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.
Men in This Town
Shakira Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For a small town girl like me?
The good ones are gone or not able
And Matt Damon's not meant for me
Damon's not meant for me
I got to say
California
Is a place that I respect
Come on LA, take advantage
Give me a night that I won't forget
I went to look
From the Sky Bar to the Standard, nothing took
These boys don't care
Got a handful with their projects and with their looks
Where are all the men in this town?
And what's a girl supposed to do?
Did they all run off when they knew
That I was coming 'round, coming 'round?
Where are all the men in this town?
And what's a girl supposed to do?
Did they all run off when they knew
That I was coming 'round, coming 'round?
Fresh
I'm so fresh, I'm so clean
Got the lips and got the skin
Got the skin got that thing
I'm so fresh and I'm so
Is there a prince in this fable
For a small town girl like me?
The good ones are gone or not able
And Matt Damon's not meant for me
I never dreamed that I'd come here to become the next Jolie
But I sure know there's someone
Around somewhere who's meant to be
Where are all the men in this town?
And what's a girl supposed to do?
Did they all run off when they knew
That I was coming round, coming round?
Where are all the men in this town?
And what's a girl supposed to do?
Did they all run off when they knew
That I was coming 'round, coming 'round?
Fresh
I'm so fresh, I'm so clean
Got the lips and got the skin
Got the skin got that thing
I'm so fresh and I'm so
Fresh
I'm so fresh, I'm so clean
Got the lips and got the skin
Got the skin got that thing
I'm so fresh and I'm so
So fly,
It's a suicide, waiting, others say
It's a suicide, waiting, yo no se
It's a suicide, waiting, another day
It's a suicide, waiting
So decide, it's a suicide waiting, all this time
It's a suicide, waiting, donde estas?
It's a suicide, waiting, so I decided
It's a suicide, waiting
Shakira’s song Men in This Town reflects on the difficulties of dating as a small town girl in Los Angeles. The song features a frustrated and disillusioned Shakira, who is struggling to find a decent man in the city of LA. The opening lines, “Is there a prince in this fable, for a small town girl like me? The good ones are gone or not able, and Matt Damon's not meant for me” expresses her desire for a romantic hero to come and sweep her off her feet, yet recognizing that this isn’t likely in reality.
The song also touches on the social expectations of beauty standards in Los Angeles, with Shakira’s question about whether there are any princes around for “a small town girl like me” indicating a sense of insecurity about her looks and worthiness in the city. Furthermore, the line “I’m so fresh, I’m so clean, got the lips and got the skin, got the skin, got that thing, I’m so fresh and I’m so” reflects on the pressure to maintain a certain image and body type in the entertainment industry.
The chorus, which repeats the question “Where are all the men in this town? And what’s a girl supposed to do? Did they all run off when they knew that I was coming round, coming round?” echoes Shakira’s frustration in navigating the dating scene in LA.
Overall, Men in This Town is a relatable song for anyone who has had to deal with the challenges of dating in a big city while maintaining a positive self-image.
Line by Line Meaning
Is there a prince in this fable
Is there a perfect guy for me?
For a small town girl like me?
Who comes from a small town.
The good ones are gone or not able
All the good guys are either taken or not interested.
And Matt Damon's not meant for me
I can’t have any famous actor as I am not meant for them.
I got to say
I have to admit
California
The state of California
Is a place that I respect
I really love and appreciate California.
Come on LA, take advantage
I want to take advantage of the city of Los Angeles.
Give me a night that I won't forget
I want to have a night to remember.
I went to look
I went out to scout.
From the Sky Bar to the Standard, nothing took
I checked out all the popular bars but couldn't find anyone.
These boys don't care
The guys here aren't interested.
Got a handful with their projects and with their looks
They're all too busy with their careers and how they look.
Where are all the men in this town?
Where have all the men gone?
And what's a girl supposed to do?
What am I supposed to do now as result?
Did they all run off when they knew
Did the men leave when they found out I was coming around?
That I was coming 'round, coming 'round?
When I was looking for someone.
I'm so fresh, I'm so clean
I’m looking good!
Got the lips and got the skin
Got everything guys love.
Got the skin got that thing
Got that thing that guys want.
I never dreamed that I'd come here
I never thought I’d come to LA.
To become the next Jolie
To become someone like Angelina Jolie.
But I sure know there's someone
I know I will find someone.
Around somewhere who's meant to be
Who is meant to be with me.
So fly, it's a suicide, waiting, others say
Attractive women are often called unintelligent.
It's a suicide, waiting, yo no se
It's suicidal, and I don't know why.
It's a suicide, waiting, another day
It's always suicidal, like every other day.
It's a suicide, waiting
It's suicidal waiting for these men.
So decide, it's a suicide waiting, all this time
I need to make up my mind, even though it's disastrous for me.
Donde estas?
Where are you?
So I decided, it's a suicide waiting
I’ve decided - this waiting is dangerous.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SHAKIRA ISABEL MEBARAK RIPOLL, JOHN HILL, SAM ENDICOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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