Shakira has announced details of her 12th studio album ‘Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran’ – which is due for release next month.
Last week (February 15), the Colombian singer unveiled the name for her upcoming LP, which is a nod to the lyric “Las mujeres ya no llora, las mujeres facturan”. The line comes from her viral freestyle inspired by her troubled relationship with ex-partner Gerard Piqué, ‘Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53’. The line can be loosely translated to “Women don’t cry anymore, they make money.”
“Making this body of work has been an alchemical process,” said Shakira. “While writing each song, I was rebuilding myself. While singing them, my tears transformed into diamonds, and my vulnerability into strength.”
When she announced the album on her Instagram, she said in a video: “‘Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran’ are tears turned into diamonds – taking a bit of those life experiences, elaborating on them, and transforming them into creativity.”
The album will consist of 16 tracks including the seven singles she previously released; ‘Acróstico’, ‘TQG’ featuring Karol G, ‘Copa Vacía’, ‘Te Felicito’ with Rauw Alejandro, ‘Music Sessions Vol. 53’ with Bizarrap, ‘Copa Vacía’ with Manuel Turizo, and more.
Sharing the cover art for ‘Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran’, she wrote: “My new album, coming out March 22, is one I created together with all of you, my pack of shewolves who were there for me every step of the way.”
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Last May, there was a rumour that Cardi B and Shakira had collaborated on a song called ‘Estoy Lamida’, which was found on the BMI record label’s website registered under their names. Neither Shakira nor Cardi B have formally announced the collaboration but Genius has speculated that it will be on ‘Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran’.
When Shakira spoke to Billboard last September, she explained why it took her so long to release her highly-anticipated album.
“The last time I released an album was six years ago,” the ‘Whenever, Wherever’ singer said, referring to her 2017 LP, ‘El Dorado’. “Sometimes I think being a single mom and the rhythm of a pop star aren’t compatible. I have to put my kids to bed, [and] go to the recording studio; everything is uphill.”
She continued: “When you don’t have a husband who can stay home with the kids, it’s constant juggling because I like to be a present mom and I need to be there every moment with my children: take them to school, have breakfast with them, take them to play dates. And aside from that, I have to make money.”
Shakira was also the recipient of the 2023 Video Vanguard Award at the MTV Video Music Awards where she performed a 10-minute medley including her seminal hits ‘She Wolf’, ‘Whenever, Wherever’ and ‘Hips Don’t Lie’.
Shakira resolved her tax evasion dispute with Spanish authorities in November 2023. They alleged the singer avoided paying a total of €14.5million (£12.6 million) by using an offshore company based in a tax haven. She was set to stand trial this month and, if convicted, she reportedly faced up to eight years in prison as well as a large fine.
In other news, a giant statue of Shakira has been unveiled in her hometown of Barranquilla, Colombia. The figure is seen in the same outfit as the singer wore in the ‘Hips Don’t Lie’ music video and, at the foot of the sculpture, a plaque praised her for having “hips that do not lie, a unique talent, a voice that moves masses”.