Shakira tackles her footballer ex-boyfriend with revenge pop hit
‘Cheating’ former partner Gerard Pique is the inspiration behind the singer’s mocking lyrics
REVENGE was never sweeter, or more lucrative. Shakira, the Colombian-born pop star, last night topped the global Spotify chart and racked up a staggering 111 million views on Youtube for a new song inspired by what she calls her cheating ex-boyfriend – the former Spanish, Barcelona and Manchester United footballing superstar Gerard Pique – and a desire to pay off a huge tax bill for which she also blames him.
Never has a pop song been so catchy and practical in near equal measure.
Shakira, 45, has belittled and ridiculed Pique over his new choice in partner – 23-year-old Clara Chia, who works in public relations.
In the new song, Shakira says she is worth “two 22 year-olds” and likens herself to a Ferrari while Ms Chia, she says, is worth no more than a Renault Twingo, one of the cheapest cars on the market. For good measure, she explains that she is a Rolex watch to Ms Chia’s Casio.
The song doesn’t stop there. Shakira has a dig at her mother-in-law, who lives next door to the family home in Barcelona, and also Spain’s tax authorities who have accused the singer of failing to pay a €14.5million (£12.7million) tax bill. Prosecutors have charged her with six counts of tax fraud and she faces an additional fine of €23.8 million and jail term of eight years.
The song, co-written with an Argentinian music producer Bizarrap, has sailed to the top of the Spotify charts following its release at the weekend and by yesterday evening had been watched on her Youtube channel more than 111 million times, a record by some distance for any Latin American hit.
Shakira and Pique had been an item for the past 11 years and have two children from a relationship that seemed to outshine even David and Victoria Beckham’s marriage.
Pique is regarded as possibly one of the greatest defenders of his generation while Shakira is a global pop phenomenon.
But in June the couple announced their separation and Pique has since started dating the PR girl half Shakira’s age, much to her fury.
Mocking Pique’s new younger girlfriend, Shakira sings: “I’m worth two 22-year-olds. You traded a Ferrari for a Twingo. You traded a Rolex for a Casio.”
She doesn’t stop there. “Sorry baby, I should have thrown you out a while ago. A she-wolf like me is not for rookies. A she-wolf like me is not for guys like you.
“You thought you’d hurt me and I came back stronger … Women don’t cry anymore, women invoice.”
Then – in an apparent dig at Pique’s intellect – she suggests that her gymobsessed former partner should spend more time training his brain.
Still living in the family home, next door to Pique’s mother, she adds: “You left me the mother-in-law as a neighbour. With the press at my door and a debt with the tax man.”
To reinforce the message, Shakira has placed a life-size witch doll on her balcony overlooking her mother-inlaw’s home.
On Instagram, the singer yesterday posted an emotional message to her 80 million followers, in which she described the song – titled Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol 53 – as cathartic and also as an anthem for other women going through break-ups.
She wrote: “I never thought what for me was a catharsis and a release would go straight to number one in the world in Spanish at my age of 45.
“I want to embrace the millions of women who rise up against those who make us feel insignificant. “Women who defend what they feel and think and raise their hand when they don’t agree, although others raise their eyebrows. They are my inspiration. And this achievement is not just mine but of all of you.
“We have to stand up 70 x seven. Not as society tells us to, but in the way we want to, the way that helps us to get ahead for the sake of our children, our parents, for those who need us and place their hope in us.” Pique has not taken the insults lying down. Despite his ex’s claims of lacking the brain power he came up with a suitably savvy riposte, posing with a Casio watch when he appeared on television to promote his sevena-side football league.
“This watch will last a lifetime,” he declared with a grin.