Shakira returns to Spain in fire, tears and 'Waka Waka'
Shakira kicked off her 12-show residency in Madrid on Friday, performing 25 songs before 50,000 fans in her first return to Spanish stages in years.
On Saturday, September 18th at 20:49 local time, Shakira made her return to Madrid, Spain, stepping onto the stage of the stadium named after her. The 2-hour concert featured 25 songs, starting with her recent collaboration "La Fuerte" alongside Bizarrap, followed by hits "Girl Like Me", "Las de la Intuición", and "Estoy Aquí". Shakira expressed her emotions, saying "Good evening, Madrid, I can't believe I'm here" and revealing her private life experiences, comparing her transformation to that of a she-wolf reunited with her pack.
The set included songs like "Te Felicito", "TDG" with Rauw Alejandro and Karol G, "Don't Bother", "Can't Remember to Forget You" with Rihanna, and collaborations like "Copa Vacía", "La Bicicleta", and "La Tortura". The concert also featured "Hips Don't Lie" and "Chantaje", which marked the end of the first hour. The second half began with "Loca" and a personal confession from Shakira about family breakups and finding strength in single life, followed by "Soltera" under a giant 'S' on stage.
Her earlier works such as "Ojos Asi", "Pies Descalzos", and "Antología" were performed, revisiting her beginnings as an artist. Shakira mentioned that "The most important years of my life I lived here, in Spain. It was here that I became a mother." The concert concluded with the anthem "Waka, Waka", now adopted for the 2026 World Cup, and ended with "BZRP Music Sessions #53" amidst confetti and fireworks.
The concert took place at Macondo Park, a temporary city located next to the stadium, named after the fictional town in Gabriel García Márquez's "One Hundred Years of Solitude". The park opened to the public on Friday around 17:00, but was delayed by an hour and a half. The park featured eight pavilions showcasing aspects of Hispano-American culture under the Es Latina project.
Prior to Shakira's performance, several local bands, including Guitarricadelafuente, Maro, Virtual Diva, and Santos Bravos, played on various stages, expressing their admiration for the Colombian star. The album "Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran" (2024), the singer's twelfth studio record, is said to deal with her breakup with former footballer Gerard Piqué. Macondo Park will close its doors on October 11th after the final concert scheduled in Madrid.
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