OPINION | Shakira reminds us of a universal truth with her hit song

Shakira and Bizarrap, clearly a marketing phenomenon 4:17

Editor's Note:

Ximena N. Beltran Quan Kiu is a Chicago-based writer and communication specialist.

The opinions presented in this column belong exclusively to the author.

(CNN) --

Last week, Shakira did to her ex, former soccer player Gerard Piqué, what every person who has been mistreated and belittled by their partner wishes they could do.

She smashed her ego, and in the process reminded herself -- and the world -- of what he's capable of.

In 24 hours, "BZRP Music Session #53", his new song with Argentine producer and DJ Bizarrap, broke the record of 63 million views on YouTube and 14.4 million plays on Spotify.

The catchy pop tune is a formidable addition to the heartbreak song canon, but it's more than just a sneer at his ex-partner and father of his two children.

By airing her claims in such a public forum, Shakira made an explosive and significant cultural statement by refusing to bear the shame associated with the end of her relationship.

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But therein lies the problem.

Not everyone agrees with his attitude.

Headlines about her song have taken on a sexist tone, calling her behavior "mean" and the theme a "revenge hit."

Users of social networks wonder if Shakira broke an unwritten rule among women by dragging the new love of her ex.

Others are glad to see the drama unfold as she is put on trial for airing her "dirty laundry" on her.

Gerard Pique and Shakira on May 30, 2015 in Barcelona, ​​Spain.

Credit: David Ramos/Getty Images

We've heard the stigmatization of women owning their broken hearts before.

Most notably with Taylor Swift.

In a 2014 interview, Swift responded to criticism that she profited from her ex-partners.

"You're going to have people going, 'Oh, you know, like, she just writes songs about her ex-boyfriends,'" the singer said.

"And I think, frankly, that's a very sexist point of view. Nobody says that about Ed Sheeran. Nobody says that about Bruno Mars. Everyone writes songs about their exes, their current girlfriends, their love life, and nobody raises a flag red there."

And he's right.

Just look at Bad Bunny.

His album "Un Verano Sin Ti" broke record after record, earning him the number one album of the year spot on Billboard.

The album has a theme of heartbreak that reiterates in most of its 23 songs.

And yet, Internet searches for the Puerto Rican singer, along with his album title, don't immediately throw up criticism of the monetization of his love life, but instead applaud his genius and creativity.

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In a viral tweet that was posted the same day the song was released, user Melany Mora Murillo broke down all the subtle ways Shakira takes her intimate knowledge of Piqué and weaponizes it, leaving little (if any) doubt. ) about whom it refers to.

Highlights of the thread include: pointing out how Bizarrap samples rhythms from "Me Enamoré," a 2017 song Shakira did about her then-relationship with Piqué, and noting how Shakira syncs her lyrics to allude to numerology in the relationship her.

At minute 2:22 he sings "Yo valgo por dos de 22", which is not only a reference to Piqué's youngest girlfriend (who is now 23 years old; he will turn 36 next month), but to the date of birthday that the ex-partner shared on February 2, 10 years apart.

To really appreciate what's behind the song, you have to watch the video, where Shakira's body language adds another layer of complexity.

The camera focuses on her as she attacks her former love, taking up space and moving her body, projecting confidence and power.

It's a radical change from "Monotonía", released in October 2022. In the video clip for Monotonía, she spends most of the time crying, looking disheveled and singing "it wasn't your fault, nor mine, it was the fault of the monotony".

And this is where we really see Shakira upping the ante, saying (with a very sharp pun on her ex's last name, to top it off) "I understood that it's not my fault that they criticize you, I only make music, sorry that you salt.. chop".

The only time she is demure is when she downplays her impact by saying that she "just makes music", appropriating gender stereotypes of weak and submissive women to her advantage.

Shakira exposes her problems and explains what is keeping her up at night: having her mother-in-law as a neighbor, the harassment of the press not only because of the breakup, but also because of an accusation of tax evasion for which, if convicted, she will be faces eight years in prison and a fine of close to US$25 million (she has repeatedly denied the accusations against her).

After reviewing the obstacles she faces after her departure, things that would be overwhelming under normal circumstances, she redoubles her faith in herself and brings other betrayed women into the fold by chanting "women don't cry anymore, women bill".

This song may have been created as an act of survival - she describes it as "cathartic" and sings about having to "let off steam" from her pain - but there's no denying that she's a money maker and showing the world that still has wood.

There is no doubt that he is making money.

But by being so open about what she's going through, she's stepped into her power, and she's succeeding.

She has rejected societal expectations and pressures to behave in a certain way when a long-term relationship comes to an end.

In the process, she's scored the biggest Spanish-language debut in Spotify history (quite a feat in the post-Bad Bunny era, "Un Verano Sin Ti").

As a woman whose life partner is now her ex--a painful reminder of what happens when you accept less than your worth--Shakira is reminding others of a universal truth.

There is no manual for the worst moments of your life.

Someone will most likely criticize you for whatever you do while you're recovering, so it's best to do what feels right to you.

Shakira