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.
Un son para niños antillanos
Ana Belén Lyrics
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Anda y anda el barco, barco; anda y anda sin timonel
De La Habana a Portobelo, de Jamaica a Trinidad
Anda y anda el barco, barco; anda y anda sin capitán
Una negra va en la popa, va en la proa un español
Anda y anda el barco, barco con ellos dos
Pasan islas, islas, islas; muchas islas, siempre más
Un cañón de chocolate contra el barco disparó
Y un cañón de azúcar-zúcar, anda y anda le contestó
Ay, mi barco marinero con su casco de papel
Ay, mi barco negro y blanco, negro y blanco in timonel
Allá va la negra negra, junto, junto al español
Anda y anda el barco, barco con ellos dos
Allá va la negra negra, junto, junto al español
Anda y anda el barco, barco con ellos dos
Anda y anda el barco, barco con ellos dos
Anda y anda el barco, barco con ellos dos
The song "Un son para niños antillanos" by Ana Belén tells the story of a paper boat sailing through the sea of the Caribbean islands without a captain or helm. The boat sails from Havana to Portobelo and then to other islands like Jamaica and Trinidad. On the boat, a Black woman sits at the stern while a Spanish man is at the bow. As the boat passes many islands, it is attacked by a chocolate cannon, which is countered by a sugar cannon. However, the boat keeps sailing without rest.
The metaphor of the paper boat represents the fragility of life and the constant movement that characterizes it. The boat's movement without a captain or helm also indicates that life continues no matter if we have control or not. The presence of a Black woman and a Spanish man on the boat represents the cultural diversity of the Caribbean islands.
The use of food, particularly chocolate and sugar, as weapons in the song, refers to the region's history of colonization, exploitation, and resistance. The sugar and chocolate industries played a significant role in the exploitation of African and Indigenous people in the Caribbean. The song's use of a Spanish man and a Black woman on the boat may also allude to the history of colonialism and slavery in the region.
Overall, "Un son para niños antillanos" is a lively and engaging song that tells a captivating story while addressing important themes relevant to the Caribbean islands.
Line by Line Meaning
Por el Mar de las Antillas anda un barco de papel
In the Caribbean Sea, there is a paper boat sailing
Anda y anda el barco, barco; anda y anda sin timonel
The boat keeps on sailing without a helmsman
De La Habana a Portobelo, de Jamaica a Trinidad
The boat goes from Havana to Portobelo, from Jamaica to Trinidad
Anda y anda el barco, barco; anda y anda sin capitán
The boat keeps on sailing without a captain
Una negra va en la popa, va en la proa un español
A black woman is on the stern, a Spanish man is on the bow
Anda y anda el barco, barco con ellos dos
The boat keeps on sailing with them both
Pasan islas, islas, islas; muchas islas, siempre más
They pass islands, islands, islands; many islands, always more
Anda y anda el barco, barco sin descansar
The boat keeps on sailing without resting
Un cañón de chocolate contra el barco disparó
A cannon made of chocolate fired against the boat
Y un cañón de azúcar-zúcar, anda y anda le contestó
And a cannon of sugar-sugar, replied and keeps on sailing
Ay, mi barco marinero con su casco de papel
Oh, my sailor boat with its paper hull
Ay, mi barco negro y blanco, negro y blanco in timonel
Oh, my black and white boat, without a helmsman
Allá va la negra negra, junto, junto al español
There goes the black woman, next to the Spanish man
Anda y anda el barco, barco con ellos dos
The boat keeps on sailing with them both
Anda y anda el barco, barco con ellos dos
The boat keeps on sailing with them both
Writer(s): Sergio Pablo Aschero
Contributed by Colin J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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