Caterina Valente (born January 14, 1931 in Paris) is an Italian-born singer… Read Full Bio ↴Caterina Valente (born January 14, 1931 in Paris) is an Italian-born singer, dancer, and actress. She comes from an Italian artist family; her father Giuseppe was a well-known accordion player, her mother, Maria Valente, a musical clown. She had three siblings, of whom Silvio Francesco was also active in show business.

In 1952 she married juggler Erik van Aro (Gerd Eric Horst Scholz). He recognized her talent and accompanied her in her initial years of worldwide success, although they later divorced. In 1953, she made her first recordings with Kurt Edelhagen. Soon afterwards she achieved great success with songs like "Malagueña", "The Breeze and I", and "Dreh dich nicht um" with the Werner Müller orchestra. In 1955 she was featured on the "Colgate Comedy Hour" with Gordon MacRae. Between 1966 and 1972 she was a frequent guest on the Dean Martin Show. In 1972, she married the British pianist Roy Budd; they had a son, Alexander, but they divorced in 1979.

In Germany she was a major performer of Schlager music. There she recorded Cole Porter's "I love Paris" i.e. "Ganz Paris träumt von der Liebe", which sold more than 500,000 copies in (1954.) Like in other countries where she was popular, some in Germany mistakenly consider her a German singer.

Over the years, she has recorded or performed with many international stars, including Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Ella Fitzgerald, Woody Herman, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Buddy Rich, Sy Oliver, Claus Ogerman, and Chet Baker.

In 2001, she released a new album Girltalk with harpist Catherine Michel. She is also the mother of singer Eric van Aro, Jr.

Autumn Leaves
Caterina Valente Lyrics

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The falling leaves drift by the window
The autumn leaves of red and gold
I see your lips, the summer kisses
The sun-burned hands I used to hold

Since you went away the days grow long
And soon I'll hear old winter's song
But I miss you most of all my darling

When autumn leaves start to fall

C'est une chanson, qui nous ressemble
Toi tu m'aimais et je t'aimais
Nous vivions tous deux ensemble
Toi qui m'aimais moi qui t'aimais
Mais la vie separe ceux qui s'aiment

Tout doucement sans faire de bruit
Et la mer efface sur le sable les pas des amants desunis

Overall Meaning

Caterina Valente's song Autumn Leaves is a hauntingly beautiful melody that speaks of the transience of life and love. The lyrics describe the passing of time through the changing of seasons, and how the memory of a lost love lingers on through the falling of autumn leaves. The opening lines "The falling leaves drift by the window, the autumn leaves of red and gold" have become iconic and evoke a sense of melancholy that is both nostalgic and bittersweet.

In the subsequent verses, the singer reminisces about the love that once was, and how it has been replaced by emptiness and longing. The imagery of "sunburned hands" and "summer kisses" serves to highlight the intensity of the love shared between two people who are now apart. As the days grow shorter and winter approaches, the singer's sense of loneliness intensifies, as she longs for her lost love to return.

The second part of the song is in French and speaks of a love that was shared, but which has disappeared over time. The poignant line "Et la mer efface sur le sable les pas des amants desunis" (And the sea erases on the sand the steps of separated lovers) is a powerful metaphor for the way in which time can wash away the memories of love, leaving behind only the faintest trace on the shore.

Overall, Autumn Leaves is a song that captures the essence of loss and longing, and speaks to the universal experience of love and heartbreak. It is a song that resonates with listeners across generations and has earned its place in the canon of classic love songs.

Autumn LeavesCaterina Valente Lyrics

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Autumn Leaves
Caterina Valente Lyrics