Pies Descalzos

Template:About Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox album Pies Descalzos (Template:Translation, Template:IPA) is the third studio album by Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira, released on 6 October 1995, by Sony Music Colombia. Its music incorporates Latin pop styles, additionally experimenting with pop rock elements. Looking to revive her struggling career after the commercial failures of her first two studio efforts Magia and Peligro, she assumed a prominent position in its production. Luis Fernando Ochoa co-wrote each of the eleven tracks on the record with Shakira and produced the whole album.

Pies Descalzos received generally favorable reviews from music critics, who complimented it as a strong debut showing. Commercially, the project became Shakira's breakthrough record, with which she established notability throughout Latin America. It was awarded the "Diamond Prism" in her native Colombia, acknowledging one million copies sold in the nation. The album additionally peaked at numbers three and five on the US Billboard Latin Pop Albums and Latin Albums component charts, respectively. It was later certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album was also a breakthrough for Shakira in the country according to John Lannert of Billboard.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Six singles were released from Pies Descalzos, all of which attained commercial success in the United States. Its lead single "Estoy Aquí" peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Latin Songs component chart, and was her first track promoted through an accompanying music video. Follow-up singles "¿Dónde Estás Corazón?", "Pies Descalzos, Sueños Blancos', "Un Poco de Amor", "Antología", and "Se Quiere, Se Mata" peaked within the top 20 of the chart. The record was additionally promoted through the Tour Pies Descalzos, which visited North and South America and Europe throughout 1996 and 1997. The album was reissued as Colección de Oro in 2002.<ref name="DeOro">Template:Cite web</ref>

Background

In 1990, a 13-year-old Shakira signed a recording contract with Sony Music Colombia.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Her debut studio album Magia was released in 1991, and largely consisted of tracks she had written since she was eight years old.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Commercially, the project struggled, selling an underwhelming 1,200 copies in her native Colombia. Her follow-up record Peligro was released in 1993, and suffered a similar failure.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Consequently, Shakira took a two-year hiatus, allowing her to complete her high school education.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Looking to revive her struggling career, Shakira decided to make an international debut studio album. Pies Descalzos was produced on a budget of $100,000, since it was expected to only move 100,000 copies.<ref name="Diamond Prism award">Template:Cite web</ref>

Composition

Template:Listen Pies Descalzos primarily focuses on Latin pop genres, though it experiments with pop rock styles.<ref name="Allmusic"/> Assuming a prominent position in its production, she co-wrote each of the 11 tracks included on the record.<ref name="LinerNotes">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> The albums opens with "Estoy Aquí" ("I'm Here"), which sees prominent uses of guitar instrumentation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Lyrically, it discusses a willingness to correct a failed relationship. The pop ballad "Antología" ("Anthology") notes an appreciation of the knowledge a lover has shared. "Un Poco de Amor" ("A Little Bit of Love") states that Shakira is waiting to find someone who loves her. It became her first track to include phrases in English, performed by the uncredited Howard Glasford,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and additionally experiments with elements of reggae music.<ref name="DeOro"/>

The guitar-driven "Quiero" ("I Want") explains Shakira's happiness upon the return of a lover.Template:Citation needed Similarly, the mid-tempo "Te Necesito" ("I Need You") and the upbeat "Vuelve" ("Return") describe her yearning for a romantic partner to re-enter her life.Template:Citation needed "Te Espero Sentada" ("I Wait Sitting") expresses a desire for a romantic partner to be aware of the sorrow his absence brings to Shakira.Template:Citation needed "Pies Descalzos, Sueños Blancos" ("Bare Feet, White Dreams") suggests that one is happiest when living a carefree lifestyle,Template:Citation needed while "Pienso en Ti" ("I Think of You") notes that Shakira thinks more about a lover as times progresses.Template:Citation needed The penultimate track "¿Dónde Estás Corazón?" ("Where Are You Love?") asks that her boyfriend comes back to her.Template:Citation needed The album closes with its eleventh track "Se Quiere, Se Mata" ("You Want, You Kill"), which tells the story of expectant parents Braulio and Dana,Template:Citation needed and sees the usage of a harmonica during its chorus.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Singles

"Estoy Aquí" was serviced as the lead single from Pies Descalzos in 1995.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was met with positive reviews from music critics, who recognized it as a stand-out track from its parent album.<ref name="Allmusic">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="About.com">Template:Cite web</ref> Additionally, it became Shakira's first recording to attain commercial success. The song peaked at numbers 1 and 2 on the Billboard Latin Pop Songs and Latin Songs component charts.<ref name="Billboard">Template:Cite magazine</ref> "Estoy Aquí" became the first track by Shakira to receive an accompanying music video, and was directed by Simon Brand.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The setting depicts a barn during the fall and wintertime, and shows a black-haired Shakira performing the song with her guitar.<ref>Template:Cite AV mediaTemplate:Cbignore</ref>

"¿Dónde Estás Corazón?" was originally featured on a Colombian compilation album titled Nuestro Rock Volumen II.<ref name=fullofgraceximenabook>Template:Cite book</ref> After attaining success, it was included on Pies Descalzos and re-released as the second single of the project, and was also embraced as a highlight from the record.<ref name="Allmusic"/><ref name="About.com"/> The track peaked at numbers 3 and 5 on the Billboard Latin Pop Songs and Latin Songs charts, respectively.<ref name="Billboard"/> Its music video was directed by Gustavo Garzón, and shows various scenes of Shakira holding photographs, sitting in a red chair, and singing in the rain.<ref>Template:Cite AV mediaTemplate:Cbignore</ref>

"Pies Descalzos, Sueños Blancos" was serviced as the third single from its parent album, and was praised for its melody and songwriting.<ref name="About.com"/> In comparison to its preceding singles, the track slightly underperformed, reaching number 11 on the Billboard Latin Pop Songs chart.<ref name="Billboard"/> Its accompanying music video was directed by Garzón, and films Shakira singing while attending an upper class masquerade ball.<ref>Template:Cite AV mediaTemplate:Cbignore</ref>

"Un Poco de Amor" became the fourth single from the project, and was appreciated for its prominent reggae influences.<ref name="About.com"/> It peaked at number 11 on both the Billboard Latin Songs and Latin Pop Songs charts.<ref name="About.com"/> The music video was directed by Garzón,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and depicts Shakira dancing with uncredited guest vocalist Howard Glasford, in addition to members of various ethnic groups.<ref>Template:Cite AV mediaTemplate:Cbignore</ref>

The fifth single "Antología" peaked at numbers 3 and 15 on the Latin Pop Songs and Latin Songs charts, respectively.<ref name="Billboard"/> The track did not receive a formal music video, though a performance in Miami during the Oral Fixation Tour was officially released to YouTube in 2009. As of November 2024 it has amassed over 170 million views.<ref>Template:Cite AV mediaTemplate:Cbignore</ref>

The sixth and final single "Se Quiere, Se Mata" reached numbers 1 and 8 on the Latin Pop Songs and Latin Songs charts, respectively.<ref name="Billboard"/> Its music video was directed by Juan Carlos Martin; it tells the story of Braulio and Dana, who succumb to their sexual desires, resulting in Dana's pregnancy. It concludes as Dana goes to abort her unborn child, and dies herself.<ref>Template:Cite AV mediaTemplate:Cbignore</ref>

Release and promotion

On 21 November 1995, Shakira held the first live concert performance from the album at the La Castellana theater in Bogotá, Colombia, where she performed several tracks.<ref>Treinta años de pies descalzos, un disco que cambió la historia de nuestro pop</ref>

Tour

Template:See also To further promote Pies Descalzos, Shakira embarked on the Tour Pies Descalzos during 1996 and 1997. During the tour Shakira visited most Latin American countries. The show in Mexico City attracted over 10,000 fans.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> By its conclusion, she visited ten countries and performed twenty-one shows across two continents.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The concert in Ecuador was filmed and was broadcast on national television.Template:Citation needed

Critical reception

Template:Music ratings In retrospect, Pies Descalzos received generally favorable reviews from music critics, who complimented it as a strong debut showing. Carlos Quintana from About.com appreciated Shakira's "combination of styles, well thought lyrics and music arrangements", and placed it among her strongest bodies of work.<ref name="About.com"/> Jose F. Promis of AllMusic opined that the record "[balanced] heartfelt, earnest ballads with catchy, jangly pop/rock" and was a "solid debut".<ref name="Allmusic"/> A reviewer from Billboard provided a positive review, opining that the record "[carries] passion, conviction, and honesty".<ref name="Billboardreview">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

At the 1997 Billboard Latin Music Awards, the album received two awards for "Pop Album of the Year by a Female Artist" and "Pop Album of the Year by a New Artist".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The album was also nominated at the 9th Lo Nuestro Awards in 1997 for "Pop Album of the Year", but lost to Enrique Iglesias's album Vivir.<ref name="univision-lonuestro">Template:Cite news</ref> Shakira herself received the Lo Nuestro Awards for "Pop Female Artist of the Year" and "Pop New Artist of the Year".<ref name="Winners-archive">Template:Cite web</ref> In 2015, Billboard listed Pies Descalzos as one of the Essential Latin Albums of Past 50 Years, stating that "Finally, Latin rock had found its muse".<ref name="Prometheus Global Media">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Commercial performance

Commercially, the project became Shakira's breakthrough record, with which she established notability throughout Latin America. In Argentina, it attained double-platinum certification after passing 120,000 in sold copies.<ref name="ArgentinaCertification"/> In her native Colombia, the album was awarded the "Diamond Prism" by her record label, acknowledging sales of one million units.<ref name="lacerts">Template:Cite news</ref> It was awarded platinum in Ecuador, Venezuela, Peru, Chile, Mexico and Central America.<ref name="lacerts"/>

Elsewhere, the album peaked at number 71 on the German Albums Chart.<ref name="Charts">Template:Cite web</ref> In the United States, it failed to chart on the Billboard 200. However, it reached number 34 on the Billboard Hot Heatseekers Albums component chart, and additionally peaked at numbers 3 and 5 on the Latin Pop Albums and Latin Albums charts.<ref name="Billboard"/> As of 2008, Pies Descalzos has sold over five million copies.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Template:As of, it has sold 580,000 copies in the US, making it the 23rd bestselling Latin album in the country according to Nielsen SoundScan.<ref name="bestsellingII">Template:Cite magazine</ref> In Latin America the album sold over 2 million copies.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Legacy

In the book "Shakira: Woman of Grace" Pies Descalzos allowed Shakira to reinvent herself in her career, since after the commercial failure of her albums Magia (1991) and Peligro (1993) she thought about retiring from music.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In an interview with El Tiempo, Alberto Vásquez, manager of Sony Music Colombia's Promotion Department, stated that the album's sales exceeded expectations and allowed the singer to reach new territories where no other Colombian artist had previously reached.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> According to the Colombian magazine "Semana", Shakira achieved the status of an "international phenomenon" with the album.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> According to El Tiempo magazine, in 1996 Shakira had achieved the status of teenage idol among the youth of Latin America.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The magazine "El Comercio" states that the album "paved the way for Latin artists in international pop".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The magazine "El Universo" establishes the album as a point of reference in Spanish music.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hector Gaona of Teleantioquia talks about how the album "changed Colombian pop," expressing that songs like "Antología" and "Estoy Aquí" defined a new aesthetic in Latin music, he also notes that Shakira was "the voice that spoke for a generation".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The newspaper "Las Americas" stated that the album "is the flagship album of a generation, which marked a before and after in the history of Latin American pop".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Señal Colombia described the album's impact as changing the history of Latin pop.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

At the fourth annual Billboard Latin Music Awards in 1997, Pies Descalzos received two awards, one for Pop Album of the Year by a Female Artist and the other for Pop Album of the Year by a New Artist. "Un Poco de Amor" also won for Pop Video of the Year.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Similarly, the album received a nomination in the category of pop album of the year at the ninth edition of the Lo Nuestro Awards, however it lost to Vivir by Enrique Iglesias.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Additionally, Shakira won in the categories of Female Pop Artist of the Year and New Pop Artist of the Year at the same ceremony. "Estoy Aquí" and "Pies Descalzos, Sueños Blancos" received nominations in the categories of Pop Song of the Year and Video of the Year, respectively.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Personnel

Credits adapted from Allmusic.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

• Shakira – producer, vocals
• Luis Fernando Ochoa – producer, background vocals, guitar, keyboards, harmonica, percussion
• Alvaro Farfan – director
• Victor Di Persia – Recording and Mixing Engineer
• Camillo Montilla – engineer, piano
• Sonido Azulado – engineer
• Henry Gerhart – live audio engineer
• Luly Deya – assistant engineer
• José Martínez – assistant engineer
• Freddi Niño – assistant engineer
• Juan Antonio Castillo – mixing
• Michael Fuller – mastering
• Sergio Solano – guitar
• Italo Lamboglia – drums
• Gonzo Vasquez – programming, drums, percussion, background vocals
• Jose Gaviria – background vocals
• Andrea Piñeros – background vocals
• Jose Garcia – bass guitar
• Alejandro Gomez – harmonica
• Eusebio Valderrama – trumpet
• Samuel Torres – percussion
• Felipe Dothe – design
• Javier Hincapie – design
• Patricia Bonilla – photography
• Miguel Angel Velandia – photography

Charts

Weekly charts

Template:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chart

Chart (1996)	Peak position

Template:Album chart

Chart (2002)	Peak position

Year-end charts

Chart (1996)	Peak position
US Top Latin Albums (Billboard)<ref name="Yearend">Template:Cite magazine</ref>	12
US Latin Pop Albums (Billboard)<ref name="Yearend"/>	9

Chart (1997)	Peak position
Brazil (Nopem)<ref name="Nopem1965-1999">Template:Cite web</ref>	22

See also

• 1995 in Latin music
• List of best-selling albums in Brazil
• List of best-selling albums in Colombia
• List of best-selling albums in Mexico
• List of best-selling Latin albums
• List of best-selling Latin albums in the United States

External links

• Shakira.com > Discography > Pies Descalzos
• Fundación Pies Descalzos