Shakira Biography
Shakira has brought new meaning to belly dancing. Read on to know more about this sensational performer...
Shakira, an Arabic name derived from the word "Shukram" means "Grace" the literal translation is "woman full of Grace", its second meaning, "Grateful".
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll was born on a Wednesday, February 2,1977, in Clinica Asuncion de Barranquilla (Colombia). Daughter of a respected jeweler of Lebanese descent, Don William Mebarak Chadid, and his Colombian wife, Nidia Ripoll Torrado, the child was the couple's blessing and their only daughter. Shakira's mother was a native Colombian and her father was of Lebanese descent. When they Married, Don William was divorce and already had seven children from his previous marriage, so Shakira came into this world as his youngest child.
The Beginning
When Shakira was a child, Nidia discovered that she was a gifted writer. Shakira knew the alphabets by the age of eighteen months, and at three she knew how to read. By the time she was four she was ready for school and it appeared to everybody that she was a child prodigy. Around this time her father took her to a local restaurant where Shakira first heard the doumberk which is a traditional drum used in Arabic music and is typically accompanied with belly dancing. Almost immediately, Shakira was dancing barefoot on the table and the restaurant patrons responded by clapping enthusiastically. It was at this moment that she said she knew she wanted to be a performer.
Shakira loved singing for schoolmates and teachers (and even the nuns) at her Catholic school. Ironically she was rejected for the school choir when she was in the second grade because her vibrato was too strong and the music teacher went on to tell her that she sounded "like a goat". At school, she was known as 'the belly dancer girl' and she would demonstrate a number she learned every Friday at school.
Between the ages of ten and thirteen Shakira was invited to various events in Barranquilla and gained considerable recognition in the area. She met local theater producer Monica Ariza who was so impressed with her, she decided to help Shakira with her career. On a flight from Barranquilla to Bogota, Ariza convinced Sony Colombia executive Ciro Vargas to hold an audition for Shakira at a hotel lobby.
Vargas was also impressed with Shakira's performance and he gave the cassette to a song and artist director at the Sony office. However, the director was not impressed and believed that Shakira's performance was not up to the mark. Varga did not give up easily and he set up an audition in Bogotá where he arranged for Sony Colombia executives to be present at the audition. Shakira lived up to all expectations when she performed three songs for the executives and impressed them sufficiently. She was signed on immediately for three albums.
Moving Forward
By 13, Shakira had signed a record deal with Sony in Colombia, which resulted in her first album, 'Magia (Magic)' which were a compilation of songs she had written between the ages of 8 and 13. It was because of her hard work that put her on the Colombia's musical map and she was chosen to represent her country at the Festival OTI that was to be held in Spain. However, as she was under the minimum age of 16, she was not allowed to participate.
Shakira did not get disappointed but went on to record her second album 'Peligro (Danger)'. After this, she took a break from music and went back to school to complete her studies. She graduated from high school at a young age of 15 and came back with a vengeance. The result was 'Pies Descalzos', which was a phenomenal smash and sold close to four million copies worldwide.
Shakira became an international icon and toured for four years playing in front of sold-out audiences across the world.
A hit as humongous as this seemed impossible to surpass. But Shakira proved everyone wrong with 'Donde Estan los Ladrones', which was a collection of hits that explored the realms of rock 'n' roll without losing out on Shakira's authenticity. Emilio Estefan, who also became her manager, produced the album.
"Every day, I feel a little bit older, a little less alive, more alive with the possibility of being less alive, closer to death." These words of Shakira tells us that there is a philosopher in her who amidst all the success and noise is quite inside...experiencing and exploring!
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll was born on a Wednesday, February 2,1977, in Clinica Asuncion de Barranquilla (Colombia). Daughter of a respected jeweler of Lebanese descent, Don William Mebarak Chadid, and his Colombian wife, Nidia Ripoll Torrado, the child was the couple's blessing and their only daughter. Shakira's mother was a native Colombian and her father was of Lebanese descent. When they Married, Don William was divorce and already had seven children from his previous marriage, so Shakira came into this world as his youngest child.
The Beginning
When Shakira was a child, Nidia discovered that she was a gifted writer. Shakira knew the alphabets by the age of eighteen months, and at three she knew how to read. By the time she was four she was ready for school and it appeared to everybody that she was a child prodigy. Around this time her father took her to a local restaurant where Shakira first heard the doumberk which is a traditional drum used in Arabic music and is typically accompanied with belly dancing. Almost immediately, Shakira was dancing barefoot on the table and the restaurant patrons responded by clapping enthusiastically. It was at this moment that she said she knew she wanted to be a performer.
Shakira loved singing for schoolmates and teachers (and even the nuns) at her Catholic school. Ironically she was rejected for the school choir when she was in the second grade because her vibrato was too strong and the music teacher went on to tell her that she sounded "like a goat". At school, she was known as 'the belly dancer girl' and she would demonstrate a number she learned every Friday at school.
Between the ages of ten and thirteen Shakira was invited to various events in Barranquilla and gained considerable recognition in the area. She met local theater producer Monica Ariza who was so impressed with her, she decided to help Shakira with her career. On a flight from Barranquilla to Bogota, Ariza convinced Sony Colombia executive Ciro Vargas to hold an audition for Shakira at a hotel lobby.
Vargas was also impressed with Shakira's performance and he gave the cassette to a song and artist director at the Sony office. However, the director was not impressed and believed that Shakira's performance was not up to the mark. Varga did not give up easily and he set up an audition in Bogotá where he arranged for Sony Colombia executives to be present at the audition. Shakira lived up to all expectations when she performed three songs for the executives and impressed them sufficiently. She was signed on immediately for three albums.
Moving Forward
By 13, Shakira had signed a record deal with Sony in Colombia, which resulted in her first album, 'Magia (Magic)' which were a compilation of songs she had written between the ages of 8 and 13. It was because of her hard work that put her on the Colombia's musical map and she was chosen to represent her country at the Festival OTI that was to be held in Spain. However, as she was under the minimum age of 16, she was not allowed to participate.
Shakira did not get disappointed but went on to record her second album 'Peligro (Danger)'. After this, she took a break from music and went back to school to complete her studies. She graduated from high school at a young age of 15 and came back with a vengeance. The result was 'Pies Descalzos', which was a phenomenal smash and sold close to four million copies worldwide.
Shakira became an international icon and toured for four years playing in front of sold-out audiences across the world.
A hit as humongous as this seemed impossible to surpass. But Shakira proved everyone wrong with 'Donde Estan los Ladrones', which was a collection of hits that explored the realms of rock 'n' roll without losing out on Shakira's authenticity. Emilio Estefan, who also became her manager, produced the album.
"Every day, I feel a little bit older, a little less alive, more alive with the possibility of being less alive, closer to death." These words of Shakira tells us that there is a philosopher in her who amidst all the success and noise is quite inside...experiencing and exploring!
Like This Article?
Follow:
Post Comment | View Comments