Shakira Reflects on Difficult Year After Separation From Gerard Piqué

Shakira debuted her break-up megahit, "BZRP Music Session #53" live for the first time Friday evening. The 46-year-old singer, who worked on the Guinness World Record-holding tune with Bizarrap, was accompanied by the Argentinian DJ on stage as she sang for a studio audience for her appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon".

Released in January, "BZRP Music Session #53" is filled with allusions to her separation from longtime partner Gerard Piqué. In her discussion with Fallon, Shakira opened up about the difficult separation that influenced the song.

"This year has been really tough for me since I separated, and writing this song has been invaluable," she commented.

"It's been an encouraging way to express my feelings. After releasing the song, I pretty much felt like I had a band of sisters around me who have gone through similar life situations as me, who have the same values, who have had to go through the same kind of hardships," she remarked.

Shakira, the hitmaker, and Gerard Piqué, the former pro soccer player, parted ways in June after 11 years of relationship. This was preceded by allegations of Piqué having cheated on Shakira with his current girlfriend Clara Chia Marti, 23. The couple share two sons, Milan, 10, and Sasha, 8.

Shakira has recently opened up about her single status and the song she penned in its wake. She said, "I wrote the song for me, but I feel it was meant to represent so many women out there who needed a voice and a forum to express themselves.

Guinness World Records announced on Friday that with the release of BZRP Music Session #53, Shakira has broken 14 Guinness World Records. These include the most streamed Latin track on Spotify in 24 hours, the most viewed Latin track on YouTube in 24 hours, the fastest Latin track to reach 100 million views on YouTube, and the most streamed Latin track on Spotify in one week.

To commemorate this accomplishment, Shakira and Bizarrap were presented with Guinness World Record certificates backstage at The Tonight Show before their performance.

Karol G, a native of Colombia, expressed her disbelief and shock at the success of her hit single when she spoke to Jimmy Fallon. "I'm just waiting for someone to pinch me and wake me up from this dream," she said.


The singer attributed the song's success to it resonating with her listeners. "I think people really connect to music when it’s really genuine, when it comes from a real place," she explained. "The thing with the song is that it has become sort of an anthem for so many women out there."

During her appearance, Shakira discussed the story behind the song and revealed that her son Milan had encouraged her to collaborate with Bizarrap. Shakira quipped that her sons, who were present in the audience, are like her "career consultants" nowadays and she admitted that she listens to their opinions due to them having a good sense of taste. Furthermore, she indicated that Milan, who is a musician, has a keen ear and can discern good music.

Shakira told Jimmy Fallon that her son had been a big fan of Bizzarap and predicted that an eventual collaboration between them would be a hit. This prompted her son to send a voice note to her manager Jaime pleading that he get her and Bizarrap together for a song.

Bizzarap told Fallon that he had contacted Shakira on social media after the success of the track he made with Quevedo, Quevedo: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 52. The two then met in a studio in Barcelona, where he showed her two beats.

She noted the similarities between the song and Depeche Mode, expressing her admiration: "It’s my favorite." An immediate physical reaction to music was described: "I usually have this visceral sort of physical reaction to music...small contractions from my tailbone to my iliac bone, and then it just results into, you know, hip movements."

Jimmy Fallon asked Shakira if her famous 2005 hit, "Hips Don't Lie', was true. She replied with a laugh, saying "Yeah, I didn't want to go there". The host was ecstatic, saying "This is the best thing that's ever happened to me! This is the greatest. I can retire. This is all I really wanted to know, is if, really, your hips do lie or don't lie to you. You're actually telling us!"

Shakira then assured him that her hips never lie and she knows when a song is right when they start to move.