Poem to a Horse

"Poem to a Horse"
Single by Shakira
from the album Laundry Service and Live & off the Record
ReleasedFebruary 13, 2004
Genre
Length4:09
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Shakira
  • Luis Ochoa
Shakira singles chronology
"The One"
(2003) 		"Poem to a Horse"
(2004) 		"La Tortura"
(2005)
Music video
"Poem to a Horse" on YouTube

"Poem to a Horse" is a song recorded by Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira for her first English-language studio album, Laundry Service (2001). The track was released as the album's eighth and final single in 2004 and as a single from Shakira's second live album Live & off the Record. A rock and soul song written and produced by Shakira and Luis Ochoa, lyrically it discusses marijuana addiction and narcissism.

Background and release

"I used the literary figure of personification, but in reverse: instead of turning an object into an animal or a person, I did the opposite."

—Shakira on "Poem to a Horse".[1]

"Poem to a Horse" was initially released as the ninth track off Shakira's fifth studio album Laundry Service (2001).[2] In 2002, Shakira embarked on Tour of the Mongoose to promote the album,[3][4] and "Poem to a Horse" was included on the setlist.[5] The tour date in Rotterdam on 22 April 2003 was recorded, and most of it was released on 30 March 2004 under the title Live & off the Record.[6][7] "Poem to a Horse" was released as a single off the live album,[8][9] getting a CD release as the only track,[10] and as a double single with "Whenever, Wherever (Live)".[11] An edited version of the live recording was also released with the lines referencing drugs muted.[12]

"Poem to a Horse" is a rock and soul[13] song featuring guitars and horns as prominent instruments.[14] Its lyrics delve into social criticism via the theme of a relationship ending due to the partner's marijuana addiction. It portrays Shakira's frustration with her partner, who is more interested in marijuana than engaging with her. The lyrics describe the partner's use of "hydroponic pot" to feed his "empty brain," highlighting mental deterioration. Shakira uses the metaphor of 'poem to a horse' to illustrate the futility of communicating with someone so detached.[12][15][16] The lyrics also critique how the societal encouragement of narcissism strains relationships.[17] In 2021, Shakira admitted the song being one of her boldest ventures into poetic expression, as in its lyrics she likened her romantic partner to a horse.[1]

Reception

In an album review, Alexis Petridis from The Guardian described how "Poem to a Horse" "mixes Nirvana-influenced guitars with a soul horn section to mind-boggling effect".[14] Jessica Roiz from Billboard wrote how "younger Shak is known for hits like 'Si Te Vas', [...] and 'Poem to a Horse', where she strong and proudly walks away from a narcissist."[18] Cabeza de Gato ranked the song in their list of 10 songs with Shakira's most intelligent lyrics.[17]

Music video

The music video for "Poem to a Horse" was released in February 2004. The video contains a live performance of the song at the Tour of the Mongoose date in Rotterdam as well as clips from her ‘’Live & off the Record’’ documentary.

Live performances

"Poem to a Horse" was performed by Shakira on Tour of the Mongoose in 2002-2003.[5] According to a photograph published by Albert Menéndez from Shakira's band, the song will be on the setlist of Shakira's 2025 Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour.[19]

Track listings

CD single: Poem to a Horse (Live)

  1. "Poem to a Horse" - 4:08
  2. "Poem to a Horse" (Live) - 5:11

CD single: Poem To A Horse (Live) / Whenever, Wherever (Live)

  1. "Poem to a Horse" (Live) - 5:11
  2. "Whenever, Wherever" (Live Radio Edit) - 3:31
  3. "Whenever, Wherever" (Live) - 5:28

References

  1. ^ a b Mundo, Sputnik (2021-11-14). "Shakira desvela los secretos de 'Laundry Service' por su 20 aniversario | Videos". Sputnik Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-12-18.
  2. ^ Legaspi, Althea (2021-11-12). "Shakira Drops 20th Anniversary 'Laundry Service' Expanded Reissue". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2024-11-23.
  3. ^ Monroe, Ygor (2024-11-08). "Shakira rompe barreiras com a "Tour of the Mongoose" e redefine o pop global". Caderno Pop (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  4. ^ "Shakira suffered major loss on first World Tour due to THIS reason". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  5. ^ a b "Shakira Average Setlists of tour: Tour of the Mongoose | setlist.fm". www.setlist.fm. Retrieved 2024-11-23.
  6. ^ www.eldia.com, Diario El Dia de La Plata. "Diario El Dia de La Plata www.eldia.com". www.eldia.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-01-01.
  7. ^ Basanta, Elena (2023-03-31). "A un paso de cumplir dos décadas, 'Live & Off the Record' es uno de los discos más versátiles de Shakira". CADENA 100 (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  8. ^ Col, Lo Ultimo (2024-10-17). "Shakira y su nueva fecha en Barranquilla llevaron a los fans a recordar trabajo de Luis Fernando Ochoa". Lo último Colombia (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-11-23.
  9. ^ Clarín, Redacción (2004-04-14). "Para fanáticos y para chismosos". Clarín (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-11-23.
  10. ^ Shakira - Poem To A Horse (Live), 2004, retrieved 2024-12-18
  11. ^ Shakira - Poem To A Horse (Live) / Whenever, Wherever (Live), 2004, retrieved 2024-12-18
  12. ^ a b Shock, Redacción (2022-01-14). "'Poem to a horse', la canción de Shakira sobre un adicto a la marihuana". Shock (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-12-18.
  13. ^ "La Capital On Line - Sección - - Shakira y Britney Spears disputan el trono del pop con sus nuevos discos". archivo.lacapital.com.ar. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
  14. ^ a b Petridis, Alexis (2002-03-08). "Thong songs". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
  15. ^ "La crítica social en las canciones de Shakira: de 'Se quiere, se mata' a 'Octavo día'". EuropaFM (in Spanish). 2023-09-20. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
  16. ^ Perú, El Comercio (2023-09-24). "Shakira: "El jefe" y otras canciones con crítica social". El Comercio Perú (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-01-01.
  17. ^ a b "Las 10 letras más inteligentes de Shakira – Cabeza de Gato" (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2025-01-01.
  18. ^ Roiz, Jessica (2023-01-17). "What's the Best Shakira Song to Get Over an Ex? Vote!". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
  19. ^ "Filtran por error el setlist de los conciertos de Shakira; estos son los detalles". El Universal (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-01-01.