Whenever, Wherever

"Whenever, Wherever" is a song recorded by Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira for her debut English-language studio album, Laundry Service (2001), her fifth overall. Shakira produced the track and wrote the lyrics to the original Spanish version, titled "Suerte" (English: "Good luck"), which Gloria Estefan later adapted to English. The music was co-written by the singer and Tim Mitchell, with additional production also handled by the latter. "Whenever, Wherever" was released as the lead single from Laundry Service, alongside "Suerte", on 27 August 2001, by Epic Records. The song's lyrics are about how "lucky" the singer is to have found her romantic partner and the distance between the two she is willing to overcome, making multiple references to her native Colombia, the Andes and Argentina, her then partner Antonio de la Rúa's homeland. The song is a mix of Latin music and worldbeat that is heavily influenced by Andean music. Upon its release, "Whenever, Wherever" received generally favorable reviews from music critics, who complimented its production. The song became her breakthrough hit in the United States, peaking at number six on the Billboard Hot 100. In doing so, it became her most successful single in the country, though it was eventually surpassed by "Hips Don't Lie" (featuring Wyclef Jean), which peaked at number one on the chart in 2006. The selection, additionally, topped charts in 22 countries, including her native Colombia and the majority of Latin America, Europe, The Middle East and Oceania. It is recognized as one of Shakira's signature songs, and was one of the most successful songs in the world in 2002. It is certified platinum or higher in seventeen countries including diamond in France.