She sang in public for the first time in a radio contest at the age of ten. She didn't win that year, but won the next year. Her early singing caught the attention of a movie producer who introduced her to the cinema audiences as "Ana Belen" in the movie "Zampo y Yo" when she was thirteen.
Ana didn't want to become a child-star and focused on her studying. It wasn't until she finished drama school that she went back performing in public, being theater her prefered way to do so. She did small incursions in movies till she was offered major parts.
In 1973 she was cast opposite Víctor Manuel in Morbo and he became her husband as well as the composer of the songs included in her first album. In 1982 she released "Ana en Rio", an album with Brazilian music that included the song "Balance" and became an instant hit.
In 1986, took one more step and became one of the first female movie directors in Spain with the movie "Cómo ser mujer y no morir en el intento" which earned her the Gold Medal of Spanish Cinematographic Academy. That year concluded with another major success, a tour with Victor Manuel and many special guests of which they released a live album: "Mucho mas que dos". The success of this tour lead to a new one, "El Gusto es Nuestro" with Miguel Rios, Joan Manuel Serrat y Victor Manuel.
She releases several albums through the 90's that achieve great success like "Veneno para el Corazon" that included Spanish versions of Cole Porter songs among others, "Mirame" full of duets with the most important Spanish voices or "Lorquiana", a double CD with popular songs and poems of Federico García Lorca.
The new century finds her busy with filming and recording songs. Albums "Peces de Ciudad" or "Viva L'Italia" are released as she appears on stage plays and her name is on some of the most acclaimed films of the moment.
In 2006, she is currently touring with her husband Víctor Manuel across Spain with "Una Cancion me Trajo Aqui", a CD+DVD has been released of their very first performance in Segovia.She also has a new album in the works and a new movie pending.
Cucurumbe
Ana Belén Lyrics
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Se fué a bañar al mar
Para ver si las blancas olas
Su carita podia blanquear
La negrita cucurumbé
A la playa se acercó
Envidiando a las conchitas
Queria ser blanca, como la luna
Como la espuma, que tiene el mar
Y un pescado con bombín, se le acercó
Y quitandose el sombrero, la saludó
Pero valgame señor
¿O es que no ves?
Que así negra estas bonita
Negrita cucurumbé
¡Hey!
Negrita
Negrita
Cucurumbé
Y un pescado con bombin, se le acercó
Y moviendo la colita, le preguntó
Pero valgame mujer
¿O es que no ves?
Que bonita es tu carita
Negrita cucurumbe
The song "Cucurumbé" by Ana Belén tells the story of a young black girl, Negrita Cucurumbé, who went to the sea to bathe and see if the white waves could turn her face white. She was envious of the pale color of the shells, wishing to be as white as the moon or the foam on the sea. Along the way, she encounters a fish wearing a top hat, who approaches her and salutes her. Another fish comes along who compliments her beauty, and in response, Negrita can't seem to realize her own beauty and bursts out with "But good gracious, can't you see? Even black you're beautiful, Negrita Cucurumbé!" The song aims to address the issue of color discrimination, where the singer tries to erase her blackness to be seen as beautiful but ultimately learns to embrace her uniqueness and her beauty that comes with it.
The song "Cucurumbé" has a deep and meaningful message brought in through its lyrics. It was first performed by the legendary Afro-Cuban musician Celia Cruz, and Ana Belén's version was recorded in 1986.
Line by Line Meaning
La negrita cucurumbé
The little black girl
Se fué a bañar al mar
Went to bathe in the sea
Para ver si las blancas olas
To see if the white waves
Su carita podia blanquear
Could whiten her face
A la playa se acercó
Approached the beach
Envidiando a las conchitas
Envying the shells
Por su palido color
Because of their pale color
Queria ser blanca, como la luna
Wanted to be white, like the moon
Como la espuma, que tiene el mar
Like the foam, that the sea has
Y un pescado con bombín, se le acercó
And a fish with a top hat approached her
Y quitandose el sombrero, la saludó
And taking off his hat, greeted her
Pero valgame señor
But goodness gracious
¿O es que no ves?
Don't you see?
Que así negra estas bonita
That being black makes you beautiful
Negrita cucurumbé
Little black girl
¡Hey!
Hey!
Y un pescado con bombin, se le acercó
And a fish with a top hat approached her
Y moviendo la colita, le preguntó
And wagging his tail, asked her
Pero valgame mujer
But goodness gracious, woman
¿O es que no ves?
Don't you see?
Que bonita es tu carita
How beautiful your face is
Negrita cucurumbé
Little black girl
Writer(s): Francisco Gabilondo Soler
Contributed by Thomas K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@maiteruizoeo1563
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