Legend and inspiration, Abbey Lincoln says, "Claudia sings in the tradition of the great ones. Her sound is her own."
Born in Santiago and raised in Concepcion, Chile, Acuña began singing Chilean folk/pop, rock, fusion and opera, drawing inspiration from Chilean music pioneers Violeta Parra and Victor Jara. At the age of 15 she discovered her first "outside" musical model: Frank Sinatra. Acuña finally "felt at home" when she heard the voices of Sinatra, Erroll Garner and Sarah Vaughan.
Moving to Santiago in 1991, she immediately gravitated to the local musicians and soon made a name for herself on the jazz scene, being featured on the club's live radio broadcast while sitting in with visiting musicians Wynton Marsalis, Michel Petrucciani, Joe Lovano and Danilo Perez. In 1995 Acuña made the move to New York City to fulfill her dreams, where she immediately became a fixture at local jam sessions and stints at infamous New York haunts with pianist Harry Whitaker at Arturo's and guitarist Ron Affif at the Zinc Bar. It was at the Greenwich Village hotbed of up-and-coming talent, Small's, where Acuña befriended pianist Jason Lindner, her closest collaborator to this day.
Acuña was signed to Verve Records in 1999, and recorded her critically acclaimed debut WIND FROM THE SOUTH, followed by the much welcomed follow-up, RHYTHM OF LIFE. In 2004, MaxJazz recorded the beautiful LUNA, where, as noted by the Daily News, "Acuña transforms classics into something provocative and unexpected".
Claudia has recorded, toured and performed with Tom Harrell, Billy Childs, George Benson, Roy Hargrove, Christian McBride, Antonio Hart, Danilo Perez, Avishai Cohen, Avi Leibovich, Jeff Ballard, Guillermo Klein, Louis Vega/Masters at Work, Dana Leong, David Gilmore, Makoto Ozone, Arturo O'Farrill, Pablo Ziegler, Trio de Paz and was most recently featured on Amanecer, the latest release from Marsalis Music recording artist Joey Calderazzo.
Acuña was recently appointed a spokesperson for WORLD VISION CHILE, an international Christian relief and development organization, delivering assistance during humanitarian emergencies to areas where it operates child-focused development programs. It is her greatest achievement.
Bewitched
Claudia Acuna Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But a fool can have her charms
I'm in love and don't I show it
Like a babe in arms
Love's the same old situation
Lately I've not slept a wink
Since this crazy situation
I'm wild again, beguiled again
A whimpering, simpering child again
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered, am I
Couldn't sleep, wouldn't sleep
Love came and told me, shouldn't sleep
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered, am I
I lost my heart, but what of it
She is cold I agree
She might laugh, but I love it
Although the laugh's on me
I'll sing to her, bring spring to her
And long, for the day when I'll cling to her
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered, am I
The lyrics to "Bewitched" by Claudia Acuna showcases a rapturous love that has left the singer completely spellbound. Throughout the song, she admits her adoration for her lover, acknowledging the irrational nature of her feelings while still feeling entranced and beguiled. The first stanza speaks to the idea of being foolishly in love with someone and the overwhelming impact that can have. While recognizing the various flaws and imperfections of her paramour, the singer admits that she still finds them captivating nonetheless.
The realization of her infatuation with this person throws her emotions completely out of balance, leaving her feeling "bewitched, bothered, and bewildered." The experience is driving her wild with deep desire, bringing out a level of helplessness and even childlike dependence. She acknowledges sleepless nights and a racing mind, all due to the overwhelming passion that has overtaken her.
The song's final stanza highlights the fact that the singer is entirely aware of the one-sided nature of her emotions. Despite being laughed at and perceived as foolish, she still loves this person and desires to be with them, even if only to sing to them and bring some levity to their life. The lyrics showcase a theme of love's irrationality and the enthralling power of infatuation.
Line by Line Meaning
She's a fool and don't I know it
I am aware that she acts foolish, but her charm still has me interested.
But a fool can have her charms
Even though she is not intelligent, she is still charming.
I'm in love and don't I show it
I am deeply in love with her and it is visible.
Like a babe in arms
I feel vulnerable and helpless in this love situation.
Love's the same old situation
Love can be a predictable experience.
Lately I've not slept a wink
I have been unable to sleep lately.
Since this crazy situation
Because of this intense love situation.
Has me on the blink
It has me feeling confused and overwhelmed.
I'm wild again, beguiled again
I feel out of control and entranced by her.
A whimpering, simpering child again
I feel weak and childish in her presence.
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered, am I
I am completely under her spell and feeling confused and overwhelmed.
Couldn't sleep, wouldn't sleep
I was too consumed by love to even attempt to sleep.
Love came and told me, shouldn't sleep
I was too caught up in the experience of love to even consider sleep.
I lost my heart, but what of it
I have given my heart to her, regardless of any consequences.
She is cold I agree
She can be distant, and I acknowledge this.
She might laugh, but I love it
Even though she may be laughing at me, I still love it because she is paying attention to me.
Although the laugh's on me
I acknowledge that the situation may not be in my favor.
I'll sing to her, bring spring to her
I will do whatever I can to make her happy, such as singing to her.
And long, for the day when I'll cling to her
I anxiously await the day when I can hold onto her and be close to her.
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered, am I
I am completely under her spell and feeling confused and overwhelmed.
Lyrics © DistroKid, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind