This song is part of our “THE SUMMER 97 (1998 x 2023)” playlist. Check out the full list.
Certain songs are just perfect for a summer bonfire. Shakira’s fiery 1998 classic “Inevitable” is just that. This quintessential Latin rock ballad was the perfect bridge between Shakira’s acoustic beginnings and her more impassioned pivot to moody rock chick. The track starts off acoustic, but quickly builds in intensity as the guitar and drums layer up, and Shakira’s signature voice amplifies it from a ballad to an anthem. While her first foray into English-language music was never officially released (and is way better in Spanish), like the love she sings about, Shakira becoming a global superstar was inevitable.
En español: Hay algunas canciones que son perfectas para escuchar alrededor de una fogata en verano. La clásica ardiente de Shakira, “Inevitable,” es una de ellas. Esta balada por excelencia de rock Latino fue el puente perfecto entre sus comienzos acústicos y su pivote apasionado a una chica rockera malhumorada. La canción comienza con un tono acústico y rápidamente cambian su intensidad cuando la guitarra y la batería aumentan y la voz, característica de Shakira, la amplifica transformándola de una balada a un himno. Aunque, siendo esta su primera canción para incursionar en inglés, nunca fue lanzada oficialmente (y por supuesto, es mucho mejor en español), el convertirse en una super estrella mundial era inevitable.
Watch the music video below, stream “Inevitable” or grab some Shakira vinyl
In celebration of summer, the staff at THE 97 has compiled a playlist containing some of our favorite summer songs, from then and now. Each day we will reveal one song, rotating daily between past and present with pairings from 1998 and 2023, for a total of 97 days/songs. Since we love nostalgia, we’re celebrating summer songs from 1998 as they turn 25, alongside new songs that we feel deserve some shine. Pairings could be thematic, sonic, or based connections between the artists.