After participating in some teen programs as a singer/actor, he got the main role in the telenovela (soap opera) "Gallito Ramírez," which made him a famous actor. Later, another telenovela, "Escalona" made him return to his "costeño" roots (he was born in Santa Marta, the same town of the famous soccer player "El Pibe" Valderrama, located in the north coast of Colombia) and mainly to sing classic vallenato songs of one of the most prestigious vallenato composers, Rafael Escalona. The soundtrack of "Escalona" quickly became a major hit in radio and CD sales and allowed vallenato to conquest other colombian cities outside the "costa" (north coast) that hadn´t previously accepted it.
After forming a band called La Provincia, the singer and guitarist began performing a local style known as Vallenato, successfully touring his native country, Colombia, and South America. In 1994, Carlos Vives' "La Gota Fria," became his first smash, climbing on the most important music charts around Latin America. In 1996, under the slogan of Unete A Los Locales (Join the Local Ones), the talented musician created his own label, called Gaira, to promote and give an incentive to local artists like "Bloque de Búsqueda" and "Distrito".
Carlos Vives also hosted an important show of the Colombian TV, "La Tele". With irreverent and sometimes escatologic humour this program promoted the figures of Martin De Francisco and Germán Moure, in a country where criticism has always been divorced of popular jokes. This program was then reborn as an animated version which turned to be the first weekly 25 minute animated series of Colombia and Latinamerica, called "El Siguiente Programa" ("The Next Show")
His style, which mixes vallenato, rock and champeta (an African-influenced music) was then used by several Colombian artists, giving birth to the "Tropipop" movement.
La Maravilla
Carlos Vives Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Me tiene comprado su vida sencilla
Le apuesta a la gente no piensa en dinero
Igual presidente igual pordiosero
Escucha una banda que toca en la orilla
Cantando boleros con Celia su amiga
Lleva unos bluyines con caderas caídas
Y tiene un ombligo que es una maravilla
Ella, la dueña de mis amores
La de los ojos marrones
Que no me quieren mirar
Ella, que no sabe de razones
La reina de corazones
Que todos quieren amar
Ella, que sabe que es la mas bella
Que a vivido en una estrella
Y que no lo puedo alcanzar
Muy poco la he visto me tiene olvidado
Y entra su dueño va de arriba a abajo
Y el fin de semana le da al ejercicio
No le gusta el cuento no le gusta el visio
Escucha una banda que toca en la orilla
Cantando boleros con Celia su amiga
Lleva unos bluyines caderas caídas
Y tiene un ombligo que es una maravilla
Ella, la dueña de mis amores
La de los ojos marrones
Que no me quieren mirar
Ella, que no sabe de razones
La reina de corazones
Que todos quieren amar
Ella, que sabe que es la mas bella
Que a vivido en una estrella
Y que no lo puedo alcanzar
Te pido muy poco tan solo dulzura
La coja esta asada y la calle esta dura
El misio matrimonio y la vida esta dura
Busca una muchacha alegre y sencilla
Que te quiera mucho tu propia costilla
Que escuche una banda que toque en la orilla
Cantando boleros con Celia su amiga
Lleva unos bluyines caderas caídas
Y tiene un ombligo que es una maravilla
"La Maravilla" by Carlos Vives is a melancholic love song that tells the story of a man who is hopelessly in love with a woman who is unattainable. The song's lyrics describe the woman's carefree and simple lifestyle, how she enjoys listening to music on the beach with her friend Celia, and how she wears a pair of jeans with a stunning navel. Despite his love for her, the singer realizes that she is out of his reach, and he can never have her.
The first stanza of the song highlights the woman's lifestyle, her dedication to work and finding a way to better her life. She is not interested in material possessions, and she values people more than money. The second verse of the song is dedicated to the beauty of the woman. The singer is in awe of her, describing her as the queen of hearts, and how everyone wants to love her. Despite her beauty, the singer knows that she is unapproachable and is aware that he can never reach her.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the woman's beauty and how much the singer yearns for her, despite being unattainable. The last stanza of the song is the singer's plea for his own happiness. He asks for someone who will love him tenderly, someone who will enjoy music and life with him just as the Maravilla does with Celia on the beach.
Overall "La Maravilla" is a bittersweet love song that portrays the pain and agony of unrequited love.
Line by Line Meaning
Estudia trabaja busca una salida
She studies, works, and searches for a way out
Me tiene comprado su vida sencilla
Her simple life has bought me over
Le apuesta a la gente no piensa en dinero
She bets on people and doesn't care about money
Igual presidente igual pordiosero
Whether president or beggar, she treats everyone the same
Escucha una banda que toca en la orilla
She listens to a band that plays on the shore
Cantando boleros con Celia su amiga
Singing boleros with her friend Celia
Lleva unos bluyines con caderas caídas
She wears jeans with a sagging waist
Y tiene un ombligo que es una maravilla
And she has a marvelous belly button
Ella, la dueña de mis amores
She, the owner of my love
La de los ojos marrones
The one with brown eyes
Que no me quieren mirar
Who doesn't want to look at me
Ella, que no sabe de razones
She who knows no reasons
La reina de corazones
The queen of hearts
Que todos quieren amar
Who everyone wants to love
Ella, que sabe que es la mas bella
She who knows she is the most beautiful
Que a vivido en una estrella
Who has lived on a star
Y que no lo puedo alcanzar
And whom I cannot reach
Muy poco la he visto me tiene olvidado
I've seen her very little, she's forgotten about me
Y entra su dueño va de arriba a abajo
And her owner comes and goes
Y el fin de semana le da al ejercicio
And on weekends, she exercises
No le gusta el cuento no le gusta el visio
She doesn't like gossip, she doesn't like vices
Te pido muy poco tan solo dulzura
I ask very little of you, just sweetness
La coja esta asada y la calle esta dura
The cripple is roasted and the street is tough
El misio matrimonio y la vida esta dura
The miserable marriage and life are tough
Busca una muchacha alegre y sencilla
Find a cheerful and simple girl
Que te quiera mucho tu propia costilla
Who loves you as much as your own rib
Que escuche una banda que toque en la orilla
Who listens to a band that plays on the shore
Cantando boleros con Celia su amiga
Singing boleros with her friend Celia
Lleva unos bluyines caderas caídas
Wearing jeans with a sagging waist
Y tiene un ombligo que es una maravilla
And has a marvelous belly button
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CARLOS MEDINA, CARLOS VIVES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Luycn
on Tu Amor Eterno
I love you
Luycn
on Tu Amor Eterno
Lunch and then I