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.
Puerto viejo
Ana Belén Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
En este verde infinito poco a poco resucito.
Cómo no habría de cantarte, mi Puerto Viejo
Cómo no habría de cantarte, mi Puerto Viejo.
Con mi gente yo comparto una sonrisa, un abrazo.
Me alejo con las gaviotas y regreso entre las olas.
Cómo no habría de cantarte, mi Puerto Viejo
Ay caray, qué rico que es caminar,
Ay caray, a la orilla del mar.
Ay caray, qué rico que es caminar,
Ay caray, a la orillita del mar.
El mar, que sabe de idiomas, tiene su viejo lamento
Que habla con voces antiguas de África
Y de una negra antillana.
Cómo no habría de cantarte, mi Puerto Viejo
Cómo no habría de cantarte, mi Puerto Viejo.
El verde de las palmeras se enamoró de la playa
Y en una noche de Luna se bebió toda la espuma.
Cómo no habría de cantarte, mi Puerto Viejo
Cómo no habría de cantarte, mi Puerto Viejo.
Ana Belén's song "Puerto Viejo" is an ode to a beloved place, probably a seaside village or town where the singer has experienced many happy moments. The song's opening lines set the mood, as Ana Belén sings about walking almost dancing through the coconut trees, and how the infinite green around her is slowly bringing her back to life. The beauty of the place is enhanced by the singer's state of mind, as everything around her seems to come alive.
The chorus of the song is catchy and joyful, expressing the singer's deep love and admiration for Puerto Viejo, the place she's highlighting. She talks about sharing smiles and hugs with her people, and how leaving the place feels like being carried away by seagulls, only to be brought back by the waves. The imagery used here is picturesque and poetic, making the song sound like a beautiful tribute to a place that defines part of the women's identity.
The verse about the sea is particularly beautiful, as it highlights the language of the ocean and how it speaks to everyone who listens. The ocean's voice is older than time and has ancient African and Antillean roots, which only adds to the richness of this beautiful tropical setting. The singing voice sounds almost reverential, highlighting just how much Puerto Viejo means to the singer and how it is an integral part of her life.
Line by Line Meaning
Camino casi bailando entre los cocotales.
I walk among the coconut trees with such joy that I almost feel like dancing.
En este verde infinito poco a poco resucito.
I come back to life gradually in this infinite greenery.
Cómo no habría de cantarte, mi Puerto Viejo
How could I not sing to you, my Puerto Viejo?
Con mi gente yo comparto una sonrisa, un abrazo.
I share a smile and a hug with my people.
Me alejo con las gaviotas y regreso entre las olas.
I go away with the seagulls and come back among the waves.
Ay caray, qué rico que es caminar,
Oh my, how wonderful it is to walk
Ay caray, a la orilla del mar.
Oh my, by the seaside.
El mar, que sabe de idiomas, tiene su viejo lamento
The sea, which knows all languages, has its old lament.
Que habla con voces antiguas de África
It speaks with ancient voices from Africa.
Y de una negra antillana.
And from a black Antillean woman.
El verde de las palmeras se enamoró de la playa
The greenery of the palm trees fell in love with the beach.
Y en una noche de Luna se bebió toda la espuma.
And on a moonlit night, it drank all the foam.
Contributed by Victoria Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@carmennajera6287
Letra de un costarricense, Luis Ángel Castro con mucho orgullo !! Desde Costa Rica para Ana Belén una grande!!!
@alfonsosalazar2878
Puerto Viejo mi lugar favorito...siempre lo visito..
@MariaLopez-ix8yz
Soy limonense pero las mejores playas de costarica son las de limon sur grasias por darle el privilegio a Puerto viejo ana belén
@milagroperez4259
Bello precioso nuestro Caribe Costarricense.
@csalazarcrc
Una tierra privilegiada...Mi Puerto Viejo...Cuidemos este tesoro...Una invitación para que conozcan el Caribe Sur de Costa Rica y van a ver que lo que describe la canción es todo verdad.
@CanalBaccara
Que grande eres David!!! Mis gracias por todos estos momentos que nos regalas!!!... Gracias!!!!
@FERRAMSYT
Inmenso homenaje de Ana Belén a Costa Rica al grabar "Puerto Viejo" del tico Luis Ángel Castro.
@carolch25
Bella canción
@abarmo100
Esto es completo: ¡ Qué autor, qué canción y qué interprete !
@ziamoya8272
Esta canción fue inspirada en Puerto Viejo, Talamanca de Costa Rica, representa perfectamente el sentimiento de sentarse en la playa y ver las olas y el verde de las palmeras, escuchar la música calipso y disfrutar de su gente y de la comida caribeña que es lo mejor del mundo. Si no han visitado esta parte de Costa Rica háganlo, no se van arrepentir es un renacer en medio de la naturaleza.