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.
Cambia O Lasciami
Caterina Valente Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Non posso andare avanti piщ cosм
Se non mi ami dimmelo ora
Io non voglio piщ
Soffrire come soffro no, io no
Piuttosto dimmi che andrai via
Che ho, che ho
Di te non ho niente
Ch'io ti ritirai su di me
Non puoi, non puoi
Rubare la mia vita
Cambia o lasciami
Non posso andare avanti piщ cosм
Se non mi ami lasciami sola
Io non amerт che te perт
Che ho, che ho
Di te non ho niente
Ch'io ti ritirai su di me
Non puoi, non puoi
Rubare la mia vita
Mia vita
Cambia o lasciami
Non posso andare avanti piщ cosм
Se non mi ami lasciami sola
Lasciami sola
Lasciami sola
[Sfumando]
Lasciami sola
Lasciami sola...
The lyrics to "Cambia O Lasciami" by Caterina Valente tell a story of a woman who is tired of being hurt and wants her partner to make a decision: either change their behavior and show her love, or leave her alone completely. She cannot continue to live in a state of uncertainty and pain, and would rather hear the truth about their feelings than be left in the dark. The woman knows that she only loves this person and is willing to make things work, but they need to reciprocate her feelings and prove that they are committed to the relationship. She is tired of feeling like she has nothing, and wants her partner to remember that they cannot take away her life or her agency.
Line by Line Meaning
Cambia o lasciami
You must change or leave me as I can't continue like this
Non posso andare avanti piщ cosм
I can't keep going like this
Se non mi ami dimmelo ora
If you don't love me, tell me now
Io non voglio piщ
I don't want it anymore
Soffrire come soffro no, io no
I don't want to suffer like this anymore
Piuttosto dimmi che andrai via
Instead, tell me that you'll go away
Io non amerт che te perт
I won't love anyone but you
Che ho, che ho
That's all I have
Di te non ho niente
I have nothing of you
Ch'io ti ritirai su di me
So that I can draw you to me
Non puoi, non puoi
You can't, you can't
Rubare la mia vita
Take my life away
Se non mi ami lasciami sola
If you don't love me, leave me alone
Mia vita
My life
Lasciami sola
Leave me alone
Sfumando
Fading away
Contributed by Elliot H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Staless74
Please correct the highlighted verse to: "Che diritti hai su di me?". Thanks.
@ullaclemens4975
I AM 77 = IT IS STILL ONE OF MY FAVOURITES = SINCE 1957 !! WHAT A VOICE !!
@luizabbadia3411
Sir, please, do you know if she sings "Kom zu mir"? or another singer, please? thanks
@luizabbadia3411
Sorry, for that, madame
@1510Ronald
so ist es - Belafonte sang zwar das Original aber sein Banana boat war zu der Zeit mehr im "Rennen"........
@corywiggins2155
Did not know this Caribbean song was translated into so many versions, very great song, proud of my island.
@jimmyweber7290
Ein Super Song , sehr schöner Vortrag , einfach nur schön !
@lucianocosta3403
Io amo, dal 1958, spassionatamente Caterina Valente e tutte le sue canzoni , Le ho conosciute quando "lavoravo" e studiavo a Stoccarda ed ora continuo a godermele in Internet .Allora avevo comprato il 45 giri della "Polidor" .Ogni tanto ho anche visto delle trasmissioni con Caterina sui canali TV tedeschi e mi emozionavo sempre .Luciano Costa (Dolomiti ITALIA)
@spatzspatz
Die konnte wirklich sehr gut singen!
@stefaniehubmann6230
Das kann sie immer noch. ;-)