Can't Remember to Forget You

The song features guest vocals from Barbadian singer Rihanna.

In October 2010, Shakira released her ninth studio and Spanish-language album, Sale el Sol. The record marked a return to her musical roots after her experimentation with electronic music and was primarily a Latin pop album with influences of rock and merengue music.[5][6] It garnered critical acclaim[7] and was a commercial success internationally.[8] A year later in November, Shakira revealed in an interview with Billboard magazine that she had begun writing new material and working with various producers for a new record.[9] Initially in 2012, it was expected that the first single from the singer's album would be a song titled "Truth or Dare".[10] In June, Colombian newspaper El Heraldo reported that Shakira had been filming the music video for the song in Lisbon, Portugal, and speculated that it would be in late 2012.[10] "Truth or Dare", however, was not released.

On 6 December 2013, a Twitter page named @ShakiraSpace announced the duet between Shakira and Rihanna. Then, on 8 December 2013, Shakira's body double Alexita Ortiz wrote on social networking site Twitter that she had been working with her on the set for a music video, and mentioned that Rihanna was also involved.[11] The tweet was subsequently removed.[11] The speculation regarding the collaboration of the two singers increased after Cuban American rapper Pitbull, in a radio interview on Kidd Kraddick in the Morning, commented that Rihanna wasn't able to appear as the featured artist in his song "Timber" as she had "something she had to do with Shakira."[12] Later, Sony Music Entertainment announced that the first single would be in early 2014.[13]

On 6 January 2014, the title of the song was revealed to be "Can't Remember to Forget You" and Rihanna confirmed that she would be contributing her vocals on the track.[14] She also mentioned that it would be on 13 January 2014, although it was initially going to be one day later.[14] The next day, Shakira also confirmed the date of the duet and posted a promotional cover.[15] "Nunca Me Acuerdo de Olvidarte", the Spanish version, was on 21 January 2014, which does not feature Rihanna.[16] A physical single in Germany is set to be out on 14 February 2014.[17]

The actual artwork of the single was on 9 January 2014, and depicts Shakira wearing a black cut-out body piece with a gold and black medallion. Rihanna is seen lying on her lap, dressed in a strapless body suit and costume jewels. Jordana Ossad from E! Online called the duo "radiant and sultry" and complimented their pose.[18] Two days before the release of the song, a "grainy" snippet of the recording in which Shakira could be heard singing the title of the song leaked online.[19] On 13 January 2014, "Can't Remember to Forget You" was premiered on American syndicated radio program On Air with Ryan Seacrest. The audio of the song was also uploaded to Shakira's Vevo account and as of November 2019 has amassed over 1.0 billion views.[20]

"Can't Remember to Forget You" is an uptempo track that incorporates elements of ska and has a length of three minutes and twenty eight seconds.[22] The Guardian characterised the song as a "new wave pop" track containing a "guitar-tinged" beat.[1] Rap-Up magazine said the song is an "upbeat" track containing a "reggae-tinged" beat.[23] The song opens with a "-slung, reggae-tinged verse", which the Guardian compared to the work of the Police, the song moves into a "guitar-heavy" chorus which contains "ska guitars and horns" and a "chunky rock arrangement".[1][24][25] Complex described the song as a pop rock track.[2]

Lyrically, the song concerns a man that Shakira cannot get off her mind, discussing how easy it is to forget how bad someone is for you when you still love them.[1][22] The lyrics were noted by E! Online as describing a woman who will follow her man, the concept of the song is introduced in lyrics such as "keep(s) forgetting I should let you go/ But when you look at me/ The only memory is us kissing in the moonlight."[26] Lewis Corner of Digital Spy commented on the lyric; "I keep forgetting I should let you go" as the singers telling their "no-good lothario, who seems to still have a hefty grip on their hearts," continuing to say the song's lyrics are "romantic pitfall."[27] Musically, the song is written in the key of B minor, and set in common time signature with a moderately fast tempo of 138[28] beats per minute. It follows a chord progression of Bm-Em-A-D. Shakira and Rihanna's vocals span from the note of B₃ to the high note of D₅.[29]

The song received mixed reviews from critics.[30] MTV praised the song and complimented its "Latin and Island flourishes", continuing to compare the song to "Locked Out of Heaven" by Bruno Mars and Shakira's and Beyoncé's previous collaboration "Beautiful Liar."[21] The Guardian found its melodies catchy, and praised the song for keeping away from electronic dance music, noting Shakira's return to "guitar-tinged new wave pop".[1] VIBE magazine praised the duet calling it a "powerhouse collaboration", concluding, "The she-wolf and Bajan bombshell’s chemistry seeps through the bass line and their accented vocals, sure to make both stanbases happy."[31] Jason Lipshutz of Billboard noted the song as being "enjoyably grandiose", praising the "ska-punk guitar riff" and its "chunky rock arrangement."[32] Popjustice gave the song a positive review saying, "You cannot go wrong with a bit of Shakira. You cannot go wrong with a bit of Rihanna. Two facts for you there ladies and gents."[30]

Bradley Stern of MuuMuse felt the song was not consequential, despite praising the song as something different from contemporary radio.[33] Despite saying that "elements" of the song "feel worldly and memorable", Lindsey Weber of Vulture called the song “ironically forgettable” due to Shakira's and Rihanna's vocal similarity and the "-tempo reggae-rock beat."[34] Additionally, Gerrick D. Kennedy of the Los Angeles Times said the single "could use more steam", summarising with, "Here’s one thing about hype: It’s almost impossible to live up to."[35] Claire Lobenfield of Complex wrote, "As evidenced by the title, it’s a song about lingering heartache. But instead of making it a melancholic affair, the duet is full pop-rock a la Bruno Mars."[2]

On its first day of the song had 1,172 spins on 143 stations, equating to 11 million audience .[36] "Can't Remember To Forget You" debuted at No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 25 on Latin Pop Songs chart. The Spanish version debuted at No. 11 on the Hot Latin Songs chart.[37] With the song debuting at number twenty eight in on the US Billboard Hot 100 it became Shakira's highest-debuting track in the United States.[38] Its highest Billboard Hot 100 chart position so far is at number fifteen. As of March 2014, the song has sold 376,000 digital copies in the US.[39]

The song made its chart debut in Ireland where it debuted at number seventeen on the Irish Singles Chart.[40] In the UK the single debuted at number eleven on the UK Singles Chart, giving Shakira her eleventh UK top forty and Rihanna her thirty-ninth top forty.[41][42] In France, the song entered the singles chart at number six.[43] The single debuted at number 20 in Germany, and climbed to number nine a few weeks later then peaked at number eight. Elsewhere, in Europe, the song was commercially successful, reaching the Top 10 in more than 20 countries. In Latin American, the single fared pretty well reaching the top 10 in many territories.[44] The song went number one in Greece, Croatia, Poland, Lebanon and Mexico, and it also peaked at number one on US Dance Club Songs Chart. The song charted at 85 on Billboard Hot 100 year end chart. It was Shakira's only song in the 2010s to do so. The Spanish version of the song ended up being number one in Venezuela.

The accompanying music video for "Can't Remember to Forget You" was filmed by American director Joseph Kahn. On 8 December 2013, Shakira tweeted that she had finished shooting the video with Kahn.[45] The premiere of the video took place on 30 January 2014, and debuted during "Shakira: Off the Charts" a 30-min special 8:pm ET/PT on E! Online.[46] The video was made available for streaming on Shakira's VEVO profile on YouTube where it received more than 17.1 million views during its first 24 hours of availability.[47] On 9 February 2014, the video reached 100 million views, becoming Shakira's eighth Vevo Certified music video.[48] As of November 2019, it has received over 1 billion views.[49]

On 12 February 2014, Dutch DJ Fedde Le Grand an EDM remix to the song, the remix revived praise with critics saying "his electro-house makeover turns the song into perfect club fodder."[50]

On 25 March 2014, Shakira held an iHeartRadio album party which was presented by Target, live from the iHeartRadio Theater in Los Angeles. During the party Shakira performed "Can't Remember To Forget You," along with other songs from the album.[51] On 28 March 2014 Shakira performed the song at the German music award show Echo.[52] She also performed the song on The Today Show in the US and on Le Grand Journal in France. Also, she performed the song on Wango Tango. Also, she performed the song for a mini-concert in a Brazilian TV show called Fantástico, which aired on 13 July 2014.[53]

• Digital download[54]

1. "Can't Remember to Forget You" (featuring Rihanna) – 3:26

• Digital download – Spanish version[55]

1. "Nunca Me Acuerdo de Olvidarte" – 3:26

• CD single[17]

1. "Can't Remember to Forget You" (featuring Rihanna) – 3:26
2. "Nunca Me Acuerdo de Olvidarte" – 3:26

• Fedde Le Grand Remix Single

1. "Can't Remember to Forget You" (Fedde Le Grand Remix) [feat. Rihanna] - 5:13

• Wideboys Remix Single

1. "Can't Remember to Forget You" (Wideboys Remix) - 3:35

• "Can't Remember to Forget You" on YouTube
• Can't Remember to Forget You lyrics