Shakira performs before 85,000 people in Spain
ARGANDA DEL REY, Spain (AFP) — Colombian pop star Shakira performed before 85,000 people Sunday at the Rock in Rio Madrid music festival, organisers said in one of the biggest concerts of
her career.
The Grammy-winning singer/ songwriter took to the main stage of the specially built Rock City at Arganda del Rey located some 20 kilometres (12 miles) outside of Madrid at 1:35 am, 50 minutes behind schedule, to cheers and applause from the audience.
“Spain thank you for making me feel at home. Thank you for real. You have no idea how much I love you,” the 33-year-old said after performing three of her top Spanish-language hits, Ojos, Te Dejo Madrid and La Tortura.
Shakira, best known for her hit singles Hips Don’t Lie and Whenever, Wherever, is one of the top draws of the five-day music festival which got underway on Friday when US rockers Bon Jovi headlined.
She was preceded on the main 98-metre wide and 28-metre high stage at Rock City by Barbadian R&B singer Rihanna and Puerto Rican reggaeton duo Calle 13.
Among the other artistes lined up to perform at the festival, one of
the world’s biggest, are teen star
Miley Cyrus and heavy metal
veterans Metallica.
Rock in Rio was first held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in January 1985.
Subsequent editions of the music festival staged in Lisbon and Madrid have been arranged by its Brazilian founder, Roberto Medina.
This is the second Rock in Rio Madrid. The first in 2008 was attended by 290,000 music fans. Organisers expect the total audience of this edition to reach 320,000 people.
