Shakira has shared how her iconic hit “Hips Don’t Lie” almost didn’t make it onto her album, requiring her to convince a top music executive to recall and repackage albums already in stores. This bold decision, driven by Shakira’s unwavering belief in the song, proved transformative for her career, resulting in one of the most successful singles of the 2000s.
In a recent sit-down with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show, Shakira shared the surprising story behind her 2005 chart-topper. The Colombian superstar revealed that she had to personally convince her record label to halt the release of her album Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 so she could include the soon-to-be smash hit.
“It was a crazy moment,”
Shakira told Fallon.
“The album was already sent out to stores. It was out there. But then I had this random dream about Wyclef Jean, and the next morning my manager calls and says, ‘Wyclef wants to work with you.’ I thought, ‘This has to mean something.’”
“Hips Don’t Lie,” a collaboration with Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean, was released by Epic Records on February 28, 2006, as the lead single for the reissue of Shakira’s seventh studio album. The track was a reworking of Jean’s 2004 song “Dance Like This,” with Shakira and Jean co-writing the lyrics and composing the music alongside contributors like Omar Alfanno, Duplessis, Luis Días, LaTavia Parker, and Shakira’s percussionist Archie Pena.
Shakira jumped at the chance to collaborate, and from that spontaneous decision, “Hips Don’t Lie” was born. But the song’s road to release wasn’t smooth. The label wasn’t convinced. The album was already printed, packed, and distributed. Pulling it back would be a costly move.
“I called the head of my label and just told him, ‘You’ve got to trust me. This song is different. It’s going to be a hit,’”
she said.
“Thankfully, he believed me. We repackaged everything.”
The song’s journey began after the original Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 had already hit store shelves. Recognizing its potential, Shakira took the extraordinary step of contacting Don Ienner, a top executive at Sony Music, to push for recalling the distributed albums and adding the new single.
Don Ienner was a powerhouse in the music industry. He served as President and CEO of Sony Music Label Group, U.S., overseeing labels like Columbia Records Group, Epic Records, and Sony Music Nashville. Known as an intense and savvy marketer, Ienner had a knack for identifying hit songs and artists. His willingness to trust Shakira’s instincts would prove pivotal.
Shakira recounted their conversation:
“I knew I had a hit, so I called Donny Ienner, who was in charge at the time, and I said, ‘Donny, you have to pick up the album from the stores.’ He said, ‘No way. This album is already out.’
Recalling an album was a rare and risky move, involving significant financial and logistical hurdles—collecting albums from retailers, repackaging them, and redistributing them. Yet, Ienner agreed, and the gamble paid off spectacularly.
Shakira also spoke about the deeper meaning behind the song’s success.
“It wasn’t just about making people dance,”
she said.
“It was about connecting with my fans through powerful, fun, and confident lyrics. I wanted to make something they could feel.”
“Hips Don’t Lie” soared to number one in 55 countries, including the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, marking Shakira’s first chart-topping hit there. It set records for the most radio plays in a week and became the fastest-selling digital download song in the U.S.. The RIAA certified it quadruple platinum, with over 4 million digital copies and 2 million ringtones sold in the U.S. alone.
The song’s infectious rhythm and Shakira’s iconic hip movements in the music video turned it into a cultural phenomenon, transcending language barriers and cementing her status as a global superstar. The phrase “hips don’t lie” became a pop culture staple.
Nearly two decades later, “Hips Don’t Lie” remains a defining moment in Shakira’s career. Its success validated her artistic intuition and showcased the power of cross-cultural collaboration. As Shakira noted, the decision to recall the album “changed my story.”
Interestingly, just four months after the song’s release, in June 2006, Ienner resigned from Sony Music amid management shifts at Sony BMG. While unrelated to Shakira’s project, his departure underscores the high-stakes environment of the time.
Fast-forward to this week, and “Hips Don’t Lie” is still stealing the spotlight. Shakira and Wyclef reunited to perform the hit live on The Tonight Show, marking its 20th anniversary. The performance came right after Shakira turned heads at the 2025 Met Gala, where she wore a stunning pink princess gown—train and all.
