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.

Bim Bam Bim Bam Bina
Caterina Valente Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ahahaa ...

Die Bim Bam Bim Bam Bina
Die tanzt zur Mandolina
Des Abends in Messina
Den Cocola

Der Valen Valentino

Verzichtet auf den Vino
Und führt sie im Casino
Zum Cocola

Oh mi oh mei Seniore
Ah Seniore das ist fein
Ich kann nur mit amore
Mit amore glücklich sein

Oh mi oh mei Seniore
Ah Seniore das ist fein
Ich kann nur mit amore
Mit amore glücklich sein

Die Bim Bam Bim Bam Bina
Die tanzt zur Mandolina
Des Abends in Messina
Den Cocola

Der Valen Valentino
Verzichtet auf den Vino
Und führt sie im Casino
Zum Cocola

Oh mi oh mei Signiore
Ah Signiore das ist fein
Ich kann nur mit Amore
Mit Amore glücklich sein

Oh mi oh mei Seniore
Ah Seniore das ist fein

Ich kann nur mit amore
Mit amore glücklich sein

Overall Meaning

The song "Bim-Bam-Bim-Bam-Bina" by Caterina Valente presents a story of a romance between a man named Valen Valentino and a dancer named Bim-Bam-Bim-Bam-Bina who dances to the rhythm of a mandolin in the evening in Messina. The lyrics describe how Valen Valentino chooses to refrain from drinking wine, and instead, leads Bina into the casino to drink Cocola. The chorus reinforces the idea that Bina can only be happy with love ("amore").

The lyrics use repetition to emphasize the rhythm of the song, as well as the names of the characters. The use of Italian names and words, as well as the references to Italian places such as Messina and the mention of mandolin, adds to the exotic and romantic nature of the song. The choice of the word "Cocola" instead of wine adds to the playful and lighthearted nature of the song and the romance between the two characters.

Overall, "Bim-Bam-Bim-Bam-Bina" is a cheerful and rhythmic song that celebrates love and romance in an exotic setting.

Line by Line Meaning

Die Bim Bam Bim Bam Bina
This person named Bina dances to the music of a mandolin.

Die tanzt zur Mandolina
Bina dances to the music of a mandolin.

Des Abends in Messina
This happens in the evening in Messina.

Den Cocola
Bina dances a dance called the Cocola.

Der Valen Valentino
A man named Valentino.

Verzichtet auf den Vino
Valentino gives up drinking wine.

Und führt sie im Casino
Valentino takes Bina to the casino to dance.

Zum Cocola
Valentino dances with Bina to the Cocola.

Oh mi oh mei Seniore
An expression of surprise or excitement.

Ah Seniore das ist fein
An expression of admiration, translating to 'Oh sir, that is fine'.