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.
Nana De Sevilla
Ana Belén Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No tiene mare, sí
No tiene mare, no.
Lo parió una gitana, lo echó a la calle.
Lo echó a la calle, sí
Lo echó a la calle, no.
No tiene cuna, sí
No tiene cuna, no.
Su padre es carpintero y le hará una.
Y le hará una, sí
Y le hará una, no.
The lyrics to Ana Belén's Nana De Sevilla tell the story of a little boy who has been abandoned by his mother and left to fend for himself. The first stanza describes how he doesn't have a mother, and then repeats it twice for emphasis. The second stanza tells us that a gypsy woman gave birth to him and then left him on the street. The third stanza speaks of the fact that he doesn't even have a crib to sleep in, but his father, who is a carpenter, will make one for him.
The song is a lullaby, sung to comfort the little boy as he sleeps. The lyrics, however, are tinged with sadness and serve as a poignant reminder of the harsh reality that many children in impoverished circumstances have to face. Ana Belén's voice is tender and soothing, providing a sense of comfort as she sings of the child's plight. The song is a beautiful expression of compassion and empathy for those who are less fortunate.
Line by Line Meaning
Este galapaguito no tiene mare.
This little turtle has no mother.
No tiene mare, sí
He really doesn't have a mother.
No tiene mare, no.
It's true, he has no mother.
Lo parió una gitana, lo echó a la calle.
He was born to a gypsy woman, and she abandoned him in the street.
Lo echó a la calle, sí
Yes, she left him in the street.
Lo echó a la calle, no.
It's not a lie, she really did leave him in the street.
Este niño chiquito no tiene cuna.
This little boy has no crib.
No tiene cuna, sí
He really doesn't have a crib.
No tiene cuna, no.
It's true, he has no crib.
Su padre es carpintero y le hará una.
His father is a carpenter and he will make one for him.
Y le hará una, sí
Yes, his father will make him a crib.
Y le hará una, no.
It's true, his father will make him a crib.
Contributed by Ella Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
jean
madre