Shakira refuses to perform 'Give Me Everything' with Pitbull

Washington, July 6 : Shakira had to turn down rapper Pitbull's request to join him on his new hit 'Give Me Everything' because of some personal reasons.

The Latino hip-hop star revealed that the Colombian was his first choice as a partner on the dancefloor, but she refused his offer.

"I tried to get Shakira on the record but, due to some personal things she was going through, she couldn't jump on the record," Contactmusic quoted him as saying.

It is not yet known what 'personal things' prevented Shakira from joining Pitbull in the studio.

However, the 34-year-old singer recently split from longtime boyfriend Antonio de la Rua and started dating soccer star Gerard Pique.

Having been turned down, Pitbull turned to Miami, Florida model and singer Nayer to perform along with him.

Pop Singer's Shakira Date With Bollywood

For Shakira fans, this news promises to be exciting. Although the singer’s date with Bollywood has been going awry for some time now, debutant actor-producer Sachin Joshi insists she might still be crooning for his film, Azaan, soon.

"But I think I should comment on it only when the deal comes through. Although other producers have also talked about roping in Shakira for their films, she has always been my first priority since the inception of Azaan. And I am very hopeful about roping her in. The deal should happen," says Joshi.

For the uninitiated, Azaan, a film that marks the debut of gutka baron Jagdish Joshi’s son Sachin, also stars Playboy model Candice Boucher. Last year too, there were talks about Shakira singing a cabaret style song with Latin influences under composer duo Salim-Sulaiman’s guidance. But the deal apparently fell through.

"We are constantly in touch with Shakira’s team and are in the final stages of negotiations with her," says Sachin, who shares screen space with the South African model Candice in the espionage thriller. But Sachin rubbishes talks that Candice will be seen in a sultry avatar.

"Director Prashant (Chadha) felt that she fit the part. Candice doesn’t have any acting experience but she’s done a stupendous job. Just because she is a Playboy girl doesn’t mean that we’d ask her to expose without any reason. She looks beautiful in the film," he says defensively.

Excited about his maiden outing as an actor, Sachin says, "It was an awesome experience to work with a foreign crew. After all, we shot the film in seven different countries." Will good friend Shah Rukh Khan pitch in with tips? Sachin smiles: "He has always been very supportive. I have kept him updated about my film and I hope he likes it in its final form."

By Hindustan Times

Latin American Sensation Shakira's Bollywood Dream

Shakira’s date with Bollywood is off for the time being. The Latin American sensation won’t be seen singing for music director duo Salim-Sulaiman in debutant Sachin Joshi’s Azaan. For the uninitiated, the pop diva was set to sing a “very sensuous cabaret kind of song.”

“Initially, Shakira had agreed to sing the number and was excited but she got busy with her huge world tour. Since then, we haven’t had any response from her, possibly because she is caught up with her tour and other assignments,” informs Salim.

He admits that they’ve repeatedly “tried to contact Shakira again”. “But there has been no response from her side. So now, we have Shakiraaccepted that the song isn’t happening. After all, it is only up to a point that you can pursue someone,” says the composer.

Apparently, the Shakira number was supposed to be a frenzied dance track to be filmed on South African model Candice Boucher, who stars in Azaan along with entrepreneur Sachin Joshi. The song was supposed to have been recorded by mid 2010.

The lyrics were supposed to be English, but with a smattering of easy Hindi. Sachin, who makes his acting debut with Azaan, was apparently in constant touch with Shakira. “We were excited to record the song but it’s not easy to get global stars,” says the composer.

Salim, on his part, is looking forward to a glut of films after the super successful Band Baaja Baraat. Plus, he will also be seen in a music reality show. “But I can’t divulge any details yet. It’s going to be very interesting. Let’s see how things go,” he says.

Shakira Will Close The 2010 Soccer World Cup

Colombian singer Shakira will close the 2010 soccer World Cup by performing the official anthem "Waka Waka - This Time For Africa". She kicked off the tournament last month singing the track with local group FreshlyGround.

She will close the event in similar way. However, organizers promise that Sunday night's celebrations will be a spectacle to watch.

"(It will be) more youthful and a bit more technologically advanced (with) nice lighting effects and special effects," starpulse quoted Jermaine Craig, spokesman for the South African organsing committee, as saying.

Shakira's Waka Waka Becomes Lakka Lakka In India

It may be 'Waka waka' in South Africa, but in South India, it is 'Lakka lakka...' Popstar Shakira's official FIFA song has found its desi version in Kerala. Sung by Malayalam singer Liji Francis, the video is almost the exact replica of Shakira's - same music, same imagery, same choreography and almost the same excitement. Within three days of being on YouTube, the video has attracted more than 70,000 views.

"Cooooolll! A gud attempt," posted Lini, a viewer. "Haha... it's hilarious. Nice mixing for a non-pro work," wrote bitsgoa. 'Lakka lakka...' begins with visuals of the cheering soccer fans in South Africa.

Then come glimpses of soccer stars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Just when you are expecting Shakira to pop up on the screen, there comes Liji, swinging her hips in a shiny single-piece cola-brown dress. The lyrics are by Shaji Kochukadavu. Widzworld, a viewer, posted, "I love this! Way to go Liji! you rock!"

Although India is not playing in the World Cup, it hasn't stopped the director Abdul Khader Kakkanad from showing the tri-coloured flag in the video. There are even clips from AR Rahman's Vande Matram video appearing behind the swinging Liji.

"This is to mark the fact that soon the Indian football team will make it to the World cup," wrote the user who posted the video.

Not all are taking pride in Lakka lakka, though. "Y cant u guys make somethin of your own," posted rtkin. Raviod6 commented, "And now you expect foreigners to not laugh at us?"

Shakira To Jump Into The Bollywood Singing Bandwagon

Bollywood seems to be attracting musicians from abroad. Most recently it was Kylie Minogue who sang a song for Blue and Akon who is doing the honours for Shah Rukh Khan's Ra.One.Now, the latest entrant to jump into the Bollywood singing bandwagon is Columbian songstress Shakira, who is set to to rock in a song for composer duo Salim-Sulaiman.

Shakira had performed live in Mumbai and other cities back in 2007. She also has repeatedly expressed her desire to be a part of Bollywood.

The song will be shot on South African model Candice Boucher for the film featuring the IPL owner and entrepreneur Sachin Joshi. The film is expected to be recorded in the next couple of months.'

The lyrics would be in English with a smattering of simple Hindi. It won't be a duet like the Kylie Minogue song in Blue.

It'd be a Shakira solo dhamaka,' the website quoted a source as saying. Salim has confirmed the news. 'It would be a very sensuous, cabaret kind of a song,' the website reported him as saying.

The American Indian Is Shakira's Newest Music Guru

Shakira loves Indian music. The beats and harmonics of our instruments add to her Latino lineage," says a lesser-known Indian percussionist, Ravish Momin.

The American Indian is one of Brooklyn's finest jazz artistes and happens to be Shakira's newest music guru. Momin shared the stage with the Latin star and directed the music on her song, 'Gypsy', in February this year.

Few months later, Momin's compositions found their way into Shakira's new album. This is his induction to pop culture. "When Shakira and I met, we reworked 'Gypsy' to suit the Indian instrumentation. We used tabla, ghatam, sarangi and lots of small-stringed guitars. The best part is that her voice has that range and tone to carry an Indian melody," Momin recounts. He got fellow Indian musicians Rajesh Bhandari and Shamsher Singh to collaborate.

Momin feels his eclectic influences got him the gig. "I listen to everything from This Heat to Ray Charles, Sonny Sharrock to Subhumans. Shakira's been a fan of Shivkumar Sharma and Sam Rivers and so am I. She gave me a huge discourse on Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan," Momin recalls the songwriting process with Shakira - a feat that he insists has been painstakingly creative.

"She has a brilliant range and likes anything Indian and Latin. There are a lot of similarities between South American music styles like Cumbia, Porro and Hindustani. They're all hot rhythms," Momin says, adding that Shakira's FIFA song 'Waka waka' is an essential drum-beat rhythm and a cover of a folk melody. "It sounds festive and South American, yet is a global anthem."

Momin, whose roots lie in Delhi, is a second generation American Indian, who studied civil engineering. But music has always been his first career choice: "Besides, Indian indie artists like Karsh Kale are much wanted bar musicians in New York. That is really my true stage to play," says Momin. "It's great to be an Indian musician in America right now. They all want to sound like us," laughs Momin.