In December 2012, it was reported that Shakira would release a track titled "Truth or Dare" as the lead single from her tenth album. However, the plans were postponed after the singer became pregnant by footballer Gerard Piqué. Eventually, her collaboration with Rihanna, "Can't Remember To Forget You," was chosen to lead the LP instead. "Truth or Dare" was later included as the opening track of the album, renamed as "Dare (La La La)."

Shakira also recorded a Spanish version titled just "La la La" for the deluxe edition of her eponymous album. Apart from 2005's all-Spanish Fijacion Oral Vol. 1, every Shakira LP since Laundry Service has been bilingual. "I feel very Colombian, very Latin, and at the same time I feel I've been a sponge and a student of different cultures," she told Billboard magazine. "I've traveled the world since I was 18, and I think that's allowed me to have a global perception."

The uptempo dance track soundtracked an Activia yogurt commercial that features Shakira dancing in an enchanted forest. The campaign, which launched March 16 2014, was filmed in Barcelona, where the Colombian star lives.

Shakira reworked the song as "La La La (Brazil 2014)" for the Latin American and Spanish deluxe edition of the album. The new version featuring Brazilian musician Carlinhos Brown has new lyrics for the 2014 World Cup. Shakira previously teamed up with South African Afro-fusion band Freshlyground for "Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)," the official song of the 2010 World Cup.

The song's music video was directed by Rihanna's frequent collaborator Anthony Mandler and shot in outdoor locations in Lisbon, Portugal. The clip was filmed in 2012 but its release was delayed by Shakira's pregnancy and subsequent appearance on The Voice.

Shakira sung the "La La La (Brazil 2014)" version of the song at the closing ceremony of the FIFA World Cup in Brazil on July 13, 2014. Her performance marked the third time the Colombian singer performed at the World Cup, making her the first artist to have three consecutive performances at the global event following "Hips Don't Lie" in 2006 and "Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)" in 2010. "I have an intricate relationship with football for obvious reasons," explained Shakira, "and I truly understand what the FIFA World Cup means to so many people, myself included - it has this innate ability to awaken a passion in us and bring together people of all races, ages and socioeconomic backgrounds."

"For me, the World Cup carries such a tremendous personal connection as well," she added. (Shakira met her partner, Spanish soccer player Gerard Pique, at the 2010 event).