Shakira Wants the World (Latina Magazine)
She's already big in Latin America, but Shakira's
not willing to stop there. On her list of things to do: finish
her new album, marry the son of the president of Argentina, and
become as big as Madonna.
Shakira, the Colombian rockera with a poet's voice
and a pinup's looks, is the classic woman on the verge. Already
a big star throughout the Latin world, she's now on the brink
of something even bigger. World domination, anyone?
Shakira's last album, Donde Estan Los Ladrones went
platinum in the United States and multi-platinum through out a
good portion of Latin America. It established her as a major force
of Latin pop-rock and earned her the nickname "the Colombian
Alanis Morisette." That might have been enough for some,
but Shakira has set her sights much higher. Three years ago, she
asked star maker Emilio Estefan to take her to the top. He got
her close, but last year, Estefan and Shakira decided she should
work with a manager that could focus on her climb 24-7.
And when the legendary Freddy DeMann focuses, what
he accomplishes can be fierce (on his past résumé
: Michael Jackson and Madonna). "Shakira's going to be huge.
Bigger than your imagination," was DeMann's announcement
the day she blew away millions with her fiery performance of the
Middle Eastern-infused "Ojos Así" at the first
Latin Grammy Awards last year in Los Angeles.
The road to hugeness, though, can be tiring. On
a Sunday morning, Shakira is groggy after a long night in a New
York recording studio, where she's working on the CD that's supposed
to launch her superstardom. Expected to be released Fall of 2001,
the still-untitled CD features Shakira's first English language
songs. She has spent the past couple of years furiously working
to master the language that will bring her crossover success.
The new lyrics that she penned especially for this album prove
that she has been doing her homework. She wrote the entire thing
herself. She has also decided to produce it.
Shakira is one of those rare performers who has
it all: the right looks, the right moves, the right voice, the
right manager, even the right love life. Her relationship with
Antonio de la Rua, son of the president of Argentina has the Latin
gossip columnists in perpetual lather. the only that that remains
to be seen is where Shakira's plan to take over the world will
succeed.
Article by Lydia Martin
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