Se quiere, Se Mata

"Se Quiere, Se Mata" (English: One Wants, One Kills) is the fifth single released from Shakira's third album, Pies Descalzos (1996). Written and composed by herself, "Se Quiere, Se Mata" was a Top Ten Hit in Mexico and on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks in the United States. The song laments the story of a young couple, Braulio and Dana, and their choice to have an abortion. Introduced as an innocent young couple well liked by their families, the two succumb to their sexual desires, and Dana becomes pregnant. However, rather than admit this to their families and neighbors, they choose to get an abortion. The abortion ultimately goes badly, resulting in Dana's death.

Music video

The music video was directed by Juan Carlos Martin, and reached number one on the Telehit Top 25. Current leader of the Mexican band Zoé León Larregui appears in this video, as Braulio. The video shows Shakira telling the story of Braulio and Dana; as the song goes on, there are shots of her in a short room, with a black dress, and others were she wears a red dress, in a green room covered with papers, most probably referencing the social rules. In the video, it shows in a censored way, how Braulio and Dana succumb to their sexual desires, and also a short scene of "The Doctor" who Dana goes to abort her unborn baby, resulting in her own death, as the lines of the song said "tu vecino esta en casa dandose un buen duchazo, y tu dos metros bajo tierra viendo crecer gusanos" (your neighbor is at home, taking a good shower, and you two feet under, watching worms grown).

Charts

References