Bark + Bite

Shakira brings her hypnotic hip-shaking madness to the EMAs

Photo: Wireimage

When you ask Shakira to open up an award show, know that you're going to get your money's worth. The Colombian-born pop star ignited the 2010 European Music Awards in Madrid with a medley of her current smash "Loca" and her international World Cup anthem "Waka Waka." She closed the whole thing out in a snow storm of confetti with an army of dancers waka wakaing the night away. It doesn't get better than this, folks. Seriously.

Watch Shakira rock the house at the EMAs below

Shakira shakes her "Loca" moneymaker on DWTS

Shakira brought her muy caliente single "Loca" to celebrity dancing show Dancing With the Stars last night, and with nothing but her tight abs, golden hips and glitter pants, proceeded to shut that thing down. Admittedly, "Loca" isn't the most vocally challenging song, but Shakira's tight routine with her trope of dancers proved the efficacy of keeping things simple. Now, dance...or die!

Watch Shakira twerk it out on DWTS below

Shakira scrapped original concept for "Loca" video and just went with the flow

If the randomness of the "Loca" video seemed improvised, it's because it really was an unplanned event. During an appearance on Lopez Tonight, the Colombian bombshell explained how the video, which was shot in Barcelona guerilla-style and without permits, came to be.

Originally, the director had a black and white video in mind for the sexy number, but two days before shooting was set to begin for the video, Shakira had a change of heart and told the director, "I'm not feeling this. This doesn't represent the spirit of the song." And so she decided to hit the streets of Barcelona and let what will happen happen. You know, que será, será. "I think music is about spontaneity and I refuse to lose that aspect of my life," Shakira added.

Watch Shakira talk about the making of her video, breaking the law and more

Shakira brings her golden street fantasy to life in "Loca" video

Pop music is really keen on making sure you have a good time these days. First, Rihanna ditched her darker, gothic Rated R sounds for the playful, radio-friendly synths of Loud. Now, Shakira is shedding all the werewolf-inspired, Twilight-appropriate, creature of the night material that failed to spark with American audiences on her last album She Wolf, in favor of golden tights, care-free hippie dreads and a sick latin groove you can pop your pelvis to. Sounds like a healthy, fun baila en la calle to us.

Watch the video for Shakira's new single below

Shakira shakes her 'Loca' money maker on Letterman

Call it an Indian Summer, cause Shakira is keeping the temperature warm with her spicy single "Loca." Backed by two West Indian dancers in a "Single Ladies"-like fashion, Shakira popped, locked, gyrated, flipped her hair and spanked the monkey in gold tights and a disco ball masquerading as a top on David Letterman's late night show last night. If this is what crazy looks like, why would anyone want to be sane?

Watch Shakira turn the heat up on Letterman below

Shakira has a history of remaking and remixing

Remember when Jay-Z hit back at Nas on "The Takeover," after Nas complained about Jay sampling a song of his? The "Takeover" line went: You made it a hot line, I made it a hot song. Shakira must have been taking notes from the Jiggaman because she's ridden to the top of the charts more than once by remaking, remixing and interpolating other people's tunes into chart smashes. Talk about going green, Shaki is a one-woman musical recycling machine.

Her newest single, "Loca," continues the trend. The song is a remake of the song "Loca Con Su Tiguere," which is a song boasting about a girl who is in love with her Dominican thug. Shakira has appropriated the beat, rhythm and melody, infusing the lyrics with her raw sexuality, leaving behind the gangster mentality.

To be clear, this is not intended as a slight against the many talents of Shakira. She is a wonderful musician, singer and songwriter in her own right. She's done plenty of original material to justify her successes and talent. Nonetheless, the trend is there and it's worth talking about. Take a look at the Cadillacs Shakira has managed to make out of scrap metal.

Shakira has the world dancing to her beat, preps new Spanish album

Beyonce isn't the only one who can spark an international dance craze. Shakira's official World Cup theme song "Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)" has become a smash worldwide (not so much in the non-futebol crazed U.S.), so the singer decided to combine her famous hip swiveling with charity and YouTube. And this little video project for 1GOAL, a charity aiming to increase access to education, is the product of that effort. The video features Shaki fans imitating the Colombian bombshell's African dance moves from her video. Even her ol' pal Wyclef Jean threw in a submission. Wyclef's hips don't quite lie, but they're close to telling a fib.

See fans get their groove on to Shakira's "Waka Waka" below.

Battle of the World Cup anthems: Shakira vs. Akon

Believe it or not, the biggest sports event in the world is going on right now. Yes, the World Cup soccer tournament in South Africa has the world in a tizzy, practically euphoric from adrenaline and enthusiasm. Everywhere except the U.S. that is, where the fever is only mild at best. But that doesn't mean that Americans shouldn't have a gander at what all the fuss is about. Especially since the World Cup and all of its glory has been packaged in palatable music video form by the likes of Akon and Shakira. Pop music: Bridging communities and explaining sports. Is there anything it can't do?