Despelucado is a fun, colloquial Colombian term for someone with messy, unkempt, or windblown hair. Itâs a very visual and expressive word that you won't find in a standard textbook.
In "La Bicicleta," Carlos Vives sings, "A mi manera, despelucado / En una bici que me lleva a todos lados" (My way, with messy hair / On a bike that takes me everywhere). He uses it to describe a carefree, relaxed, and uncomplicated attitude that perfectly matches the song's joyful and free-spirited vibe.
Hop on the handlebars! In "La Bicicleta," Colombian star Carlos Vives teams up with pop superstar Shakira for a joyful ride along Colombia's Caribbean coast. The whole vibe is easygoing and romantic. Instead of obsessing over the past, they choose a relaxed life: "A tu manera, descomplicado / En una bici que te lleve a todos lados" ("Your own way, uncomplicated / On a bike that takes you everywhere"). Shakira jokes about her messy hair ("despelucado") and admits she keeps an old love letter where she wrote that her heart beats nonstop for her sweetheart.
The track turns into a sunny travelogue packed with local references. Shakira asks Carlos to ride with her from his hometown, Santa Marta, all the way to her birthplace, La Arenosa (a popular nickname for Barranquilla meaning 'The Sandy One'). Along the way, she wants to kick off her flip-flops ("chancletas") and play "bola-'e-trapo"âa traditional street game played with a homemade rag ball instead of a regular soccer ball. She even teases that if Carlos shows the gorgeous natural beaches of Tayrona to PiquĂ© (referencing soccer star Gerard PiquĂ©), he will never want to go back to Barcelona!
Carlos Alberto Vives Restrepo, born on August 7, 1961, in Santa Marta, Colombia, is one of the most influential and best-selling Latin music artists worldwide. Known for his unique blend of traditional Colombian rhythms like vallenato, cumbia, and champeta with modern sounds such as rock, reggaeton, and Latin pop, Vives has helped bring Colombian music to a global audience.
With over 20 million records sold, Carlos Vives has earned two Grammy Awards and eighteen Latin Grammy Awards, including the prestigious Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year in 2024. Besides his successful music career, he has also made a mark as an actor, starring in beloved telenovelas like "Gallito RamĂrez" and "Escalona." Collaborating with top Latin artists such as Shakira, Juanes, and Ricky Martin, Vives continues to celebrate and innovate Colombia's rich musical heritage.