Colombian pop sensation Shakira surprised fans with a pop-up concert in Times Square, drawing thousands of spectators to the spot to celebrate her first LP since 2017.
Times Square was buzzing after the Grammy-winning singer took the TSX stage on Tuesday evening. She made the announcement for the surprise concert on social media just hours before the concert kicked off.
At 7:30 p.m., when the stage doors swung open, Shakira’s voice echoed through the bustling streets of Manhattan as she sang the worldwide hit ‘Hips Don't Lie.’ She received a roaring cheer from the crowd, performing before an estimated crowd of 40,000 fans who had learned about the event just hours earlier through her social media accounts.
Shakira kicked off the concert with her worldwide hit 'Hips Don't Lie'
Image credits: Shakira
Shakira also delighted her fans with hits like ‘TQM,’ ‘Cómo Dónde y Cuándo,’ ‘Te Felicito,’ and ‘Puntería’ before winding down the show with ‘Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53.’
“I’m happy to be here surrounded by my Latin people,” the 'Waka Waka' singer told the screaming crowd of fans.
“Thank you, New York! Until next time. I love you very much!” she added.
The concert was part of the celebration of her new album, “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran” (Women No Longer Cry), which was released on Friday
The superstar’s pop-up concert was part of the celebration for her new album 'Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran' (Women no longer cry), which was released last Friday.
Shakira spoke about the quick success of her new album on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Monday night and explained the meaning behind the title.
“For too long, we’ve been sent to cry with [a] script in our hands and without an end, just because we’re women. We have to conceal our pain in front of our kids, in front of society. We have to heal in a certain way,” she told the talk show host. “And I don’t think anyone is supposed to tell us how to heal. No one is supposed to tell a she-wolf how to lick her wounds, you know? I think that now women decide when to cry, how to cry, and until when. Nobody’s supposed to tell us how to cope with the hardship of life.”
While speaking about the album, Shakira said she no longer has a husband "dragging [her] down"
Image credits: Shakira
Not only is this her first LP album in about seven years, but it’s her first one since her split from soccer star Gerard Piqué.
“I didn’t have time because of the husband factor. Now I’m husband-less. The husband was dragging me down. Now I’m free. Now I can actually work,” she said on the show.