Shakira recalls how ‘Hips Don’t Lie’ almost didn’t make it and nearly didn’t exist as song turns 20

Shakira recently shared the story behind her iconic hit “Hips Don’t Lie,” revealing that the song almost didn’t make it onto her 2005 album Oral Fixation, Vol. 2.

During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on May 8, the Colombian singer explained that the opportunity to record the track came after the album had already been sent out for sale.

The decision to pull the album back and include the song, which was a collaboration with Wyclef Jean, turned out to be a risky yet successful move. “Hips Don’t Lie” went on to become a global sensation, topping the Billboard Hot 100 and accumulating more than 2 billion streams on Spotify. The song’s infectious rhythm continues to captivate listeners, maintaining its place as an ageless anthem.

Shakira recalled that her album had already been distributed when the idea to add “Hips Don’t Lie” arose. She explained that the collaboration with Wyclef came about after a peculiar dream she had, which ultimately led her manager to reach out to the artist. “I woke up and my manager called me and said, ‘Wyclef wants to work with you,’” she said. Feeling confident about the track, Shakira convinced her record label to pull back the distributed albums and repackage them to include the song.

In her conversation with Fallon, Shakira reflected on how the track changed her career. She mentioned that the song not only became a defining anthem in her music career but also impacted her personal life, with the catchy refrain “Shakira, Shakira” becoming a cultural staple.

In addition to discussing the song’s success, Shakira also spoke about the challenges it initially faced, especially in terms of radio play in the U.S. at the time, due to its Latin sound. Despite this, "Hips Don't Lie" went on to be a breakthrough hit, marking a significant moment in her musical journey.