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.
The Girl From Ipanema
Caterina Valente Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The girl from Ipanema goes walking
And when she passes, each one she passes goes - ah
When she walks, she's like a samba
That swings so cool and sways so gentle
That when she passes, each one she passes goes - ah
How can he tell her he loves her
Yes I would give my heart gladly
But each day, that she walks to the sea
She looks straight ahead, not at he
Tall, (and) tan, (and) young, (and) lovely
The girl from Ipanema goes walking
And when she passes, he smile - but she doesn't see
(Doesn't see)
(She just doesn't see, she never sees him)
Caterina Valente’s version of “The Girl from Ipanema” evokes the feeling of being in Rio de Janeiro’s trendy Ipanema neighbourhood. The song describes a picturesque girl who goes on a walk, and when she passes by, everyone takes notice. The girl is attractive, and her walk, which resembles a samba dance, is a treat to watch, captivating to all who witness it.
The song's main character, a man, is caught up in the girl's captivating aura, but there's a sense of sadness and longing in his observation. The man admires her from afar, unable to express his love for her because she doesn’t notice him. Throughout the song, we can sense his pain and despair for the girl he loves. He longs to be with her but is too afraid to approach her.
Overall, the song is a beautiful tribute to Ipanema and the lively lifestyle of the city's residents. The lyrics have an easy-going nature that matches the beat of the music, drawing the listener into the story of the girl from Ipanema.
Line by Line Meaning
Tall and tan and young and lovely
The girl from Ipanema is tall and has tanned skin that highlights her youth and beauty.
The girl from Ipanema goes walking
The girl from Ipanema enjoys walking.
And when she passes, each one she passes goes - ah
As the girl from Ipanema passes by, everyone is left in awe of her stunning beauty and presence.
When she walks, she's like a samba
The girl from Ipanema's walk embodies the lively and rhythmical nature of the samba dance.
That swings so cool and sways so gentle
Her walk is smooth and gentle, but also cool and captivating.
That when she passes, each one she passes goes - ah
As the girl from Ipanema passes by, everyone is left in awe of her stunning beauty and presence.
(Ooh) But he watch her so sadly
The singer admires the girl from Ipanema but is also sad that she does not see him as someone who loves her.
How can he tell her he loves her
The singer wonders how he can express his love to the girl from Ipanema.
Yes I would give my heart gladly
The singer is willing to give his heart to the girl from Ipanema despite the fact that she may not love him in return.
But each day, that she walks to the sea
Every day, the girl from Ipanema walks towards the coast.
She looks straight ahead, not at he
The girl from Ipanema does not notice the singer's presence as she fixedly looks forward during her walk.
Tall, (and) tan, (and) young, (and) lovely
The girl from Ipanema is tall, tanned, young, and lovely- all characteristics that the singer admires about her.
And when she passes, he smile - but she doesn't see
The singer smiles as the girl from Ipanema passes by him, but she does not notice his presence.
(Doesn't see)
The girl from Ipanema does not see or acknowledge the singer's existence or his love for her.
(She just doesn't see, she never sees him)
The girl from Ipanema is unaware of the singer's presence or his love for her, which makes the situation even more heartbreaking.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Tratore, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Norman Gimbel, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Vinicius De Moraes
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cristian Cizmar
Grandissimo talento che come spesso capita l'Italia non ricorda abbastanza... Grazie
Raffaele Schiavo VoxEchology
Unica, magnifica, olimpica! 💝 Grazie di questa preziosa testimonianza.
RSI Musica
Grazie per il tuo commento!
alberto malaguti
Mai citata abbastanza Caterina Valente la quale possiede in sé un grandissimo talento. Oltre che cantante è una polistrumentista e conosce diverse lingue. La amerò sempre...
amalia amili
Ho scoperto oggi il vostro canale e le perle che condividete con noi. Questa esibizione è una di quelle... Che meraviglia! ❤
RSI Musica
Grazie mille!
Rosario Mazzeo
Meravigliosa.❤♫
DSH1LL
She is very charismatic.
Anna Turrini
Semplicemente...unica..!!!! Grazie..
John Vincent
Grande Caterina…una voce stupenda oltre ad essere un’ottima chitarrista…