Out of the Blue, an a cappella group made up of University of Oxford and Oxford Brookes University undergraduates, recorded a version of the hit song, along with a video of the 15 students in matching suits and ties gyrating and twirling in the style of Shakira across the lawns and cobbled streets of Oxford.
They were taken by surprise when the video caught the attention of the world-famous singer, who tweeted it to her 26.2 million followers on Twitter and posted it on her Facebook page in both English and Spanish.
She tweeted: "Hey @ooboxford, we LOVE your a capella Shak medley! ¡Nos encanta este medley que han hecho!".
The song, which also incorporates choruses from Shakira`s other hits Whenever, Wherever and Waka Waka, has already been retweeted 1,200 times and made a favourite 1,800 times. On Facebook, it drew 87,928 likes and almost 10,000 shares.
The video has now had almost 700,000 views.
Out of the Blue, who appeared on Britain`s Got Talent in 2011 and reached the semi-finals with a cappella versions of songs such as Lady Gaga`s Poker Face and Justin Timberlake`s SexyBack, said they were thrilled and "shellshocked" that their latest musical venture had caught Shakira`s eye.
Most of the students who appeared in the ITV talent contest have since graduated. Joshua Barr, an English student and baritone who has been president of the group since 2012, said they had selected the song on the basis of Shakira`s global appeal.
"We love her songs and we thought they would appeal to everyone," he said. "As is probably evident from the video, we are not afraid to make ourselves look silly. A group of guys shaking their hips and wiggling their bums to Shakira is not what most people expect to see, which I think is why it`s so popular."
They recorded the video in a morning and an afternoon.
"We couldn`t believe we were tweeted by Shakira. On the Facebook post she signed it off personally so we knew she had actually watched the video, which is amazing," Barr said. "We`ve recorded the song for charity and all the proceeds go to the hospice Helen and Douglas House, so the most exposure it gets, the better."
Barr also admitted their Shakira hip-wriggling routine had made its way on to the dance floor of Oxford clubs, with a mixed response from fellow students.
"When we go out to clubs there is the odd moment when we realise we are all doing the choreographed dance moves," he said.
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