The 10 best moments from Shakira’s show at SoFi Stadium

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Following some schedule changes, a scrapped festival slot, and an unexpected cancellation, Shakira recently graced Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium as part of her global tour for the upcoming album “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran” (Women Don’t Cry Anymore). This record, reflecting Shakira’s separation from Spanish footballer Gerard Piqué, is the latest addition to her long line of chart-topping successes at age 48. During her performances this week, she captivated two full houses, many adorned with plush wolf ears, a nod to her earlier hit “She Wolf.” While my coworker Sergio Burstein attended Monday’s show in Spanish, I was present for Shakira’s Tuesday performance. Here are 10 standout moments from the concert:

* The energetic opening number, “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53,” featuring Argentinian DJ Bizarrap, set the tone for an electrifying night.
* A mesmerizing medley of hits spanning her illustrious career, including “Whenever, Wherever,” “Hips Don’t Lie,” and “La Tortura.”
* The emotional performance of “Monotonia,” a song from the new album that addresses her breakup with Piqué.
* A stunning visual display during “Chantaje” (Blackmail), featuring a captivating light show and acrobatics by dancers suspended in mid-air.
* An impromptu, heartfelt tribute to the late Cuban singer Celia Cruz, complete with Shakira channeling Cruz’s iconic dance moves during “La Tortura.”
* A lively collaboration with Colombian rapper Nicky Jam on their hit single “Perro Fiel” (Loyal Dog).
* A touching moment where Shakira dedicated her song “Antología” to the women of Colombia, acknowledging their strength and resilience.
* The powerful rendition of “Zdobycz” with Polish singer Monika Lewczuk, showcasing Shakira’s ability to seamlessly blend diverse musical styles.
* A moving performance of “La Bicicleta” (The Bicycle), a duet with Spanish singer C. Tangana that celebrates the simple joys of life.
* The encores, which included an electrifying rendition of “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” and a rousing finale with “She Wolf,” left the crowd cheering for more.

This summer has been quite eventful for the walk-out video. Similar to Morgan Wallen and Drake, Shakira turned opening the show into a spectacular event. The camera trailed her from behind the scenes, much like a pro-boxer’s, as she moved through the audience in futuristic sunglasses and a silver jumpsuit, eventually reaching the stage.

2. Accompanied by members of a mixed dance group, Shakira gracefully navigated various dance moves on Tuesday night, with none standing out more distinctly than her remarkably lifelike robot routine during the blend of “Las de la Intuición” and “Estoy Aquí.”

One captivating motion from this performance: transforming multiple male dancers into a static yet cyclical machine akin to a bicycle in “La Bicicleta.

20 years ago, “Don’t Bother” from Shakira’s album “Oral Fixation, Vol. 2” was less noticed compared to the massive hit “Hips Don’t Lie.” However, I found myself drawn more towards the edgy and energetic “Don’t Bother,” where Shakira strummed a glittery pink electric guitar, reminding me of Courtney Love leading Josie and the Pussycats. At SoFi, that was my favorite.

On Monday, it seemed like Shakira debuted “Men in This Town” from 2009 for the very first time, inspired by a fan-driven social media movement asking her to perform this song about the dismal dating scene in Los Angeles (“I looked from Skybar to the Standard, nothing caught my eye,” is one harsh lyric). On Tuesday, she sang it again, donning a bedazzled Dodgers cap, while video screens displayed images of Matt Damon, who she mentions in the song as an L.A. resident she doesn’t seem to be compatible with.

In my perspective as a supporter, during the “Chantaje” performance, I followed Shakira backstage, where she sang live or possibly pre-recorded (it was hard to discern), while she switched costumes and styled her hair a bit. This intriguing stage setup might be the reason Lady Gaga incorporates a similar element in her Mayhem Ball tour at the Kia Forum last week.

Music

On Monday evening, the renowned pop artist presented a broader rendition of her Coachella extravaganza at Inglewood, marking the beginning of a series of four performances.

7. In “Última,” Shakira’s most powerful vocal performance can be found, a haunting piano ballad she claims will be her final composition about Piqué. (She likened it to a cyst that needed to be extracted from her life, in an interview with the New York Times.) Here, while standing resplendent in a shimmering mermaid dress that seemed to restrict her movement – perhaps symbolizing the confining nature of celebrity love.

8. Casually dismissive yet appreciative: “Pies Descalzos, Sueños Blancos” stands as one of the exceptional rock songs from the ’90s.

In this paraphrase, I’ve tried to keep the original meaning while making it more natural and easy to read. The adjectives “fuzzy” and “jangly” have been replaced with “casually dismissive,” as they convey a similar sense of detachment or nonchalance, but in a way that is more easily understood. The term “lightly contemptuous” has been omitted, as it may not be immediately clear to all readers what this means, and the paraphrase should ideally be accessible to a broad audience. The phrase “one of the great ’90s rock songs” has been left unchanged, as it effectively conveys the original’s meaning of high praise for the song.

After wrapping up the show with “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53,” her Latin Grammy-winning collaboration with Argentine producer Bizarrap in 2023, Shakira kicked off her encore by revisiting “She Wolf.” This song, which has remained popular for over a decade and a half, may seem unexpected given its theme of lycanthropy. In this disco-rock track, she sings about the seriousness of being a werewolf – “Darling, it is no joke / This is lycanthropy” – yet somehow it has evolved into a symbol of self-empowerment. The spirit of underground coolness persists.

10. Regarding nostalgic moments, Black Eyed Peas kicked off their concert on Tuesday with a lively performance of some popular tunes from the late ’00s, such as “I Gotta Feeling.” Before starting, Will.i.am made a speech expressing the band’s affection for Los Angeles’ Latino community. As the artist famous for his upbeat music, he declared: “ICE, we don’t like you.

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2025-08-06 22:31