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.
Granada
Caterina Valente Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And if you could speak what a fascinating tale you would tell
Of an age the world has long forgotten
Of an age that weaves the silent magic in Granada today
The dawn in the sky greets the day with a sigh for Granada
For she can remember the splendour that once was Granada
It still can be found in the hills all around as I wander along
Entranced by a land full of sunshine and flowers and song
And when day is done and the sun starts to set in Granada
I envy the blush of the snow clad Sierra Nevada
For soon it will welcome the stars
While a thousand guitars play a soft Habanera
Then moonlit Granada will live again
The glory of yesterday romantic and gay.
The song "Granada" by Caterina Valente is a love letter to the city of Granada in Spain. The singer is confessing that she has fallen under the spell of the city and wishes that it could speak to her, so she could hear the fascinating tale of its past. She imagines an age long forgotten, one that weaves the silent magic of today's Granada. The singer is in awe of the beauty before her, with sunshine, flowers, and song everywhere she goes. As she wanders through the hills of Granada, she is completely entranced by the city's splendor. When the day is done and the sun sets on Granada, the singer envies the snow-clad Sierra Nevada for it will soon welcome the stars. A thousand guitars will play a soft Habanera, and moonlit Granada will come alive again, with the glory of yesterday, romantic and gay.
The lyrics of this song express not just the singer's love for Granada, but also the rich cultural history and beauty of the city itself. Granada was once a major center of Islamic culture and learning, and the lyrics suggest the age of the Moors, with their silent magic, is a part of Granada's past. The snow-clad Sierra Nevada is also a distinct feature of Granada, and the song mentions how it captures the singer's envy. The song also alludes to the famous Alhambra, a palace and fortress complex that was once the residence of the Nasrid dynasty rulers and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. All of these features are brought together to create a rich tapestry of the beauty and history of Granada as a city.
Line by Line Meaning
Granada, I'm falling under your spell
I am captivated and enchanted by the charm and allure of Granada
And if you could speak what a fascinating tale you would tell
If Granada could speak, it would share an intriguing story of a forgotten era
Of an age the world has long forgotten
Granada remembers a time of grandeur that has been lost to the rest of the world
Of an age that weaves the silent magic in Granada today
The magic and beauty of Granada is a reflection of its illustrious past
The dawn in the sky greets the day with a sigh for Granada
The sunrise brings a melancholy longing for the past that existed in Granada
For she can remember the splendour that once was Granada
Granada has a vivid memory of the once glorious and majestic time it experienced
It still can be found in the hills all around as I wander along
The remnants of Granada's magnificent past can still be seen in the hills that surround it
Entranced by the beauty before me
I am deeply captivated and mesmerized by the stunning beauty that lies before me
Entranced by a land full of sunshine and flowers and song
I am captivated by the cheerful and colorful landscape of Granada that is full of life and music
And when day is done and the sun starts to set in Granada
As the day comes to an end and the sun sets, the enchanting spell of Granada remains unbroken
I envy the blush of the snow clad Sierra Nevada
I am envious of the mountain range, Sierra Nevada, that blushes in the setting sun in Granada
For soon it will welcome the stars
The peak of the mountain range will soon be graced by the arrival of the stars
While a thousand guitars play a soft Habanera
The night will come alive with the soothing and gentle tune of a Habanera played by numerous guitars
Then moonlit Granada will live again
Granada comes alive once more under the enchanting light of the moon
The glory of yesterday romantic and gay.
All of the grandeur, beauty and romance of Granada's illustrious past comes alive and reignites once more
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Agustin Lara
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@robertferris6312
don't you just love her voice!!!!!!!!
@guntertalla8628
Caterina Valente singt Granada fantastisch. Bravo!Einzigartig! ❤
@Catval09
Fantastique !
@maysusanbedural9960
I was taught the English version of this song by the older brother Wilfredo Vanzuela, now deceased, I did not know then he left me such a legacy I could be so proud of...
@jeannemariani8708
Je l’adore
@oucaessesom2290
Bravoo 👏
@josephcastellani9981
Bonjour merci pour cette très belle chanson que. De souvenirs
@PanzerLehr88
WHAT'S THAT SHE'S SINGING IN PORTUGUESE
@ricardocarmo8880
She is singing in spanish and french. I don't know why but almost no foreigner knows how portuguese language sounds :'//
(I'm Portuguese).
@Catval09
En espanol ...