Shakira’s hit song “Hips Don’t Lie” made its debut on February 14, 2006, via a Los Angeles radio station. It quickly gained popularity after being promoted on various TV shows, as well as being featured in video games and movies. Within the same year, it rose to become the top song in more than 20 countries around the world.
The song “Hips Don’t Lie” has its roots in the 2004 version of “Dance Like This” by rapper Wyclef Jean, which was featured in Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights. While the rhythmic foundation and lyrics come from the original, it was Shakira who infused her signature Latin style into it.
Let’s take a moment to appreciate the introductory tribute in Shakira’s hit song “Hips Don’t Lie”. It’s not just a catchy tune, but also pays homage to other iconic Latin artists. Specifically, Shakira gives a nod to Panamanian artist Omar Alfanno’s “Amores Como El Nuestro”, which was first recorded with Puerto Rican singer Jerry Rivera. It’s always great to see artists pay homage and acknowledge the work of their peers.
During the song “Hips Don’t Lie”, Shakira pays tribute to her hometown, Barranquilla, with the lyrics “In Barranquilla you dance like this”. The video also features skirts resembling those worn in the traditional Colombian dance called cumbia. It’s a beautiful homage to her roots.
The lyrics of the song “Hips Don’t Lie” contain a notable line that says “Dance in the street at night. Dance in the street during the day.” Interestingly, this line pays homage to the merengue track “Carnaval (Dance in the street)” composed by Luis DÃaz from the Dominican Republic. The song emphasizes the joy that comes with dancing freely in the streets, particularly during festivities like Carnival in Barranquilla.
The music video features unique costumes and masks inspired by the traditional folkloric characters of Barranquilla carnival called “marimondas.” These characters, resembling elephants, are known to embody the lively spirit of the carnival.
In an attempt to capture the essence of the vibrant Barranquilla carnival, British director Sophie Muller created a spectacular display of costumes, dance, flags, bulls, and cumbiamberos. The atmosphere was lively and exhilarating, but it is rumored that the filming captured more than just the living participants. There are whispers of ghosts appearing in the footage, and the material has not been censored. Muller is an accomplished director with over 300 music videos under her belt, including iconic pieces like Gwen Stefani’s “Don’t Speak,” Björk’s “Venus as a Boy,” and The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside.” She has also directed music videos for major artists like Beyoncé, Maroon 5, Selena Gomez, and The Strokes.
The song “Hips Don’t Lie” gained immense popularity and was widely discussed on radio. It quickly became one of the most desired tracks in the US.
The Australians are big fans of her music! When she teamed up with rapper Wyclef Jean, it was a big hit down under. The song stayed at the top of the Australian charts for an impressive 9 weeks and even made it onto the record charts.
Taking Over Britain
The hit single “Hips Don’t Lie” claimed the number one spot on the music charts in the United Kingdom as well. Widely recognized as one of the most significant global tunes from the early 2000s, it managed to sell half a million copies within a year. Check out this list of A-listers who tied the knot with “regular” individuals if you don’t want to miss out on some juicy gossip.