Shakira: influences, peers and legacy

Every connection with its receipt

Shakira's map runs from Barranquilla's Caribbean coast through Lebanese ancestry and a teenage obsession with hard rock, then outward into the global pop market she pried open for Spanish-language artists. These eight slots trace the rock records she learned guitar to, the Arabic music she danced to at family gatherings, the Colombian scene that raised her, and the generation of Latin women who followed.

The Kynda mix for Shakira

• Key Influence · Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin (1971). Shakira has repeatedly named Led Zeppelin as the band that made her want to write rock songs, and Robert Plant's Middle Eastern-inflected wail is audible in the melismatic phrasing she uses across 'Dónde Están los Ladrones?'. The acoustic-to-electric dynamics and mystic imagery of the 1971 album shaped her refusal to be packaged as a straight Latin balladeer during her Sony Colombia years.','and her insistence on co-writing everything.'
• Influencia Obscura · Enta Omri by Umm Kulthum (1964). Shakira's paternal family is Lebanese, and Arabic music played at Barranquilla family gatherings where she first danced for relatives as a child. The quarter-tone ornamentation and extended improvised phrasing of Umm Kulthum's tradition underpins the vocal runs on 'Ojos Así', a song built on darbuka and oud textures that virtually no Latin pop record carried in 1998. The belly dance she made a signature comes from the same root.
• Local Roots · Clásicos de la Provincia by Carlos Vives (1993). Vives's reinvention of vallenato for a rock audience reshaped what Colombian artists could export, and he and Shakira grew out of the same coastal corridor between Santa Marta and Barranquilla. They later collaborated on 'La Bicicleta', a song that names their shared Caribbean geography outright. This 1993 album is the record that proved accordion-driven provincial music could top charts without being sanitized.
• Beyond the Medium · Cien años de soledad by Gabriel García Márquez (1967). Shakira has spoken of her devotion to García Márquez, a fellow Colombian from the Caribbean coast who profiled her for a magazine piece in the late 1990s. His Macondo — where the magical and the mundane share a sentence — licenses the surreal imagery that fills her lyrics, from alligators and shipwrecks to the tangled metaphors of 'Antología'. The novel also models her ambition to make the coastal Colombian specific feel universal.
• Peer · Un Día Normal by Juanes (2002). Juanes emerged from Medellín's rock scene with Ekhymosis and crossed into global stardom in the same window Shakira did, the two of them defining what Colombian rock-pop meant internationally in the early 2000s. 'Un Día Normal' swept the Latin Grammys and shares her formula: rock guitars, Colombian rhythmic DNA, and lyrics that move between romance and social comment without switching to English.
• From the Canon · Pies Descalzos by Shakira (1995). The album where Shakira, barely eighteen, took control of her own writing after two commercially disappointing records, producing 'Estoy Aquí' and 'Antología' and selling millions across Latin America. It establishes the template for everything after: rock instrumentation under pop melody, confessional and often self-deprecating lyrics, and a voice that bends notes in ways no other Spanish-language pop singer was attempting.
• Key Collaborator · Mi Tierra by Gloria Estefan (1993). Emilio Estefan co-produced 'Dónde Están los Ladrones?' and guided Shakira's entry into the Miami industry, the same role he played in building his wife Gloria's career. 'Mi Tierra' is his defining production: a lavish return to Cuban son and bolero that proved a crossover star could go deeper into tradition rather than away from it — precisely the lesson Shakira applied when she doubled down on Arabic textures.
• Legacy · MAÑANA SERÁ BONITO by Karol G (2023). Karol G is from Medellín and has repeatedly named Shakira as the Colombian woman who proved global stardom was possible without abandoning Spanish. The two recorded 'TQG' for this album, which became the first all-Spanish record by a woman to top the Billboard 200 — a ceiling Shakira spent two decades pushing against. The torch-passing is explicit in both the collaboration and Karol G's public framing of it.

What influenced Shakira

• Aerosmith. The article names Aerosmith among the musicians Shakira listened to heavily in her early teens. (also via Dude (Looks Like a Lady)) “From her early teens, Shakira was influenced by rock music , [ 35 ] listening heavily to such bands and performers as Led Zeppelin , [ 207 ] Metallica , Nirvana , [ 208 ] The Beatles , the Police , The Cure , [ 47 ] [ 209 ] Tom Petty , […” (Wikipedia)
• Led Zeppelin. The article names Led Zeppelin among the musicians Shakira listened to heavily in her early teens. (also via Shakira, Led Zeppelin IV) “From her early teens, Shakira was influenced by rock music , [ 35 ] listening heavily to such bands and performers as Led Zeppelin , [ 207 ] Metallica , Nirvana , [ 208 ] The Beatles , the Police , The Cure , [ 47 ] [ 209 ] Tom Petty , […” (Wikipedia)
• Gloria Estefan. The article reports Shakira’s acknowledgment of Gloria Estefan’s role in opening opportunities for Latin musicians. (also via Mi Tierra) “She credited Gloria Estefan for "opening a big heavy door that was closed for many years" for Latin musicians in the U.S., facilitating the kind of progress that Shakira herself was able to make later.” (Wikipedia)
• Nirvana. The article names Nirvana among the musicians Shakira listened to heavily in her early teens. (also via Nevermind) “From her early teens, Shakira was influenced by rock music , [ 35 ] listening heavily to such bands and performers as Led Zeppelin , [ 207 ] Metallica , Nirvana , [ 208 ] The Beatles , the Police , The Cure , [ 47 ] [ 209 ] Tom Petty , […” (Wikipedia)
• The Police. The article names the Police among the musicians Shakira listened to heavily in her early teens. (also via Synchronicity) “From her early teens, Shakira was influenced by rock music , [ 35 ] listening heavily to such bands and performers as Led Zeppelin , [ 207 ] Metallica , Nirvana , [ 208 ] The Beatles , the Police , The Cure , [ 47 ] [ 209 ] Tom Petty , […” (Wikipedia)
• Cien años de soledad by Gabriel García Márquez (1967). Cien años de soledad (Gabriel García Márquez) — culture for Shakira “At 19, Shakira was named a national cultural ambassador by the president of Colombia, a distinction she shared with writer Gabriel García Márquez.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• The Beatles. The article names the Beatles among the musicians Shakira listened to heavily in her early teens. “From her early teens, Shakira was influenced by rock music , [ 35 ] listening heavily to such bands and performers as Led Zeppelin , [ 207 ] Metallica , Nirvana , [ 208 ] The Beatles , the Police , The Cure , [ 47 ] [ 209 ] Tom Petty , […” (Wikipedia)
• Tom Petty. The article names Tom Petty among the musicians Shakira listened to heavily in her early teens. “From her early teens, Shakira was influenced by rock music , [ 35 ] listening heavily to such bands and performers as Led Zeppelin , [ 207 ] Metallica , Nirvana , [ 208 ] The Beatles , the Police , The Cure , [ 47 ] [ 209 ] Tom Petty , […” (Wikipedia)
• Van Morrison. The article explicitly lists Van Morrison as an influence on Shakira. “Her other influences included Madonna , Sheryl Crow , Alanis Morissette , Janis Joplin , Billie Holiday , Marc Anthony , and Van Morrison .” (Wikipedia)
• Alanis Morissette. The article explicitly lists Alanis Morissette as an influence on Shakira. “Her other influences included Madonna , Sheryl Crow , Alanis Morissette , Janis Joplin , Billie Holiday , Marc Anthony , and Van Morrison .” (Wikipedia)
• Synchronicity by The Police (1983). Synchronicity (The Police) — titan for Shakira “== Artistry == === Influences === From her early teens, Shakira was influenced by rock music, listening heavily to such bands and performers as Led Zeppelin, Metallica, Nirvana, The Beatles, the Police, The Cure, Tom Petty, and Aerosmith.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Britney Spears. Kessler compares Shakira’s appearance and performance with Britney Spears’s; the comparison does not establish musical influence. “To Ted Kessler of The Observer (2002), Shakira "did look like a Latino Britney ", with her "all bleached blonde curls" and a "tiny 5ft frame", "but as soon as she opened her mouth, she slipped into gear and motored powerfully past Britne…” (Wikipedia)
• Madonna (1958). The article explicitly lists Madonna as an influence on Shakira. “Her other influences included Madonna , Sheryl Crow , Alanis Morissette , Janis Joplin , Billie Holiday , Marc Anthony , and Van Morrison .” (Wikipedia)
• The Cure. The article names the Cure among the musicians Shakira listened to heavily in her early teens. “From her early teens, Shakira was influenced by rock music , [ 35 ] listening heavily to such bands and performers as Led Zeppelin , [ 207 ] Metallica , Nirvana , [ 208 ] The Beatles , the Police , The Cure , [ 47 ] [ 209 ] Tom Petty , […” (Wikipedia)
• Janis Joplin. The article explicitly lists Janis Joplin as an influence on Shakira. “Her other influences included Madonna , Sheryl Crow , Alanis Morissette , Janis Joplin , Billie Holiday , Marc Anthony , and Van Morrison .” (Wikipedia)
• Enjoy the Silence by Depeche Mode. The article reports that Shakira cited Depeche Mode’s song as formative to her passion for music. “She cited Depeche Mode 's " Enjoy the Silence " as the song that made her appreciate the power of the electric guitar and "kick started her passion for music".” (Wikipedia)
• Sheryl Crow. The article explicitly lists Sheryl Crow as an influence on Shakira. “Her other influences included Madonna , Sheryl Crow , Alanis Morissette , Janis Joplin , Billie Holiday , Marc Anthony , and Van Morrison .” (Wikipedia)
• Nevermind by Nirvana (1991). Nevermind (Nirvana) — titan for Shakira “== Artistry == === Influences === From her early teens, Shakira was influenced by rock music, listening heavily to such bands and performers as Led Zeppelin, Metallica, Nirvana, The Beatles, the Police, The Cure, Tom Petty, and Aerosmith.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Marc Anthony. The article explicitly lists Marc Anthony as an influence on Shakira. “Her other influences included Madonna , Sheryl Crow , Alanis Morissette , Janis Joplin , Billie Holiday , Marc Anthony , and Van Morrison .” (Wikipedia)
• Billie Holiday (1915). The article explicitly lists Billie Holiday as an influence on Shakira. “Her other influences included Madonna , Sheryl Crow , Alanis Morissette , Janis Joplin , Billie Holiday , Marc Anthony , and Van Morrison .” (Wikipedia)
• Metallica. The article names Metallica among the musicians Shakira listened to heavily in her early teens. “From her early teens, Shakira was influenced by rock music , [ 35 ] listening heavily to such bands and performers as Led Zeppelin , [ 207 ] Metallica , Nirvana , [ 208 ] The Beatles , the Police , The Cure , [ 47 ] [ 209 ] Tom Petty , […” (Wikipedia)
• Also sprach Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche (1883). Also sprach Zarathustra (Friedrich Nietzsche) — culture for Shakira (openlibrary.org)
• Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin. Led Zeppelin IV (Led Zeppelin) — titan for Shakira “== Artistry == === Influences === From her early teens, Shakira was influenced by rock music, listening heavily to such bands and performers as Led Zeppelin, Metallica, Nirvana, The Beatles, the Police, The Cure, Tom Petty, and Aerosmith.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran (1923). The Prophet (Kahlil Gibran) — culture for Shakira (openlibrary.org)
• Enta Omri by Umm Kulthum (1964). Enta Omri (Umm Kulthum) — ghost for Shakira
• Fairuz by Fairuz (1971). Fairuz (Fairuz) — ghost for Shakira

Peers and kindred spirits

• Carlos Vives. The article explicitly states that Shakira collaborated with Carlos Vives on “La Bicicleta.” (also via Clásicos de la Provincia) “One of Shakira’s most joyous and celebrated collaborations, “La Bicicleta” with Carlos Vives brought together two of the most beloved and international figures in Colombian music” (Billboard)
• Carlos Santana. Shakira invited Santana to play on her song Illegal. (also via Shakira) “The third and final single from the album, " Illegal " featuring Carlos Santana , was released in November 2006.” (Wikipedia)
• Karol G. Karol G collaborated with Shakira on “TQG”. (also via Pies Descalzos, Mañana Será Bonito) “On 24 February 2023, the single ″ TQG ″ by Karol G and Shakira was released.” (Wikipedia)
• Alejandro Sanz. Alejandro Sanz is identified as a featured artist on Shakira’s single. (also via El Alma al Aire) “But “La Tortura” with Alejandro Sanz was one of her first superstar collabs, and a game-changer for Shakira” (Billboard)
• Wyclef Jean (1989). Wyclef Jean is identified as a featured artist on Shakira’s single. (also via The Carnival) ““Hips Don’t Lie” with Wyclef Jean took the Colombian star to new heights and earned her the Billboard Latin Music Award for “Hot Latin Song” vocal collaboration of the year.” (Billboard)
• En Barranquilla Me Quedo by Joe Arroyo. The article explicitly states that Shakira covered Joe Arroyo’s song. “Pero uno de los momentos más emocionantes de la presentación fue cuando la artista interpretó una pequeña parte de 'En Barranquilla me quedo', uno de los himnos de la ciudad.” (Zona Cero)
• Burna Boy. Burna Boy is identified as a featured artist on Shakira’s song and as her performance partner. “The official video also helped tell that story visually, bringing together major football stars alongside Shakira, Burna Boy and the Ghetto Kids.” (Billboard)
• Maluma. The article identifies Maluma as Shakira’s collaborator on “Chantaje.” “Marking the first collaboration between the two Colombian stars, 2016’s “Chantaje” thrives on a subtle and sensual reggaetón beat” (Billboard)
• Pitbull. The article explicitly identifies Pitbull as Shakira’s collaborator on “Get It Started.” “The Colombian star tapped the ultimate partner in crime Pitbull for this this sensual merengue-inspired track.” (Billboard)
• Bizarrap. The article identifies “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53” as a collaboration with Bizarrap. “Her latest collaboration is with the Argentinian hitmaker Bizarrap on “BZRP Music Sessions, Vol. 53,” where she slams her unfaithful ex with slick bars” (Billboard)
• Dude (Looks Like a Lady) by Aerosmith. The article states that Shakira performed Aerosmith’s song. “Dude (Looks Like a Lady) ( Aerosmith cover) Play Video” (setlist.fm)
• La Maza by Silvio Rodríguez. The article explicitly calls their performance a cover of Silvio Rodríguez’s song. “Mercedes Sosa y Shakira Tema "La Maza" El homenaje de nuestra amada Madre Cantora. La Negra Mercedes Sosa a el Maestro Silvio Rodríguez. Tema: La maza (Silvio Rodríguez)” (Mercedes Sosa “La Negra” – La Voz de América Latina)
• Cardi B. The article identifies Cardi B as Shakira’s collaborator on “Puntería.” “I wanted to do something with Cardi. We were always discussing internally if it was a good idea to put someone on this song. I always pictured Cardi on this song. I reached out, and here we are,” (Billboard, republished by Yahoo Entertainment)
• Francis Lawrence. Lawrence directed Shakira’s “Suerte” music video. (also via Shakira) “In 2002, he won a Latin Grammy Award for Best Short Music Video for directing Shakira's " Suerte " music video.” (Wikipedia)
• Luis Fernando Ochoa. The article identifies Ochoa as Shakira’s writing and recording collaborator. (also via Fijación Oral, Vol. 1 sessions) “Shakira began writing and recording for the album with Luis Fernando Ochoa , who would become her principal music collaborator for the next three albums.” (Wikipedia)
• Ricky Martin by Ricky Martin (1999). Ricky Martin (Ricky Martin) — peer for Shakira “The Public Broadcasting Service wrote after the release of the album Shakira: "Gloria Estefan, Ricky Martin and Shakira are the most successful artists of the so-called Golden Age of Latin Music which reshaped America's cultural landscap…” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Freshlyground. The article states that Shakira and Freshlyground created “Waka Waka” together. “In 2010, Shakira collaborated with the South African Afro fusion band Freshlyground to create the official song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup , " Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) ".” (Wikipedia)
• Pharrell Williams. Williams worked with Shakira on songs for She Wolf. “Williams worked with Shakira on her songs " Did It Again ", "Why Wait", " Good Stuff ", and "Long Time" for her sixth studio album, She Wolf (2009).” (Wikipedia)
• Annie Lennox (1976). Shakira participated in a recording of Annie Lennox’s song. “In 2007, Shakira participated, together with 23 other female singers, in the recording of Annie Lennox 's song " Sing " from the album Songs of Mass Destruction .” (Wikipedia)
• Clásicos de la Provincia by Carlos Vives (1993). Clásicos de la Provincia (Carlos Vives) — geography for Shakira “In May 2016, she collaborated with Colombian singer Carlos Vives on the track "La Bicicleta", which subsequently won the Latin Grammy Award for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Miguel Bosé. The article explicitly identifies a duet between Shakira and Miguel Bosé. “Shakira also collaborated with Miguel Bosé on the duet " Si Tú No Vuelves ", [ 45 ] which was released in Bosé's album Papito .” (Wikipedia)
• Jorge Drexler. Drexler worked with Shakira on Spanish-language versions of three singles. “During 2009, Drexler worked with Colombian performer Shakira on the Spanish-language versions of her singles " She Wolf ", " Did it Again " and " Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) .” (Wikipedia)
• Rihanna (1988). The article identifies Shakira’s single as a duet with Rihanna. “In December 2013 it was announced that Shakira's new single, " Can't Remember to Forget You ", a duet with Rihanna , would be issued in January 2014.” (Wikipedia)
• El Alma al Aire by Alejandro Sanz (2000). El Alma al Aire (Alejandro Sanz) — peer for Shakira “1, was released in April 2005 and features Spanish balladeer Alejandro Sanz.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Prince Royce. Billboard’s Latin editors describe Shakira’s collaboration with Prince Royce. “Shakira’s first introduction to bachata was also her first collaboration with Prince Royce.” (Billboard)
• Mi Tierra by Gloria Estefan (1993). Mi Tierra (Gloria Estefan) — collaborator for Shakira “Shakira's English language skills were improved with the help of Gloria Estefan.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Beyoncé. Shakira — Collaborator (Collaborator) for Beyoncé · hand-labeled by Tony Brancato, 2022 “The American R&B singer Beyoncé and Shakira collaborated on the track " Beautiful Liar ", [ 45 ] which was released in 2007 as the second single from the deluxe edition of Beyoncé's album B'Day .” (Wikipedia)
• The Carnival by Wyclef Jean (1997). The Carnival (Wyclef Jean) — collaborator for Shakira “"Hips Don't Lie", which featured Wyclef Jean, was released as the album's second single in February 2006.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Un Día Normal by Juanes (2002). Un Día Normal (Juanes) — peer for Shakira (musicbrainz.org)
• La Candela Viva by Totó la Momposina (1993). La Candela Viva (Totó la Momposina) — geography for Shakira (musicbrainz.org)
• Rebelión by Joe Arroyo (1986). Rebelión (Joe Arroyo) — geography for Shakira “At the event, she performed a cover of Joe Arroyo's "En Barranquilla Me Quedo", as a tribute to the singer who had died earlier that year.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Fijación Oral, Vol. 1 sessions by Luis Fernando Ochoa (2005). Fijación Oral, Vol. 1 sessions (Luis Fernando Ochoa) — collaborator for Shakira “Shakira began writing and recording for the album with Luis Fernando Ochoa, who would become her principal music collaborator for the next three albums.” (en.wikipedia.org)

Who Shakira influenced

• Tyla. The article lists Shakira among Tyla’s inspirations. “Other artists who have inspired her include Beyoncé , Whitney Houston , [ 113 ] Aaliyah , [ 114 ] Janet Jackson , [ 115 ] Shakira , [ 116 ] Cassie , [ 117 ] Drake” (Wikipedia)
• Mala Santa by Becky G (2019). Mala Santa (Becky G) — legacy for Shakira “The song was co-written by and originally featured Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Kali Uchis (1994). Uchis named Shakira among her influences. “She also takes influences from Celia Cruz , Mariah Carey , La Lupe , Lana Del Rey , Selena , Shakira and Ivy Queen” (Wikipedia)
• EL MAL QUERER by Rosalía (2018). EL MAL QUERER (Rosalía) — legacy for Shakira “In September 2023, Rosalía temporarily signed with Jaime Levine, Shakira's former manager, after departing ways with Rebeca León.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Mañana Será Bonito by Karol G (2023). MAÑANA SERÁ BONITO (Karol G) — legacy for Shakira “On 24 February 2023, the single ″TQG″ by Karol G and Shakira was released.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Katseye. Shakira's style is identified as a reference for Daniela's image. “the style of celebrities prominent in the early 2000s, such as Devon Aoki for Megan, and Shakira for Daniela, served as key references for the image and appearance of the group's members.” (Wikipedia)