Shakira - Empire (Lyric VClip)

"Empire" is a song recorded by Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira from her tenth studio album Shakira (2014). The song was released as the album's first promotional single on February 24, 2014, and is scheduled to be the album's official second single. "Empire" was written by Steve Mac and Ina Wroldsen, whilst production was handled by Shakira and Mac. "Empire" is a downtempo rock ballad about finding a love so powerful their empire could make "the world unite." Upon its release, "Empire" was acclaimed by music critics, who commended the singer for getting back to her rock roots. Some even called it a gorgeous ballad and compared her voice to those of Tori Amos, Jewel, Joni Mitchell and Alanis Morissette. The song charted moderately in countries like France, South Korea and Spain.

The songs accompanying video was released on March 25, 2014. Darren Craig, Jonathan Craven and Jeff Nicholas directed the song's music video, which portrays Shakira playing a runaway bride unharmed by fire and on the side of a cliff. To further promote the song Shakira performed it on iHeartRadio along with other songs from the album, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and The Today Show.

"Empire" was written by British songwriter Steve Mac and Norwegian Ina Wroldsen, while Mac produced the song. "Empire" is a rock song, beginning in acoustic mode with a sparse intro before Shakira unleashes her "inner head-banger" and "howls her way" through the chorus, according to Idolator's Mike Wass. Lyrically, "Empire" talks about a bursting passion that the singer simply cannot express in words. "The empires of the world unite / we are alive," she belts out on the track. "And the stars make love to the universe / You’re my wildfire every single night / We are alive."

 
Billboard's Leila Cobo points out that "Empire" sounds a little like a Tori Amos song, writing that, "the fragility in Shakira's voice, the background strings and captivating hook are all eerily reminiscent of Amos's 'Little Earthquakes'." PopCrush's Michelle McGahan compared Shakira's strong voice to "a combination of Jewel and The Cranberries in the ’90s." Maggie Pannacione of ArtistDirect compared the song to the works of Joni Mitchell and Alanis Morissette, but "in the Shakira Latina way."

1. Shakira - Empire Lyric

Take off all of your skin
And brave when you are free
Shake off all of your sins
And give them to me
Close up, let me back in
I wanna be yours, wanna be your hero
And my heart beats
Like the empires of the world unite
We are alive
And the stars make love to the universe
You're my wildfire every single night
We are alive
And the stars make love to the universe
And you touch me
And I'm like and I'm like and I'm like
Hoooooo hoooooo
And I'm like hoooooo hoooooo
And I'm like hoooooo hoooooo
And I'm like hoooooo
I will follow you down wherever you go
I, I'm, baby, I'm bound to you and do you know?
Closer, pull me in tight
I wanna be yours, wanna be your hero
And my heart beats
Like the empires of the world unite
We are alive
And the stars make love to the universe
You're my wildfire every single night
We are alive
And the stars make love to the universe
And you touch me
And I'm like and I'm like and I'm like
Hoooooo hoooooo
We are alive
Hoooooo hoooooo
And I'm like hoooooo hoooooo
We are alive
Hoooooo
I'm just gonna raise my head
Welcome to the final edge
And I'm gonna fall
I'm just gonna raise my head
And hold you close
Like the empires of the world unite
We are alive
And the stars make love to the universe
You're my wildfire every single night
We are alive
And the stars make love to the universe
And you touch me
And I'm like and I'm like and I'm like
Hoooooo hoooooo
And I'm like hoooooo hoooooo
And I'm like hoooooo hoooooo
And I'm like hoooooo 


2. Shakira - Empire (Lyric VClip)