Shakira - Underneath — Your Clothes

It opens with a reporter asking Shakira in English how she feels about crossing over; she poignantly answers in Spanish .

Underneath Your Clothes - Reading Songs, Listening to Culture Shakira - Underneath Your Clothes

Directed by the legendary photographer Herb Ritts —his penultimate work before his death—the video is a masterclass in intimate, black-and-white cinematography. It opens with a reporter asking Shakira in

Released in 2002 as the second single from her landmark English-language debut, Laundry Service , remains one of Shakira's most enduring and vulnerable power ballads. While the world was dancing to the pan-flutes of "Whenever, Wherever," this track offered a raw, lyrical window into the singer’s personal life and her complex transition into the global market. The Story Behind the Song While the world was dancing to the pan-flutes

"Underneath Your Clothes" was a massive commercial success, reaching the top ten in several countries. It earned a spot at on Blender's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born". Critics praised its "Jewel-esque" quality and its ability to showcase Shakira’s vocal range and emotional depth.

Written by Shakira during a period of intense personal and professional change, the song was dedicated to her then-boyfriend, Antonio de la Rúa. At the time, Shakira was famously navigating her "crossover" to the English-speaking market, often writing with a dictionary in one hand and a thesaurus in the other.