| "Rabiosa" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single byShakira featuringEl Cata orPitbull | ||||
| from the albumSale el Sol | ||||
| Released | 8 April 2011 | |||
| Recorded | 2010 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 2:50 | |||
| Label | Epic | |||
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| Producers |
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| Shakira singles chronology | ||||
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| El Cata singles chronology | ||||
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| Pitbull singles chronology | ||||
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| Music videos | ||||
"Rabiosa" (English:"Rabid") is a song by Colombian singer-songwriterShakira from her ninth studio album,Sale el Sol (2010). Written by Armando Pérez (Pitbull), Edward Bello (El Cata), and Shakira, the song is based on a previously-released version by El Cata.Epic Records released "Rabiosa" as the thirdsingle fromSale el Sol on 8 April 2011; two versions were released: the Spanish-language version featuring El Cata, and the English-language version featuring Pitbull. Musically combiningmerengue anddance, "Rabiosa" features suggestive lyrics about sexuality.
Upon its release, "Rabiosa" received generally favourable reviews frommusic critics, some of whom deemed it one of the strongest tracks onSale el Sol. Commercially, the English version of the song became a worldwide success, peaking atop therecord charts of Portugal and Spain, and reaching the top ten in ten additional countries. In the United States, it was successful on the Latin record charts and peaked at number eight on theBillboardHot Latin Songs chart. "Rabiosa" wascertified double-platinum in Mexico and platinum in Italy and Spain.
An accompanyingmusic video for the song was directed by Jaume de Laiguana and features Shakira enjoying herself in an underground party; scenes of herpole dancing are interspersed throughout the video. Critics were positive towards the video, and many noted its similarity to the music video of Shakira's 2009 single "She Wolf". The video wentviral on video-sharing websiteYouTube two days after its release and was later marked "Vevo Certified" by joint venture music video websiteVevo for reaching more than 100 million views.
"Rabiosa" was written by artistsArmando Pérez, better known by his stage namePitbull,Edward Bello, and Shakira, for the singer's ninth studio albumSale el Sol (2010).[2] The album marked the first time she worked with Bello, who is better known by his stage nameEl Cata, and their collaboration started after Shakira expressed her desire to experiment withmerengue music, saying "I grew up listening to merengue— that was a big part of my life, and I was missing it".[3] Merengue is a type of music and dance originating in the Dominican Republic, and after being referred to Bello by Pitbull, Shakira travelled to the country and began recording sessions with him in his "tiny" studio inSanto Domingo.[4] Bello talked about his collaboration with Shakira, saying "If I was thinking that this little studio was going to be in the world’s vision at this time, I wouldn't believe it".[4]
Two versions of the song are present on the album; the English-language version features verses from Pitbull, while the Spanish-language version features El Cata.[5] "Rabiosa" was chosen to be the third single from the album byEpic Records, and Shakira's official website revealed the artwork for the single on 18 April 2011, the day it was sent to radio stations.[6] Both versions were released fordigital download on 8 April 2011.[7][8] Worldwide, the English version was released as aCD single on 27 May 2011.[2]
Primarily anuptempolatin pop track, "Rabiosa" additionally borrows influences from merengue anddance music.[9] In the song, Shakira and Pitbull/El Cata trade verses regarding each other'ssex appeal. English and Spanish words are mixed together in various lines, such as when Shakira sings "Oye papi, if you like it mocha / Come get a little closer and bite meen la boca".[citation needed] Jennifer Schaffer fromThe Stanford Daily described Shakira and Pitbull's vocals as "sultry" and "raspy," respectively.[1]
The song received generally favourable reviews frommusic critics. James Reed fromThe Boston Globe appreciated Shakira's "sly and vampy" vocals, and termed "Rabiosa" an "irresistible merengue hybrid".[10] Michelle Morgante fromBoston.com called the track a "new merengue-rock hybrid that lays down bare horn riffs over a driving beat in a groove that is irresistible".[11] Jennifer Schaffer fromThe Stanford Daily deemed it one of the "best tracks on the album", praising its dance beats and calling it an "undeniably sexy song you’d expect from a Shakira/Pitbull collaboration".[1] Allison Stewart fromThe Washington Post also recommended the track, labelling it "giddy, rapid-fire Latin pop".[9] Likewise, Mikael Wood fromEntertainment Weekly picked the song as a highlight fromSale el Sol.[12] Carlos Macias fromTerra USA, however, gave the song a negative review, writing it off as a "cheaper version of "Loca"" and criticising Pitbull's collaboration.[13] In 2014, Emily Exton ofVH1 placed the track on her list of Shakira's best duets, summarizing "It's been scientifically proven that Mr. 305 cannotnot make a hit".[14]
At the 2011Los Premios 40 Principales awards ceremony, "Rabiosa" was nominated for "Mejor Canción Internacional en Español" ("Best International Song in Spanish").[15] At the 2012American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP)Awards ceremony, Bello won an award for his composition of the song.[16] At the 27th AnnualInternational Dance Music Awards, "Rabiosa" was nominated for "Best Latin/Reggaeton Track", but lost toSak Noel's "Loca People".[17] At the 2012LatinBillboard Music Awards, "Rabiosa" was nominated for "Canción del Año, Digital" ("Digital Song of the Year"), but lost toDon Omar's "Danza Kuduro".[18][19] At the 2012Premio Lo Nuestro awards ceremony, "Rabiosa" was nominated for "Colaboración del Año" ("Collaboration of the Year") and "Canción Pop Del Año" ("Pop Song of the Year"),[20] and won in the latter category.[21]
The English version of "Rabiosa" was a worldwide commercial success. In Austria, the song entered theAustrian Singles chart at number 36 and peaked at number six, spending a total of 17 weeks in the region.[22] In both the Dutch-speaking Flanders and French-speaking Wallonia regions of Belgium, "Rabiosa" peaked at number five on theUltratop charts, staying on the charts for a total of 16 and 19 weeks, respectively.[23][24] In this region, it was certifiedgold by theBelgian Entertainment Association (BEA) for sales of 10,000 units.[25] In France, "Rabiosa" entered theFrench Singles chart at number 94 and peaked at number six for two weeks, and spent a total of 33 weeks on the chart.[26] In Italy, the song entered theItalian Singles chart at number nine and peaked at number six, spending a total of seven weeks inside the top 20 of the chart.[27] In this region, "Rabiosa" was certifiedplatinum by theFederazione Industria Musicale Italiana (FIMI) for sales of 60,000 units.[28] In Mexico, the single was certified double-platinum by theAsociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas (AMPROFON) for shipments of 120,000 units.[29] In Spain, the song entered theSpanish Singles chart at number 23 and peaked at number one for a total of five weeks, and spent a total of 33 weeks on the chart.[2] In this region, it was certified platinum by theProductores de Música de España (PROMUSICAE) for shipments of 40,000 units.[30] In Switzerland, after initially charting at number 28 on theSwiss Singles chart, "Rabiosa" peaked at number three and spent a total of 21 weeks on the chart.[31] In this region, theInternational Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) certified it gold for selling 10,000 units.[32]
In the United States, "Rabiosa" was successful on the Latin record charts. It peaked at number eight on the USBillboardHot Latin Songs chart, spending a total of 25 weeks on the chart.[33] It also reached number eight on theLatin Pop Airplay chart, spending a total of 28 weeks on the chart.[34] On theTropical Songs chart, it peaked at number 13 and spend a total of 20 weeks on the chart.[35]
The accompanyingmusic video for "Rabiosa" was directed by Jaume de Laiguana and was shot on 24 April 2011, in Barcelona.[37] Laiguana had also directed the videos for the two previous single releases from the album, "Loca" and "Sale el Sol".[38] The music video premiered on Shakira's official website on 7 June 2011,[39] and the English-language version was made available for digital download on 8 June.[40] The Spanish version was made available for digital download a day later.[41] The video begins with Shakira walking into an underground party while sporting a brownbob haircut.[36] Amidst "a party full of silly-string and confetti-flinging fun", she begins dancing and flirting with a man, and at one point lies in a bathtub full of colourful balls.[42][43] Scenes of Shakirapole dancing while wearing a black string bra and knickers and sporting her normal long blonde hair are inter-cut throughout the video.[43] The video ends with Shakira doing asplit while holding onto the pole, and back inside the party shecrowd surfs away.[36] Neither Pitbull or El Cata appear in both versions of the video.[36]
Upon its release, the music video wentviral on video-sharing websiteYouTube two days after its release and was the most-viewed video of that day, gaining almost four million views in less than 48 hours.[44] Critical reception towards the video was favourable. Jeff Benjamin fromBillboard commented that Shakira continues "the fantasies that she started in her "She Wolf" video" and praised Shakira's brunette hairstyle, concluding that "the Latin songstress brings the heat both musically and visually".[36] Becky Bain fromIdolator found Shakira's pole dancing sequence similar to the video ofBritney Spears' 2007 single "Gimme More", but joked that it is "not terribly depressing and certainly not shot in about 15 minutes".[45] Ann Lee fromMetro also found the video similar to the one for "She Wolf" and commended Shakira's pole dancing ability, noting that she "ups the raunch factor" and "gets pulses racing".[43] Sadao Turner fromRyan Seacrest.com praised Shakira's "phenomenal" figure.[46] The video was marked "Vevo Certified" by joint venture music video websiteVevo for reaching more than 100 million views on YouTube.[47]
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Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
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| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium (BRMA)[83] | Gold | 15,000* |
| Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[84] English Version | 2× Platinum | 120,000‡ |
| Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[85] Spanish Version | Gold | 30,000‡ |
| Italy (FIMI)[86] | Platinum | 30,000* |
| Mexico (AMPROFON)[87] English version | 3× Platinum | 180,000‡ |
| Mexico (AMPROFON)[88] Spanish version | 3× Platinum | 180,000* |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE)[89] English version | Gold | 30,000‡ |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE)[30] | Platinum | 40,000[30] |
| Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[90] | Gold | 15,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
