Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53
"Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53", alternatively known as "Out of Your League" or "Pa' Tipos Como Tú" (”for guys like you") in Spanish,[a] is a song by Argentine producer Bizarrap and Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira. It was released on 11 January 2023, through Dale Play Records – part of his popular Bzrp Music Sessions video series. Shakira's twelfth studio album, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran (2024), is named after a lyric from the song and includes both the original version and a remix by Tiësto.
"Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53"
Spanish
11 January 2023
August 2022
3:33
Dale Play
- Shakira
- Keityn
- Bizarrap
- Santiago Alvarado
Bizarrap
A diss track taking aim at Shakira's ex-partner, footballer Gerard Piqué, as well as a women's empowerment anthem,[11] the song reportedly "broke the internet",[12] breaking various records for viewership and listenership for a Spanish-language and a Latin song, as well as having measurable market impact on certain brands mentioned in the lyrics. The song reached number one in 16 countries, as well as on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart. It was Bizarrap's first and Shakira's fifth top-ten single (and first all-Spanish track) on the US Billboard Hot 100, her first since "Beautiful Liar" with Beyoncé (2007). It has been praised musically for its catchy sound and cutthroat breakup lyrics as well as for Bizarrap's contribution in giving Shakira a new sound. The song won Song of the Year and Best Pop Song at the Latin Grammy Awards.[13]
Background[edit]
It was first rumoured that Shakira may be the next guest on Bzrp Music Sessions in August 2022, when she wished Bizarrap a happy birthday on social media.[14] The collaboration was confirmed by Bizarrap on social media on 10 January 2023.[15][16] Despite the rumours, Rolling Stone wrote that Bizarrap's fans were disbelieving that Shakira was working with him.[17]
Shakira and Gerard Piqué met in 2010, and officially began their relationship in 2011, having two sons together. They separated in 2022.[18] In 2021, Spanish authorities sought charges against Shakira, claiming that she should have paid income tax in Spain between 2012 and 2014 as she was in a relationship with Piqué and he lived in Barcelona, even though she maintains she did not.[18][19][20]
In 2022, prior to her Bzrp Music session, Shakira began releasing a series of singles with relationship or infidelity themes to their lyrics. Her April 2022 single, "Te Felicito" ("I congratulate you"), recorded with Puerto Rican singer Rauw Alejandro, although written in 2021 and released before the separation was announced, has been said to be about the breakup.[21][22] In October 2022, she released "Monotonía" ("monotony"), discussing her and Piqué's split, a slower song focused on heartbreak and blaming monotony for the relationship ending.[23] The song "TQG" ("te quedo grande”, or "too much for you"), recorded with fellow Colombian superstar Karol G, was released in February 2023 to massive success. Both women had experienced relationship turmoil (Karol G with Puerto Rican artist Anuel AA) in the months leading-up to the single's release, with the lyrics reflecting moving-on, making their own money and realizing that they were too good for their men. Later that year, she released another song, "Copa Vacía", with young Colombian singer Manuel Turizo, the title meaning "empty glass" or "empty cup".
Release and promotion[edit]
On 9 January 2023, a small plane flew over Mar del Plata and Miami, carrying a banner with the words "una loba como yo no está pa' tipos como tú" and hinting at a release on 11 January.[24][25] After the song was confirmed the next day, people responded by speculating what Shakira may sing; Billboard noted that Bizarrap's music sessions typically featured rappers "who don't hold back taking aim at something or someone".[11] Some lyrics that were leaked on 10 January indicated that the song would be about Shakira's break-up with Piqué.[26]
Independent label Dale Play Records sent "Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53" to US rhythmic contemporary radio and US contemporary hit radio on January 24, 2023.[27][28]
Composition and lyrics[edit]
Shakira worked with popular Latin music songwriter Keityn (Kevyn Cruz) on the track, having worked with him on her last two songs. Keityn said that after "Monotonía", Shakira wanted to write a more spiteful song, and the pair worked to create a song that neither went too far or was too soft for her.[22]
When Shakira met with him to work on the lyrics in her home studio in Barcelona, "she came with a list of everything she wanted to say."[22] Keityn stated in an interview: "Shakira was the songwriter. [...] I merely helped her to make rhymes."[29][30]
The lyrics contain many references to Piqué and their relationship, with Shakira criticizing him for his media scandals that saw her targeted; for moving his mother in next to their home; and for their relationship causing the Spanish treasury to go after her taxes.[18] NPR Music wrote that the line referring to her ex as a "novato" could be referring to the ten-year age gap between Shakira and Piqué.[31] The line "una loba como yo no está pa' tipos como tú" references Shakira's 2009 song "Loba",[17] while intentional pauses in the words "claramente" and "salpique" emphasise "clara" and "pique", refer to Piqué and his new girlfriend, Clara Chía.[22] In an interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on March 10, 2023, Shakira revealed that the beat and instrumentals for the track were inspired by English electronic band Depeche Mode and their "dark undertone."[32]
Commercial performance[edit]
Streaming figures[edit]
The song reached the number one spot on iTunes in multiple countries within 24 hours of being available, including: Spain, Mexico, Italy and the US.[66] The song debuted at number one on Spotify's Daily Global 200 chart, breaking the record for the highest debut for a Spanish-language song. It was also the fifth-highest Spotify debut of all time, with 14.39 million streams in its first day.[67] It was also achieved new records as the most-streamed song on its second day of release, and most-streamed song on its third day of release, with 13.69 million and 12.86 million streams on the platform for those days respectively.[68] The song has also broken the record of the most streamed song of a single day in Spain (3.94 million), Mexico (3.83 million), Argentina (1.46 million), Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay, Venezuela and Uruguay.
Chart performance[edit]
In under two days of tracking the song debuted on the Billboard Latin Digital Song Sales chart, debuting at number one. It was Bizarrap's first and Shakira's thirteenth number one, breaking her tie with Bad Bunny as the sole artist with the most number ones on the chart's history. Already having the most top ten Latin Pop Airplay hits among female artists, the song impacting this chart extending Shakira's record in this respect to 39.[69][70] The song was a huge success in Latin America, debuting at number one in Colombia, Panama and Peru. It also reached the top ten in eleven other countries, including Argentina, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador and Mexico.[b]
The song has earned her four Guinness World Records streaming wise -
Music video[edit]
Bizarrap's 53rd music session, serving as the official music video, was released on 11 January 2023. In it, Shakira performs the song in a teal-tinted studio with Bizarrap producing the song in the background.[89] Straying from realism in part, the music video features animation that depicts Shakira and her microphone as rough pencil drawings, paying homage to the music video of "Take On Me". The animation was created by Julia Conde, who said "Take On Me" is her favourite music video.[90][91]
The video was viewed over 50.3 million times within its first 24 hours of release,[89][35] breaking the record for biggest debut for a Latin song in YouTube history[92] "by some distance".[12] During one 24-hour period in its first week, the video was watched over 82 million times, which broke the viewing record for a new Latin song.[20] On 13 January 2023, in its third day of being available, it became the fastest Latin music video to reach 100 million views on the platform.[68]
As of 2024, the song has surpassed over 700 million views on YouTube.
Live performances[edit]
Bizarrap and Shakira performed the song live for the first time on March 10, 2023, on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.[93] The performance likewise was a viral hit on the internet. Viewers praising Shakira's boldness and the audience interaction with the song.[94] Four days after the performance, TheWrap revealed it had scored more than 156 million views across social media platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter making it one of the most-viewed performances on The Tonight Show.[95]
On September 12, 2023, Shakira was honored with MTV Video Vanguard Award at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards where she performed a 10-minute medley of her greatest hits, closing of the set with Session 53.[96]
On November 16, 2023, Bizarrap and Shakira performed the song at the 24th Annual Latin Grammy Awards.[97]
Cultural impact[edit]
Carnivals[edit]
Upon the song's release, the song became the year's biggest carnival and parade costume and music theme in Spain and Latin America. Along with Shakira, caricatures Gerard and Clara were also common costume choices[98] According to ¡Hola! Shakira was the most popular and iconic costume at carnivals in 2023, reporting that several videos were posted displaying the public's love for Shakira. These videos showcased individuals wearing various imaginative costumes such as dancers imitating Shakira's attire from the music video with caricatures of Gerard Pique and his Barcelona jersey and multiple floats of Casio watches and Twingos.[99] Army of women wearing Shakira's attire from the video flocked the streets during a carnival in Argentina.[100]
During a carnival in Macas, Ecuador a Twingo painted with Shakira phrases like "cuidado te salpique" was sunk in a pool.[101] Aside from Shakira, Gerard, Clara, and Twingo and Casio watch floats, witch dolls were also present at a carnival in Girona, Spain representing Gerard Pique's mother, in reference to Shakira's witch doll which was set up on her balcony in Barcelona. Other related reference at the carnival were people disguised as the treasury workers referencing the line "la deuda en Hacienda".[102]
At the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Shakira was depicted in the form of the Virgin Mary and was paraded around Tenerife with candles and roses while the Bizarrap session was played.[103]
Marketplace[edit]
It quickly had an impact outside of music. According to Google Trends, searches for Twingo and Casio reached five-year highs worldwide, with Launchmetrics data showing that during the first week of the song's release, Casio and Rolex gained $70 million and $40.5 million respectively in media exposure across print, online content, and social media.[104] Spanish media dubbed the fiscal impact "El efecto Shakira"; also affecting Ferrari, this company saw its share value rise 2.08% due to the positive mention in the song, while Casio had a 1.87% decrease in value and Renault a 1.45% decrease, with both being mentioned negatively.[105][106] It soon became noted that the Shakira effect, as a phenomenon of social influence, may have seen the stock values of the brands mentioned negatively decrease, but also saw the social value of the brands increase; social media insights firm Audiense showed that besides social media mentions dramatically increasing for Casio, many of these were positive, including some social media users discussing a nostalgic affection for the brand, provoked by the song.[107] On 23 January, the marketing director of Casio said "thanks to "the Shakira effect," the sales have been spectacular... [and] intense. But the best thing is every day [sales] are much better than last year."[108]
References in politics[edit]
Croatian The Bridge MP Nino Raspudić used the lyrics as referents to convey a political message on 17 January at the session of the Croatian Parliament that saw Šime Erlić elected to succeed Nataša Tramišak as Minister of Regional Development and EU Funds, with Raspudić saying: "we could say that the two most dangerous women in the world right now are Tramišak and Shakira, and by electing Erlić you gave us a Twingo instead of a Ferrari."[109] Senator and former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi made a reference to the song's lyrics to convey a political message during an electoral event on 5 February leading up to the upcoming regional elections: "As they say in contemporary philosophy, they had a Ferrari and they traded it for a Twingo".[110]
Academic studies[edit]
El Tiempo reported that, after a week of release, it was part of a study at the National Autonomous University of Mexico as a subject of analysis by gender studies experts. Educators are studying symbolism in its lyrics from the point of view of gender violence.[111]
"Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53" broke 14 Guinness World Records, on March 10, Bizarrap and Shakira were presented with four records in New York City. Shakira was further awarded ten additional awards for records she broke with the success of the session.[114] The records broken by the song are:
Further records Shakira achieved with the song:[115]