Jennifer Lopez and Shakira teamed up to deliver a rousing adrenaline-infused performance during the Super Bowl LIV halftime show.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, both Latina superstars experienced a surge in digital downloads based on Nielsen Music sales reports, with a 1,013% sales increase from their songs performed at their halftime show combined.
The performance included a lot of hip-shaking and, um, major tongue action.
No, not between the powerhouse superstars, you silly kids.
It was all about Shakira's tongue wagging.
@SDXVIIXI And this is all that we will remember.— Marco (@Marco)1580702112.0
@SDXVIIXI She is speaking in 👅’s 😝— DroneHome 360 (@DroneHome 360)1580726307.0
Shakira doing the tongue thing should be a meme in 5...4....3....2....— Kevin Skaff (@Kevin Skaff)1580693869.0
In addition to the Kansas City Chiefs' star quarterback Patrick Mahomes leading the team for an epic fourth-quarter comeback to win the Super Bowl LIV title, Shakira's tongue wag became one of the most talked about moments on social media.
Some saw humor in her tongue wagging and created viral memes.
shakira when she stuck her tongue out https://t.co/KyN7h6EjCB— David ☔️ (@David ☔️)1580692557.0
Spain: Why haven’t you paid us €12m in tax that you owe? Shakira: https://t.co/BnRJlU2HvU— Benjamin Butterworth (@Benjamin Butterworth)1580695210.0
the turkey who gets pardoned on Thanksgiving https://t.co/897qyYtRRm— Jordan Moreau (@Jordan Moreau)1580693697.0
Shakira really hit us with that. And I - 😂 #PepsiHalftime https://t.co/q3WkumraGH— Kenne.b (@Kenne.b)1580692753.0
Some people did not know what to think.
Why did this happen? #SuperBowl #PepsiHalftime #SuperBowlLIV https://t.co/LIJdkX3vtZ— Amy O’Brien (@Amy O’Brien)1580692632.0
Not sure what Shakira did here but I’m still into it https://t.co/xx2X7jxOOS— gifdsports (@gifdsports)1580692646.0
School was in session after Shakira fans shut down the mockery.
everyone is making fun of this but it’s a traditional arabic celebration chant, referred to as “zaghroota” https://t.co/CP7XgY9dk2— Rawan (@Rawan)1580693951.0
They pointed out that Shakira – whose name is Arabic for "grateful" – demonstrated a Zaghrouta, which is an Arabic celebration tradition.
Zaghrouta is also known as Ululation in English, although in many cultures, Ululation is more mournful and common at funerals.
The English word for it is ululation. Wiki entry on it here: https://t.co/P6AdOrcMOW— Bozi Tatarevic (@Bozi Tatarevic)1580700708.0
There is also another theory that it is a Colombian custom which is also possible. Maybe it's a combination of the… https://t.co/7v0WG0Nq7X— Bozi Tatarevic (@Bozi Tatarevic)1580702038.0
it’s called Ululation lmfao y’all need to get cultured https://t.co/7EVQWlnLf3— almaza 🧚🏼♀️ (@almaza 🧚🏼♀️)1580694113.0
everyone is making fun of this but it’s a traditional arabic celebration chant, referred to as “zaghroota” https://t.co/CP7XgY9dk2— Rawan (@Rawan)1580693951.0
According to Arab America, crowds attending Middle Eastern weddings produce the sound of Zaghrouta to express joy and celebration.
Zaghrouta is described as:
"a form of a long, wavering, high-pitched vocal sound representing trills of joy. It is produced by emitting a high pitched loud voice accompanied by a rapid back and forth movement of the tongue."
"Ululation is usually used by women in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and is commonly performed in weddings, parties, celebrations and sometimes in funerals to honor someone and to express strong emotions."
@hoonable I learned something new. Thank you letting us know!— M. Vanden Wyngaard (@M. Vanden Wyngaard)1580702114.0
Shakira was born in Barranquilla, Columbia, on February 2, 1977 and is part Lebanese.
Her paternal grandparents emigrated from Lebanon to New York City, where her father was born. He then immigrated to Columbia when he was 5.
Twitter users continued weighing in on the cultural significance of Shakira's performance.
This is called zaghrouta. It is a way to express joy or happiness in Arab culture. Elements of it can also be found… https://t.co/AyMYAAMtaL— Bozi Tatarevic (@Bozi Tatarevic)1580697126.0
Chiming in because I know everyone will be making jokes about this for days — this is a popular Arab tradition, cal… https://t.co/MbOdxLbKet— Lulu Ramadan (@Lulu Ramadan)1580696133.0
debated whether to chime in, but so many disrespectful memes: Shakira wasn’t just being funny with the “tongue thin… https://t.co/Kl2kck7pTp— Diana Elbasha (@Diana Elbasha)1580703180.0
@hoonable @PadmaLakshmi It is also a normal tradition in Indian culture. From what I know , tamils in South India,… https://t.co/m5GpO6eEeK— Pavithran Sundar (@Pavithran Sundar)1580704496.0
The cultural lesson was much appreciated.
@hoonable @dickensgirl Thank you. Nobody has explained it before. We just know the sound but not why ppl use it.— DaleWillResist📣 (@DaleWillResist📣)1580737867.0
@hoonable Thank you for clearing this up!! Love how I learnt something new just now 🙏— Shak’ (@Shak’)1580701523.0
Whether Shakira intentionally demonstrated a Zaghrouta or not continued to be challenged.
@hoonable This is how it's done, Shakira tried 😄 https://t.co/qopNCoEnre— Bangtanism (@Bangtanism)1580699711.0
Others turned a blind eye to facts.
@hoonable please don’t ruin this very erotic moment for me— not a robot but a ghost (@not a robot but a ghost)1580699526.0
Whatever your takeaway was after watching the halftime show, both ladies undoubtedly rocked the house on Sunday night.