International superstar and Latin icon Shakira performed in front of 2 million fans at a free concert on Copacabana Beach on Saturday, one of the biggest shows of her career, city officials said.
“Brazil, I love you! It’s magical to think that here we are, millions of souls, ready to sing, dance, move and remind the world what really matters,” Shakira told the crowd in Portuguese.
The 49-year-old Colombian singer said she had always dreamed of singing on Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana beach. “And now look at this. Life is magical.”
The performance was part of her “Women No Longer Cry” world tour, which featured hit songs including “Hips Don’t Lie,” “La Tortura” and “La Bicicleta.”
‘a dream comes true’
Many concertgoers traveled hours, and in some cases crossed international borders, to see Shakira perform on a stage in front of the iconic Copacabana Palace, a landmark beachside hotel.
Some fans even slept on the beach on Friday night to secure a spot close to the stage.
By Saturday morning, the beach was packed with crowds as street vendors were doing a brisk business selling sweetcorn, snacks, bottled water and the always popular Brazilian cocktail, caipirinhas.
“I tried to get tickets to see him in Brazil last year, but I didn’t succeed,” said Wanderson Andrade, who came from the central Brazilian city of Goiyana especially for the show.
“Today a dream has come true.”
20 lakh people dance to Shakira’s rhythm
Rio Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere said on the social platform X that 2 million people attended the demonstration, and declared that “She-Wolf made history in Rio.”
City officials estimate that the event will generate more than $160 million (136.4 million euros) in local economic activity.
In recent years, Madonna and Lady Gaga have held similarly large-scale beach concerts in Rio, attracting crowds of comparable size.
Edited by: Louis Olofse