Shakira is letting her music speak for her as she moves on from her ex Gerard Piqué—while he publicly flaunts his relationship with 23-year-old Clara Chia Marti. Hot off her much buzzed-about song “BZRP Music Session #53,” Shakira collaborated with Karol G and released Spanish song “TQG” today, which details Shakira feeling better off without Piqué but also her pain watching her partner of 11 years, with whom she shares two children, show off his relationship with Marti.
In verse one, Shakira sings in Spanish, “Seeing you with someone new hurt me (Hurt me) / But I’m ready to move on / I forgot about what we lived / And that’s what’s bothering you / That my life got better without you / You’re not welcome here anymore / I saw what your girlfriend said to me / It doesn’t even make me angry, I laugh, I laugh.” She added later in the song that post-split, she has become better and wouldn’t take Piqué back, singing with Karol G, “You left and I became triple M / Better, tougher, lighter / Never getting back with you, you’re bad luck / Because now blessings rain down on me.”
Marti and Piqué were first publicly linked in August 2022. But Shakira herself has suggested Piqué cheated on her with Marti months before that when they were still together, and sources spoke to Page Six about Shakira’s devastation over Piqué’s alleged infidelity. To the amazement of the internet, Shakira hinted that she discovered Piqué’s alleged affair thanks to a jam jar in their fridge. (No one in the house except Shakira liked it, and she returned home to see the jam had been used.)
Shakira and Piqué announced their separation in June 2022, saying in a joint statement, “We regret to confirm that we are separating. We ask for privacy at this moment for the well-being of our children, who are our maximum priority. Thank you in advance for your understanding and respect.” Piqué and Shakira have two sons, 9-year-old Milan and 7-year-old Sasha.
Shakira spoke to ELLE in September about how tough the breakup has been. “Everything is so raw and new,” she said. “I can only say that I put everything I had into this relationship and my family.”
Now that she has had more time to process, Shakira is sharing more of her feelings through her music.
Karol G spoke to Apple Music 1 about collaborating with Shakira on the song, saying she approached Shakira with it after initiating planning to just do the song on her own. “I was just seeing what was happening with Shakira in her personal life and I was like, you know what? Let me contact her because maybe this song, it’s getting… Like, with her story, this song Gain Again, it’s worth it for me to launch it again, for girls to represent that moment of the life…” she said.
“Last year we were sharing some songs, but for me, music is about connection, and music for me, it’s about to represent something that is real in my life,” she continued. “So there are a lot of songs that I did. Maybe it wasn’t representing something really clear for me so I kept them out of the album. But this one, again, I was feeling something very special because for me it represents a moment in my life, but right now it can represent a moment for her life. So I just called her and I was like, ‘Sorry about me just calling you directly, but I think I have a song. Maybe you’re going to be happy to hear it because I think it represents a moment in your life.’ She was super happy, she loves this song, and everything started happening. We were like, you know what… It was super nice for both of us to share conversation about life and about how she was healing that project, she was feeling that moment. And me as well. So it was like I think this one is very special, and I can’t wait for people to listen to it.”
Here, the English-translated lyrics to “TQG,” courtesy of Paroles.co. You can listen to the song below in Spanish and read its original lyrics here on Genius.
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KAROL G, Shakira – TQG (Official Video)
Intro: KAROL G
She who told you that an emptiness is filled with another person is lying to you
It’s like covering a wound with makeup, you can’t see it, but you can feel it
You left saying you moved on (Ey) and found a new girlfriend (Girlfriend)
What she doesn’t know is that you’re still looking at me through it all (No; daddy)Chorus: KAROL G & Shakira
Baby, what happened? Didn’t you say you were over me? (-íto’)
Why are you looking for me now? You know I don’t repeat mistakes (Ey, daddy)
Tell your new girl that I don’t compete for men
That she should stop trying, because at least I had you looking goodVerse 1: Shakira
Seeing you with someone new hurt me (Hurt me)
But I’m ready to move on
I forgot about what we lived
And that’s what’s bothering you
That my life got better without you
You’re not welcome here anymore
I saw what your girlfriend said to me
It doesn’t even make me angry, I laugh, I laughVerse 2: KAROL G & Shakira
I don’t have time for anything that doesn’t contribute, I’ve changed my direction
Making money as a sport (Ah)
Filling up my bank account, the shows, the parking and the passport (Ey)
They say I’m stronger now according to reports
Now you want to come back, it’s obvious, mmm, yes
Wait for me there, because I’m an idiot (Ah)
You forgot that I’m with someone else
And La Bichota was too much for youChorus: Shakira & KAROL G
Baby, what happened? (Happened), didn’t you say you were over me? (Ah)
Why are you looking for me now? (Ey) You know I don’t repeat mistakes
Tell your new girl that I don’t compete for men
That she should stop trying, because at least I had you looking good (Shakira, Shakira)Verse 3: Shakira & KAROL G
You left and I became triple M
Better, tougher, lighter
Never getting back with you, you’re bad luck
Because now blessings rain down on me
And you want to come back, I already knew it
Liking my picture
You looking for food outside
Me saying it was monotony
And now you want to come back, I already knew it
Liking my picture (mine)
You look happy with your new life
But if she knew you still look for meChorus: KAROL G & Shakira
Baby, what happened? (Happened) Didn’t you say you moved on? (Ah)
What are you doing looking for me? (Hey) You know I don’t repeat mistakes
Tell your new girl I’m not competing over men (Shake that booty)
She doesn’t have a good hand, and at least I had you looking goodOutro: KAROL G
O-O-Ovy On The Drums
My love, you went away too far
And from afar, I can’t see you anymore, baby
I love you, but I love me more, hahaha
Barranquilla, Medellin
Senior News and Strategy Editor
Alyssa Bailey is the senior news and strategy editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage of celebrities and royals (particularly Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton). She previously held positions at InStyle and Cosmopolitan. When she’s not working, she loves running around Central Park, making people take #ootd pics of her, and exploring New York City.