Shakira Stresses Importance of Being ‘Faithful to Ourselves’

Shakira has realized the strength of women, nearly a year after ending her 11-year relationship with former professional soccer star Gerard Piqué last June. The "Hips Don't Lie" singer seemingly shared her thoughts about her highly-publicized split from her cheating ex over the weekend while accepting Billboard's first Woman of the Year award at the inaugural Latin Women in Music gala. In the last few months, the artist has placed four songs at No. 1 on the Billboard Latin charts and has broken 14 Guinness World Records.

Shakira told the audience that when she felt the "most lost," music put her back on the road to herself. Alluding to her messy public breakup, the 46-year-old singer told the audience in a clip posted by Billboard's official page, "This has been a year of seismic change in my life where I've felt more than ever. And very personally, what it is to be a woman."

Over the course of the year, the "Waka Waka" singer realized women are "stronger than we think, braver than we believed, more independent than we were taught to be." Relating to her fellow women, Shakira asked, "What woman hasn't at some time in her life forgotten herself because she's seeking the attention and love of someone else? It happened to me, more than once."

Despite that, she found the strength to no longer depend on someone else to love and "accept herself just as she is," she said. "A time when the search for someone else is replaced by the search for oneself." The Colombian singer-songwriter prefers to be authentic than be desired, adding that "finding someone who is faithful is less important than being faithful to ourselves."

The "Whenever, Wherever" hitmaker then shared the "most important lessons I learned from other women." In return, she wrote music because "only a woman can love until she’s ripped apart; can speak with the most brutal honesty; can sing with anger; dance in ecstasy and be brought to tears with emotion. Only a woman can do that.”

After thanking her mom and her friends, Shakira gave a shout-out to all women. "Thank you for this recognition," she said. "I share it with those incredible women I call sisters who have taught me so much because they understand their own vulnerability but also their own strength."

It's crazy to think of how much music has changed over the years, especially with top 40 hits. Below, we have compiled a list of 20 songs that turn 20 in 2022. We still can't believe how quickly time flies, as some of these songs still hold to this day.