Inevitable (Shakira song)

After rising to prominence with her successful debut album Pies Descalzos (1995), a longtime friend of Shakira introduced her to well-known producer Emilio Estefan. Equipment for recording Dónde Están los Ladrones? included old amplifiers to achieve a better sound, a 40-year-old German microphone, and several innovations in the instrumental mixes. The album took nine months to produce. ==Composition==

, where Shakira wrote the lyrics for the song. Shakira co-wrote and produced "Inevitable" with Luis Fernando Ochoa. The song was written while Shakira was vacationing with Ochoa and other friends in Tayrona National Natural Park, a protected area close to her hometown of Barranquilla. One night, between 11 and 12, while being in a chinchorro in Neguanje beach, located in the Palangana sector of the park, the sky was "covered with stars." Shakira says that she was so inspired that she and Ochoa ended up co-writing the song in 15 minutes. Shakira wrote the lyrics and co-wrote the music with Ochoa. “Inevitable” revolves around a woman's honesty to her former lover that she cannot accept that their relationship has ended, and the monotony of life that she has to face afterwards. It is the fifth track of the album, following “No Creo” and preceding “Octavo Día”. The genre has been variously described as Latin rock, and sentimental ballad. == Release and reception ==

Sony Music Colombia released “Inevitable” on September 29, 1998. Commercially, “Inevitable” appeared in the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart for twelve weeks, peaking at the third position. Singer Gloria Estefan, a guest on the show, said that Shakira had reminded her of Janis Joplin. The year also saw her performing it alongside Melissa Etheridge on the ALMA Award; according to Joey Guerra of Houston Chronicle her English was imperfect but regardless it was pleasant to hear. The English version has never been officially released, but been included on an unofficial and fan made extended play, The Pepsi EP (2003). In 2000, “Inevitable” was recognized as an award-winning song at the Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) Latin Award. == Legacy ==

In later years, “Inevitable” would garner warm responses from music critics, some of whom would consider it among her career’s bests. In 2020, Elle’s Natalia Chávez included “Inevitable” in her list of “Shakira’s 10 Old Songs that Still—Always—Make Us Cry”. During the commemoration of the 2021 Hispanic Heritage Month, Billboard published a list of 25 “timeless masterpieces” of the rock en español genre, in which “Inevitable” is included. Retrospective critics have also equally positive of the music video. Rolling Stone Tour of the Mongoose (2002–2003), Oral Fixation Tour (2006-2007), The Sun Comes Out World Tour (2010-2011) and El Dorado World Tour (2018). In August 1999, Shakira sang an acoustic version of "Inevitable" during an episode of MTV Unplugged in New York City. The performance has been included on her first live album, MTV Unplugged (2000). Spanish footballer and Shakira’s former boyfriend Gerard Piqué has considered “Inevitable” to be one of his favorite songs. ==Formats and track listings==

Mexican CD single • "Inevitable" (Soft Final Ballad)3:06 • "Inevitable" (Space Vocal Soft Final Ballad)3:07 • "Inevitable" (Final Heavy Mix)3:08 • "Inevitable" (Final Extended Heavy Mix)6:53 • "Inevitable" (Final Smokin Dub Mix)7:49 • "Inevitable" (Final Ambient Mix)7:15 ==Charts==

Weekly charts Year-end charts ==Certifications==