Last year was full of releases from big-name pop stars and perhaps the first blockbuster pop album of 2014 has been announced. Shakira revealed this morning via her Facebook account that her forthcoming album, titled simply Shakira, would be released March 25.
The star offered a lengthy explanation within her Facebook post. First things first: For those who might accuse Shakira of sticking with a self-titled album to emulate Beyoncé's November smash, she didn't.
When the time came to put a name to this album, I realized that it's not exactly a thematic album, though love is and always has been one of my main subjects and sources for inspiration. It's also not necessarily conceptual, as some of my albums have been in the past," she typed. "I am sometimes extremely sensitive, sometimes upbeat, others dreamy and romantic, and even at times a little melodramatic...Most importantly, I am enough. Imperfections and all. So what I am offering you now is just that...Shakira."
So expect something that's all over the place, or at least varies in its approach. Listeners have already gotten a taste of the new album in both the English and Spanish-language versions of her new single "Can't Remember to Forget You" (or "Nunca Me Acuerdo De Olvidarte"). The English version takes an Andy-Summers-style guitar riff (as well as a guest spot from Rihanna) to lend the track an upbeat reggae mood. The Spanish version is of course the same, except from the Rihanna appearance.
The track peaked at no. 31 on the Billboard Mainstream Top 40 last week.
