Spotify Honors EQUAL Global Ambassador Shakira With a Special Day Dedicated to Her Enduring Legacy
Standing tall on the global stage as a beacon of Latin music and representation, Shakira has blessed fans with soulful lyrics over a musical journey that has spanned three decades. Beyond her musical achievements, Shakira’s impact on the worlds of culture and education have been notable. The Barranquilla, Colombia, native has healed hearts, sparked joy, evoked memories, and empowered many with songs that celebrate her Colombian and Latin identity, like “Hips Don’t Lie.”
What better way to acknowledge Shakira’s enduring legacy than to dedicate an entire day to the global pop star? That’s precisely why Spotify initiated the #ShakiraDeservesADay campaign—#ShakiraMereceUnDía in Spanish—where Colombians had the opportunity to voice their support for this special celebration on social media.
Reverberating across several Latin American countries, including Colombia, Mexico, Chile, and Argentina, #ShakiraDeservesADay has now blossomed into a tangible reality. We’ve selected September 29 as #ShakiraDay—#DiaDeShakira in Spanish. The date also marks the 25th anniversary of Dónde Están Los Ladrones, an album that helped springboard the artist to global acclaim and is one of Shakira’s most-streamed on Spotify.
But global acclaim might be an understatement when it comes to Shakira’s success. Need proof? Just take a look.
“When I heard about Shakira Day in Colombia, my initial reaction was total excitement! It put a smile on my face, and I know my parents will be proud to see it,” Shakira told For the Record.
This tribute not only commemorates Shakira as an artist, but also provides a moment for her devoted fans to express their appreciation. It’s also a nod to Colombia, the very land that nurtured and gave rise to the superstar.
“The role that my fans have played in my career is impossible to quantify. They’ve known how to understand me better than anybody, and they’ve carried me to where I am today with their unwavering support,” Shakira said. “The way Colombia has served as inspiration for my career as an artist is immeasurable. Colombia is a never-ending source of inspiration for colors, culture, sounds, stories, folklore, and food. It’s such a rich culture, and I’m so grateful to have been raised where I was and have it be my lifelong muse.”
Shakira is our EQUAL Global Ambassador for September
In addition to #ShakiraDay, we’ve named the icon as our EQUAL Global Ambassador this month. Spotify’s EQUAL Global Music Program started in 2021 with the aim of contributing to gender equity in the music industry by amplifying and celebrating the work of women creators around the world. As a Global Ambassador, Shakira adorns the cover of our EQUAL Global playlist, and is featured in the top spot of the playlist.
For the Record chatted with the legend to learn about her most notable moments as an artist, advice for other women artists, and what her identity as a Colombian woman artist means to her.
One piece of advice I’d give other women artists is _____ .
To not let anybody define for you what being a woman means. You’re free to express it however you like.
If I could give my past self one hint about my future career, it would be ___________.
To know there will be high points for so much longer than you could ever imagine!
My creative process consists of _____.
Tons of trial and error. I can get up to 50 versions-plus of a song before I turn it in. I don’t like to leave any stone unturned or any creative path unexplored.
One way I’d like to see greater gender equity in the music industry is _____.
To have more female producers and engineers. I do see more representation on the artist side, but I think there still could be more on the industry side.
When I think about my identity as a woman Colombian artist _____.
I think back to how male-dominated our music industry was when I started, and I’m proud to represent women who come from my country.
One notable moment in my career since breaking out globally with Dónde Están Los Ladrones is _____.
Singing at three World Cups, performing at a Super Bowl, and landing a Top 10 debut on Billboard 30+ years in!
When I hear “Barranquilla,” the first thing that comes to my mind is _______.
Home.
Celebrate all Shakira’s groundbreaking accomplishments with Día de Shakira, our playlist dedicated to #ShakiraDay.
