Laundry Service is the fifth studio album and first English-language album by Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira, globally released on 13 November 2001 by Epic Records. After her fourth studio album Dónde Están los Ladrones? became a success in Latin America, Spain, the Middle East and the Latin community in the United States, Shakira was encouraged by American singer Gloria Estefan to record songs in English as she believed her friend had the potential to cross over into the English-language pop market. Shakira was hesitant at first, but then decided to learn English well enough to write songs in the language. The title of the album reflects Shakira's views on love and music. It was released as Servicio de Lavandería in Hispanic regions in January 2002. Laundry Service is primarily a pop rock record but it also experiments with Andean music, dance-pop, Middle Eastern music, rock and roll and tango music. The album's theme is love and romance. Every song on it was written and produced by Shakira under the guidance of Emilio Estefan.
Sandra Ann Lauer, later Sandra Cretu, commonly known mononymously as Sandra, is a German pop singer who enjoyed mainstream popularity in the 1980s and early 1990s with a string of European hit singles, produced by her then-husband and musical partner, Michael Cretu, most notably "(I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena" (1985), "In the Heat of the Night" (1985), "Everlasting Love" (1987), "Secret Land" (1988), "Hiroshima" (1990), and "Don't Be Aggressive" (1992). Her albums Into a Secret Land (1988) and Close to Seven (1992) have won Sandra high critical acclaim.
Arabesque are an all-girl trio formed at the height of the European disco era in 1977 in Frankfurt, West Germany. The group's changing lineup worked with the German composer Jean Frankfurter.
Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 is the seventh studio album and second English-language album by Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira, released on 28 November 2005, by Epic Records. After attaining international success with her fifth studio effort, Laundry Service (2001), Shakira decided to create a two-part follow-up record. She released the project as the follow-up to her sixth studio effort, Fijación Oral, Vol. 1, with which she had attained international success five months prior. As co-producer, Shakira enlisted producers including previous collaborators Gustavo Cerati, Lester Mendez, Luis Fernando Ochoa and Rick Rubin to work alongside newer partners Jerry Duplessis, Wyclef Jean, Tim Mitchell and The Matrix.
Banaroo was a German pop group active from 2005-2008 and then 2013 with a new line up. They had several successful singles in countries including Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
"Underneath Your Clothes" is a song by Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira for her third studio album and English-language debut, Laundry Service (2001). The power ballad was the second English-language single released from the album; being released on 11 February 2002. It features lyrics by Shakira with music and production from Shakira and Lester Mendez. Lyrically, the song tells the story of the unconditional love that a woman has for her boyfriend, with lyrics about being worthy of somebody's love.
"Hips Don't Lie" is a song by Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira, featuring Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean, released by Epic Records in 2006 as the second single from Shakira's seventh studio album, Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 (2005). Shakira and Jean wrote the lyrics and jointly composed the music with additional co-writing by Shakira's percussionist Archie Pena. The song was produced by Shakira and Jean with additional co-production by Jerry Duplessis. "Hips Don't Lie" is a reworking of Jean's earlier single "Dance Like This", therefore it features additional composing credits by Omar Alfanno, Duplessis, Luis Días, and LaTavia Parker. The song incorporates samples from "Amores Como el Nuestro" written by Alfanno, and "Carnaval " written by Días.
"Illegal" is a song recorded by Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira for her seventh studio album, Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 (2005). It was written and produced by Shakira and Lester Mendez and it features Mexican guitarist Carlos Santana. Epic Records released the song as the album's third and final single on 28 August 2006, following the release of "Hips Don't Lie". "Illegal" is a pop and country ballad with lyrics concerning mourning of a past lover complete with an understated vocal performance by Shakira and an electric guitar riff by Santana throughout. It received mixed reviews from music critics, who compared it with Alanis Morissette's material and were mixed towards Santana's contribution.
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, known mononymously as Shakira, is a Colombian singer and songwriter. Born and raised in Barranquilla, she has been referred to as the "Queen of Latin Music" and has been praised for her musical versatility. She made her recording debut with Sony Music Colombia at the age of 13. Following the commercial failure of her first two albums, Magia (1991) and Peligro (1993), she rose to prominence in Hispanic countries with her next albums, Pies Descalzos (1995) and Dónde Están los Ladrones? (1998). She entered the English-language market with her fifth album, Laundry Service (2001), which sold over 13 million copies worldwide. Buoyed by the international success of her singles "Whenever, Wherever" and "Underneath Your Clothes", the album propelled her reputation as a leading crossover artist and is the best-selling album of all time by a female Latin artist.
Sugarpop was a child musical group which appeared regularly on GMA Network's concert television show, SOP. All of SugarPop's members are from a child singing competition on QTV named Popstar Kids. The group were given the name SugarPop by Jaya, one of the hosts and singers on the now defunct SOP Rules which was replaced by Party Pilipinas.
"Did It Again" is a song recorded by Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira for her eighth studio album, She Wolf (2009). It was released on 16 October 2009, by Epic Records, as the second single from the album. The song was written by Shakira, with production from The Neptunes. There is an alternate version featuring vocals from American rapper Kid Cudi, while its Spanish-language version "Lo Hecho Está Hecho" includes additional lyrical contributions from Uruguayan musician Jorge Drexler. "Did It Again" is an electropop song with elements of samba. Lyrically, it details Shakira's involvement in a man's extramarital affair, which leads to her feeling guilty and hurt about it.
"Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" is a song by Colombian singer Shakira, featuring the South African band Freshlyground. Co-written by Shakira and John Hill, it was released on 7 May 2010 by Epic Records as the official song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which was held in South Africa. Released in English and Spanish (with the title "Waka Waka (Esto es África)"), the song samples the original Cameroonian makossa song "Zamina mina (Zangaléwa)" by Golden Sounds and the lyrics encourage one to aim for their goals like a soldier on a battlefield.
Sale el Sol is the ninth studio album by Colombian singer and songwriter Shakira, released on 19 October 2010, by Epic Records. The album marks a return to Shakira's signature Latin pop sound after the electropop record She Wolf (2009). The singer split the album into three musical "directions": a romantic side, a "rock and roll" side, and a "Latino, tropical" side. The latter two "directions" experiment with rock and merengue music, respectively. As co-producer, Shakira enlisted collaborators including Josh Abraham, El Cata, Gustavo Cerati, John Hill, Lester Mendez, and Residente from Calle 13.
"Rabiosa" is a song by Dominican singer El Cata. It achieved mainstream success when Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira covered it on her ninth studio album Sale el Sol. It was written by Armando Pérez, Edward Bello, and Shakira, and released by Epic Records as the third single from the album, on 8 April 2011. Two versions of the song exist; the English-language version, which features American artist Pitbull, and the Spanish-language version, which features El Cata. It is heavily influenced by merengue and dance music. Shakira and El Cata, or Pitbull, sing about each other's sex appeal in the song.
"Get It Started" is a song by American recording artist Pitbull from his seventh studio album Global Warming. It was released on June 25, 2012 as the second single from the album by RCA Records. The song features guest vocals from Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira, marking the third time they have collaborated on a song together, the others being an official remix to the Spanish version of "Did it Again", "Lo Hecho Está Hecho", and the English version of "Rabiosa". The artists co-wrote the song with its producers, DJ Buddha, Sidney Samson, Marc Kinchen, Develop, with additional writing from Durrell "Tank" Babbs and Kris Stephens. It is a dance-pop song that "blends a dance beat and up-tempo verses with a slowed-down, piano-driven pop chorus".
"Hello Mr. Monkey" is the debut single by German all-girl trio, Arabesque. Initially released only in Germany in 1977, it was released worldwide the following year in 1978.
Fly High Little Butterfly is a 1979 single by the European disco group Arabesque. The song, like previous singles failed to chart in Germany, but became a huge success in Japan. Heike Rimbeau sang the lead, accompanied by Karen Ann Tepperis and Michaela Rose as backing singers. The song tells the story of a "little butterfly" who has a passion for singing and dancing from a very young age, and strives to be like her mother. The butterfly eventually reaches her goal.
"City Cats" is a 1979 single by the European disco group Arabesque. It is Sandra's first single with Arabesque, following her integration into the group in August 1979 at just 17 years old. Sandra sang the lead, accompanied by Jasmin Vetter and Michaela Rose as backing singers. City Cats is considered a debut song for the group, as Sandra, Jasmin and Michaela officially became the three permanent members of the group following the release of the single. It was released in Germany, France, and several other countries. Lyrically, the song symbolizes the three singers as "cats", and tells the story of their search for Tom Cat. In live performances of the song, the group was noted for wearing colorful and daring "cat" costumes.
Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira has had a considerable impact on the musical landscape of Latin America and further afield. Further to this, her career has seen longevity and cultural reach that has enabled Shakira to be a socially, culturally, and politically influential figure across the world. This has culminated in her receiving the honorific nickname of the Queen of Latin Music. She is considered the most recognisable face of Latin music around the world. With 100 millions of records sold, she is the best-selling Latin female artist of all time.
This is the discography of German Eurodisco trio Arabesque. Included is the discography of Rouge, the duo formed by Michaela Rose and Jasmin Vetter after the departure of Sandra.
