Addicted to You

"Addicted to You" is a vibrant expression of an overwhelming and intoxicating infatuation. The lyrics describe a state of being completely consumed by a lover, where every detail of their existence becomes a source of fascination and obsession. The song explores the theme of an all-encompassing love that borders on addiction, highlighting the physical and emotional dependency the narrator feels. Despite the English title, the song is predominantly in Spanish, which emphasizes the passionate, Latin roots of the emotion being conveyed. The central message is one of helpless surrender to love's powerful pull, where the lover is a 'vice' that the narrator cannot and does not want to give up. It portrays a love that disrupts daily life, making it impossible to 'sleep or eat like decent people do', signifying a complete departure from normalcy due to this powerful emotional state.

The song is a passionate and obsessive declaration of love and attraction. The narrator is completely captivated by their lover, attributing this intense feeling to everything from their lover's scent to the water they use to bathe. Every small action the lover takes is perceived as a monumental achievement. The memory of a particular kiss is so powerful that it feels like a heavy weight on the narrator's chest whenever it comes to mind, a kiss delivered with the finality as if it were the last. The physical details of the lover are cataloged with adoration: their brown eyes with a hint of green, their boyish face, and a nervous laugh.

This infatuation has taken over the narrator's entire being, leading to a state of complete addiction. The lover's skin is described as a vice, a habit that cannot be broken. This feeling is a mix of pleasure and torment, as the narrator has been swept away by the current of these emotions, losing the ability to eat or sleep like a normal person. The memory of the lover lingers persistently, like a pin fastened to a pillow. In stark contrast, the lover is depicted as having the memory of a fish, completely oblivious to the profound effect they have. Despite this imbalance, the obsession continues, focusing on the lover's strong hands, the scent of their back, and an ineffable quality in their gaze that has accomplished this complete takeover of the narrator's heart and mind. The chorus is a repeated, desperate plea and a statement of fact: an undeniable addiction to the lover and a deep desire for them to accept and receive this overwhelming affection.

"Addicted to You" was recorded for Shakira's ninth studio album, Sale el Sol (2010). The song was officially released as the fifth and final single from the album on March 13, 2012. It was written by Shakira, along with Dominican rapper Edward Bello (El Cata), American producer John Hill, and her frequent collaborator Luis Fernando Ochoa. The collaboration with El Cata was born from Shakira's desire to explore merengue music, a genre she grew up with and missed. She traveled to his small studio in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to work with him. The album Sale el Sol was intentionally divided into three musical directions, with "Addicted to You" representing the 'Latino, tropical side', blending merengue with influences of reggaeton and sounds reminiscent of the 70s Copacabana. The accompanying music video was directed by Anthony Mandler and was shot in a single day in Valencia, California.

The song is driven by a powerful and infectious merengue rhythm, characterized by its upbeat and dance-oriented tempo (around 126 BPM). This fast-paced rhythmic foundation creates a sense of urgency and breathless excitement that perfectly mirrors the lyrical theme of obsessive love. The lyrical phrases are often short and delivered in a rapid-fire succession, fitting tightly within the rhythmic structure of the music. The rhyme scheme is relatively simple and direct, often using AABB or ABCB patterns within its verses, which contributes to the song's catchy and memorable nature. For instance, in the first verse, 'usas' rhymes with 'haces' (slant rhyme) and 'bañas' with 'hazaña'. This straightforward structure makes the song accessible and enhances its pop appeal, ensuring the focus remains on the powerful emotion and the danceable beat.

Musically, "Addicted to You" is a prime example of Shakira's fusion of genres. It's built on a fast-paced, horn-heavy merengue rhythm, which gives it a vibrant, danceable quality characteristic of the album's 'tropical' direction. This is blended with elements of Latin pop and a reggaeton-influenced beat. Lyrically, the song utilizes code-switching, inserting the English title phrase 'I'm addicted to you' into the otherwise Spanish lyrics. This technique makes the central theme universally understandable and serves as a powerful, catchy hook. The vocal delivery is passionate and urgent, matching the lyrical content of obsession and desire. The production incorporates what Shakira described as 'Copacabana sounds' and a '70s chorus', adding a layer of retro flair to the modern Latin track.

"Addicted to You" was the fifth and final single from the commercially successful album Sale el Sol. The song performed very well on Latin music charts, particularly in the United States, where it reached number nine on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart and number three on both the Latin Pop Airplay and Tropical Songs charts. It was a major success in Mexico, reaching number one on the Monitor Latino chart and achieving a platinum certification from AMPROFON. The song also charted well in European countries like Spain, France, and Poland. The music video, directed by Anthony Mandler, garnered significant attention and quickly surpassed 100 million views on YouTube, earning a "Vevo Certified" award. The song is a key track representing the tropical, merengue-infused sound of Sale el Sol, an album that marked a return to Shakira's Latin roots and was praised for its musical diversity.

The song employs several vivid metaphors to convey the intensity of the narrator's feelings.

• Addiction as a Metaphor for Love: The central metaphor is in the title itself. Love is compared to an addiction, and the lover's skin is described as a 'vicio' (vice), framing the intense desire as an inescapable, all-consuming habit. This suggests a love that is both pleasurable and potentially destructive, a force beyond rational control.
• The Weight of a Rock: Remembering her lover's kiss creates the physical sensation of 'the weight of a rock' in her chest. This metaphor powerfully illustrates the profound and heavy emotional impact the memory has on her.
• Memory of a Fish: The lover is described as having 'memoria de pez' (the memory of a fish), a common idiom for being forgetful. This symbolizes a painful one-sidedness in the intensity of the relationship, where the narrator remembers every detail while the lover seems to remember nothing.
• Brooch on a Pillow: The lover's memory is described as being 'like a brooch pinned to my pillow', symbolizing a memory that is constant, close, and sharp, something that is always there when she rests.

The most significant recurring phrase is the song's title, "I'm addicted to you," which appears in English and serves as the core of the chorus. Its repetition drills home the central theme of the song with absolute clarity. This phrase is always followed by the Spanish explanation, "Porque es un vicio tu piel" (Because your skin is a vice), which reinforces and elaborates on the metaphor of addiction. The subsequent line, "Quiero que te dejes querer" (I want you to let yourself be loved), is also a key part of the chorus, functioning as a plea that reveals the narrator's vulnerability and deep desire for reciprocation. This entire chorus structure acts as the song's primary hook, making it incredibly memorable and summarizing the narrative of obsessive devotion.