A solo Spanish-language version of the song, entitled "Nunca Me Acuerdo de Olvidarte", was released on 24 January 2014.

[5] "Can't Remember to Forget You" is an uptempo track that fuses reggae, rock and new wave pop.

Commercially, the single fared very well, reaching number one in Greece and Lebanon and the top ten in twenty-seven additional countries.

The music video, which was shot in a Los Angeles mansion, was directed by Joseph Kahn and was premiered and uploaded to YouTube on 30 January 2014.

The accompanying video featured both Shakira and Rihanna in revealing outfits, dancing, smoking cigars, and a "naked embrace".

[9] 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.

[11] 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.

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.

[12] 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.

[14] 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.

[20] On 13 January 2014, "Can't Remember to Forget You" was premiered on American syndicated radio program On Air with Ryan Seacrest.

"Can't Remember to Forget You" is an uptempo track that incorporates elements of ska and reggae and has a length of three minutes and 28 seconds.

[3] 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.

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.

"[28] Musically, the song is written in the key of B minor, and set in common time signature with a moderately fast tempo of 138[29] beats per minute.

[22] 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 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.

"[32] Jason Lipshutz of Billboard noted the song as being "enjoyably grandiose", praising the "ska-punk guitar riff" and its "chunky rock arrangement.

"[35] 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.

[53] The accompanying music video for "Can't Remember to Forget You" was filmed by American director Joseph Kahn.