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Shakira’s Children

2009-07-20T05:26:00.000-07:00

Last October, on the plane from Miami to San Salvador, Shakira stared into her MacBook, pondering. The next morning, she was to give a speech on the importance of early-childhood development to an Ibero-American summit meeting that would gather most of the heads of state of Latin America as well as the prime minister and king of Spain, the prime minister of Portugal and a select group of somewhat lesser dignitaries.

This was not the usual venue for Shakira Mebarak Ripoll of Barranquilla, Colombia. That would be stadium-size, and could be anywhere in the world, filled with thousands and thousands of fans, the people who have made her among the biggest-selling female vocalists on the planet. But Shakira has this other side — she began charitable work right after she had her first big hit, at 18 — and two years ago she, her longtime boyfriend, Antonio de la Rua, and some of their friends conceived the idea of a loose union of Ibero-American singers, called ALAS (“wings” in Spanish), which would use the power of their fame to mobilize fans, and the politicians fans vote for, to advance the cause of early-childhood development. Since then they had rallied most of the biggest pop stars in the Spanish-speaking and Portuguese-speaking worlds; held enormous concerts in Mexico and Argentina; gained the philanthropic support of some of Latin America’s richest families (as well as Warren Buffett’s son Howard); and captured the attention of a good number of heads of state. Now, flying down to El Salvador, staring at her Mac, she was, perhaps, approaching her moment of political breakthrough.

“It’s already too long!” she said, smiling resignedly as she typed out her speech. “And I still have more I want to say.” Tap tap tap. At the back of the eight-seater plane was the Spanish megastar Alejandro Sanz, scratching out his own speech, his girlfriend next to him, in a leggy bundle, nursing a bad cold. His relaxed focus contrasted with Shakira’s nervousness, and periodically Shakira ribbed him about it, which made him grin. Tap tap tap.

Shakira sheds clothes in new song video

2009-07-15T23:33:00.000-07:00

After pop star Britney Spears stripped for her song “Toxic”, now singer Shakira does the same for her new track “She wolf”.

The Colombian singer will be seen dancing provocatively in a cage for the video. Flicking her blonde locks around, she hangs upside down as she warbles along in her trademark sound, reported thesun.co.uk.

“She Wolf” is the first single taken from Shakira’s forthcoming English language album of the same name.

According to the Sun, this time she sings: "I`m starting to feel just a little abused like a coffee machine in an office/ So I`m gonna go somewhere cosy to get me a lover and tell you all about it."

Source: http://www.sindhtoday.net/news/

Shakira: she’s not dumping her record label

2009-06-24T04:13:00.001-07:00

Pop superstar and a female model Shakira has denied that she is planning to dump her record label.

The Colombian star has been dogged by rumour that she is unhappy with executives at Epic records, with Internet gossips claiming that she has been courting other labels.

However, a publicist for the Grammy Award-winning singer insists she has no plans to leave her musical home, calling reports of a rift with Epic bosses “not true”.

Source: http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/entertainment/shakira-says-shes-not-dumping-her-record-label_100202281.html

Shakira Is Desperate To Become A Mother

2009-03-04T20:45:00.000-08:00

The ‘Hips Don’t Lie’ famous singer is keen to have children with fiancé Antonio de la Rua but says the couple don’t have any plans to get married in the near future.

She said: “The fact is I’m not very traditionalist. We live together as husband and wife, we don’t need anything to make it official, especially not for the paparazzi or magazines. Why fix things that aren’t broken? “But I do want to have lots of babies with him.”

The 32-year-old beauty – who got engaged in 2001 – also wears her engagement ring on her middle finger as it is too big for her.

She added: “This is my engagement ring but it’s too big so I wear it on my middle finger. I haven’t got around to having it made smaller yet.” Shakira also credits Antonio with keeping her down-to-earth.

She told Britain’s Sunday Times Magazine: “I’ve been in the public eye for along time and I don’t know any other way of living – it’s everything I know. My family and my friends remind me what’s real, which helps, and Antonio – he is a wise man. If I get a bit silly he brings me back and reminds me who I am.”

http://www.javno.com/en-celebrities/shakira-is-desperate-to-become-a-mother_238969

Shakira to hip-shake for Bollywood

2009-02-11T05:07:00.000-08:00

If things go as planned, pop sensation Shakira would sing and shake her booty for a Bollywood flick.

Film producer Surya Pratap is in final stages of negotiations with Shakira for a song in his movie ‘The Final Call’ which is based on the theme of father-son relationship. The producer has already approached Sanjay Dutt for the lead role and the actor is learnt to have expressed his interest but is yet to give his final nod.

Similarly, Shakira has been in talks to croon a song and she has reportedly agreed. Only legalities on paper need to be done for her to be an official part of the film.

Punjabi singer Daler Mehandi has been roped in to compose the track in English and Hindi. The English version will be sung by the ‘Hips Don’t Lie’ singer and will reportedly be recorded in the US.

Rumour has it that Shakira will not just sing the song but would also be part of a music video to be shot in Los Angeles. If things fall in place, Shakira would do the hip-shaking jig with the film’s leading man, probably Sanjay Dutt.

Producer Surya Pratap hopes things will turn out as planned.

http://www.apunkachoice.com/happenings/
shakira-to-hip-shake-for-bollywood.html

Sombre atmosphere as Shakira shimmies in Abu Dhabi

2009-01-02T01:14:00.000-08:00

Abu Dhabi: Her fans screamed as the lights went down and an enthusiastic Shakira appeared against a rainbow backdrop ready to bring in 2009.A slightly somber atmosphere seemed to hang over the venue as revellers acknowledged neighboring emirate, Dubai’s decision to ‘cancel’ New Year celebrations because of the violence in Gaza by order of Ruler, Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Something the Latin singer didn’t mention throughout the gig to the disappointment of some concertgoers. But the Grammy Award-winning singer turned things around by playing her trump card and winning over Arab fans with a touching few lines about being in the Middle East.

Shakira, whose father is half Lebanese, referred to her Arab roots as she took the stage but again failed to mention the violence in the Palestinian territory. “I’m the fruit of an Arab land, and I’m immensely proud of my Arab heritage,” she said with a hand placed firmly across her chest.

“I just wanted you to know that and also that I can’t think of a better place to spend New Year’s Eve.” The Latin pop star headlined the lavish New Year’s Eve party at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi – a concert many, including organizers, had feared may not come off.

Fans expressed mixed feelings about the concert going ahead even though many had paid hundreds of dirhams for tickets. As well the Spanish numbers, the audience were treated to all the favorites including Hips Don’t Lie, Underneath Your Clothes and Whenever Wherever – one which saw fans scream the words back up onto the stage as she bent down and put the microphone across the excited crowd below her.

Dressed in a cropped waistcoat style top and trousers the singer showed she’s not just about the hips and dancing, which she claims to have picked up from her Arab grandmother, and played the acoustic guitar as part of her set. Alexa Ferrintine, 24, a sales assistant from Dubai, originally from the UK, said the concert should go ahead but added it would have been nice if the singer had acknowledged the problems from the stage.

“Pop stars are influential and it is their words which would reach across borders and barriers – not mine. I thought someone like Shakira would know that. She’s a bright girl.” Roberto Lemmy, 18, traveled from Italy to see his favorite’s singer. He said: “She was awesome. I know there are problems in Gaza but we shouldn’t all cancel events which could show support for these people.

"Maybe it would have been nice to collect money at the concert or something. TV models, Shakira was amazing and well worth the journey. I feel so lucky to have seen her perform in such a tiny venue. It’s a dream come true for me.”

Source: http://www.gulfnews.com/nation/Leisure/10271697.html

Shakira Laura-Marie Chin & Yohannes Nodsen-Mills Walton

2008-12-17T23:24:00.000-08:00

It came together in a manner as understated as the wedding invitation itself, a celebration of love sprinkled with tears, laughter and prayer. A television model, Shakira Laura-Marie Chin and Yohannes Nodsen-Mills Walton chose the picturesque country chapel of St Mark's Anglican Church, Rio Bueno, Trelawny to exchange wedding vows in front of doting family members and friends.

Ahead of the bride's arrival, the groom's father Eric along with his brothers David and Eric Walton Jnr and brother of the bride Brandon Burke could be seen receiving a final briefing from The Rev Fr Franklyn Jackson as well as the groom's uncle, Rev Basil McLeod.

With the church now almost at capacity the musical strains of St Elmo's Fire heralded the bride's arrival. Simple but exquisitely styled in a form-fitting strapless gown with layers of flouncing, an orchid pinned to the side of her loosely rolled chignon and clutching long-stemmed lilies, the bride entered on the arm of her father Andrew, stopping midway for her beloved grandfather, former legendary trade union consultant Will 'Vonnie' Isaacs, before making her way to her expectant groom. The bride and groom were seated at a table for two on the stage. The proceedings, ably handled by MC Michael Hall of Deliworks, provided suitable insight into how the couple met and their strong family bond. The speech from best man David Walton and that of his brother the groom Yohannes Nodsen-Mills Walton left all satisfied that this marriage would last as long as that of the groom's parents, 36 years.

The cake created by the bride's aunt Jackie Hall was cut with much trepidation by the couple, with the bride declaring after being fed a forkful by her husband that it was 'nice'. The couple opened the dance floor to the sound of Al Green's Let's Stay Together ahead of their special song I Found A Reason To Live. Supper provided by Celeste Gordon was a gastronomical treat of grilled beef tenderloin, jerked chicken with mango chutney, shrimp pasta with basil cream and chilli flakes as well as a veggie pasta and salad bar. There was too an elegant spread of desserts: mini chocolate cup cakes, mango and strawberry mini cheesecakes, cookies, a cheeseboard and Blue Mountain coffee.

Source:http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/AllWoman/html
/20081123T190000-0500_142931_OBS_LIFELONG_PARTNERS_.asp

Shakira uses fame to help poor children

2008-11-03T05:17:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK: SHAKIRA has revealed that she is, in fact, expecting. But it's not what you may think.

"I'm quite pregnant with my album," the Colombian pop star told a reporter from Miami by phone - between laughs - when asked whether her foundation work on behalf of Latin American children had made her want to become a mother as well as good singer and female models.

"Yes, I have plans, but not yet," said Shakira, 31. "I'm pregnant with my songs. But someday, yes."

The singer-activist plans to ask 20 Latin American presidents at a regional summit in El Salvador today to direct more resources to poor children and to put early childhood development at the top of their agendas.

She will appear on behalf of ALAS (Latin America in Solidarity Action) Foundation, a non-profit coalition she helped create modeling agent.

"There are difficult times coming in Latin America.

Thousands and thousands of children will die if governments do not organise ways to distribute food during this crisis," Shakira said.

"I grew up in the developing world and I have witnessed the lack of opportunities that children have to live with," she added.

"In a country like mine, when a child is born poor, people die poor. But I'm fascinated by the fact that through education you can transform lives, you can end this cycle of poverty."

More than 35 million children live in poverty in Latin America with little or no access to proper food and education.

Investing in a year of primary education can increase a person's adult income by up to 20 percent, she said.

Asked whether she plans to write a song about ALAS, translated as "Wings" in Spanish, the Grammy winner and UN goodwill ambassador said it's out of her hands. "I can't control my muses," she said.

Friday 31st OCTOBER 2008
http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=233275&Sn=WORL&IssueID=31225

Colombian singer Shakira lends support to Obama

2008-10-20T23:27:00.000-07:00

CHICAGO (AP) — Colombian superstar Shakira the glamour model and singer says Democrat Barack Obama is the best candidate for president, citing his leadership skills.

In a statement Saturday, the Grammy-winning pop artist said Obama can restore peace and the world's confidence in the United States. Obama faces Republican presidential nominee John McCain in the Nov. 4 election.

Obama said he was honored to receive the singer's endorsement. The Illinois senator praised Shakira as a role model for young Latinas in the U.S. and beyond.

Shakira encouraged U.S. Latinos to vote in November.

The United States "has a profound importance to me, and I think to the whole world as well," she said.

Oct 4, 2008
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gbQ5ND8KXTffGhsdwDl9auJ7C6dwD93K3RQO1

Shakira sings for hostages' freedom

2008-10-14T04:26:00.000-07:00

Shakira led the way for her compatriots as Colombians came out to demonstrate for the freedom of the remaining hostages held by leftist rebels.

Well over a million Colombians this hot model, clad in white and shouting 'No more kidnapping', marked their independence day with marches and concerts demanding freedom for the remaining detainees.

Demonstrators chanted Libertad! - the Spanish word for freedom - in rallies across the Andean nation and in some 40 cities abroad, including Paris, London, Miami, Beijing, Sydney and New York.

It was the second nationwide mobilisation this year against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.

In the jungle border city of Leticia, native daughter Shakira performed after singing the national anthem at a military parade presided over by Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, with the presidents of Brazil and Peru attending.

Source: ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5iASVm9wi_uJk8tQj6xOaEFrBqrpg
Previous: Shakira leidt demonstratie
www.shakiramedia.com/

Shakira : The Hot Sexy Glamorous Singer

2008-09-19T21:58:00.000-07:00

The story of Shakira's singing and songwriting career is the kind of stuff movies are made of. She started off as a talented girl from Colombia and turned into an international Latina star. Her success on the charts is unprecedented for someone of her background and style of music. With over 40 million albums sold worldwide and 10 Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards to her name, Shakira?s place in musical history has clearly been established. And as wonderful as her singing is, her exotic beauty like glamour model is just as appealing.

Why we Like her,

With the surge of Latin artists emerging into the spotlight and conquering the pop international charts, it's no surprise that Latin Pop/Rock singer Shakira has gained the recognition of a super model in her native Latin American and worldwide.

Why she is Famous,

Shakira's female rocker style garnered her the World Music Award for Latin Female Artist of the Year, while the phenomenal success of Laundry Service and "Whenever, Wherever" has catapulted her to fame.

After her departure from the list a couple of years ago, Shakira reappears on the list at an impressive No. 7. It's little surprise: 2006 marked a significant year in Shakira?s career with the release of her album Oral Fixation Vol. 2. She won the Grammy for Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album for the second time in her career, as well as five other Latin Grammy Awards. Moreover, Shakira had everyone in the world gyrating their bodies with her single ?Hips Don?t Lie.? But Shakira?s success in 2006 was not predicated on her vocal talents alone; her extensive training as a belly dancer has helped produce some of the most tantalizing music videos ever created.

Biography

Born in Barranquilla, Colombia, on February 2, 1977, Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll is the youngest sibling of her parents' eight children. Her father William Mebarak, who is American of Lebanese descent, and Colombian mother, Nidia Ripoll, both supported their daughter's ambition of becoming a singer.

Shakira knew early on that she wanted to be a promotional model and musician and by the time she was 8, she was already writing her own songs. This undeniable prodigy even began playing the guitar by 11 years of age.

While in school, Shakira was making her musical talent known by winning talent shows playing the guitar, and she was even kicked out of her school choir because her voice drowned out the other choir singers. Elsewhere, Shakira impressed judges at local and national competitions, who declared her winner of these contests.