Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll (born February 2, 1977),
better known simply as
Shakira, is a
Colombian Latin pop singer-songwriter.
Shakira was born in Barranquilla, Colombia to a mother of Catalán
and Italian descent and an American-born father of Lebanese
background. Shakira began writing and composing music at the age
of eight. One of the first songs she wrote was called "Tus Gafas
Oscuras," whose lyrical message revolved around her father and his
grief over a son who had died due to a car accident. At the age of
ten, Shakira applied for her school choir, but she was rejected
because her voice had been noted as "too strong." Friends teased
her by saying she sounded like a goat. Shakira started looking for
other singing opportunities and competed in a weekly television
singing competition for children, Vivan Los Niños.
Between the ages of ten to thirteen, Shakira was invited to
various events in Barranquilla, and became a local celebrity. At
that time, she met local theatre producer Monica Ariza, who was
impressed with Shakira and helped to make her known outside
Barranquilla. During a flight from Barranquilla to Bogotá, Ariza
happened to be sitting next to Sony Colombia executive Ciro
Vargas. Vargas agreed to hold an audition for Shakira, which took
place a few weeks later in a hotel lobby. Vargas was impressed and
returned to the Sony office and gave Shakira's cassette to the
song and artist director, but he was not excited at all, and
thought Shakira was "a lost cause." Vargas was convinced that
Shakira had talent, and set up a surprise audition in Bogotá. He
tricked the Sony Colombia executives to this bar, and around
midnight he announced he had a surprise: Shakira. She sang three
songs, and her performance was a hit. Shakira was subsequently
signed to write and record three albums.
.Some cool links
Shakira wallpapers
Shakira pictures
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