"Bésame" () is a song by Spanish musician

Alejandro Sanz Alejandro Sánchez Pizarro, better known as Alejandro Sanz (; born 18 December 1968), is a Spanish musician, singer and composer. He has won 22 Latin Grammy Awards and four Grammy Awards. He has received the Latin Grammy for Latin Grammy Award ...

and Colombian singer-songwriter

Shakira Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll ( , ; born 2 February 1977) is a Colombian singer-songwriter. Referred to as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Latin Music", she has had a Cultural impact of Shakira, significant impact on the ...

. A flamenco and afrobeat ballad, it was released on 23 May 2025 as a single from from Sanz's second EP ''¿Y Ahora Qué?''.

Background and release

On 19 May 2025,

posted a preview of "Bésame", a collaboration with

, on social media. The song is the third collaboration between Sanz and Shakira, and featured on his second EP ''¿Y Ahora Qué?''. It was released on 23 May 2025, almost twenty years after their first collaborations "

La Tortura "" (English language, English: "The Torture") is a song by Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira, featuring Spanish singer Alejandro Sanz, from Shakira's sixth studio album, ''Fijación Oral, Vol. 1'' (2005). The song was produced by Shakira and ...

" (2005) and " Te Lo Agradezco, Pero No" (2006). Sanz commented that they had been talking about releasing a new song together for a while and would always joke about it. Despite wanting to record together, they could not find the right song, before "Bésame".

Composition

"Bésame" is a flamenco and afrobeat ballad. It features minimal dance rhythms, combining elegance with mainstream appeal. The lyrics of the song talk about love, conveying themes of emotion, connection, intimacy, and nostalgia. They depict a deeply emotional romantic connection, likening the beloved's beauty to the essence of life and conveying a strong wish to remain with her. Sanz howls at the end of the trach, which has drawn comparisons to Shakira's "

She Wolf A she-wolf is a female gray wolf (''Canis lupus''). She-wolf or she wolf may also refer to: History * She-wolf (Roman mythology), from the tale of Romulus and Remus, a traditional symbol of Rome *Isabella of France (1295–1358), wife of Edward I ...

" and " Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53".

Music video

The music video for "Bésame" was spontaneously filmed during rehearsals for the Charlotte date of Shakira's

Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour The Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour is the seventh ongoing concert tour by Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira, in support of her twelfth studio album, ''Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran'' (2024). The stadium tour commenced on 11 February 2025 at t ...

. The video was released on 30 May 2025 and directed by Jaume de Laiguana. It features Shakira, donning a cap, jacket, and braids, joining Sanz on stage. Together, they hold microphones, as if rehearsing for a show. Sanz kisses Shakira on her cheek in the video, which sparked rumors of a possible romance between the two.

Reception

Juan Ignacio Herrero from ''

Los 40 Los 40 (stylized as LOS40, formerly ''Los 40 Principales'', ) is a Spanish Top 40-themed music radio station that broadcasts current and recent music, primarily focusing on genres such as pop, dance, electropop, Electro Latin, and Reggaeton. T ...

'' commented that the song "has surprised everyone with its spectacular structure and identity, proving that the two performers have a special chemistry when they unite their talents", and described it as a "gigantic ode to love, to the courage to take that step despite the risk of being hurt." Tomás Mier from ''

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. The magazine was first known fo ...

'' noted Shakira's "shining vocals." ''Me Suena'' emphasized that the song is made special for merging deep, heartfelt lyrics with a distinctive mix of sounds.

References

{{Shakira songs Alejandro Sanz songs Shakira songs Songs written by Shakira 2025 songs 2025 singles Sony Music singles Songs in Spanish Male–female vocal duets Afrobeat songs Flamenco songs Latin ballads