Ana Belén (born Maria del Pilar Cuesta on May 27, 1951 in Madrid, Spain) is… Read Full Bio ↴Ana Belén (born Maria del Pilar Cuesta on May 27, 1951 in Madrid, Spain) is one of the most relevant Spanish personalities in arts and music. With a musical career that spanned over the last 40 years she has also accomplished a great success as an actress, in feature films, television and theatre.

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.

Yo canto
Ana Belén Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Canto porque me gusta y puedo hacerlo
Canto porque cicatriza las heridas
Canto porque cantarte me da vida
Se me olvidan los dolores
Canto en medio de tantos sinsabores.

Canto por ti, por todo lo que quiero
Canto porque a veces canto cuando me cabreo

Canto por esa putada que acaban de hacerme
Uno canta solamente
Para todos aquellos que le quieren.

Cántale tus canciones
Cántalas con quien tú quieras
No importa si desafinas, cantarás
Cántale tus canciones
Préndele fuego a todo
Manda que se pare el mundo algunas horas.

Canto para sacarme lo que hay dentro
Las canciones son aire y van al viento
Canto porque cantando soy más libre

Y les cuento lo que pienso
Canto porque de niña tuve un sueño.

Overall Meaning

Ana Belén's song "Yo canto" is an ode to the healing power of music. Through the lyrics, the artist describes why she sings, highlighting some of the reasons that make her feel the need to raise her voice and express her emotions. The first stanza of the song says "I sing because I like it and I can do it, I sing because it heals wounds, I sing because singing to you gives me life, the pain is forgotten, I sing in the midst of so many troubles." This stanza illustrates how singing is crucial to Ana, as it allows her to overcome her pain and struggles and feel renewed. The second stanza addresses the different motivations that can urge her to sing. She sings for the people she loves, for the moments of anger or frustration, and for the moments of injustice or disappointment. In each case, singing serves as a coping mechanism that enables her to move forward.

The chorus of the song is an invitation to the listeners to embrace their singing voice and express themselves freely. Ana sings, "Sing your songs, sing them with whomever you want, it doesn't matter if you're out of tune, you'll still sing. Sing your songs, set everything on fire, and command the world to stop for a few hours." These words encourage people to unleash their creativity and use their voice to convey their feelings, desires, and dreams. In essence, "Yo canto" is a song that celebrates the power of music as a means of self-expression and emotional release.

Line by Line Meaning

Canto porque me gusta y puedo hacerlo
I sing because it brings me joy and I have the ability to do so

Canto porque cicatriza las heridas
I sing because it heals my wounds

Canto porque cantarte me da vida
I sing because singing to you brings me life

Se me olvidan los dolores
It helps me forget my pain

Canto en medio de tantos sinsabores.
I sing in the midst of so many troubles

Canto por ti, por todo lo que quiero
I sing for you and for everything I love

Canto porque a veces canto cuando me cabreo
I sing because sometimes I sing when I'm angry

Canto por esa putada que acaban de hacerme
I sing for that bad thing that just happened to me

Uno canta solamente
One sings alone

Para todos aquellos que le quieren.
For all those who love it

Cántale tus canciones
Sing your songs to him/her