El Jefe (song)
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox song
| name = El Jefe
| type = single
| artist = Shakira and Fuerza Regida
| album = Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran
| cover = Shakira - El Jefe.png
| language = Spanish
| English_title = "The Boss"
| released = {{start date|2023|9|20}}
| genre = * Regional Mexican
- urban sierreño
- Corridos tumbado
| length = 2:50
| label = Sony Latin
| writer = * Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll
- Edgar Barrera
- Kevyn Mauricio Cruz
- Manuel Lorente Freiré
| producer = * Shakira
- Edgar Barrera
- Keityn
| chronology = Shakira
| prev_title = Copa Vacía
| prev_year = 2023
| title = El Jefe
| year = 2023
| next_title = Puntería
| next_year = 2024
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Fuerza Regida
| type = single
| prev_title = Qué Onda
| prev_year = 2023
| title = El Jefe
| year = 2023
| next_title = Antídoto
| next_year = 2024
}}
{{External music video|{{YouTube|7oTlx5YC2P4|"El Jefe"}}}}
}}
"El Jefe" (English: "The Boss") is a song by the Colombian singer Shakira and American band of regional Mexican music, Fuerza Regida. It was released on September 20, 2023, through Sony Music Latin as the fifth single from Shakira's twelfth studio album, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran (2024).{{Cite web |date=2023-09-17 |title=Shakira le entra a los corridos con 'El Jefe' junto a Fuerza Regida |url=https://www.marca.com/mx/trending/musica/2023/09/17/650666bc46163ffc608b459a.html |access-date=2023-09-20 |website=Marca México |language=es-MX}}{{Cite web |last1=Tiempo |first1=Casa Editorial El |last2=TIEMPO |first2=REDACCIÓN EL |date=2023-09-17 |title=Con ritmos norteños, Shakira estrenará su canción 'El Jefe': vea aquí las imágenes |url=https://www.eltiempo.com/cultura/musica-y-libros/shakira-estrenara-su-cancion-el-jefe-el-proximo-20-de-septiembre-806615 |access-date=2023-09-20 |website=ElTiempo |language=spanish}}{{Cite web |date=2023-09-15 |title=Shakira colabora con Fuerza Regida para 'El Jefe', su nueva canción |url=https://www.europafm.com/noticias/musica/shakira-colabora-mexicanos-fuerza-regida-jefe-nueva-cancion_2023091565040a754fd7bf00019a5176.html |access-date=2023-09-20 |website=EuropaFM |language=es}}{{Cite web |date=September 19, 2023 |title=Shakira se suma a la fiebre norteña junto a Fuerza Regida en su canción "El Jefe" |url=https://www.laprensagrafica.com/farandula/Shakira-se-suma-a-la-fiebre-nortena-con-su-nuevo-tema-El-Jefe-20230919-0039.html |access-date=September 20, 2023 |website=La Prensa Gráfica}}
It is Shakira's first song that she performs in a regional Mexican genre,{{Cite web |date=2023-09-19 |title=Shakira se convierte en la "trompeta humana" para "El Jefe", su canción de regional mexicano |url=https://www.cibercuba.com/noticias/2023-09-19-u198484-e198484-s27065-shakira-convierte-trompeta-humana-jefe-cancion-regional |access-date=2023-09-20 |website=CiberCuba |language=es}} and it is the first collaboration between both artists.
Background and release
After Shakira's June release of "Copa Vacía" with Manuel Turizo, and Fuerza Regida's active 2023, the Colombian singer shared a preview of the video and her song in mid-September 2023, scheduled to be released on September 20 of that year.{{Cite web |last=definir |first=por |date=2023-09-18 |title=Shakira: así suena 'El jefe', su nuevo tema con banda mexicana Fuerza Regida |url=https://larepublica.pe/espectaculos/musica/2023/09/18/shakira-asi-suena-el-jefe-su-nuevo-tema-con-banda-mexicana-fuerza-regida-mexico-video-instagram-tiktok-nvb-1111698 |access-date=2023-09-20 |website=larepublica.pe |language=es}}{{Cite web |last=Semana |date=2023-09-16 |title=Se filtró la nueva canción de Shakira "El jefe" ¿Un flechazo venenoso para Piqué? |url=https://www.semana.com/gente/articulo/se-filtro-la-nueva-cancion-de-shakira-el-jefe-un-flechazo-venenoso-para-pique/202341/ |access-date=2023-09-20 |website=www.semana.com |language=spanish}}{{Cite web |title=Shakira da una probadita de su próxima canción |url=https://www.elsalvador.com/entretenimiento/espectaculos/shakira-probadita-nueva-cancion-regional-mexicano/1090507/2023/ |access-date=2023-09-20 |website=amp.elsalvador.com}}{{Cite web |last=20minutos |date=2023-09-16 |title=Así suena el primer adelanto de 'El Jefe', el nuevo tema de Shakira junto a 'Fuerza Regida' |url=https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/5173025/0/asi-suena-primer-adelanto-jefe-nuevo-tema-shakira-junto-fuerza-regida/ |access-date=2023-09-20 |website=www.20minutos.es - Últimas Noticias |language=es}}{{Cite web |last1=Tiempo |first1=Casa Editorial El |last2=NOTICIAS |first2=ÚLTIMAS |date=2023-09-16 |title=Así suena la nueva canción de Shakira: video de la filtración del 'ultimátum' a Piqué |url=https://www.eltiempo.com/cultura/musica-y-libros/shakira-filtran-video-de-su-cancion-el-jefe-con-supuesta-dedicatoria-a-pique-806672 |access-date=2023-09-20 |website=ElTiempo |language=spanish}}{{Cite magazine |date=2023-09-16 |title=Shakira anuncia nueva canción con Fuerza Regida: Aquí cuándo saldrá |url=https://www.billboard.com/espanol/musica/shakira-fuerza-regida-nueva-cancion-el-jefe-anuncio-1235414418/ |access-date=2023-09-20 |magazine=Billboard}}
Reception
= Media and critical comments =
The song received generally good reviews, highlighting the singer's versatility and the group's good adaptation to Shakira. The launch generated multiple reactions on social networks and the media, being one of the most talked about topics in Latin America.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-21 |title=Letra completa de 'El Jefe', la nueva canción de Shakira |url=https://www.hola.com/actualidad/20230921239660/shakira-el-jefe-letra-completa/ |access-date=2023-10-11 |website=HOLA |language=es}}{{Cite web |date=2023-09-21 |title=Letra y videoclip de 'El Jefe', la nueva polémica canción de Shakira: "Tengo un jefe de mierda" |url=https://www.marca.com/tiramillas/musica/2023/09/21/650bab0de2704ee1098b4572.html |access-date=2023-10-11 |website=MARCA |language=es}} The news channel CNN en Español compared Shakira to Bad Bunny for "riding the wave" of the recent popularity of the regional genre, since the latter collaborated in early 2023 with Grupo Frontera.{{Cite web |last=Loaiza |first=Melissa Velásquez |date=2023-09-21 |title=Shakira se anota otro éxito con El Jefe hablando de migración |url=https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2023/09/21/shakira-el-jefe-fuerza-regida-migracion-trabajo-mal-exsuegro-lili-melgar-orix/ |access-date=2023-10-11 |website=CNN |language=es}} Fashion magazine Harper's Bazaar called the song "an anthem for labor rights".{{Cite magazine |date=2023-09-21 |title=La niñera de Shakira protagoniza su nueva canción 'El jefe', otro dardo contra Piqué |url=https://www.harpersbazaar.com/es/famosas/el-estilo-de/a45236074/shakira-nueva-cancion-el-jefe-letra-pique-hamilton/ |access-date=2023-10-11 |magazine=Harper's BAZAAR |language=es-ES}} The newspaper El Confidencial described it as "a Mexican corrido with strong social criticism".{{Cite web |last=González |first=Jorge García |date=2023-09-21 |title=Shakira lanza 'El jefe', canción reivindicativa y con letra explícita sin olvidar a Piqué: "Ahí sigue mi exsuegro" |url=https://www.elconfidencial.com/cultura/2023-09-21/shakira-cancion-ej-jefe-letra_3739232/ |access-date=2023-10-11 |website=elconfidencial.com |language=es}} The American magazine Billboard named the collaboration as "a reflection of the dominance and influence of Mexican music on current Latin music" also believing that it is a "catchy corrido".{{Cite magazine |last=Flores |first=Griselda |date=2023-09-21 |title=Shakira lanza fogosa colaboración con Fuerza Regida 'El Jefe': Mira el video aquí |url=https://www.billboard.com/espanol/musica/shakira-fuerza-regida-el-jefe-video-nueva-cancion-aqui-1235417292/ |access-date=2023-10-11 |magazine=Billboard |language=es-ES}}
Music and lyrics
{{Listen
| filename = El Jefe (sample).mp3
| pos = left
| title = "El Jefe"
| description = A 28 second sample from the chorus performed by Fuerza Regida and Shakira.
| format = MP3}}
Musically, the song is a fast-paced polka with Sinaloan sierreño instrumentation. Lyrically, It is a protest song that criticizes social inequality; also addressing issues such as the migration of Latin people to the United States, labor discrimination, and low-paid work.{{Cite web |last=Izquierdo |first=Por Ignacio |date=2023-09-21 |title=Shakira y Fuerza Regida lanzaron "El Jefe": letra, video y reacciones |url=https://www.infobae.com/mexico/2023/09/21/shakira-y-fuerza-regida-lanzaron-el-jefe-letra-video-y-reacciones/ |access-date=2023-10-11 |website=infobae |language=es-ES}} The lyrics includes, "Tengo un jefe de mierda que no me paga bien / Yo llego caminando y el en Mercedes-Benz / Me tiene de recluta / El muy hijo de puta".
Impact
File:Presidente Gustavo Petro.jpg, President of Colombia, 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.eltiempo.com/deportes/futbol-internacional/shakira-no-solo-es-gerard-pique-reclama-a-gustavo-petro-por-el-jefe-810652|title='El Jefe' not only splashes Gerard Piqué: Shakira complains to Gustavo Petro|date=September 28, 2023 |publisher=El Tiempo|accessdate=October 19, 2023}}]]
On September 24, 2023, the president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro referenced the song in a post on Twitter to promote the labor reform promoted by his government in the Legislature, tweeting “That's why labor reform is needed”.{{cite web|url=https://www.elcolombiano.com/colombia/presidente-gustavo-petro-utilizo-cancion-de-shakira-el-jefe-para-promover-reforma-laboral-PB22455208|title=¿Se sintió inspirado? Presidente Petro referencia canción El Jefe, de Shakira, para promover la Reforma Laboral|date=September 24, 2023 |publisher=El Colombiano|accessdate=October 19, 2023}} in the aforementioned speech and with high spirits, Gustavo Petro felt that it was time to remember his message and once again made reference to the lyrics of 'El Jefe.' Shakira's press office in Colombia later responded to the use of the song saying "At no time has the artist authorized the use of the most recent single titled 'El Jefe', in political or partisan contexts, as was evident in previous days, to promote the labor reform of this government".{{cite web|url=https://www.marca.com/co/2023/09/28/65156a14268e3e95048b45c3.html|title=Shakira, molesta porque Gustavo Petro la usó y habló de 'El Jefe' para defender sus reformas: "En ningún momento"|date=September 28, 2023 |publisher=Hola|accessdate=October 19, 2023}}
Music video
The official music video was released on Shakira's official YouTube channel along with the single on September 20, 2023{{Citation |title=Shakira, Fuerza Regida - El Jefe (Official Video) | date=September 20, 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oTlx5YC2P4 |access-date=2023-09-21 |language=en}} and shows the singer in denim and Texan clothing{{Cite web |last=Barroso |first=Jesús Delgado |date=2023-09-21 |title=Shakira, sobre el padre de Piqué en su nueva canción 'El Jefe': "Ahí sigue mi exsuegro que no pisa sepultura" |url=https://elpais.com/gente/2023-09-21/shakira-sobre-el-padre-de-pique-en-su-nueva-cancion-el-jefe-ahi-sigue-mi-exsuegro-que-no-pisa-sepultura.html |access-date=2023-10-11 |website=El País |language=es}} and the group performing the song in a neighborhood, and then on a cleared field and the group in an area where they pack packages and other things. The video was recorded in Miami and directed by Jora Frantzis. In the video, different images appear, such as several Latino migrants traveling on a train; a way in which Latin American people actually cross into the United States illegally.{{Cite web |last=LOS40 |date=2023-09-21 |title='El Jefe', la canción más sorprendente de la carrera de Shakira {{!}} Novedades |url=https://los40.com/2023/09/21/el-jefe-la-cancion-mas-sorprendente-de-la-carrera-de-shakira/ |access-date=2023-10-11 |website=LOS40 |language=es-ES}} Shakira wore Mexican milliner Gladys Tamez's custom designs in her music video.{{Cite magazine |last=Mier |first=Tomás |date=2023-09-21 |title=Shakira Enters Her Corrido Era With the Help of Fuerza Régida on 'El Jefe' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-latin/shakira-el-jefe-fuerza-regida-1234828826/ |access-date=2023-10-19 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}
Charts
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "El Jefe"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Colombia|title=|artist=Shakira|type=single|award=Platinum+Gold|nosales=true|certref={{Cite web|url=https://www.elheraldo.co/sociedad/2025/04/18/shakira-se-convierte-en-la-artista-colombiana-con-mas-discos-certificados/#google_vignette|title=Shakira se convierte en la artista colombiana con más discos certificados|website=El Heraldo|date=18 April 2025|access-date=18 April 2025}}|number=1|number2=2}}{{Certification Table Entry|region=Mexico|award=Platinum|number=2|type=single|artist=Shakira & Fuerza Regida|relyear=2023|certyear=2025|title=El Jefe|access-date=13 February 2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|title=El Jefe|artist=Shakira|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2023|certyear=2024|certref={{cite web |url=https://www.elportaldemusica.es/awards/index?AwardsSearch%5Bartist%5D=SHAKIRA+%2F+FUERZA+REGIDA&AwardsSearch%5Btitle%5D=&AwardsSearch%5Byear%5D=2024&AwardsSearch%5Bweek%5D=&AwardsSearch%5Bgroup%5D=&AwardsSearch%5Baward%5D= |title=Promusicae: Canciones de Shakira |access-date=23 January 2024 |archive-date=January 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240120031039/https://www.elportaldemusica.es/awards/index?AwardsSearch%5Bartist%5D=SHAKIRA+%2F+FUERZA+REGIDA&AwardsSearch%5Btitle%5D=&AwardsSearch%5Byear%5D=2024&AwardsSearch%5Bweek%5D=&AwardsSearch%5Bgroup%5D=&AwardsSearch%5Baward%5D= |url-status=bot: unknown }}}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|award=Platinum|number=7|type=single|artist=Shakira & Fuerza Regida|Spanish=yes|certyear=2024|title=El Jefe|access-date=7 November 2024|refname=RIAA}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true|noshipments=true}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Shakira songs}}
{{Fuerza Regida}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jefe, El (Song)}}
Category:Regional Mexican songs
Category:Songs written by Shakira