In her artistic career it is possible to identify two periods that are clearly separated by the style of her singing. Her first records (Luna nueva, 1983, and Seda en mi piel, 1984) were a clear gamble on so-called flamenco-rock. The disastrous result of her participation representing Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest 1983, (up to date the only nul points score for Spain since the current voting system was established in 1975) when flamenco did not arouse the same international interest, and did not enjoy the same recognition as it does today, appeared to have persuaded Remedios Amaya to retire from the stage. This was until she reappeared more powerfully than ever in 1997, alongside Vicente Amigo, doing what she really wanted to do. The work was called Turu Turai (1997). It sold 150,000 copies. It has been followed by other records that have had the same strength, the same success and the same quality. Remedios Amaya is undoubtedly one of the most inspired cantaoras of the last few years.
Eurovision Song Contest 1983 - Munich
Entry for Spain
Performer: Remedios Amaya
Song title: ¿quién Maneja Mi Barca?
Song writer(s): Isidro Muñoz
Song composer(s): José Miguel Evóras
Sang in Position: 7
Final Position: 19
Total Points: 0
For the second time since 1957, the Eurovision Song Contest was held in Germany, this time in the Bavarian capital, Munich. The presenter of this year's song contest was Marlene Charell who presented the performers in three languages, German, French and English, but she was very nervous and made 13 mistakes in the voting alone. She also mixed up the names of the performers and the conductors much to the displease of the artists. Due to the trilingual presentation, the contest lasted more than 3 hours for the first time ever.
The total number of participants rose to 20 again as Italy, France and Greece returned. The 1983 Eurovision Song Contest didn't have filmed postcards to present the artists as they were not ready in time. The set was quite small but unique as the stage was arc-shaped surrounding the orchestra section.
This year marked the first performance of Sweden's Carola Häggkvist who reached the third place and went on to win the contest in 1991 and represented her country again in 2006,coming fifth. Her song Främling became very popular in Sweden, perhaps even more than her winning song from 1991. For France's Guy Bonnet, it was the second time he represented his native country. After coming 4th in 1970, he ended up 6th in the Munich contest. Italian superstar Riccardo Fogli, the 1983 contest ended with a disappointment: after winning the prestigious San Remo festival the year before, he only ended up 11th with his song Per Lucia.
Luxembourg won the 1983 contest with the dramatic presentation of Si La Vie Est Cadeau by French singer Corinne Hermès which marked the country's last victory to date. Unfortunately, Corinne's winning song didn't set the European charts alight and it was even outscored by the Swedish entry Främling and even the Yugoslav song by Daniel who recorded his song in English, called Julie then.
Turu Turai
Remedios Amaya Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
destroza mi corazao
amor mío si me quieres
quitame el beso de amau
Ya no paso por domi
destroza mi corazao
amor mío si me quieres
quitame el beso de amau
Tus labios para mi, turu turai
Tus labios para mi, turu turai
Tus labios para mi, turu turai, ay
Tus labios para mi, turu turai
Tus labios para mi, turu turai
Tus labios para mi, turu turai, ay
Vengo de tierras lejanas
donde habitaban los sueños
como cinelo gitana
ay hazme una trenza en el pelo
yo me visto de lunares
y cuando salga yo a bailar
hago cosillas de mi padre
Tus labios para mi, turu turai
Tus labios para mi, turu turai
Tus labios para mi, turu turai, ay
Tus labios para mi, turu turai
Tus labios para mi, turu turai
Tus labios para mi, turu turai, ay
Será su pelo
será su boca
será su forma de mirarme
y es porque te llevo dentro,
ay no puedo aguantarme
Te quiero mucho, lerelere
Te quiero mucho, lerelere
Te quiero mucho, lerelere
Ya no paso por domi
destroza mi corazao
amor mío si me quieres
quitame el beso de amau
Tus labios para mi, turu turai
Tus labios para mi, turu turai
Tus labios para mi, turu turai, ay
Tus labios para mi, turu turai
Tus labios para mi, turu turai
Tus labios para mi, turu turai, ay
The lyrics to Remedios Amaya's song Turu Turai are about the love and longing of a woman for her lover. She speaks of not wanting to pass by a certain place because it reminds her of her lover and breaks her heart. She asks her lover to remove the "kiss of love" from her, perhaps indicating that she wants him to show his love for her in a different way. The chorus which repeats "Tus labios para mi, Turu Turai" means "Your lips for me, Turu Turai," and it implies that the only thing she wants from her lover are his kisses.
The second verse talks about the singer coming from a distant land where dreams lived, and asks her lover to make her a braid in her hair like a gypsy. She dresses up in polka dots to go dancing, alluding to the flamenco style of dancing which is associated with Spanish gypsies. She shares memories of her father through her dancing, signifying the importance of dance and cultural traditions in her life. The bridge talks about the different things that could draw the singer to her lover, including their hair, mouth, and the way they look at her. She finally says "I love you so much" in a playful manner, showing her affection.
Line by Line Meaning
Ya no paso por domi
I don't go by there anymore
destroza mi corazao
it breaks my heart
amor mío si me quieres
my love, if you want me
quitame el beso de amau
take away a kiss from me
Tus labios para mi, turu turai
Your lips for me, turu turai
Tus labios para mi, turu turai, ay
Your lips for me, turu turai, ay
Vengo de tierras lejanas
I come from faraway lands
donde habitaban los sueños
where dreams lived
como cinelo gitana
like a gypsy girl
ay hazme una trenza en el pelo
oh, braid my hair
yo me visto de lunares
I dress in polka dots
y cuando salga yo a bailar
and when I go out to dance
hago cosillas de mi padre
I do little things like my father did
Será su pelo
It will be his hair
será su boca
it will be his mouth
será su forma de mirarme
it will be the way he looks at me
y es porque te llevo dentro
and because I carry you inside
ay no puedo aguantarme
I can't hold back
Te quiero mucho, lerelere
I love you so much, lerelere
Contributed by Isabelle H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.