"Amarillo" (English: "Yellow") is a Latin pop ballad by Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira, taken from her eleventh studio album, El Dorado (2017). The lyrics are written and composed by Shakira and Luis Fernando Ochoa, with Supa Dups as co-producer, and A.C. and Stephen McGregor as additional producers. The song was certified Platinum+Gold in Mexico.
| "Amarillo" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Shakira | |
| from the album El Dorado | |
| Genre | |
| Length | 3:40 |
| Label | Sony Latin |
| Songwriter(s) |
|
| Producer(s) |
|
| Audio video | |
| "Amarillo" on YouTube | |
Composition
edit"Amarillo" is a Latin pop ballad.[1] Lyrically the song discusses love, adoration and admiration with metaphors employing different colors.[2][3] It was initially rumored that "Amarillo" was written by Shakira for Gerard Piqué, her partner at the time, due to the song's lyrics being applicable and being interpreted as referring to a romantic relationship.[4][3][2] What fueled the rumors was also the Catalan phrase "t'estimo" ("I love you") in the lyrics, as it is Piqué's native language,[2][5] and Shakira sharing a video clip of her performing the song on social media amidst separation rumors with Piqué in 2017, to which he replied with heart emojis.[6][7][8] The song is also Piqué's favorite.[2] However, in 2023, it was revealed by Shakira's pianist Laura Andrés in an interview that the song is in fact not written for Piqué, but "solely and exclusively" for their son Sasha.[9]
Live performances
editShakira performed "Amarillo" on the El Dorado World Tour.[10] She played an acoustic guitar when she performed the song.[11] The live performance of the song filmed during the tour dates in Los Angeles is featured on the live album Shakira in Concert: El Dorado World Tour (2019).[12][13]
Reception
editStephanie Penman from We Plug GOOD Music described the song as "a toe-tapping finger clicking mix of gorgeous penetrative drum beats, clubbed together with Shakira’s exquisite voice".[14] Journalist Pável Gavona praised "Amarillo" as one of "the best ballads in recent history".[4] Alejandro Gómez Lizarraga from Los 40 called the song "one of the most liked songs" from the album, noting the "very beautiful metaphors related to colors" in the lyrics.[3] Joan Wallace from Latin Times assessed "Amarillo" as "one of the best titles along", encapsulating the song as an "up-tempo pop track with a great verse and playful chorus".[15] Si Hawkins from The National compared the song to "Papa Don't Preach" by Madonna, but with a "pumping Europop chorus".[16] A comparison to the Madonna song was also made by Allan Raible from ABC News, who additionally depicted how "the song blossoms into much more as it progresses".[17] Chuck Campbell from Knoxville News Sentinel characterized "Amarillo" as "vibrant", with a "Disney-esque anthem chorus".[18] Mike Wass from Idolator called "Amarillo" a "highlight" in his live album review.[19]
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico (AMPROFON)[20] | Platinum+Gold | 90,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
edit- ^ "La canción de Shakira a Piqué en medio de rumores de separación". www.ecuavisa.com (in Spanish). 9 October 2017. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ^ a b c d "Todas las canciones que Shakira dedicó a Piqué antes de 'Monotonía'". Europa FM (in Spanish). 16 October 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
- ^ a b c LOS40 (2017-06-21). "¿De qué habla Shakira en 'Amarillo'? ¡Desciframos el tema! | Música". LOS40 (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2024-04-02.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Álvarez, Carmen (2022-10-10). "¿A quién va dirigida la canción de Amarillo de Shakira?". Cadena Dial (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ^ EPE (2022-10-17). "Todas las canciones que Shakira dedicó a Piqué". elperiodicodeespana (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ^ "La declaración de amor de Shakira en mitad de su supuesta crisis con Piqué". MARCA (in Spanish). 2017-10-09. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ^ "La respuesta de Piqué a la canción de amor de Shakira". Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 2017-10-06. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ^ "Shakira zanja los rumores de separación cantando 'Amarillo', canción dedicada a Piqué | Europa FM". www.europafm.com (in Spanish). 2017-10-06. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ^ "Pianista de Shakira revela que 'Amarillo' no es una canción dedicada a Piqué". Actitudfem (in Spanish). 2023-11-22. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ^ "Shakira Rocks, Body Rolls at New York Stop of El Dorado World Tour". Rolling Stone. 2018-08-11. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ^ Alim, Teta (12 August 2018). "Shakira launches 'El Dorado' with real and vocal fireworks". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
- ^ "Historia detrás de las lágrimas de Shakira en concierto en Bogotá | La FM". www.lafm.com.co (in Spanish). 2018-11-06. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
- ^ "Shakira Announces 'El Dorado World Tour' Live Album". idolator. 2019-11-08. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
- ^ Music, We Plug Good (2017-05-29). "WPGM Recommends: Shakira - El Dorado (Album Review)". WE PLUG GOOD MUSIC. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ^ Wallace, Joan (2017-05-26). "Shakira 'El Dorado' Review: Average Album With Lack Of Concept, More Like Guest Artist Compilation [LISTEN]". Latin Times. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ^ Hawkins, Si (2017-05-29). "Album review: Shakira's El Dorado is a summer treat for her Latino fans". The National. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ^ Raible, Allan. "The Beatles, Shakira, Little Yachty and more album reviews". ABC News. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ^ Campbell, Chuck. "Shakira shines on 'El Dorado'". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ^ "Film Review: 'Shakira In Concert: El Dorado World Tour'". idolator. 2019-11-14. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ^ "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved 3 May 2022. Type Shakira in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Amarillo in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.