Whenever, Wherever

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"Whenever, Wherever"
"Whenever, Wherever" cover
Single by Shakira
from the album Laundry Service
Released December 18, 2001
Format CD maxi single
12" single
Genre Latin Pop
Length 3:16
Label Sony International
Writer(s) Shakira, Tim Mitchell, Gloria Estefan
Producer(s) Shakira, Tim Mitchell
Certification Gold
Chart positions
Shakira singles chronology
"No Creo"
(2000)
"Whenever, Wherever"
(2001)
"Te Dejo Madrid"
(2002)
Audio sample
Play (in browser) (help·info)

"Whenever, Wherever" is a Latin pop song written by Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira for her first English album, Laundry Service (2001). It is the second most successful song in the singer's career, behind "Hips Don't Lie" (2006).

Contents

[edit] Song information

The song takes heavy influence from Andean music, including the charango and panpipes in its instrumentation.[1] The song's lyrics include the couplet "Lucky that my breasts are small and humble/So you don't confuse them with mountains", which garnered attention, controversy, and ridicule[citation needed] in equal measures, especially among male fans. Remixes were made, the most famous being the Tracy Young "Spin Cycle" mix.

The track was produced by Shakira, and was released as the first single from the album in the autumn of 2001. It was an international success, peaking at number one in Colombia, the rest of Latin America, Germany, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands where it kept the number one position for nine weeks. It reached number two in the United Kingdom, number four in Canada, and number six in the U.S. It also hit number one in many European countries, and generally peaked within the top ten where it failed to hit the top.

[edit] Music video

Shakira belly dancing
Shakira belly dancing

The music video was directed by Francis Lawrence, and features Shakira barefoot surrounded by the earth's natural wonders, including the mountains and deserts. She is also seen dancing amid a stampede of horses. When the horses are gone, Shakira walks into mud, and begins rolling around in it. At the end of the video, she is on top of a snowy mountain, and jumps off, descending into water.

The video became an instant hit on several music programs. It became Shakira's first video to retire on MTV's Total Request Live, and reached number one for a single week on the MuchMusic program Countdown.

[edit] Spanish version

There is also a version of "Whenever, Wherever" in the Spanish language, "Suerte", also written by Shakira and Mitchell. It was released as a single in Spain and in a handful of nations in South America, and Mexico. It peaked at number one on Billboard's Hot Latin Tracks chart.

[edit] Chart performance

"Whenever, Wherever" reached #1 in several countries including Argentina, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Colombia, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, France, Ireland, Italy, Lebanon, Mexico, New Zealand, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, and The Netherlands.

Chart (2001) Peak
position
Canadian Singles Chart 4
Japan Tokyo Hot 100 8
Latin American Singles Chart 1
United Kingdom Singles Chart 2
United World Chart 1
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 6
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play 3
U.S. Billboard Hot Latin Tracks 1

[edit] References

  1. ^ Schwartz, Mark. "Music: Laundry Service, Shakira, CD". Barnes & Noble. Retrieved February 25, 2007.
Preceded by
"In Your Eyes" by Kylie Minogue
ARIA (Australia) number one single
February 3, 2002 - March 10, 2002
Succeeded by
"Not Pretty Enough" by Kasey Chambers
Preceded by
"Get The Party Started"
by P!nk
United World Chart number-one single
March 9, 2002 - May 25, 2002
Succeeded by
"A New Day Has Come" by Celine Dion
RIANZ number-one single (first run)
February 10, 2002 - March 3, 2002
Succeeded by
"Amazing" by Alex Lloyd
Preceded by
"Amazing" by Alex Lloyd
RIANZ number-one single (second run)
March 17, 2002 - April 7, 2002
Succeeded by
"Hands Clean" by Alanis Morissette
In other languages