Shakira: An unexpected feminist icon?
It is not unusual for an artist to take inspiration for their music from romantic relationships, either from good times or bad. For Shakira, the Colombian singer and an icon of the new mᴀss culture, it is cathartic. Her latest song, “BZRP Music Sessions, Vol. 53,” was written after her official separation from the Spanish footballer Gerard Piqué. It is supercharged. An Argentine journalist described it as a “scorned heavy metal” anthem and since it dropped on January 11, 2023, the song has become a hit and went viral on social media. The lyrics not only directly and explicitly reveal the reasons for the couple’s breakup, but they hint at a symbolism of common spaces that will be familiar to a female audience. Shakira, the Latin American megastar, is breaking patriarchal stereotypes. The effect that Shakira ’s latest song has had on the audience is perhaps the most controversial point of her career. Some see it as the complete opposite of feminism. The anger she displays...