Singer-songwriters have a long-standing custom of expressing their pain, heartbreak, or vengeance. This is how megastars like Adele and Taylor Swift achieved enormous success. In her new song “TQG,” Colombian pop sensation Shakira reveals her personal struggles following her separation from former Spanish footballer Gerard Piqué. Collaborating with her compatriot Karol G, the “Waka Waka” hitmaker’s Spanish-language song was translated into English by Billboard. Shakira’s lyrics are quite frank about the failed relationship. She states, “Seeing you with the new girl hurt me, but I’m now focused on myself. I’ve forgotten our shared experiences, and you’re offended by that. Even though my life has improved, you’re no longer welcome here. What your girlfriend said about me doesn’t make me angry; it makes me laugh.” Later, she adds, “Now that you want to come back to me, it shows.”
Shakira and Gerard separated after 11 years of a relationship that started when Gerard appeared in the music video “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),” the official anthem of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. They announced their separation last June. Shakira discussed the split with Gerard in a September 2022 interview with Elle Magazine. She expressed her dismay at the paparazzi’s constant surveillance of her every move. “It’s difficult to talk about,” she said, “especially because I’m still going through it, and because I’m in the public eye, and because our separation isn’t like a regular separation. It’s been tough not just for me, but also for my kids.”
“I have paparazzi camping outside, in front of my house, 24/7. There’s no place where I can hide from them with my kids, except for my own house. You know, we can’t take a walk in the park like a regular family or go have an ice cream or do any activity without the paparazzi following us. So it’s hard,” she continued.
Shakira and Gerard have two sons together, Milan and Sasha.
