She studied art in Paris and in the 60s moved to London. During this period she got to know the most prominent designers, musicians and artists belonging to the artistic circles she frequented. Her preferences were predominantly for the Surrealist movement and for bodily expression, since she has also studied the art of mime. The meeting with Dali changed her life.
In the following 15 years she became the only woman friend, the muse and confidant of the great artist and his wife Gala. She lived in their house in Cadaquès (Spain) and accompanied them when they moved to New York and Paris in the winter. Although he had declared that a woman should never paint, Dali became her mentor, allowing her to work alongside him and teaching her all she knows about art and its techniques.
He took her to visit all the great museums of the world, acting as her guide in the discovery of artists from his own highly individual point of view. Famous throughout the world as a pop singer, she soared to celebrity when her first song entered the international hit parades, but this not lead her to neglect the passion of her life: painting.
In 1975, disillusioned by a shallow but surprisingly conservative fashion industry and encouraged by boyfriend David Bowie, who paid for singing and dancing lessons, Lear decided to launch a career in music. Bowie recommended her a Hungarian voice coach Florence Wiese-Norberg, with whom he also worked.[16] She would record a demo song called "Stars" with him, however, the track still remains unreleased
In 1980 she had her first show in Rotterdam. Encouraged by the success of this and the publicity generated by the media, she went on to display in Paris, Berlin, Milan and Geneva, attracting the attention of the European collectors. She likes to recall the fact that she waited 20 years before having the chance to show her paintings and she is grateful to Dali for having been her friend and teacher. Pop icon Amanda Lear has recorded 15 studio albums and has released some 60 singles to date and has so far sold approximately 15 million albums and 25-30 million singles worldwide.
2012 saw the release of a new album "I Don't Like Disco", from which a few single were taken including La bete et la belle and I Don't Like Disco.
Her latest news can be read on her official site: www.amanda-lear.com.
Copacabana
Amanda Lear Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With yellow feathers in her hair and a dress cut down to there
She would merengue and do the cha-cha
And while she tried to be a star
Tony always tended bar
Across the crowded floor, they worked from 8 til 4
They were young and they had each other
Who could ask for more?
At the copa (CO!) Copacabana (Copacabana)
The hottest spot north of Havana (here)
At the copa (CO!) Copacabana
Music and passion were always in fashion
At the copa they fell in love
His name was Rico
He wore a diamond
He was escorted to his chair, he saw Lola dancing there
And when she finished,he called her over
But Rico went a bit to far
Tony sailed across the bar
And then the punches flew and chairs were smashed in two
There was blood and a single gun shot
But just who shot who?
At the copa she lost her love
Her name is Lola, she was a showgirl,
But that was 30 years ago, when they used to have a show
Now it's a disco, but not for Lola,
Still in dress she used to wear,
Faded feathers in her hair
She sits there so refined,and drinks herself half-blind
She lost her youth and she lost her Tony
Now she's lost her mind
At the copa don't fall in love
Don't fall in love
The song Copacabana by Amanda Lear tells the story of Lola, a showgirl with yellow feathers in her hair and a dress cut down to there, who works at the hottest spot north of Havana - the Copacabana. She dances the merengue and the cha-cha and dreams of becoming a star, while Tony tends bar. The two young lovers work together from 8 till 4, and they have each other, which is all they need.
However, things take a violent turn when Rico, a man wearing a diamond, arrives at the Copacabana and calls Lola over. Rico goes too far, and Tony comes to Lola's defense. A brawl breaks out, and a single gunshot is heard, leaving it unclear who shot who. Lola loses her love and eventually her mind, sitting at the Copacabana dressed in faded feathers, drinking herself half-blind.
The song is a cautionary tale about the perils of falling in love at a place like the Copacabana. The lyrics showcase the glitz and glamour of the nightclub scene but also emphasize the danger and violence that can be a part of it. The storyline emphasizes the cyclical nature of life and how dreams can turn into nightmares.
Line by Line Meaning
Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl
Lola was a charming performer with a radiant personality.
With yellow feathers in her hair and a dress cut down to there
She wore a dress with a daring length that exposed her beauty, and accessorized it with striking yellow feathers in her hair.
She would merengue and do the cha-cha
Lola was quite skilled at dancing and was frequently seen grooving to merengue and cha-cha music.
And while she tried to be a star
She was constantly striving to become a famous performer.
Tony always tended bar
Tony was a bartender at the same nightclub where Lola regularly performed.
Across the crowded floor, they worked from 8 til 4
Lola and Tony worked together in the bustling nightclub, late into the night, creating an electric atmosphere for the audience.
They were young and they had each other
In those days, they were young and had the love and companionship of each other.
Who could ask for more?
Life was perfect as it is, and they didn't require anything else.
At the copa (CO!) Copacabana (Copacabana)
The nightclub they worked in was known as the Copa, and it was located on the famous Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro.
The hottest spot north of Havana (here)
The place was known as the most happening place north of Havana.
At the copa (CO!) Copacabana
The Copa was a happening place, always filled with people wanting to have a good time.
Music and passion were always in fashion
The Copa was famous for its mesmerizing music and lively passion-filled environment.
At the copa they fell in love
Lola and Tony fell in love with each other while working at the Copa.
His name was Rico
A man named Rico caught Lola's attention.
He wore a diamond
Rico wore a diamond, indicating that he was wealthy and affluent.
He was escorted to his chair, he saw Lola dancing there
Rico was led to his seat in the club, and he saw Lola dance, and he couldn't take his eyes off her.
And when she finished,he called her over
After Lola finished, Rico invited her to sit with him.
But Rico went a bit too far
Rico may have pushed Lola too far with his advances.
Tony sailed across the bar
Tony jumped over the bar to confront Rico.
And then the punches flew and chairs were smashed in two
A fight broke out between Tony and Rico, causing chaos and breaking chairs in the process.
There was blood and a single gun shot
The fight ended with someone getting shot.
But just who shot who?
The identity of who fired the gun is unknown.
At the copa she lost her love
After the fight, Lola lost Tony, her true love.
Her name is Lola, she was a showgirl,
Years later, Lola still reminisces about her past life as a showgirl.
But that was 30 years ago, when they used to have a show
The nightclub has changed significantly from when it used to host shows 30 years before.
Now it's a disco, but not for Lola,
Now, the nightclub is a disco, and Lola doesn't find it as interesting as her former life.
Still in dress she used to wear,
Lola still wears her fancy dress from her showgirl days.
Faded feathers in her hair
Her yellow feather accessory has lost its shine and has become faded with time.
She sits there so refined,and drinks herself half-blind
Lola is now much older but still carries herself with elegance; however, she drinks excessively.
She lost her youth and she lost her Tony
Lola lost her youth, passion and enthusiasm for life, along with Tony.
Now she's lost her mind
Lola has lost her grip on reality and is no longer able to live a normal life.
At the copa don't fall in love
The Copa is not the haven it used to be, and anyone who frequents it is warned against falling in love or investing their emotions in it.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Barry Manilow, Bruce H. Sussman, Jack A. Feldman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind