In the 70s he formed a dance band, variously known as Los Virtuosos and El Tribu, which included his son Ramón Orlando Valoy (who would become well-known in the 80s as bandleader Ramón Orlando) on piano. Valoy's music at this point was big-band son, what was now being called salsa. His hits in this genre include "Juliana" and "Nació Varón." He increasingly included into his repertoire merengue, the Dominican national music that was becoming internationally successful.
In 1997 producer Sergio George recorded a version of Valoy's "Juliana" with DLG, featuring a guest spot for Valoy's distinctive voice. The song was a major Latin hit and paved the way for a mini-renaissance of Valoy's music with a new generation. Now in his 70s, he appears frequently in the New York area, his charm and talent intact
http://www.afropop.org/explore/artist_info/ID/322/Cuco%20Valoy/
Corazón de acero
Cuco Valoy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mientras vivas,
Tiene el corazón de acero
El alma como una piedra
Naciste para criminal
Qué, te hice yo, para qué tú me amargues la vida
Qué, te hice yo, para qué tú me hagas más sufrir
Mientras vivas,
Yo te entregue mi cariño
Te idolatré cual ninguna
Y no supiste apreciar
Los tantos momentos que en noches de
Invierno mi brazo moreno te sirvio de abrigo
Y ahora criminal por que lo ves viejo
Lo echas al olvido
Eres, eres criminal, Eres, eres criminal,
Tanto como yo te amé
Y no me supiste amar
Eres, eres criminal, Eres, eres criminal,
Que mala hembra, que mala hembra, que mala hembra tu eres mamá
Eres, eres criminal, Eres, eres criminal,
No no no no no, Que no no no, que no no no, Que no te voy a amar
Eres, eres criminal, Eres, eres criminal,
Eres, eres criminal, Eres, eres criminal,
Recuerdas la serenata que una noche te fui a cantar
Eres, eres criminal, Eres, eres criminal,
Ahora busca otro que cante porque yo no te canto más
Eres, eres criminal, Eres, eres criminal,
Es que no puedo no no, que
No te voy a amar
Eres, eres criminal, Eres, eres criminal.
In Cuco Valoy's song Corazón de acero, the lyrics depict the pain and heartbreak of loving someone who is inherently bad and unappreciative. The refrain "Naciste para ser mala y mala serás mientras vivas" (You were born to be bad and you will be bad while you live) emphasizes the idea that the subject of the song is essentially evil and nothing can change that fact, despite any efforts from the singer or others. The lines "Qué, te hice yo, para qué tú me amargues la vida / Qué, te hice yo, para qué tú me hagas más sufrir" (What did I do to you, for you to make my life bitter / What did I do to you, for you to make me suffer more) illustrate the singer's frustration and confusion about why he is being treated so poorly by someone he once loved.
The verses also touch on specific instances of mistreatment from the subject, such as not appreciating the love and attention given to her and forgetting the warmth provided during cold nights. The repetition of "eres, eres criminal" (you are, you are criminal) serves to reinforce the idea that this person is not just bad, but is actually committing crimes against the singer's emotions and wellbeing. The final lines show a rejection of any future attempts at love from this person, as the singer declares "Es que no puedo no no, que no te voy a amar" (I just can't, no, I won't love you).
Overall, the lyrics of Corazón de acero are a raw and emotional expression of the pain caused by toxic relationships and how difficult it can be to let go of someone who is bad for you.
Line by Line Meaning
Naciste para ser mala y mala serás Mientras vivas
You were born to be bad and you will remain bad as long as you live
Tiene el corazón de acero El alma como una piedra
You have a heart of steel and a soul like a stone
Naciste para criminal Qué, te hice yo, para qué tú me amargues la vida Qué, te hice yo, para qué tú me hagas más sufrir
You were born to be a criminal. What did I do to you for you to make my life miserable? What did I do to you for you to make me suffer even more?
Yo te entregue mi cariño Te idolatré cual ninguna Y no supiste apreciar Los tantos momentos que en noches de Invierno mi brazo moreno te sirvio de abrigo Y ahora criminal por que lo ves viejo Lo echas al olvido
I gave you my love and adored you like no one else. You didn't appreciate the many moments during winter nights when my brown arm served as a shelter for you. And now, because you see it as old, you cast it aside like a criminal
Eres, eres criminal, Eres, eres criminal, Tanto como yo te amé Y no me supiste amar
You are a criminal, just as much as I loved you and you didn't know how to love me
Que mala hembra, que mala hembra, que mala hembra tu eres mamá No no no no no, Que no no no, que no no no, Que no te voy a amar
What a bad woman you are, mama. No, no, no, I'm not going to love you
Recuerdas la serenata que una noche te fui a cantar Ahora busca otro que cante porque yo no te canto más
Do you remember the serenade that I sang to you one night? Now, find someone else to sing to you because I won't sing to you anymore
Es que no puedo no no, que No te voy a amar
It's just that I can't, no, no, I'm not going to love you
Writer(s): Pupo Valoy
Contributed by Mason H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.