Due to its continental dimensions and a language different from its neighbors, Brazil often seems disconnected from the Latin American cultural identity. However, artists with the greatness and generosity of Shakira show Brazilians that Latin blood also runs strong in their veins. The Colombian singer’s free performance this Saturday (May 2) in Rio de Janeiro, watched by approximately 2 million spectators on Copacabana Beach, served that purpose perfectly.
As part of the “Todo Mundo no Rio” project, the star delivered the biggest show of her career, just as she had promised. The concert also featured more than special appearances by Caetano Veloso, Maria Bethânia, Anitta and Ivete Sangalo — some of Brazil’s greatest artists.
Before the show, which was delayed by over an hour, a swarm of synchronized drones formed the shape of a She-Wolf’s head and wrote “Te Amo Brasil,” much to the fans’ delight. When the clock struck 11:05 p.m., the diva finally took the stage dressed in a green and yellow outfit to the sound of “La Fuerte.”
In the blink of an eye, Rio de Janeiro became Barranquilla. But it didn’t stop there: it became Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Lima, Santiago, Asunción, Sucre, and much more. The myriad of South Americans crowding the world’s most famous beach to hear the “Loba’s” pop exploded into dance. Everyone was there to enjoy the flavors of salsa, cumbia, reggaetón, and other Latin rhythms that season Shakira’s repertoire.
“Girl Like Me,” “Las de La Intuición,” and “Estoy Aquí” followed. On stage, she shared that she first visited the country at 18 when she was “full of dreams.” “Life is magic,” she said while gazing at the massive crowd. The singer had kicked off the “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour” right here in Brazil, performing in February 2025 at the Nilton Santos Stadium, also in Rio.
A Long-Standing Bond
Shakira’s relationship with Brazil is long-standing and was instrumental in her rise to global pop stardom. The country was the first non-Hispanic market to put her songs on the charts. Her intense interaction with locals since the 1990s allowed her to learn Portuguese with ease.
This fluency was evident throughout the performance as she maintained a constant dialogue with her fans. Holding a white guitar, she revisited her pop-rock era with the ballad “Empire,” followed by “Inevitable.”
Armed with a flamethrower and a pink welding mask, it was time to introduce “Te Felicito.” The setlist also included other female empowerment anthems like “TQG” and “Don’t Bother,” the latter featuring her on a glittering pink Fender guitar. With “Acróstico,” which includes recorded participation from her children, the show shifted into a more intimate segment.
“Mermaid,” “Copa Vacía,” “La Bicicleta” and “La Tortura” followed.
The ultra-pop party atmosphere returned with the hit “Hips Don’t Lie,” which she began singing solo from the top of a platform on the catwalk extending into the audience. Next came the dance track “Chantaje,” which she started directly from the dressing room while her outfit change was broadcast on the big screens.
Other Spanish lyrics took center stage as the show moved into its second half, such as “Loca” and “Soltera.” A surprise appearance by Anitta for “Choka Choka” thrilled the crowd, as did the hit “Can’t Remember to Forget You,” originally recorded with Rihanna.
Brazilian Royalty on Stage
After another costume change, she appeared powerfully to sing “Ojos Así,” featuring an arrangement with distorted bass and traditional Arabic percussion. She followed with an enthusiastic performance of “Pies Descalzos,” her first major hit. The screens displayed images from the beginning of her career, back when her hair was still black. “¿Donde Estás, Corazón?” received an acoustic rendition.
Given such intimacy with the local culture, it was no surprise that the highest hierarchy of Brazilian music blessed the meeting in Copacabana. Maria Bethânia, Caetano Veloso, and Ivete Sangalo took the stage at different moments to the intense cheers of the local audience.
First, Caetano opened the sequence with the hit “Leãozinho,” which Shakira confessed to singing to her children. Then, Bethânia joined her on stage with the Unidos da Tijuca drum section to interpret the classic samba “O que é o que é” by Gonzaguinha. The drum section remained on stage to close the segment with “Objeción.”
Ivete Sangalo was then called up for a version of “País Tropical” by Jorge Ben Jor. By this point, as the show neared its end, there wasn’t a single soul standing still along the entire stretch of the beach.
The hits “Suerte (Whenever, Wherever)” and “Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)” closed the setlist with the same high energy around 1:05 a.m. on Sunday morning.
¡En Copacabana se bailó así!
