Monotonía

"Monotonía" is a poignant exploration of the end of a long-term relationship, attributing the breakup not to a specific transgression but to the slow, corrosive effect of monotony. The lyrics convey a sense of resignation and sorrow, admitting that neither party was solely to blame for the relationship's failure. Instead, the song points to the gradual erosion of passion and connection that can occur over time when a relationship falls into a predictable, unfulfilling routine. Shakira sings about a partner who becomes distant and self-absorbed ("You left me because of your narcissism"), highlighting an imbalance of emotional investment. The core message, encapsulated in the recurring line "No fue culpa tuya, ni tampoco mía, fue culpa de la monotonía" ("It wasn't your fault, nor was it mine, it was monotony's fault"), suggests a mature, albeit painful, acceptance of a love that has simply run its course. It's a reflection on how even a once-great love can wither without active nurturing, becoming "cold as Christmas" and necessitating a painful but necessary goodbye for the sake of self-love.

The narrative opens with a confession, a shared acknowledgment that the end of the relationship wasn't a singular event caused by one person's dramatic failure, but the result of a slow, creeping erosion by monotony. The protagonist reflects on the pain she silently endured, possessing a prescient knowledge that the relationship's demise was inevitable. She addresses her former partner directly, noting a gradual but profound change in his behavior. He became distant, his attitude creating a constant state of anxiety and restlessness within her. This emotional distance is highlighted by the imbalance of effort; she recalls giving her all while receiving less than half in return. The partner's focus shifted inward, a self-absorption she identifies as narcissism, which led him to forget the history and shared identity they once had.

The chorus repeats the central theme, a powerful and recurring admission: “It wasn’t your fault, nor was it mine; it was monotony’s fault.” This refrain serves as both an accusation and a form of absolution, lifting the burden of specific blame from their individual shoulders and placing it on the impersonal, yet destructive, force of routine and emotional neglect. It's a lament for a love that wasn't murdered but was left to starve. The lyrics paint a picture of a relationship that was once vibrant but became cold and predictable, like a movie that has been seen too many times. The protagonist describes herself as a warrior, fighting battles alone, running for someone who wasn’t even making the effort to walk beside her. This imagery emphasizes her solitary struggle to keep the connection alive while her partner remained passive. She states that this separation, though painful, is a necessary act of self-preservation. Loving him was a total commitment, but in the end, loving herself became the priority. The story concludes with a final, poignant image of loss: what was once an incredible love has faded, and nothing remains. The collaboration with Ozuna adds a sympathetic voice, one that echoes the sentiment of loss and acknowledges the shared pain, reinforcing the idea that this wasn't a one-sided experience but a mutual fading of a once-bright flame.

"Monotonía" was released on October 19, 2022, as the second single from Shakira's twelfth studio album, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran (2024). The song was recorded in 2021, and its release came shortly after the highly publicized announcement of her separation from longtime partner Gerard Piqué, leading to widespread interpretation of the song as a reflection on their breakup. The lyrics were primarily written by Colombian songwriter Keityn, who had also worked on her previous single. According to Keityn, the song was written at least a year before being offered to Shakira. However, Shakira made a significant lyrical contribution close to the song's release, changing a line from "Fuimos víctimas del egoísmo" ("We were victims of selfishness") to "Me dejaste por tu narcisismo..." ("You left me because of your narcissism..."), which was her only lyrical change to the track. The song was co-produced by Shakira, Keityn, Albert Hype, Ciey, and Noise Up. The music video was filmed in Manresa, Spain, in September 2022 and was co-directed by Shakira and her frequent collaborator Jaume de Laiguana. Shakira's son, Sasha, designed the single's cover art on his iPad after she was unsatisfied with the options presented by her record label.

The music video for "Monotonía" is rich with symbolism, translating the song's emotional pain into graphic, physical metaphors. The most prominent symbol is Shakira's heart, which is literally blown out of her chest by a bazooka, leaving a gaping hole. This visceral image represents the devastating and sudden impact of the final emotional blow in the relationship. She then walks through the streets carrying her bleeding heart in her hands, desperately trying to protect it as people knock it to the ground and step on it, symbolizing her vulnerability and the careless disregard of others for her pain during a period of intense public scrutiny. The man who shoots the bazooka wears an outfit—a white hoodie and grey joggers—identical to one Gerard Piqué wore in Shakira's 2017 music video for "Me Enamoré," a song about falling in love with him, creating a stark and painful contrast. The video concludes with Shakira, assisted by Ozuna, placing her heart in a locked box in a bank vault, signifying her decision to protect her heart and take time to heal before loving again. This final act represents a step toward resilience and self-preservation after profound heartbreak.

The emotional landscape of "Monotonía" is overwhelmingly one of melancholy, sadness, and resignation. The song captures the specific, aching grief that follows the end of a long and meaningful relationship. Released in the aftermath of her public separation from Gerard Piqué, the song is widely seen as a direct channel for her personal heartbreak. Shakira herself described the period of writing her album as one of the "most difficult, darkest hours" of her life, viewing her music as a therapeutic outlet to process her emotions. The lyrics express a deep sense of hurt ("I never said anything but it hurt me") and the pain of feeling forgotten by a partner ("You forgot what we were one day"). This sadness is conveyed through the bachata rhythm, a genre inherently tied to themes of sorrow, and Shakira's vocal performance, which is filled with vulnerability and raw emotion. While the dominant tone is sadness, there is also a subtle undercurrent of resilience and a move toward acceptance, particularly in the final scenes of the music video where she locks her heart away to protect it, suggesting a conscious decision to heal.

"Monotonía" achieved significant commercial success and cultural resonance immediately upon release, largely fueled by its perceived connection to Shakira's personal life. The song broke records, delivering Spotify's biggest debut for a female artist in Mexico and Colombia at the time, and entered the global Spotify chart at number 12 with nearly 3 million streams on its first day. It debuted at number 65 on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number three on the Hot Latin Songs chart, extending Shakira's record as the female artist with the most top 10 hits on that chart. The music video's graphic symbolism, especially the image of Shakira with a hole in her chest, became an iconic representation of heartbreak and was widely discussed and analyzed. Critically, the song was well-received, praised for its heartbreakingly honest lyrics and the successful blending of Shakira's and Ozuna's vocals. The track was part of a series of songs addressing her breakup that re-energized her career, leading up to the massive success of "Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53" and her album Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran, cementing her status as a cultural icon who transforms personal pain into powerful, relatable art.

"Monotonía" is built upon the distinct rhythm of bachata, characterized by its steady 4/4 time signature and a syncopated rhythmic pattern often driven by the bongo and güira. The tempo is moderate, around 131 BPM, creating a danceable yet melancholic pulse that underscores the song's bittersweet theme. The lyrical rhythm flows naturally over this musical foundation, with Shakira's phrasing often syncopating against the beat, adding to the song's emotional expressiveness. The rhyme scheme is not strictly formal but follows a pattern common in Latin pop, often utilizing assonance (vowel rhymes) and consonant rhymes at the end of lines to create a cohesive and melodic flow. For instance, in the chorus, "mía" rhymes with "monotonía" and "dolía" with "pasaría," creating a simple AABB-like structure that makes the hook memorable. The interplay between the song's sorrowful lyrics and its danceable rhythm creates a poignant juxtaposition, allowing the track to be both a song for reflection and a song for movement, a common feature in modern bachata music.

Musically, "Monotonía" is a bachata track, a genre known for its themes of heartbreak and melancholy, often referred to as "música de amargue" (music of bitterness), which perfectly complements the song's lyrical content. The song is composed in the key of F Dorian, a mode that lends a somber yet not entirely tragic quality to the harmony. The instrumentation is characteristic of modern bachata, featuring nylon-string guitars playing arpeggiated patterns, a steady bongo-driven rhythm, and a prominent, melodic bass line. Lyrically, the song employs a direct, conversational narrative voice, as if speaking directly to the ex-partner. Shakira's vocal delivery is emotive and tinged with sorrow, shifting from a near-whisper to a powerful belt, conveying the spectrum of her pain. Ozuna's smoother, crooning vocals provide a complementary texture, acting almost as a consoling echo. The use of the central, repetitive phrase "Fue culpa de la monotonía" is a powerful rhetorical device, acting as a refrain that anchors the song's entire thesis. The music video utilizes dramatic, surreal imagery as a form of visual metaphor to heighten the emotional impact of the lyrics, a technique Shakira has often used to translate abstract feelings into tangible concepts.

What is the meaning of Shakira's song 'Monotonía'?

The song 'Monotonía' is about the end of a long-term relationship caused not by a specific fault of either person, but by the slow decay of love due to routine and lack of variety. It expresses the sadness and heartbreak of a love that faded away over time.

Is Shakira's 'Monotonía' about Gerard Piqué?

While never officially confirmed, the song was released shortly after her separation from Gerard Piqué and contains direct lyrics about a partner's narcissism and emotional distance. The music video features a man in an outfit Piqué wore in a previous video, strongly suggesting it is about their breakup.

What does the hole in Shakira's chest in the 'Monotonía' video symbolize?

The hole in Shakira's chest, from which her heart is blasted, is a graphic visual metaphor for the devastating emotional pain and heartbreak she experienced. It represents the feeling of being emotionally gutted and having her heart violently torn out.

What musical genre is 'Monotonía'?

'Monotonía' is a bachata song. This genre, originating from the Dominican Republic, is often associated with themes of romance and heartbreak, making it a fitting choice for the song's emotional content.

Who wrote the lyrics for 'Monotonía'?

The lyrics were primarily written by Colombian songwriter Keityn. However, Shakira contributed a key line close to the song's release, changing it to be more direct by singing, 'You left me because of your narcissism.'

Why does Shakira lock her heart in a box at the end of the video?

Locking her heart in a secure box at the end of the music video symbolizes an act of self-preservation and healing. After her heart has been damaged and mistreated, she decides to protect it until she is ready to trust someone with it again.

When was 'Monotonía' released?

'Monotonía' was released on October 19, 2022. It was the second single from her album 'Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran,' which was released in 2024.