Ojos Así

Shakira released "Ojos Así" as the fifth single from her fourth studio album, Dónde Están los Ladrones?, on July 23, 1999. The song is her most explicit musical tribute to her Lebanese heritage, blending Spanish lyrics with Arabic scales, string arrangements, and percussion. Written by Shakira alongside Pablo Flores and Javier Garza, the track weaves a love story about searching the world from Bahrain to Beirut and never finding eyes as captivating as her lover's. The chorus incorporates Arabic phrases in the backing vocals, reinforcing its hybrid character. Recording took place at Crescent Moon Studios in Miami, with Emilio Estefan as executive producer.

The music video, directed by Mark Kohr and filmed in Los Angeles, marked Shakira's first video produced for the U.S. market. It depicts her performing belly dance routines at a nighttime festival inspired by Burning Man, with a massive neon eye that erupts into flames at the climax. Released in July 1999, the video has accumulated over 150 million views on YouTube as of 2025. At the inaugural Latin Grammy Awards in 2000, the song won Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and was nominated for Best Short Form Music Video. It also won the MTV Video Music Award for International Viewer's Choice Award (North) in 2000 and a BMI Latin Award in 2002.

Gloria Estefan adapted the song into English as "Eyes Like Yours (Ojos Así)" for Shakira's crossover album Laundry Service in 2001. Critics and fans generally consider the English version less successful, noting the loss of the original's Spanish-Arabic lyrical texture. The original has remained a staple in Shakira's live sets, appearing on tours from Tour Anfibio through the Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour. An acoustic rendition appears on her MTV Unplugged album from 2000. [edit]