Pies Descalzos

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Lore & Background

The title translates to "Bare Feet," symbolizing a return to simplicity and authenticity. In 1990, a 13-year-old Shakira signed a recording contract with Sony Music Colombia. Her debut studio album Magia was released in 1991, selling an underwhelming 1,200 copies in her native Colombia. The follow-up record Peligro was released in 1993 and suffered a similar failure. Shakira then tried for an acting career, starring in Colombian telenovela El Oasis. In 1994, she recorded her song "¿Dónde Estás Corazón?", which was included on a Colombian compilation album titled Nuestro Rock Volumen II and became a big hit in the country. Its success motivated Sony Music to commission Shakira to create a complete rock album, Pies Descalzos, which was produced on a budget of only $100,000. The album opens with "Estoy Aquí", notable for its rock guitar instrumentation, and includes the ballad "Antología", which notes an appreciation of the knowledge a lover has shared. "Un Poco de Amor" became her first track to include phrases in English, performed by Howard Glasford, and introduces elements of reggae music. "Pies Descalzos, Sueños Blancos" features biblical and other symbolism such as "you were dust, dust you are" or "you bit the apple" in its lyrics. "Se Quiere, Se Mata" poetically expresses Shakira's point of view on the abortion controversy.

In Their Own Story

The album's lead single "Estoy Aquí" was released in August 1995 and peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Latin Songs component chart. Its music video, directed by Simon Brand, depicts a barn during the fall and wintertime and shows a black-haired Shakira performing the song with her guitar. The second single "¿Dónde Estás Corazón?" peaked at numbers 3 and 5 on the Billboard Latin Pop Songs and Latin Songs charts, respectively. Its music video, directed by Gustavo Garzón, shows scenes of Shakira holding photographs, sitting in a red chair or singing in the rain. The third single "Pies Descalzos, Sueños Blancos" reached number 11 on the Billboard Latin Pop Songs chart, with a music video directed by Garzón showing Shakira singing at a masquerade ball. The fourth single "Un Poco de Amor" peaked at number 11 on both the Billboard Latin Songs and Latin Pop Songs charts, with a music video depicting Shakira singing and dancing with guest vocalist Howard Glasford and members of various ethnic groups. The fifth single "Antología" peaked at numbers 3 and 15 on the Latin Pop Songs and Latin Songs charts, respectively, and as of November 2024, its live performances on YouTube had amassed over 170 million views. The sixth and final single "Se Quiere, Se Mata" reached numbers 1 and 8 on the Latin Pop Songs and Latin Songs charts, respectively, with a music video directed by Juan Carlos Martin that tells the story of Braulio and Dana, who succumb to their sexual desires, resulting in Dana's pregnancy and death from an abortion.

Reader's Guide

Shakira promoted the album with the Tour Pies Descalzos that lasted from October 1995 to October 1997. On 6 October 1995, the date of the album's release, she held the first live Concierto de Lanzamiento performance at La Castellana theater in Bogotá. During the tour, she visited most Latin American countries, the U.S. and Spain. In 1996, the concert in Ecuador and the show in Mexico City that attracted over 10,000 fans were filmed and broadcast on national televisions. By the tour's conclusion, Shakira had performed about 100 shows across three continents. At the 1997 Billboard Latin Music Awards, the album received two awards: Pop Album of the Year by a Female Artist and Pop Album of the Year by a New Artist. "Un Poco de Amor" won for Pop Video of the Year. Pies Descalzos was also nominated at the 9th Lo Nuestro Awards in 1997 for Pop Album of the Year, but lost to Enrique Iglesias's album Vivir. Shakira herself received the Lo Nuestro Awards for Pop Female Artist of the Year and Pop New Artist of the Year. In 2015, Billboard listed Pies Descalzos as one of the Essential Latin Albums of Past 50 Years, concluding that "finally, Latin rock had found its muse."

Did You Know?

• The album was produced on a budget of only $100,000.
• Shakira's first track to include phrases in English, 'Un Poco de Amor', features guest vocalist Howard Glasford and introduces elements of reggae music.
• The album was awarded the 'Diamond Prism' in Colombia, acknowledging one million copies sold in the nation.
• In Latin America, the album sold over 2 million copies by May 1997, and as of 2008 had sold over five million copies worldwide.
• The music video for 'Se Quiere, Se Mata' tells the story of Braulio and Dana, where Dana dies from an abortion.