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La Tortura

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"La Tortura"
Song

"La Tortura" (English: "The Torture") is a song by Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira featuring Spanish singer-songwriter Alejandro Sanz for Shakira's sixth studio album Fijación Oral, Vol. 1. It was released on 12 April 2005 by Epic Records as the lead single from the record. The song was written and produced by Shakira, with additional writing and production from Luis F. Ochoa and Lester Mendez, respectively. "La Tortura" is a Latin pop song with prominent influences of reggaeton.

The song achieved large-scale success on different radio and chart formats, becoming the most famous Spanish language track of both singers worldwide and the sixth most successful song in Shakira's career behind "Hips Don't Lie", "Whenever, Wherever", "Underneath Your Clothes", "She Wolf", and "Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)" and the most successful song ever for Alejandro Sanz. The song won two Latin Grammy Awards at the 2006 Ceremony for Song of the Year and Record of the Year. The song was number 1 on the Hot Latin Songs for 25 weeks during 2005, and was the biggest selling song of the year on that chart.

Background and composition

"La Tortura" (2005)
The chorus is a back-and-forth dialogue between Shakira and Sanz.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

The single is a duet between Shakira and Spanish balladeer Alejandro Sanz, both of whom also composed it alongside Luis Fernando Ochoa. It was mixed by Gustavo Celis.

It tells the story of a woman who has been emotionally "tortured" because her boyfriend cheated and eventually left her for another, and has now returned begging forgiveness. He apologises extravagantly, but is ultimately of the thinking that infidelity is natural for men and for the woman not to forgive him would be tiresome and unreasonable. However, at the end of the song, Shakira's character humiliates him and says that she is not going to shed a single tear over him.[1]

The single is Shakira's sixth in the United States, following the commercial success of her 2001 English language album Laundry Service.

Critical reception

The song received positive reviews from most music critics. Matt Cibula from PopMatters wrote an extense review, saying that "The big single isn’t quite reggaetón, although it makes full use of the reggaetón beat. What really matters are these two overheated voices working with and against each other, and the way that undeniable beat really comes alive when there is actually a beautiful melody underneath it."[2] Spencer D. from IGN wrote that "the more 'ethnic' musical implements on "La Tortura" (accordion, Spanish guitar flutters, jostling rhythms, and the complimentary male vocals of Alejandro Sanz) make for one of the more enjoyable and distinct inclusions on the album; a slice of Shakira being Shakira and eschewing the affectation of anybody else's vocal stylings."[3]

Commercial performance

Since its release as a single, the song has become one of the most important Latin songs to move into the mainstream English-speaking culture in the U.S. and Canada. The music video of the song was nominated for Best Female Video, Best Dance video and Viewer's Choice Award on the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards, during which Shakira performed with Sanz (notably, the first time a guest performed a song entirely in a language other than English). "La Tortura" reached a position on the top 30 (#23) of the Billboard Hot 100 in less than twenty weeks after its release and was ranked #60 in the Year End Chart. The song was certified Gold by RIAA for over 500,000 digital sales. The video became the first Spanish music video to be nominated at the MTV Video Music Awards.

The track debuted at #1 in Spain Singles Chart and was a huge hit all over Europe, reaching the top ten in almost all the countries. In Switzerland, the song was in the top five for fifteen consecutive weeks, although it never reached the top position. In Hungary, the song spent 8 consecutive weeks at number 1 position. "La Tortura" wasn't released as an official single in the United Kingdom until December 2006, bundled with the release of Illegal and charted at #34 on the UK Singles Chart. The song also held the record for the longest-run on the Billboard's Hot Latin Tracks chart a total of 25 non-consecutive weeks until it was broken by Enrique Iglesias's song "Bailando" in 2014.[4] As a result, it was featured in the 2007 edition of Guinness World Records. "La Tortura" was chosen as the fifth favorite song of the world in a global survey made by Sony Ericsson, in which 700,000 music fans of 66 countries contributed.

At Billboard magazine's year-end chart (that shows the hottest songs of the year); "La Tortura" was announced as the #1 song on the Hot Latin Tracks chart and ranked 3rd at the Hot Latin Songs 25th Anniversary chart.[5] As of April 2016, the song sold more than 10 million units estimated of combined physical and digital sales and track-equivalent streams.

Music video

Shakira and Alejandro Sanz in the music video for "La Tortura".

The music video for "La Tortura", directed by Michael Haussman, has a simple plot: from his new girlfriend's apartment, Sanz spies on Shakira as she is walking down the street holding a bag of onions on her way to her own apartment, which is on the other side of the street from Sanz' girlfriend's apartment. When Shakira enters her apartment, she changes clothes. From that moment on, Sanz remembers things the two had done in the past as a couple, while Shakira reveals her alter-ego dancing erotically on the building's roof, covered with black paint. The choreography of the music video was made by Jamie King and Shakira herself.

The music video is in itself somewhat notable, as it was the first time MTV showed a whole episode of their Making the Video series in another language (with English subtitles). It was also the second Spanish-language video ever to enter in Total Request Live's countdown, and peaked at number four on the countdown. It can also be noted that the video for "La Tortura" was one of the first in the Spanish language to get heavy rotation on mainstream American and Canadian music channels such as MTV, VH1 and MuchMusic, as well as almost all the international Yahoo! sites. The remix version of the song, known as "La Tortura (Shaketon Remix)", has it own video (also directed by Haussman) featuring some previously unseen scenes. This video can be seen on Oral Fixation Volumes 1 & 2 Bonus DVD. The video was marked "Vevo Certified" by joint venture music video website Vevo for reaching more than 100 million views on YouTube.[6]

Track listing

  • Maxi CD
  1. "La Tortura" [Album version] - 3:36
  2. "La Tortura" [Shaketon Reggaeton Remix] - 3:12
  3. "La Pared" [Acoustic Version] - 2:39

Remixes

The single and the album also included a remix of the song by Gustavo Celis entitled "The Shaketon Mix", merging a reggaeton rhythm with the original rhythm of the song.[clarification needed] A separate music video (also directed by Michael Haussman) was also made for this remix. This video also entered on TRL's countdown.

There is another official reggaeton remix called "Eddie Arroyo Reggaeton Remix". Another official mix has surfaced, the "Tracy Young Special According Mix" and other remixes have also been made by independent DJs. An alternative version of this song, which had been previously leaked on the internet, is featured as a bonus track in the re-release of Oral Fixation Vol. 2, with the chorus sung partially in the English-language.

Accolades

2005 MTV Video Music Awards
  • Viewer's Choice (nominated)
  • Best Female Video (nominated)
  • Best Dance Video (nominated)
2006 Latin Grammy Awards
2005 MTV Video Music Awards Latinoamerica
  • Video of the Year (won)

2005 NRJ Awards

  • International Song Of The Year (won)

2005 Billboard Music Awards

  • Hot Latin Song Of The Year (won)
2005 Latin Billboard Music Awards
  • Song of the Year (won)
  • Song of the Year, Vocal Duet (won)
  • Ringtone of the Year (won)

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria)[40] Gold 15,000*
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[41] Gold 15,000^
Germany (BVMI)[42] Gold 150,000^
Mexico (AMPROFON)[43] Gold 50,000*
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[44] Gold 20,000^
United States (RIAA)[45] Platinum 1,000,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Credits and personnel

  • Invited artist: Alejandro Sanz (appears courtesy of Warner Music Benelux, BV)
  • Lyrics: Shakira
  • Music: Shakira, Luis F. Ochoa
  • Vocals: Shakira, Alejandro Sanz
  • Vocal arrangements: Shakira, Alejandro Sanz

Production

  • Producer: Shakira
  • Executive producer: Rick Rubin
  • Co-producer: Lester Mendez for Living Stereo
  • Additional production: José "Gocho" Torres, Santana "The Golden Boy"
  • Remixer: José "Gocho" Torres ("Shaketon Mix")

Engineering

  • Recording engineers: Gustavo Celis, Rob Jacobs, Kevin Killen
  • Assistant engineers: Bryan Gallant, Juan Camarano, Felipe Alvarez
  • Programming: Pete Davis
  • Mix engineer: Gustavo Celis

Musicians

References

  1. ^ "La Tortura by Shakira Songfacts". Songfacts. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  2. ^ Cibula, Mike (3 August 2005). "Shakira: Fijación Oral, Vol. 1 < PopMatters". PopMatters. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  3. ^ D., Stephen (8 June 2005). "Shakira - Fijacion Oral - Music Review at IGN". IGN. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  4. ^ Mendizabal, Amaya (29 October 2014). "Exclusive: Enrique Iglesias Talks Record-Breaking No. 1 Run for 'Bailando'". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  5. ^ Trust, Gary (October 4, 2011). "Hot Latin Songs Top 25 – The Biggest Hits of the Last 25 Years". Billboard. Macromedia Corporation. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
  6. ^ Whitaker, Dave (February 7, 2013). "VEVO's Certified Award for Videos with 100 Million Views". Dave's Music Database. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  7. ^ "Shakira feat. Alejandro Sanz – La Tortura" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  8. ^ "Shakira feat. Alejandro Sanz – La Tortura" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  9. ^ "Shakira feat. Alejandro Sanz – La Tortura" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  10. ^ "Shakira Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  11. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 01. týden 2006 in the date selector.
  12. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 33. týden 2014 in the date selector. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  13. ^ "Shakira feat. Alejandro Sanz – La Tortura". Tracklisten.
  14. ^ "Shakira – Chart Search" Billboard European Hot 100 Singles for Shakira. [dead link]
  15. ^ "Shakira feat. Alejandro Sanz – La Tortura" (in French). Les classement single.
  16. ^ "Shakira feat. Alejandro Sanz: La Tortura" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
  17. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  18. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  19. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Dance Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  20. ^ "Shakira feat. Alejandro Sanz – La Tortura". Top Digital Download.
  21. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Shakira featuring Alejandro Sanz" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  22. ^ "Shakira feat. Alejandro Sanz – La Tortura" Canciones Top 50.
  23. ^ "Shakira feat. Alejandro Sanz – La Tortura". Singles Top 100.
  24. ^ "Shakira feat. Alejandro Sanz – La Tortura". Swiss Singles Chart.
  25. ^ "Shakira Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  26. ^ "Shakira Chart History (Hot Latin Songs)". Billboard.
  27. ^ "Tropical Airplay". Billboard. Nielson.
  28. ^ "Shakira Chart History (Latin Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  29. ^ "Los discos más escuchados y vendidos en América Latina, EU y Europa" (in Spanish). La Crónica de Hoy. August 4, 2005. Retrieved May 25, 2013.
  30. ^ "2005 Austrian Singles Chart" (in German). Austriancharts. Retrieved 2010-12-29.
  31. ^ "2005 Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 2010-12-29.
  32. ^ "2005 Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 2010-12-29.
  33. ^ "Single top 100 over 2005" (pdf) (in Dutch). Top40. Retrieved 2010-12-29.
  34. ^ 2005 French Singles Chart Disqueenfrance.com Retrieved 2010-12-29
  35. ^ [1] Retrieved 2010-12-29
  36. ^ "Lista Anual Singles 2005" (PDF). Promusicae. Retrieved 2010-12-29.
  37. ^ "Swiss Year end Chart". Swiss.com. Retrieved 2010-12-29.
  38. ^ "Year-End Charts: The Hot 100." Billboard 2005 Year In Music Billboard. 2005.
  39. ^ "Top Latin Songs, Latin Music Hits & Popular Latin Music Charts". Billboard. Retrieved 2009-12-30.
  40. ^ "Austrian single certifications – Shakira – La Tortura" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  41. ^ "Danish single certifications – Shakira – La Tortura". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 13 August 2013. Scroll through the page-list below until year 2007 to obtain certification.
  42. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Shakira; 'La Tortura')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  43. ^ "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved 13 August 2013. Type Shakira in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and La Tortura in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.
  44. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('La Tortura')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  45. ^ "American single certifications – Shakira – La Tortura". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
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