Two days after making history at the first-ever World Cup halftime show, Shakira returned to Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Tuesday for the second of her back-to-back New York dates, and she did not arrive alone.
The Colombian superstar brought out Wyclef Jean midway through the show for a performance of their Billboard Hot 100 number one hit, Hips Don't Lie. According to Billboard, it was the clear breakout moment of the night. Shakira was barefoot and dressed in a tan, branch-like bohemian look that echoed the earthy costumes worn by her female dancers when Jean emerged in all black, wearing shades, a fedora-style hat, and a colorful bandanna.
When Jean delivered his verse, the audience erupted. The two performers ended the song dancing side by side as the arena roared back every word.
The guest appearance was part of a show that covered a wide stretch of Shakira's career. A major thread running through the concert was her embrace of her early rock era, the period that defined her sound before her English-language crossover years. She leaned into that identity visually as well, at one point wearing a sparkly, body-hugging purple one-piece with the energy of an 1980s rock fantasy.
She strapped on a glittering pink electric Fender at different points during the set, and picked up an acoustic guitar for Inevitable, described by Billboard as one of the night's most emotional moments. Her 1998 album Donde Estan los Ladrones was especially well represented. Ojos Asi held the crowd in a near trance, and Ciega, Sordomuda landed as a full release of nostalgia. Donde Estas Corazon drew thousands of fans singing every word.
She kept that older energy going with Antologia before moving into later hits, including Underneath Your Clothes, and made room for newer material like Soltera.
The first Barclays Center show, by comparison, featured surprise guests including Tyla, Ed Sheeran, and Burna Boy. The second night traded that kind of star power for something different, putting Shakira's full range as a performer at the center of the evening.
