Colombian superstars Carlos Vives and Shakira grew up only a few miles from one another on the same stretch of coastal Colombia – he in Santa Marta, she in Barranquilla – but they came home this week to film a video for two-time Grammy and nine-time Latin Grammy winning performer/songwriter/activist Carlos Vives’ new single “La Bicicleta”. The single “La Bicicleta” will be released this Friday, May 27th.
“La Bicicleta” is the first musical collaboration from these emblematic Colombian artists stars. It kicks off with native flute sounds before moving into vallenato and cumbia with pop flavors and reggaeton beats. The song was written by Carlos Vives and Shakira and produced by Andrés Castro. Although this Shakira & Carlos’s first recording together, they have appeared on stage together, most memorably in 2009 in support of hostage liberation on Colombias Independence Day celebration.
“I always wanted to write, produce and record a song with Shakira so that together we could show our Colombia to the world,” says Vives. “She has taken the music of our country to unimaginable heights and finally to be able to work with her is a very important achievement,” concluded the samarium artist.
“This is a song that represents us both very well, it’s vallenato-reggaeton,” Shakira comments. “And he is the king of vallenato … for me he is one of the most impressive artists that Colombia has given us. I’ve always admired him, the style of his compositions, his charisma, his commitment to our country, his incomparable artistic talent and I’m very honored to be invited to participate in this project. The experience of working hand in hand with him has been a really enjoyable one, especially on this song which is a tribute to our country in many ways.”
The video of “La Bicicleta” was directed by acclaimed filmmaker and photographer Jaume De Laiguana, and will be released in the coming weeks.
