La tortura

The harmony of 'La Tortura' draws from the Andalusian cadence tradition, anchoring the song in A minor with a prominent E7 dominant that gives it a distinctly Spanish character — fitting given Alejandro Sanz's involvement. The relatively simple chord vocabulary is elevated by the reggaeton rhythmic framework and the interplay between Shakira's and Sanz's vocal lines, making the harmony serve as a sturdy foundation for rhythmic and melodic complexity above it.

Shakira co-wrote 'La Tortura' with Colombian songwriter Luis Fernando Ochoa during the sessions for what would become Fijación Oral, Vol. 1. Having written nearly 60 songs in both Spanish and English for the project, she decided to split the material into two volumes, with this track becoming the centerpiece of the Spanish-language release. The collaboration with Alejandro Sanz came about as Shakira sought credible voices within Hispanic music to complement her return to Spanish-language recording after a seven-year gap since Dónde Están los Ladrones? (1998).

Released in 2005 as the lead single from Shakira's Fijación Oral, Vol. 1, 'La Tortura' featuring Alejandro Sanz fused pop, reggaeton, and dancehall into an irresistible anthem of heartbreak and defiance. The song topped charts across Latin America and Europe, spent 25 weeks at #1 on Billboard's Hot Latin Songs, and is widely credited with helping popularize reggaetón beyond the Hispanophone world.