I was just listening to Don't bother by Shakira and I re-re-love this song again....its perfection, probably her best english song (hmm with How do you do? and Timor) so I was just wondering....why it flopped in the USA?!?! its so good it makes no sense (peaked in the 40s, i think) but now I remember....people were expecting a hip shaking song...
so do you think it would have been big if she released it AFTER Hips don't lie, just the same way she did Underneath your clothes after Whenever wherever and it was a hit.

I think it would have been PRETTY BIG.... so sad HDL came after....but I expect future CD to use this strategy though.

Don't bother:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsfQcAksBHw

She released a rock heavy song in a market that expected a dance-pop song from here. It's that simple. The song didn't get support from Pop stations because it was too rock, and Rock stations wouldn't touch it because it was from Shakira, who is considered a Pop artist in the United States. Had any other artist, such as a male Rock artist, sang the exact same song, it would have instantly been picked up by Rock stations, and possibly get support on Pop stations as well.

"Don't Bother" is a great song, very true to Shakira's classic rock roots. It's unfortunate it wasn't received well in the United States.

If she wants to gain respect in the Rock market she needs to team up with a super respected Rock artist (Bono/U2, Robert Plant, Bruce Springsteen, etc.). Once she gains respect and recognition as Rock artist, she will be able to get songs like "Don't Bother" played in the United States.

Don't bother is OK.

It flopped because people's taste in the U.S. is crappy

Don't Bother is a great song but it is far from the American concept of rock...

so true, so sad :P

I agree... I remember back then the fans HATED La Tortura because of this lmao, Z100 would play La tortura all the time but not Don't bother...also releasing an album the same year was a mistake IN THIS CASE, specially if the second album will start with a rock song instead of a hip shaking song.... the "can't wait for new Shakira music" feeling was gone when Don't bother was released because of La Tortura....

I guess La Tortura was bigger than what they expected.

I honestly could care less about "Don't Bother" (not to say I hate Shakira, just her fans), but I think that it's a stretch to say that "Don't Bother" could have been anymore sucessful than it was due to timing. Even if it has been released after HDL, it probably would have performed the same way/worse on the charts simply because it's not exactly "mainstream" rock, pop, or R&B. Sorry

That too was a big factor. And LOL at the Z100 thing. That was so odd and annoying. I think "La Tortura" was still the #1 song on Z100 when "Don't Bother" was released to radio, and it did strongly stop the station from picking up the song because they were so in love with "La Tortura".

I actually think it would have performed good, atleast top 20.... this song is pretty good.....I see it this way:
reason it flopped:
1. La Tortura
2. Wrong first single, would work as a second single after HDL

...
go sleep

You really think so? I think "HDL" would have actually hurt "Don't Bother"'s chart performance. It would have had nearly the same effect as "La Tortura", except on an even bigger scale considering how huge "HDL" was.

Another factor: Jaume De Laiguana. For a lead single, the video should have been amazing. Jaume's style is too indie.

good point but what if it was released after HDL is over, like Illegal but actually a month before or something.

and yes Jaume is also a big factor...but I liked Don't bother video =X

Shakira needs to fire Jaume De Laiguana. His videos are almost always disappointing.

Gustavo Garzon made so much better videos, and I bet you he was being paid a lot less than Jaume.

Don't Bother is one of her best songs ever, including her spanish ones. It's a shame the US only likes the "shaking hips" Shakira.

Don't Bother is actually my 2nd favorite Shakira song ever, and it didn't flop because of timing or because of Jaume, the only reason it flopped is because americans have the shittiest taste in music in the entire world.

Don't Bother is very mediocre, it underperformed pretty much everywhere and deservedly so.

Dont Bother is one of the best 2006 songs, and isn't rock...

I think Shakira should choose for her next single ANIMAL CITY!
or How do U Do!

This song is great, live is even better, best OF2 song imo followed by Illegal and Dreams For Plans, and I honestly cannot imagine this song being second or third single, it was just perfect for being the first one, too bad things didn't come out as Shakira and her label were expecting...

i like the song too

I liked the song back then, but it isnt just Shakira's thing that people expected. Thats why its such an underperformed song in US.