.000 copies. “Frozen” has sold a total of 1,42 million copies this year so far, just 173.000 copies the best-selling Album of 2014, Beyoncé's self titled album. Another new Entry for the legendary American Alternative rock star Beck at no.3 with his 12th studio album "Morning Phase” and 143.000 copies sold. New entry for Kid Cudi at no.4 with "Satellite Flight:The journey To Mother Moon” and 94.000 copies sold. Romeo Santos debuts at no.5 with “Formula:Vol.2”. Beyonce’s self entitled Album slips from no.3 to 6 selling 68.000 copies this week, Dierks Bentley debuts at no.7 with “Riser”, Lorde’s “Pure heroin” slips from no.7 to 8, CN Blue from Korea debuts at no.9 with “Don’t Stop” and Eric Church closes the top !) best-selling albums chart with “The Outsiders” after selling 49,000 copies.
Nine of this week's 19 New Entries are from Asia. For the first time in history an album from China (Hong Kong) reaches the Top 40. It's the "Best Of 2008-2012" by G.E.M. and it debuts at no.39 with 21.000 copies sold. Congratulations to G.E.M. and to China!!
"Tsugi No Ashiato" by AKB 48 sold 5.000 last week, 1,02 million in total, "The Heist” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis sold just16.000 copies last week but a total of 2,47 million so far. “Red" by Taylor Swift has sold 5,9 million in total and "Night Visions" by Imagine Dragons 3,25 million.
“Unapologetic” by Rihanna has sold 3,47 million copies so far and “Bangerz" by Miley Cyrus 1,64 million. ''Stars Dance” by Selena Gomez has sold 800.000.
The Best Song isn't usually one of the most important categories at the Oscars, but this year was different .
The Title song from the film, "Alone Yet Not Alone," got a surprise nomination, only to be disqualified due to the songwriter's connections to the Academy. The remaining four contenders were: "Let It Go," from "Frozen"; "Happy," from "Despicable Me 2"; "The Moon Song," from "Her"; and "Ordinary Love," from "Mandela: The Long Walk to Freedom."
And the Oscar for Best Song goes to... "Let It Go," from "Frozen."
Pharrell's “ Happy’ is top of the Worlds chart for the fifth consecutive week and is the best-selling Single of 2014!
Katy Perry's "Dark Horse" remains at no.2 on this week's top 20 with her smash hit “Dark horse” while Pitbull’s “Timber" feat. Ke$ha remains at no.3.
Up from no.7 to 4 is A Great Big World’s “Say Something” feat. Christina Aguilera. Jason Derulo stays at no.5 with “talk dirty’ after 23 weeks on the chart!
New entry for Japanese Act Kanjani 8 at no.6 with “King of Otoko” while John legend jumps two spots up from 9 to 7 with “All oF Me”.
Avicii's “Hey Brother” remains at no.8, OneRepublic slips from no.6 to 9 with "Counting Stars" and Shakira and Rihanna close this weeks top 10 Singles Chart with “Can’t Remember To forget You”.
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