Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll is a Colombian singer. Born and raised in Bar… Read Full Bio ↴Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll is a Colombian singer. Born and raised in Barranquilla, She made her recording debut with Sony Music Colombia at the age of 13. Following the commercial failure of her first two albums, Magia (1991) and Peligro (1993), she rose to prominence in Hispanic countries with her next albums, Pies Descalzos (1995) and Dónde Están los Ladrones? (1998). She entered the English-language market with her fifth album, Laundry Service (2001), which sold over 13 million copies worldwide. Buoyed by the international success of her singles "Whenever, Wherever" and "Underneath Your Clothes", the album propelled her reputation as a leading crossover artist. Broadcast Music, Inc., described Shakira as a "pioneer" who extended the global reach of Latino singers.

Her success was further solidified with the Spanish albums Fijación Oral, Vol. 1 (2005), Sale el Sol (2010) and El Dorado (2017), all of which topped the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart and were certified diamond (Latin) by the Recording Industry Association of America. Meanwhile, her English albums Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 (2005), She Wolf (2009) and Shakira (2014) were all certified gold, platinum or multi-platinum in various countries worldwide. She served as a coach on two seasons of the American singing competition television series The Voice (2013–2014).

With a catalog of 145 songs, Shakira has sold over 80 million records, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Forbes Colombia reported that as of 2018, she is the top-selling female Latin artist of all time. She is credited with opening the doors of the international market for other Latin artists. She has received numerous awards, including three Grammy Awards, twelve Latin Grammy Awards, four MTV Video Music Awards, seven Billboard Music Awards, thirty-nine Billboard Latin Music Awards, twenty-one Guinness World Records and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She was named the Top Female Latin Artist of the Decade by Billboard twice (2000s and 2010s). For her philanthropic work with her Barefoot Foundation and her contributions to music she received the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year and Harvard Foundation Artist of the Year awards in 2011. She was appointed to the President's Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics in the US in 2011, and Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government in 2012.

Animal City
Shakira Lyrics

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Why do all my friends now want to be your lovers?
Your family got bigger when they thought you were rich
And now like maniacs
They scratch your back
Even when it doesn't itch

I want to figure it all
I want to figure it all out

I want to save you from
Save you from all that's vain
Save you from the things that cause us pain

'Cause it's an animal city
It's a cannibal world
So be obedient, don't argue
Some are ready to bite you

It's an animal city
It's a cannibal world
So be obedient, don't argue
Some are ready to bite you, my love

They believe you now have everything you wanted
And once you have become a star
You've got no right to bitch
But someday when you fail
They'll put you on sale
And buy you by the inch

But you're the real deal
And 'real' is your middle name
You know, sometimes I feel
Got to earn every breath we take, baby
Never mind the rules we break

'Cause it's an animal city
It's a cannibal world
So be obedient, don't argue
Some are ready to bite you

It's an animal city
It's a cannibal world
So be obedient, don't argue
Some are ready to rip you right off

With you I feel safe
There's nothing to fear from us
Away from the fangs, the fangs of the world
I may be a coward, but you are brave
And nothing seems so dangerous

'Cause it's an animal city
It's a cannibal world
So be obedient, don't argue
Some are ready to bite you

It's an animal city
It's a cannibal world
So be obedient, don't argue
Some are ready to rip you right off

Cannibal world
Cannibal world
Cannibal world
Cannibal world

So be obedient, don't argue
Some are ready to bite you, my love

Overall Meaning

In Shakira's song "Animal City," the singer discusses the cutthroat nature of the entertainment industry and how it can turn those in it into animals. She opens with the lines: "Why do all my friends now want to be your lovers?/ Your family got bigger when they thought you were rich." Here, she is explaining how fame and success can change people's behavior towards you, and how everyone wants a piece of it.

The second stanza also touches on the nature of the entertainment industry: "And once you have become a star/You've got no right to bitch/But someday when you fail/They'll put you on sale/And buy you by the inch." Shakira is saying that once you've made it to the top, complaining about the industry is seen as ungrateful, but if and when you fall, people will take advantage of it for profit.

Despite the harsh reality, Shakira finds refuge with her significant other, whom she describes as brave while she considers herself a coward. Although they face the cannibal world together, they are able to find a sense of safety with one another. Ultimately, the song highlights the difficult nature of the industry, but also the importance of having people in your life that you can depend on.

Line by Line Meaning

Why do all my friends now want to be your lovers?
The singer is questioning the sudden interest her friends have shown in the person addressed in the song, now that they think they are rich and famous.

Your family got bigger when they thought you were rich
The addressed person's family seem to have increased in numbers because of the respect and wealth they believe the person possesses.

And now like maniacs They scratch your back Even when it doesn't itch
People around the addressed person are doing things for them out of greed and interest, even if it's not something the person asked for.

I want to figure it all I want to figure it all out
The artist wants to understand everything going on around the addressed person.

I want to save you from Save you from all that's vain Save you from the things that cause us pain
The artist wants to protect the addressed person from things that are shallow and unimportant and things that cause emotional or physical pain.

'Cause it's an animal city It's a cannibal world So be obedient, don't argue Some are ready to bite you
The world is competitive and ruthless, so it's important to follow the herd and not take a stand, otherwise one may become a target of others who are ready to take advantage.

They believe you now have everything you wanted And once you have become a star You've got no right to bitch
People around the addressed person seem to think that they have everything they wanted, so they should be grateful and not complain.

But someday when you fail They'll put you on sale And buy you by the inch
People around the addressed person are fickle and will sell them out if they fail or lose popularity.

But you're the real deal And 'real' is your middle name You know, sometimes I feel Got to earn every breath we take, baby Never mind the rules we break
The artist thinks that the addressed person is genuine and true to themselves, and that it's okay to break a few rules in order to earn what you have.

With you I feel safe There's nothing to fear from us Away from the fangs, the fangs of the world I may be a coward, but you are brave And nothing seems so dangerous
The artist feels secure in the presence of the addressed person, and appreciates them for being courageous in a dangerous and ruthless world.

Cannibal world Cannibal world Cannibal world Cannibal world So be obedient, don't argue Some are ready to bite you, my love
The chorus repeats the message of the ruthless, competitive world and advises obedience and non-confrontation to avoid being attacked by others who are ready to pounce.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LUIS FERNANDO OCHOA, SHAKIRA MEBARAK, JOSE MONGE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Why do all my friends now want to be your lovers?
Your family got bigger when they thought you were rich
And now like maniacs, they scratch your back
Even when it doesn't itch
I want to figure it all
I want to figure it all out
I want to save you from
Save you from all that's vain
Save you from the things that cause us pain
'Cause it's an animal city
It's a cannibal world
So be obedient, don't argue
Some are ready to bite you
It's an animal city
It's a cannibal world
So be obedient, don't argue
Some are ready to bite you, my love
They believe you now
Have everything you wanted
And once you have become a star
You've got no right to bitch
But someday when you fail
They'll put you on sale
And buy you by the inch
But you're the real deal
And "real" is your middle name
You know sometimes I feel
Gotta earn every breath we take, baby
Never mind the rules we break
'Cause it's an animal city
It's a cannibal world
So be obedient, don't argue
Some are ready to bite you
It's an animal city
It's a cannibal world
So be obedient, don't argue
Some are ready rip you right off
With you I feel safe
There's nothing to fear from us
Away from the fangs, the fangs of the world
I may be a coward, but you are brave
And nothing seems so dangerous
'Cause it's an animal city
It's a cannibal world
So be obedient, don't argue
Some are ready to bite you
It's an animal city
It's a cannibal world
So be obedient, don't argue
Some are ready rip you right off
Cannibal world
Cannibal world
Cannibal world
Cannibal world
So be obedient, don't argue
Some are ready to bite you, my love