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.
Expresso 2222
Ana Belén Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Que parte direto de Bonsucesso pra depois
Começou a circular o Expresso 2222
Da Central do Brasil
Que parte direto de Bonsucesso
Pra depois do ano 2000
Dizem que tem muita gente de agora
Pra 2001 e 2 e tempo afora
Até onde essa estrada do tempo vai dar
Do tempo vai dar
Do tempo vai dar, menina, do tempo vai
Segundo quem já andou no Expresso
Lá pelo ano 2000 fica a tal
Estação final do percurso-vida
Na terra-mãe concebida
De vento, de fogo, de água e sal
De água e sal, de água e sal
Ô, menina, de água e sal
Dizem que parece o bonde do morro
Do Corcovado daqui
Só que não se pega e entra e senta e anda
O trilho é feito um brilho que não tem fim
Oi, que não tem fim
Que não tem fim
Ô, menina, que não tem fim
Nunca se chega no Cristo concreto
De matéria ou qualquer coisa real
Depois de 2001 e 2 e tempo afora
O Cristo é como quem foi visto subindo ao céu
Subindo ao céu
Num véu de nuvem brilhante subindo ao céu
The song Expresso 2222 by Ana Belén describes a train that travels through time, starting from Bonsucesso and going all the way to the year 2000 and beyond. People rush to take this train, hoping to see what the future holds. The train takes its passengers to the final station, the conception of the “mother-earth” that is made up of wind, fire, water, and salt. According to the song, the destination is similar to riding up the Corcovado mountain in Rio de Janeiro and seeing the Christ the Redeemer statue but in this case, the Christ cannot be seen; it is only a vague memory of a person who was seen rising into the sky.
The song is a metaphor for life’s journey, where people rush to try to predict the future and arrive at their destination, but it is unattainable. It also speaks about the idea of a mother-earth that is formed by the elements of nature. The lyrics reflect the desire of people to know what lies ahead and how they are in a hurry to reach it. The song's lyrics suggest that life is like a train ride, and we should appreciate every moment, rather than rushing to see the future.
Line by Line Meaning
Começou a circular o Expresso 2222
The Expresso 2222 has commenced its operations
Que parte direto de Bonsucesso pra depois
Which departs directly from Bonsucesso and heads towards
Da Central do Brasil
Central do Brasil
Pra depois do ano 2000
Heading towards after the year 2000
Dizem que tem muita gente de agora
They say there are many people from the present
Se adiantando, partindo pra lá
Hastening to leave for that place
Pra 2001 e 2 e tempo afora
Towards 2001 and 2, and beyond
Até onde essa estrada do tempo vai dar
Where will this road of time lead to?
Do tempo vai dar
It will lead to time, girl, it will lead to time
Do tempo vai dar, menina, do tempo vai
It will lead to time, girl, it will lead to time
Segundo quem já andou no Expresso
According to those who have ridden the Expresso
Lá pelo ano 2000 fica a tal
The final destination is around the year 2000
Estação final do percurso-vida
The final station on the journey of life
Na terra-mãe concebida
On the mother earth conceived
De vento, de fogo, de água e sal
Of wind, fire, water, and salt
De água e sal, de água e sal
Of water and salt, of water and salt
Ô, menina, de água e sal
Oh, girl, of water and salt
Dizem que parece o bonde do morro
They say it looks like the cable car of the hill
Do Corcovado daqui
From here on Corcovado
Só que não se pega e entra e senta e anda
However, you can't get in, sit and walk
O trilho é feito um brilho que não tem fim
The track glows indefinitely
Oi, que não tem fim
Oh, it doesn't end
Que não tem fim
It doesn't end
Ô, menina, que não tem fim
Oh, girl, it doesn't end
Nunca se chega no Cristo concreto
One never reaches the concrete Christ
De matéria ou qualquer coisa real
Of matter or any real thing
Depois de 2001 e 2 e tempo afora
After 2001 and 2, and beyond
O Cristo é como quem foi visto subindo ao céu
Christ is like someone seen ascending to heaven
Subindo ao céu
Ascending to heaven
Num véu de nuvem brilhante subindo ao céu
In a veil of shining cloud, ascending to heaven
Contributed by Elliot L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
jean
on Nana de Sevilla
madre