La Tortura
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| "La Tortura" | ||
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| Single by Shakira | ||
| from the album Fijación Oral Vol. 1 | ||
| Released | April 2005 | |
| Format | Digital download | |
| Genre | Pop/Reggaeton | |
| Length | 3:35 | |
| Label | Sony Music | |
| Writer(s) | Shakira Luis F. Ochoa |
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| Producer(s) | Shakira Lester Mendez |
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| Certification | Platinum (RIAA) | |
| Chart positions | ||
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| Shakira singles chronology | ||
| "Fool" (2003) |
"La Tortura" (2005) |
"No" (2005) |
"La Tortura" (English: The Torture) is a Latin-pop song performed by singers Shakira and Alejandro Sanz. It was recorded for Shakira's sixth studio album Fijación Oral Vol. 1, released in June 7, 2005. The song was released as a single in April 2005 (see 2005 in music), and achieved a large success on different radio and chart formats. The song won two Latin Grammy Awards at the 2006 Ceremony for Song of the Year and Record of the Year.
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[edit] Song information
- See also: "La Tortura" translated lyrics
The single is a duet between Shakira and Spanish balladeer Alejandro Sanz, both of whom also composed it along with Luis Fernando Ochoa.
It tells the story of a woman who has been emotionally "tortured" because her boyfriend left her for another, and has now returned begging forgiveness. Some of Sanz's lines (e.g. Pero es que no estoy hecho de cartón, translated as Come on, I'm not made of cardboard) imply that the ex-lover exhibits a stereotypical Latin machismo; he apologises extravagantly, but is ultimately thinking that some infidelity is natural for men and that for the woman not to forgive him would be tiresome and unreasonable. However, she humiliates him and says that she is not going to shed tears over him.
The single is Shakira's sixth in the United States, following the commercial success of her 2001 album Laundry Service.
[edit] Chart performance
Since its release as a single, the song has become one of the most important Latin songs to move into the mainstream English-speaking culture in the U.S. and Canada. The music video of the song was nominated for the Viewer's Choice Award on the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards, during which Shakira performed with Sanz (notably, the first time a guest performed a song entirely in a language other than English). "La Tortura" reached a position on the top 30 (#23) of Billboard's Hot 100 in less than twenty weeks after its release.
The track debuted at #1 in Spain Singles Chart and was a huge hit all over Europe, but was never released as an official single in the United Kingdom in 2005, therefore could not chart on the UK Singles Chart. However, following the success of "Hips Don't Lie" the single will be released in the UK in the Autumn of 2006 [citation needed]. "La Tortura" broke the record on the Billboard's Hot Latin Tracks chart, appearing at #1 more than any other single (a total of 25 non-consecutive weeks). "La Tortura" was chosen as the fifth favorite song of the world in a global survey made by Sony Ericsson, in which 700,000 music fans of 66 countries contributed.
At Billboard magazine's year-end chart (that shows the hottest songs of the year); "La Tortura" was announced as the #1 song on the Hot Latin Tracks chart. It also topped the Latin America's Top Latino year-end chart.
[edit] Music video
The music video for "La Tortura", directed by Michael Haussman, has a quite simple plot: from his new girlfriend's apartment, Sanz spies on to Shakira as she is walking down the street on her way to her own apartment, which is on the other side of the street from Sanz' girlfriend's apartment. When Shakira enters her apartment, she changes clothes. From that moment on, Sanz remembers things the two had done in the past as a couple, while Shakira reveals her alter-ego dancing erotically on the building's roof, covered with black paint. The choreography of the music video was made by Jamie King and Shakira herself.
The music video is in itself somewhat notable, as it was the first time MTV showed a whole episode of their Making the Video series in another language (with English subtitles). It was also the second Spanish-language video ever to enter in Total Request Live's countdown, and the first in that language to reach the #1 spot. It can also be noted that the video for "La Tortura" was one of the first in the Spanish-language to get heavy rotation on mainstream American and Canadian music channels such as MTV, VH1 and MuchMusic. The remix version of the song, known as "La Tortura (Shaketon Remix)", has it own video (also directed by Haussman) featuring some previously unseen scenes.
[edit] Remixes
The single and the album also included a remix of the song entitled "The Shaketon Mix", merging a reggaeton rhythm with the original rhythm of the song. A separate music video (also directed by Michael Haussman) was also made for this remix. This video also entered on TRL's countdown.
There is another official reggaeton remix called "E. Arroyo Reggaeton Remix". Another official mix has surfaced, the "Tracy Young Special According Mix" and other remixes have also been made by independent DJs. An alternative version of this song, which had been previously leaked on the internet, is featured in the re-release of Oral Fixation Vol. 2, with the chorus sung partially in the English-language.
In late 2006, a special all English translation will be made available via Shakira's official website.
[edit] Charts
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[edit] Awards
[edit] 2005 MTV Video Music Awards
- Viewer's Choice (nominated)
- Best Female Video (nominated)
- Best Dance Video (nominated)
[edit] 2006 Latin Grammy Awards
- Song Of The Year (won)
- Record Of The Year (won)
- Music Video Of The Year (nominated)
[edit] 2005 MTV Video Music Awards Latinoamerica
- Video Of The Year (won)
[edit] 2006 NRJ Awards
- International Song Of The Year (won)
[edit] 2006 Latin Billboard Music Awards
- Hot Latin Song Of The Year (won)
[edit] Song credits
- Invited artist: Alejandro Sanz (appears courtesy of Warner Music Benelux, BV)
- Lyrics: Shakira, Alejandro Sanz
- Music: Shakira, Luis F. Ochoa
- Vocals: Shakira, Alejandro Sanz
- Vocal arrangements: Shakira, Alejandro Sanz
Production
- Producer: Shakira
- Executive producer: Rick Rubin
- Co-producer: Lester Mendez for Living Stereo
- Additional production: José "Gocho" Torres
- Remixer: José "Gocho" Torres ("Shaketon Mix")
Engineering
- Recording engineers: Rob Jacobs, Kevin Killen
- Assistant engineers: Bryan Gallant, Juan Camarano, Felipe Alvarez
- Programming: Pete Davis
- Mix engineer: Gustavo Celis (at the Supersonic Studios, Miami, Florida)
Musicians
- Electric guitar: Lyle Workman, Luis F. Ochoa
- Acoustic guitar: Rene Toledo, Alejandro Sanz
- Keyboards: Lester Mendez
- Bass: Paul Bushnell
- Percussion: Archie Pena
- Accordion: Umberto Judex, Frank Morrocco
[edit] External links
- Shakira's Official Web Site
- Translated Lyrics
| Preceded by "La Camisa Negra" by Juanes |
Number-one song (U.S. Hot Latin Tracks)(First run) June 4, 2005 |
Succeeded by "La Camisa Negra" by Juanes |
| Preceded by "La Camisa Negra" by Juanes |
Number-one song (U.S. Hot Latin Tracks)(Second run) June 25, 2005 |
Succeeded by "Nada Es Para Siempre" by Luis Fonsi |
| Preceded by "Nada Es Para Siempre" by Luis Fonsi |
Number-one song (U.S. Hot Latin Tracks)(Third run) September 3, 2005 |
Succeeded by "Rompe" by Daddy Yankee |
Albums: Magía · Peligro · Pies descalzos · The Remixes · ¿Dónde están los ladrones?· MTV Unplugged · Laundry Service · Servicio de Lavanderia · Live & Off the Record · Fijación Oral Vol. 1 · Oral Fixation Vol. 2
Hit singles: "Ciega, Sordomuda" · "Whenever, Wherever" · "Underneath Your Clothes" · "La Tortura" · "Hips Don't Lie"
