‘Women Don’t Cry Anymore’
Shakira
Sony-BMG
Ace-Pop
★★★
In her new album, Shakira steps away from the loudest headlines and leans into a concept-driven project that unfolds in two distinct tempos. The set blends familiar tracks with new energy, stacking seven known songs in the latter half while opening with a fresher, forward-looking section. The result is a playful, seductive pop experience that keeps the dance floor moving while avoiding lingering negativity.
Shakira stays close to her signature sound, with reggaeton serving as another color in her palette and guitar-driven moments that remind listeners of a time when guitars carried more life. The album centers on danceable pop with a glossy, late-nineties vibe, highlighted by the explosive opener Puntería, a collaboration with Cardi B. The artist lays bare the end of a painful chapter, portraying a relationship that no longer fuels disputes, with risqué lines and a cheeky laugh that seals the sentiment.
Within this club-infused sonic milieu, Bizarrap joins in La Fuerte, rooted in a strong electronic base, while Cohete adds another sensual anthem with a funky guitar and space-age imagery. Yet the journey also makes bold pivots, including a move into regional Mexican territory with the track Entre Paréntesis, featuring Grupo Frontera in a strategic play that capitalizes on the genre’s current popularity in North America.
Farewell Notes
It is satisfying to hear a retro-leaning Shakira, with acoustic textures in Tiempo sin Verte, alongside louder moments that stretch into a more daring rock sound on Como Dónde y Cuándo. The Nassau track adds an atmospheric layer that grounds the project in mood, paving the way for Última, a gentle ballad where the farewell message to a former partner lands with a soft, reflective resonance, as if saying the love faded along the way and what happened is now in the past.
From track nine onward, Te Felicito signals a return to the fiery, assertive sound Shakira has embodied in recent years. The album essentially presents a double EP arc, reflecting alternating emotional states. Fortunately for both the artist and listeners, the reproach and venom give way to a stronger, more radiant image as seen on the cover featuring tears turned into diamonds. The tracklist, though not flawless, sustains a credible run for a veteran artist navigating a rapidly shifting mainstream pop landscape.
Citation: Production and release details attributed to Sony-BMG and the involved collaborators. This interpretation draws on publicly available information about the project and its reception in North American markets.