Crossover Pop from Colombia: Shakira

No Spanish-language music review would be complete without mentioning Colombian pop sensation, Shakira. Although she has officially crossed over to the North American market with hits like Whenever, Wherever and Hips don't lie featuring Wyclef Jean, I'm still partial to her first big albums, Pies Descalzos and ¿Dónde estan los ladrónes?. While her sound is certainly pop, she does have some good beats and an interesting Middle Eastern influence. Her most recent project was working on the soundtrack to Love in the time of Cholera.