Cortez was born in Rancul, La Pampa Province, Argentina. He began elementary school at the Alberto Williams conservatory at the age of six. He began composing songs at twelve, including "Un cigarrillo, la lluvia y tú". Later he entered Manuel Ignacio Molina de San Rafael Junior High School in Mendoza province. There he continued his studies of music at the Chopin of San Rafael conservatory.
At seventeen, Cortez became the singer of the Arizona orchestra, where he was known as Chiquito García. At eighteen, he went to study in the Social Sciences and Law School of Buenos Aires and sang in bars to help himself with his studies. Later Cortez began to sing in the orchestra of Mario Cardi and was contracted to sing in the San Francisco jazz orchestra. He traveled all over the country with them and began to use his pseudonym "Alberto Cortez" while singing with the orchestra of Armando Pointier. Cortez dropped out of school and dedicated himself fully to music.
Aged twenty, Cortez travelled to Antwerp, Belgium where he recorded his first album. His record "Sucu Sucu" reached number one. Cortez met Renee Govaerts and later married her. After a difficult start he consolidated himself as one of the more renowned composer-singers of Latin America with hits like "Mi árbol y yo", "Mariana", "Como el primer día", "A partir de mañana" and "Callejero".
Cortez and his wife lived in Madrid,Spain.
He died on April 4, 2019 in Madrid, Spain, at 79 years of age.
Tu
Alberto Cortez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
En el meeting de la Humanidad
Millones de seres gritan lo mismo:
Yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo!...
Cu, cu, cantaba la rana;
Cu, cu, debajo del agua!...
Qe montona es la rana humana!
Qe montono es el hombre mono!
Y luego: "A mi, para mi,
En mi opinion, a mi entender".
Mi, mi, mi, mi!
Y en frances hay un "moi"!
Oh, el ""moi"" frances!; se si que es grande!
"Monsieur, le moi!".
La rana es mejor.
Cu, cu, cu, cu, cu!
Solo los que aman saben decir... Tu!".
A ti: a la amiga de las flores,
De los perros vagabundos,
Que tienes fe en este mundo
A pesar de sus errores.
A ti: a la amiga de los locos
Como yo, que de la luna
Hacen toda su fortuna,
Aunque te parezca tan poco.
A ti te pertenecen los versos.
En ti se ha inspirado el poeta...
En ti, porque nominas las cosas,
Las espinas y las rosas
Y la luna... y la vida,
Con el verbo "amar".
A ti: que te sientes responsable
Del infeliz que se queja,
Porque lo encierra una reja
O porque vive en la calle.
A ti: que permaneces callada
Cuando estoy conmigo mismo
Y conoces mis abismos,
Como mis cumbres doradas.
Estoy seguro que a ti
Te pertenecen los versos,
A ti te pertenece el poeta.
A ti: porque nominas las cosas,
Las espinas y las rosas
Y la luna y la vida,
Con el verbo... "amar"
The lyrics of Alberto Cortez's song "Tu" describe the meeting of humanity where millions of people scream out their personal opinions, thoughts, and experiences. The singer highlights the monotony of human nature, comparing it to the monotonous and repetitive sound of a frog singing "cu cu" under the water. He marvels at the French word for "me", "moi", and the unique identity it represents. However, he ultimately concludes that the frog is better, and that only those capable of loving can truly express a meaningful utterance. The second half of the song is dedicated to a specific person, someone who loves the world despite its flaws, who finds joy and happiness in the world of the insane, and who is responsible and empathetic towards the less fortunate. The singer believes that this person is the inspiration behind the poet's verses, as they provide a name to things and an expression of love that shapes life's experiences.
The song is a commentary on the nature of humanity, emphasizing the importance of love and empathy in a world that can often seem like it is drowning in the noise of individual ego and opinion. It is a tribute to the people who are kind, compassionate, and loving, who make the world a better place and inspire others to do the same. The singer is indicating that only through love can people express their own identity, and in doing so, find meaning in life's experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
En el meeting de la Humanidad
At the gathering of Humanity
Millones de seres gritan lo mismo:
Millions of beings shout the same thing:
Yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo!...
Me, me, me, me, me, me!...
Cu, cu, cantaba la rana;
Cu, cu, sang the frog;
Cu, cu, debajo del agua!...
Cu, cu, under the water!...
Qe montona es la rana humana!
How monotonous is the human frog!
Qe montono es el hombre mono!
How monotonous is the monkey man!
Yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo!
Me, me, me, me, me, me!
Y luego: "A mi, para mi,
And then: "To me, for me,
En mi opinion, a mi entender".
In my opinion, to my understanding".
Mi, mi, mi, mi!
Mine, mine, mine, mine!
Y en frances hay un "moi"!
And in French there is a "me"!
Oh, el ""moi"" frances!; se si que es grande!
Oh, the French "me"! It sure is big!
"Monsieur, le moi!".
"Monsieur, le moi!".
La rana es mejor.
The frog is better.
Cu, cu, cu, cu, cu!
Cu, cu, cu, cu, cu!
Solo los que aman saben decir... Tu!".
Only those who love know how to say... "You!".
A ti: a la amiga de las flores,
To you: friend of the flowers,
De los perros vagabundos,
Of the stray dogs,
Que tienes fe en este mundo
Who have faith in this world
A pesar de sus errores.
Despite its mistakes.
A ti: a la amiga de los locos
To you: friend of the crazies
Como yo, que de la luna
Like me, who from the moon
Hacen toda su fortuna,
Make their entire fortune,
Aunque te parezca tan poco.
Even if it seems so small to you.
A ti te pertenecen los versos.
The verses belong to you.
En ti se ha inspirado el poeta...
The poet has been inspired by you...
En ti, porque nominas las cosas,
In you, because you name things,
Las espinas y las rosas
The thorns and the roses
Y la luna... y la vida,
And the moon... and life,
Con el verbo "amar".
With the verb "to love".
A ti: que te sientes responsable
To you: who feels responsible
Del infeliz que se queja,
For the unhappy one who complains,
Porque lo encierra una reja
Because he is locked up behind bars
O porque vive en la calle.
Or because he lives on the street.
A ti: que permaneces callada
To you: who remains silent
Cuando estoy conmigo mismo
When I am with myself
Y conoces mis abismos,
And you know my abysses,
Como mis cumbres doradas.
Like my golden peaks.
Estoy seguro que a ti
I am sure that to you
Te pertenecen los versos,
The verses belong to you,
A ti te pertenece el poeta.
The poet belongs to you.
A ti: porque nominas las cosas,
To you: because you name things,
Las espinas y las rosas
The thorns and the roses
Y la luna y la vida,
And the moon and life,
Con el verbo... "amar"
With the verb... "to love"
Contributed by Nicholas O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.