Silva, the oldest of seven children, was born Consuelo Silva on August 25, 1922, in Brownsville, Texas. She began singing as a teenager at school and in her church. Her talent was evident early on. By her late teens, Silva was singing regularly with a local group, the Tito Crixell Orchestra.
By the late 1930s, Silva was already a local celebrity. In 1939, she was asked to sing on a local radio program hosted by the poet, composer, and author Americo Paredes. The appearance gave Silva wider exposure and opened the door for her to begin making money singing radio jingles. It wasn't long before she was performing regularly at Corpus Christi's Continental Club. Silva also later married, and divorced, Paredes.
However, Silva struggled before she was able to secure a recording contract. She toiled in regional venues for years before she was noticed. It wasn't until she was thirty that she landed her first record deal with Discos Falcón of McAllen, Texas, where she would go on to record over seventy titles.
By 1955, her popularity had eclipsed Discos Falcón, and she sought the attention of larger record labels, subsequently signing with Columbia Records. The move paid off almost immediately as Silva put together an impressive string of hit songs, including “Imploración,” “Esta Sellado,” “Sabes de Que Tenga Ganas,” “Soy Bohemia,” “Inolvidable,” and “Amor Aventurero.”
Read more: Chelo Silva Biography - (1922–1988), Billboard Guide to Tejano and Regional Mexican Music http://www.jrank.org/cultures/pages/4444/Chelo-Silva.html#ixzz0djxlD9Dq
Perla Negra
Chelo Silva Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yo quise curar tu desconsuelo brindandote mi amor.
Rara, maligna y fatal
como una perla negra eres tú
No puedo vivir sin tu cariño sin tu mirar.
La vida es un tormento si tus labios me niegan esos besos que me matan me enloquecen.
La vida es un calvario si tus ojos me niegan su mirar.
Rara maligna y fatal como una perla negra eres tú no puedo vivir sin tu cariño, sin tu mirar.
La vida es un tormento si tus labios me niegan esos besos que me matan me enloquecen.
La vida es un calvario si tus ojos me niegan su mirar.
Rara maligna y fatal como una perla negra eres tu no puedo vivir sin tu cariño sin tu mirar.
The lyrics to Chelo Silva's "Perla Negra" speak of a narrator who has found someone who is a rare, malignant, and fatal presence in their life, much like a black pearl. Despite the singer's attempts to ease this person's sadness with their love, they are unable to live without their affection and attention. The song speaks to the overwhelming pain and torment one can feel when love is unrequited or denied.
The first few lines of the song speak of the singer's journey to find this person, as they were rolling around the world, crying and without faith. The singer wanted to heal their sorrow by giving them love. However, the rest of the lyrics describe the singer's inability to live without this person's love and affection. Each day without their affection feels like a torment, and their absence makes the singer feel like they are living in agony.
Overall, the song speaks to the tragedies of unrequited love and the immense pain that comes with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Sola llorando sin fé, rodando por el mundo te encontré.
I was crying alone without hope, as I travelled the world, I found you.
Yo quise curar tu desconsuelo brindandote mi amor.
I wanted to heal your sadness by giving you my love.
Rara, maligna y fatal como una perla negra eres tú
You are rare, dangerous, and fatal like a black pearl.
No puedo vivir sin tu cariño sin tu mirar.
I cannot live without your love or your gaze.
La vida es un tormento si tus labios me niegan esos besos que me matan me enloquecen.
Life is a torment if you deny me the kisses that kill me and drive me crazy.
La vida es un calvario si tus ojos me niegan su mirar.
Life is a struggle if you deny me the sight of your eyes.
Rara maligna y fatal como una perla negra eres tú no puedo vivir sin tu cariño, sin tu mirar.
You are rare, dangerous, and fatal like a black pearl. I cannot live without your love or your gaze.
La vida es un tormento si tus labios me niegan esos besos que me matan me enloquecen.
Life is a torment if you deny me the kisses that kill me and drive me crazy.
La vida es un calvario si tus ojos me niegan su mirar.
Life is a struggle if you deny me the sight of your eyes.
Rara maligna y fatal como una perla negra eres tu no puedo vivir sin tu cariño sin tu mirar.
You are rare, dangerous, and fatal like a black pearl. I cannot live without your love or your gaze.
Contributed by Sebastian C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Roberto Hidalgo Arroyo
Bella , bella y llena de belleza , hermosa canción , para nosotros los bohemios
Maximo Daniel
Esta canción junto a Amor burlado se me hacen las mas melancólicas de Chelo Silva, boleros con mucho sentimiento
Sergio Olivos Equihua
La vida es un calvario si tus ojos..... Belleza de canción en una voz inigualable
antoniello m
Esta si es cantante ,,,,
abel perez
Definitivamente. Chelo Silva tenía la virtud de llegar a lo más profundo del corazón. "perla negra", al igual que las muchas canciones que cantó esta hermosa mujer, impactaron en el buen sentimiento de quien la escuchó, y que la seguimos escuchando. Saludos a todos...
Oliver Herrera
Ella murió hace mucho tiempo 😢 pero cAntavA lindo
Arturo Chas
Hermosisima interpretación
Emilio Guizar
Por favor pongan "Cualquier Tumba Es Igual" por favor por favor.... Sí con Chelo Silva.