Shakira surprised fans and shattered records with a free concert on the iconic TSX Stage in New York City’s Times Square. The electrifying performance drew a staggering crowd of over 40,000 – the largest gathering ever witnessed in the area, even surpassing New Year’s Eve celebrations.
This surprise concert comes amidst the highly anticipated release of Shakira’s first album in seven years. The title, translating to ‘Women No Longer Cry’, carries a powerful message. During a recent appearance on ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,’ Shakira elaborated on the album’s theme, expressing a sense of artistic liberation.
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“It’s about feeling free”, she declared to Fallon.”Free to create, free to express myself, and free from the limitations that have been placed on women for so long.” She further explained the album’s title, stating, “It signifies a turning point. For centuries, women have been expected to conform to narratives of heartbreak and suffering. This album says enough is enough. We are done crying on cue.”
Shakira continued, emphasising the importance of emotional vulnerability for both sexes. “The title doesn’t say ‘men don’t cry,'” she clarified to Fallon. “It simply says it’s ‘men’s turn now.’ We all deserve to express our full range of emotions, and it’s time to break down these archaic gender stereotypes.”
The Times Square concert was a precursor to the album’s release. The sheer number of fans who flocked to the surprise performance demonstrates the enduring popularity of Shakira’s music and the resonating message of her new album.
“I’ve been putting out music here and there, but it was really hard for me to put together a body of work,” said the Grammy winner. “I didn’t have time. It was the husband factor. Now I’m husbandless. Yeah, the husband was dragging me down. Now I’m free. Now I can actually work,” continued Shakira, who was never legally married to Piqué during their time together.
-Sushmita Sarkar