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.
Nur ein Zigeuner hat soviel Sehnsucht nach den Sternen
Caterina Valente Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
die ihn begleiten auf seinen Wegen durch die Welt.
Denn vor den Toren zu Glanz und Macht
ist er allein in der blauen Nacht.
Nur ein Zigeuner hört jenes Lied aus weiten Fernen,
das wie ein Wunder in eines Menschen Herzen fällt.
Und singt es oft auch vom Leid,
es folgt dir noch heut'
das die Zigeunergeige singt.
The lyrics of Caterina Valente's song “Nur ein Zigeuner hat soviel Sehnsucht nach den Sternen” (Only a Gypsy Has So Much Longing for the Stars) tell the story of a wandering gypsy who has a deep longing for the stars, which accompany him on his journeys through the world. However, he is excluded from the gates to glory and power and remains alone in the blue night. This sets him apart from mainstream society and fosters feelings of alienation. The song pays tribute to the nomadic and free-spirited lifestyle of the gypsies, who live outside of societal norms and expectations. Despite experiencing hardship and pain, the gypsy finds solace in singing the song that the gypsy violin plays, a tune that echoes through wide distances and fills people's hearts with wonder.
The lyrics are an expression of the cultural fascination with the life of gypsies and their customs. At the same time, the song makes an emotional appeal to listeners, highlighting the universality of human desires for freedom, adventure, and a sense of belonging. The song is an invitation to appreciate the natural beauty of the stars and the mystical power that they hold over those who have a nomadic spirit.
Line by Line Meaning
Nur ein Zigeuner hat soviel Sehnsucht nach den Sternen,
Only a gypsy has such a deep longing for the stars,
die ihn begleiten auf seinen Wegen durch die Welt.
which accompany him on his travels throughout the world.
Denn vor den Toren zu Glanz und Macht
For outside the gates of wealth and power
ist er allein in der blauen Nacht.
he is alone in the blue night.
Nur ein Zigeuner hört jenes Lied aus weiten Fernen,
Only a gypsy can hear that song from far away,
das wie ein Wunder in eines Menschen Herzen fällt.
that falls into a person's heart like a miracle.
Und singt es oft auch vom Leid,
And though it sometimes sings of sorrow,
es folgt dir noch heut' das Lied,
that song still follows you today,
das die Zigeunergeige singt.
that the gypsy violin sings.
Contributed by Maya K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Staless74
on Cambia O Lasciami
Please correct the highlighted verse to: "Che diritti hai su di me?". Thanks.