During Semana Santa, in a display of sheer star power, Shakira made an unforgettable splash with her first album in seven years, “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran,” in New York City this week.
The new album has already broken records worldwide.
So what better way to celebrate than with a surprise free concert for fans in the heart of Times Square?
At precisely 7:15 p.m. E.T., Shakira emerged from atop a towering pedestal on the TSX stage, bathed in the spotlight.
“I’m happy to be here surrounded by my Latin people,” Shakira told the over 40,000 adoring fans who showed up at the last-minute concert.
She donned a sleek black ensemble adorned with silver embellishments, and opened the show with her iconic “Hips Don’t Lie.”
Shakira’s return takes Time Square by storm and is nothing less than monumental.
Shakira’s Return Takes Times Square
Shakira addressed the crowd throughout her bilingual performance in both English and Spanish, with an energy that was infectious in person, and now online.
“Hola New York! Wow, this is amazing. Absolutely insane,” she said. “Incredible to be here. It’s so awesome to see you again. Thank you so much for all the love that you’ve been giving me this week during the release of my new album, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran.”
The crowd danced and sang along.
Shakira’s 16-minute set included a variety of songs including “Te Felicito,” “Punteria,” “Cómo Dónde y Cuándo,” and the global No. 1 hit “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53.”
A Historic Moment
But the night held an even greater milestone.
Shakira made history by becoming the first woman and first Latin artist to grace the TSX Broadway stage. She also made history by drawing the largest crowd ever for a concert at this New York City venue.
And as the final notes of her hit collaboration reverberated through the square, the applause was thunderous.
Shakira is “a Pop Phenomenon”
“New York City witnessed a pop phenomenon on Tuesday night as Shakira transformed the heart of Manhattan into a dance floor for a surprise free concert,” Grazia writes.
The surprise show followed Shakira’s appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where she candidly discussed her creative journey.
“ … Fallon shared that the Columbian superstar had already achieved unreal feats since it was released less than three days prior,” The New York Post writes. ‘“In the first 24 hours it was released, the album became the most-streamed album of 2024, already,” the talk show host said. ‘It was certified seven times platinum, already!”
She also candidly discussed her creative journey to Fallon and her fans: “I didn’t have time because of the husband factor,” she revealed. “Now I’m husbandless. Yeah, the husband was dragging me down. Now I’m free. Now I can actually work.”
With Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran, Shakira has conquered Times Square and proves that her music is as irresistible as ever.
