Born on the 17th January 1933 in Shoubra, Cairo, Egypt, she was the child of an opera violinist, and was given singing lessons at an early age. She developed into a beautiful young lady and, in 1954, she won the Miss Egypt beauty contest and immediately left for Paris, France, to pursue a career in motion pictures.
Despite her looks, her first films were less than successful, but she began performing in music halls and cabarets, singing in French, Italian, Arabic in which she was fluent, and other languages. Using the stage name Dalida she recorded songs; her second single titled "Bambino" brought instant fame. In 1957, she appeared at the Paris Olympia as the opening act for Charles Aznavour and later the same year for Gilbert Bécaud. She would go on to record in several languages, touring the globe including sold-out performances, in late 1978, at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
During her career, Dalida recorded 500 French songs, 200 of which were translated into Italian, and 300 into other languages. She sold more than 150 million albums world-wide, winning numerous awards, and achieving more than seventy gold records. Yet, despite her fame and fortune, her personal life was difficult and filled with much drama and tragedy. In 1961 she married her mentor Lucien Morisse, but the marriage lasted only a few months, and she left him for the painter Jean Sobieski (later the father of American actress Leelee Sobieski). A few years later, her still distraught ex-husband died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
In 1967 her new lover, the Italian singer, Luigi Tenco also took his own life, and Dalida too attempted suicide. She was living with the flamboyant and less than reputable Richard Chanfray (referred to as the Comte de St Germain) when he took his own life in July 1983. She recovered from these tragedies and continued to perform, but by her own accounts, life had little meaning and she spent years searching for personal fulfillment, including traveling to Nepal to study the Hindu religion.
She died on the 3rd May 1987 as a result of an overdose of sleeping pills, leaving behind a suicide note that said: "Life has become unbearable ... forgive me."
2) A mononym of a young Lebanese singer living in Kuwait. She released two albums, "Tedalal" (2005) and "Eltegaina" (2008) and she filmed 3 video clips "Wadel Ma'i", "Haram" & "Eltegaina".
3) Back from the dead in Moselle (France), DALIDA is reborn, her squint is now a blindness and her voice a strident groan.
Obsessed by Krautrock band alienating repetitions, she modifies her repertoire, no more poignant songs, she's now exploring the sonic transe.
« Nobody have to steal our own death, it's a part of our life, that's why it's really important to live this moment »
Terrestrial incarnation : Klaus Legal and DaiKiRi (members of Le Singe Blanc, Judas Donneger, La Race, Myster Möebius...)
Manuella
Dalida Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rumba la rumba la rumba la
Etait fille de Péone
Rumba la rumba la rumba la
Son courage fit qu'on fredonne
Ay Manuella, ay Manuella
Son courage fit qu'on fredonne
Ay Manuella, ay Manuella
Elle fit passer la frontière
Rumba la rumba la rumba la
A tous ceux qui volontaires,
Rumba la rumba la rumba la
Voulaient défendre l'Espagne
Ay Manuella, ay Manuella
Dans la cinquième brigade
Ay Manuella, ay Manuella
Ils venaient de par le monde
Rumba la rumba la rumba la
De Paris, Moscou ou Londres
Rumba la rumba la rumba la
Mais servaient en faisant savoir
Ay Manuella, ay Manuella
Qu'ils venaient de nulle part
Ay Manuella, Ay Manuella
Mais en 1937, près du café Tranquilidad
Alors que la cinquième brigade doit quitter l'Espagne
Elle périt dans l'embuscade
Que lui tendait l'ennemi
Elle avait seize ans à peine
Rumba la rumba la rumba la
Mais n'ayez pas trop de peine
Rumba la rumba la rumba la
Son action ne fut pas veine
Ay Manuella, ay Manuella
Son action de fut pas veine
Ay Manuella, ay Manuella
Elle venait de Catalogne
Rumba la rumba la rumba la
Etait fille de Péone
Rumba la rumba la rumba la
Son courage fait qu'on fredonne
Ay Manuella, ay Manuella
Son courage fait qu'on fredonne
Ay Manuella, ay Manuella
The lyrics of the song "Manuella" by Dalida pay tribute to a young woman named Manuella who came from Catalonia and was the daughter of a Peone. Manuella's courage and boldness made her a legend, and her bravery is celebrated in the lyrics of this song. Manuella helped people pass the border and volunteered to defend Spain by joining the fifth brigade. The brigade members hailed from all over the world, including Paris, Moscow, and London. However, they believed that they came from nowhere and were committed to protecting Spain from its enemies.
The song highlights the unfortunate ending of Manuella's life. At the age of 16, she lost her life in an ambush set up by the enemy near Café Tranquilidad in Spain. Despite her young age, her contribution to the war effort was immense and continues to be celebrated through her deeds. Even though the loss of her life was tragic, her actions were not in vain, and her courage and bravery will always be remembered.
This song pays homage to the brave and heroic actions of Manuella, who gave her life to protect others. It honors the courage and selflessness of all those who put their lives at risk to defend their ideals and beliefs. The song is a tribute to the human spirit, which matches the rhythm of "Rumba," a feeling of hope and strength that keeps our spirits up in dark times.
Line by Line Meaning
Elle venait de Catalogne
Manuella came from Catalonia
Rumba la rumba la rumba la
Rhythmically expressing the cultural essence of the song
Etait fille de Péone
She was the daughter of Peone
Son courage fit qu'on fredonne
Her courage made people hum her name
Ay Manuella, ay Manuella
Expresses people humbling and praising her name
Elle fit passer la frontière
She helped people cross the border
A tous ceux qui volontaires,
To all those willing
Voulaient défendre l'Espagne
Who desired to defend Spain
Dans la cinquième brigade
Joined the fifth brigade
Ils venaient de par le monde
They came from all over the world
De Paris, Moscou ou Londres
From Paris, Moscow or London
Mais servaient en faisant savoir
But served with pride
Qu'ils venaient de nulle part
Regardless of their origin
Mais en 1937, près du café Tranquilidad
However, in 1937, near the Tranquilidad cafe
Alors que la cinquième brigade doit quitter l'Espagne
As the fifth brigade was leaving Spain
Elle périt dans l'embuscade
Manuella died in an ambush
Que lui tendait l'ennemi
Set up by the enemy
Elle avait seize ans à peine
At the tender age of sixteen
Mais n'ayez pas trop de peine
But don't be too sad
Son action ne fut pas veine
Her action was not in vain
Elle venait de Catalogne
Manuella came from Catalonia
Son courage fait qu'on fredonne
Her courage made people hum her name
Ay Manuella, ay Manuella
Expresses people humbling and praising her name
Contributed by Jayce I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@badgurlftstyles
La chanson préférée de mes grands parents et la chanson qui est la raison pour laquelle je m'appelle Manuella, je vous rends hommage ici.🙏👼
@alexiscolby9171
Encore une belle interprétation de DALIDA
@Daluido
Sono tanto contento e felice doppiamente. E stato un gran regalo da tua parte questo video. Mi piacce come tutti i tuoi video, ma mi sembra incridibile ad ascoltare Dali a cantare questo. Dai, sei magnifico Cris. Sono impazzito con il tuo nuovo video. Grazie mille. Grazie sempre Dalida.*********************
@javitoflores
gracais DALIDA este tema significó mucho en la guerra civil española. gracias por apoyarnos...... ¡¡¡¡
@amaelvizzuettolvera7085
Dalida demostró mucha valentía al cantar el himno de los republicanos españoles; si bien ella vivía en París, toda la Europa occidental tenía relaciones con España. La versión de Dalida es inigualable, a la gran voz se una una honda convicción. El acompañamiento de guitarra es de primera. ¿Serían españoles los guitarristas? Ya no hay artistas como Dalida.
@yohane27
such a great song >>>>just amazing
@Daluido
Ha sido un gran regalo. E stato un bel regalino.******************** Grazie mille Dalida. Grazie Sarkooo!
@ddzoubir3584
bjr
@sehhareaytac9143
My favorite song..
@Daluido
Adesso capisco perche Dalida non era molto conosciuta in Spagna. Per cantare questo. E anche per le parole di altre canzoni que la dittatura non ne permetteva. Ma bastta, non voglio far il politicco su un conto di Dalida. Brava, grande. bella.**************