TQG
"TQG" is a song by Colombian singer-songwriters Karol G and Shakira. Written alongside Keityn and Ovy on the Drums, and produced by the latter, the song was released on February 24, 2023, through Universal Music Latino, as the fifth single from Karol G’s fourth studio album, Mañana Será Bonito. The song is also featured on Shakira’s twelfth studio album, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran.
Background
On February 10, 2023, Giraldo revealed the cover art for Mañana Será Bonito and revealed the track list, where "TQG" was featured as a solo song. Later on February 14, 2023, Shakira wished Karol G a "happy birthday" message through social media, adding more speculation to a collaboration, as it was something the singer did to Argentine producer Bizarrap, whom she would collaborate on the song "Shakira: [Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53]. That same day, Karol G would reveal in an interview with The New York Times that Shakira was featured on the song. The song was released as the fifth single alongside the album's release on February 24, 2023.Composition
"TQG" is an acronym for the phrase "Te Quedó Grande"; is a reggaeton track, but it's also considered as a diss. The song's lyrics features "shots" directed at their ex-boyfriends, Puerto Rican artist Anuel AA and Spanish footballer Gerard Pique. The song also presents lyrics sung by Shakira about Pique's current girlfriend, Clara Chia.In an interview with Rolling Stone, Karol G would reveal that she wrote the song in 2022 during an emotionally complex time. She explained that although she had intended to ask Shakira to collaborate, it wasn't intended to happen with "TQG". After listening to Shakira's "Monotonía", collaboration with Ozuna, she decided to send her the song. She added: "listening to that story and where she was at, made a lot of sense. I sent it to her and she loved it."
In an later interview with [Billboard |Billboard], Giraldo revealed that the song was written with Ovy on the Drums and Keityn Cruz in a recording session for "Mamiii", collaboration with American singer Becky G. She explained how the song came to be and what it means to her:
Critical reception
Alexis Petridis of The Guardian commended the ethereal atmosphere that "TQG" has "though frankly it's a bit phoned-in." Ernesto Lechner from Rolling Stone criticized the song calling it "underwhelming", stating "her much-anticipated track with Colombian icon Shakira, "TQG," feels underwhelming, especially since it arrives only weeks after the media circus that surrounded Shakira's massive new track with Bizarrap."| Publication | List | Rank | |
| Rolling Stone | The 100 Best Songs of 2023 | ||
| Remezcla | Best Pop Songs of 2023 |
Commercial performance
"TQG" debuted at number 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart dated March 11, 2023, becoming Karol G's first and Shakira's sixth top-ten entry on the chart. The song charted twenty weeks on the chart, with the first seven staying within the top 40.On the US Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart, the song debuted at number one, becoming Karol's sixth and Shakira's thirteenth number one on the chart.
On the Billboard Global 200, the song also debuted at the top spot with 158.4 million streams and 10,000 sales for the week dated March 11, 2023, becoming both Karol G's and Shakira's first number one on that chart.
According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, it was the fifteenth best-selling global single of 2023, earning 1.18 billion subscription streams equivalents globally, becoming Shakira's first IFPI year-end single entry and Karol's second following 2022's "Provenza".
Awards and nominations
Music video
The music video for "TQG" was directed by Pedro Artola and was released on Karol G's YouTube channel on February 24, 2023. The concept of the visual is heavily inspired by the plot of the film The Truman Show.Live performances
On March 10, 2023, Karol G performed "TQG" for the first time in Puerto Rico for a three-day stadium show promoting the release of Mañana Será Bonito. On July 10, 2023, Karol G performed "TQG" for the Today morning show. The song was performed once again by Giraldo on August 4, 2024, for the Lollapalooza music festival. From August 10, 2023, to July 23, 2024, Karol G embarked on the arena-stadium Mañana Será Bonito Tour, where the song was present throughout the set list as the show's opener. On September 12, 2023, during the MTV Video Music Awards, Shakira performed the song as part of her medley, as she received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. On February 11, 2025, Shakira embarked on the Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour, set to last through November 16, 2025, where "TQG" is present on the set list.Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
| Chart | Position |
| Romania Airplay | 153 |
| Chart | Position |
| Romania Airplay | 128 |