Once dubbed the Latin Madonna, Shakira is in fact a singer with no pop peers. That was obvious from the moment she greeted Wembley with Estoy aquí, a feisty, 12-year-old single that launched her career in her native Colombia. Although largely unknown in Britain — hardly Madge dusting down Holiday then — the song was a provocative, crowd-pleasing start to a show that rarely trod a conventional pop path.

When her English language debut Laundry Service broke a newly blonde Shakira over here six years ago, its singles suggested either a raunchy, Thesaurus-consulting pop babe or a breathy balladeer. At home, however, Shakira has long been regarded as a serious artist and her current endeavour is to export some of that credibility, a process she began in 2005 with a pair of overlapping albums — one in Spanish the other in English — that showcased a rockier sound.

Shakira’s first UK concert in almost five years certainly began with less pop pretence than her last visit. Gone were the fireworks and fancy set. In their place a dressed down 1970s band, including four guitarists. Most striking, though, was the singer herself — barefoot, in baggy trousers and glittery top with a mane of hair that was back to brown. Most of the songs were sung in Spanish, while trademark belly dancing was replaced by rock chic moves with a crystal-covered guitar. Even when her new image felt somewhat forced, Shakira oozed sex appeal. She mixed robotic moves and harmonica playing on last year’s hit Don’t Bother, sat on a box accompanied by bongos and lap-steel guitar for Illegal, and even brought on a dread-locked guest for some reggae-toasting.

Slowly though, the pop Shakira crept back in and it wasn’t just the male half of the crowd who were happy to see it. When she rubbed up against her mike stand on a fabulous Se Te Vas and bounced her breasts during La Tortura, it was an invitation for fans to dance. Half an hour in, the singer made her first costume change, into ludicrous red flowing robes with hanging sleeves and wings attached to sticks. Her next outfit — think skimpily clad snake charmer — had the entire audience cheering. Shakira claimed the night’s highlights with Whatever, Whenever and Hips Don’t Lie. When you look as good as she does, it’s best not to fight it.

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