Two decades ago, Shakira and Alejandro Sanz shook up Latin pop with “La Tortura,” a chart-topping hit that showcased their explosive chemistry onstage and in the studio. Fast-forward to today: the friends reunited when Shakira invited the Madrid-born star to help kick off her U.S. tour, and they surprised fans with even bigger news, Sanz’s announcement of a new collaboration between them titled “Bésame.”
In a candid new interview, the Spanish singer-songwriter reflects on their enduring bond and the magic that still sparks when they share a mic.
Sanz and Shakira back together
Proud of his long-running friendship with the Colombian superstar, Sanz explained how “Bésame,” released May 23, finally came together. “We’d been talking for a while about working together again,” he told Billboard Español. “I’d joke with her, ‘So, when are we doing another song? You only make music with the handsome, talented guys…,’” he laughed, adding that they simply hadn’t found the right track until now.
Although they recorded their parts separately this time, the finished single oozes the signature alchemy fans love: a sweet, rhythm-driven anthem steeped in each artist’s roots. Sanz said, “We mixed a pinch of our individual flavors, a dash of imagination, and, yes, a little more experience to brew up this song. There’s no debate, she adores flamenco, and we both admire each other’s work.”
“The musical chemistry between us is strong. Something happens when we sing together”
About their new song “Bésame”
“Bésame,” featured on Sanz’s upcoming album ¿Y Ahora Qué? (And Now What?), is a love declaration that urges seizing the moment. “Truth be told, if life is beautiful, you and she are so alike,” Sanz croons in the opening lines. “If there’s any chance I’d be without you, I’m not willing to gamble…” The track completes a trilogy that began with “La Tortura” and continued with “Te Lo Agradezco, Pero No.”
When Shakira launched her tour, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran in the States, she invited Sanz onstage for a show-stopping rendition of “La Tortura.” The crowd went wild, witnessing the duo’s creative fire in real-time.
After the set, the artists swapped heartfelt messages online. “Alejandro Sanz, the ovation you got last night!” Shakira wrote on Instagram. “A thousand years may pass, but what happens to us on stage will always be one-of-a-kind.” Sanz shot back: “Shaki, want the truth?… Not even all the coffee in Colombia could erase your scent.”
The verdict? Lightning still strikes when these two share the stage, and “Bésame” proves they know exactly how to bottle this magic.