Whoever said that recording artists do not have to work hard certainly did not meet Colombian singer/songwriter Shakira.

In 2010 alone, the 33-year-old artist has written, produced and mixed her upcoming album, written the most successful World Cup song in history and put together what promises to be her best and most interactive world tour.

Although known for her dance pop tunes, Shakira started her career with two of the most influential rock albums in Latin American history.

In 1995, the then dark-haired artist hit the ground running with her international debut album “Pies Descalzos” (Bare Feet). The record reached global success.

Her sophomore album,  “Donde Estan Los Ladrones?” (Where Are the Thieves?) was released in 1998. It became the best-selling Spanish album of the 1990s.

Both albums secured her place in music history and brought her closer to conquering the American market.

With an already established career in Latin America and a large portion of the world, Shakira wrote, produced and released her first English album.

“Laundry Service” hit the music industry to acclaimed reviews in 2001. It peaked in third place on the Billboard charts and went three-times platinum in the U.S. alone. The album gave bloom to six hit singles, including “Whenever, Wherever,” “Underneath Your Clothes” and “Objection (Tango).” It proved, once again, that the star’s success was not a fluke.

It wasn’t until 2005 that Shakira returned with her first Spanish album in seven years, “Fijacion Oral Vol. 1” (Oral Fixation Vol. 1). The album sold more than any other Spanish album in history and gave birth to her first non-English U.S. hit with “La Tortura” (The Torture). An English counterpart to the album was released later in 2005. It included the record-breaking hit “Hips Don’t Lie.”

After nearly three years of obscurity, Shakira re-emerged with a new album, new sound and new concept in 2009. “She Wolf” was the artist’s sixth studio album and her third in English. Critics described the album as one of the bravest and most fun pop records of 2009. With songs like “She Wolf,” “Gypsy” and “Did It Again,” the album went beyond pop conventionalism.

Since then, she has performed at the World Cup opening and closing ceremonies in South Africa, headlined in the “Rock In Rio,” “Rock In Madrid” and “Glastonbury” music festivals this summer.

After last year’s genre-bending album, the pint-size star is set to release what she claims to be the most eclectic and personal record she’s ever written.

The offering is titled “Sale El Sol”, which will be branded as “The Sun Comes Out” for the English-speaking markets. It is set to be a synthesis of her entire career, embodying the wide-range of sounds and dialects her music has taken over the past 20 years.

The record setting “Waka Waka (This Time For Africa),” which she wrote for the World Cup, was the first song released from the album.

Fans got a different taste of “Sale El Sol” with the second single accordingly titled: “Loca” (Crazy). The merengue infused mad-track peaks just above three minutes, packing enough dance thumps and quirky rhymes to surpass her world hit song “Hips Don’t Lie.”

Shakira’s “The Sun Comes Out World Tour” opened in Canada on Sept. 15 to roaring reviews from critics and fans alike. The set-list featured songs from the new album as well as songs from her six previous musical efforts.   

The Barranquilla native’s new project goes on sale Oct. 19.