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.
Los mozos de Monleón
Ana Belén Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Se fueron a arar temprano,
Para ir a la corrida
Y remudar con despacio.
—Al toro tengo de ir,
Aunque lo busqué prestado.
Nunca le hubiera llamado.
—Compañeros, yo me muero;
Amigos, ya estoy muy malo.
Tres pañuelos tengo dentro;
Y este que meto son cuatro.
Al rico de Monleón
Le piden los bueyes y el carro,
Pá llevar a Manuel Sánchez
Que el torito le ha matado.
The song "Los mozos de Monleón" by Ana Belén represents the story of a group of young men from the town of Monleón who go out to plow the fields early in the morning before heading to the bullfight. The song hints at the heavy weight of tradition that these men carry, as they are willing to risk their own lives to maintain the culture of bullfighting. The phrase "Al toro tengo de ir, aunque lo busqué prestado" suggests that they might not have even been able to afford their own bull to fight, but they are still determined to participate in the event. As expected, the consequences of such an activity are brutal and Manuel Sánchez, one of the young men, is killed by the bull. In the end, the people of Monleón ask for the oxen and cart from the rich owner of the town to transport Manuel's body.
The lyrics reveal a deep connection between the identity of the town and the sport of bullfighting. It shows the importance of the traditions followed by small towns or communities that people are willing to make huge sacrifices to maintain them. The song highlights the harsh realities associated with bullfighting and the significance of the sport to the people of the region. It also serves as a warning of the consequences of taking part in such dangerous activities.
Line by Line Meaning
Los mozos de Monleón
The young men of Monleón
Se fueron a arar temprano,
They went to plow early,
Para ir a la corrida
To go to the bullfight
Y remudar con despacio.
And to change horses slowly.
Al toro tengo de ir,
I have to go to the bull,
Aunque lo busqué prestado.
Even if I have to borrow it.
Manuel Sánchez llamó al toro;
Manuel Sánchez called the bull;
Nunca le hubiera llamado.
He should have never called it.
Compañeros, yo me muero;
My friends, I'm dying;
Amigos, ya estoy muy malo.
My friends, I'm already very sick.
Tres pañuelos tengo dentro;
I have three handkerchiefs inside;
Y este que meto son cuatro.
And this one I'm putting in makes four.
Al rico de Monleón
To the rich man of Monleón
Le piden los bueyes y el carro,
They ask him for the oxen and the cart,
Pá llevar a Manuel Sánchez
To take Manuel Sánchez
Que el torito le ha matado.
Because the little bull has killed him.
Contributed by Adam L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
jean
on Nana de Sevilla
madre