Born in the "City of Palaces" (Mexico City), Eugenia Leon discovers her musical calling at the College of Sciences and Humanities in Naucalpan, where she lent her voice for the compositions of her schoolmates.
During the turbulent 70's, young people started to identify with the musical movement known as La Trova, singing about Latin American life, liberty, and soul.
Those influences defined her style and her future path, and she never looked back.
When she turned 18, she decided to study at the National School of Music. Those were hard times, constantly switching jobs, and learning from life's blows and surprises.
Encouraged by her sister, Eugenia Leon formed a musical group called "Victor Jara", with a totally Latin American folk style. Afterwards, she forms the group Sanampay, with the same roots. She left Sanampay in 1982 to pursue a solo career, based on a repertoire of songs from contemporary Mexican composers, and including also boleros and music from Brazil.
She releases her first recording in 1983, "Asi te quiero", and traveled all over Mexico with a small group of musicians playing in various gigs.
Eugenia Leon's career took a definite turn in 1985, when she entered the OTI International Festival at Seville (Spain) representing Mexico, with Marcial Alejandro's song "El Fandango Aqui". As a devastating earthquake hits Mexico City on September 19th, right while she's competing at the Festival, Eugenia transformed the pain of her people into strength, and turned her voice into the utmost expression of courage and hope. She was awarded First Place in the competition.
Since then, she has recorded more than 20 albums, all diverse and unique. Among the composers that have given her songs are Fito Paez, David Haro, Joan Manuel Serrat, Marcial Alejandro, Armando Manzanero, Jose Alfredo Jimenez, Francisco Gabilondo Soler and Maria Grever. She has also explored diverse styles such as mariachi, bolero and tango. In 1998, the government of the Mexican state of Veracruz granted her the Agustin Lara award, as homage for her excellent interpretation of the songs of the famous composers.
Commemorating her 30 years as singer, Eugenia Leon staged a concert at the National Auditorium in Mexico City (the largest venue in the country) on November 1st, 2003, selling it out completely. The concert was a spectacular show with Mariachi Vargas and the Orquesta Sinfonica de las Americas, enthralling the audience with samples covering Eugenia's entire career and musical repertoire.
Eugenia Leon is the best Mexican singer according to many, while others also consider Eugenia's concerts and recordings to be a guarantee of high quality. In any case, Eugenia helps to make sure that the musical spirit of Mexico will remain alive and well.
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Eugenia León got her start in the New Song Movement, Latin America's equivalent to the rise of Bob Dylan and company in North America and Europe. With a repertoire that pairs contemporary composers with the creators of the traditional music of Latin America and Mexico, Ms. León is not locked in to any one genre. Rather she seeks to nurture her music with elements of theater, cabaret, and opera. Her association with actors, poets, painters, and writers imparts a distinct and rich dimension to the production and staging of her music.
In 1985, her rich voice and assured stage presence guaranteed her the top prize at the OTI International Song Festival in Spain. Since then she has participated in other prestigious events such as the Pan Pacific Music Festival in Japan, the Kennedy Center’s AmericArtes Festival in Washington, DC, the Latin Festival in New York City, Expo Seville in Spain, and the Americas Summit in Cartagena, Colombia. Ms. León was also invited to entertain the thousands of women gathered for their global summit in Beijing, China.
Back home in Mexico, audiences know that Eugenia León's musical style transcends the trendy ups and downs of the world of commercial music, and she regularly packs the top venues of the nation meeting demands of fans expectant of quality songs passionately delivered. This performer/audience relationship, she believes, leads to ever higher levels of musical culture in a country fairly bursting with song. The end of an Eugenia León concert often finds the entire crowd on it's feet applauding, at once, the Mexican popular music culture, and the artist who has given it a new voice.
With her roots deep in Mexican culture, she has also taken on the task of reaffirming the ties with other Latin American cultures. Her recent live recording of Tangos has renewed Mexico's love affair with this genre.
Along these lines, she paid homage to Mexico's most dearly loved children's song composer, Francisco Gabilondo Soler’s Cri Cri (Mister Cricket) with a shimmering recording of many of his most frolicsome melodies. Accompanied by the Baja California Symphony Orchestra, Eugenia León has gifted a new generation of Mexican children with the imagination and identity of this joyfully playful tunesmith.
Color Morena La Piel
Eugenia León Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Libre calzar y de raso
Pespuntear del taconazo
Serpentina de papel
Con la mudanza en el hueso
Pirotécnico embeleso
Al son de mi propiedad
Un canto de libertad
Cantaré sólo por eso
Color morena la piel
La noche me oye cantar
El son con voz popular
Yo tengo mi cascabel
Si le repica el ariel
Al cascabel por menor
Voy a pedirle a la flor
De pétalos sólo un beso
Cantaré sólo por eso
Aunque me mate el dolor
Color morena la piel
Aguamarina la ingrata
De la piedra que no mata
Mata clara de aguamiel
Viene del este y de aquel
Y del sur de la estanzuela
Con aires de Venezuela
Ariles de la mañana
De esta feria campirana
En la víspera y la duela
Color morena la piel
Dejaste escrito en la arena
El cantar de la azucena
La canción del coronel
En boca de San Miguel
Donde rielan las verbenas
De desaires y morenas
La consolación y el frío
Del brazo del mismo río
Para que enjugar la pena
Color morena la piel
Libre calzar y de raso
Pespuntear del taconazo
Serpentina de papel
Sube al cielo el cascabel
Con la mudanza en el hueso
Pirotécnico embeleso
Al son de mi propiedad
Un canto de libertad
Cantaré solo por eso
Cantaré solo por eso
Sólo por eso
Cantaré solo por eso
Sólo por eso
The lyrics of Eugenia León's song "Color Morena La Piel" celebrate the beauty and strength of having a dark complexion. The song conveys a sense of pride and empowerment in embracing one's identity. The repeated phrase "Color morena la piel" emphasizes the importance of recognizing and cherishing one's own unique characteristics.
The song also explores themes of freedom and self-expression. The reference to "Libre calzar y de raso" suggests that one can freely choose their own path and wear whatever they desire. The lyrics further express the joy and exhilaration of dancing and celebrating, symbolized by the imagery of "Pespuntear del taconazo" and "Serpentina de papel."
Throughout the song, there is a strong sense of defiance and resilience. The line "Aguamarina la ingrata, de la piedra que no mata" suggests that even in the face of adversity, one can rise above and persevere. The song celebrates the richness and diversity of Latin American culture, mentioning Venezuela and referring to a campirana festival.
Overall, "Color Morena La Piel" is a powerful anthem that celebrates the beauty of dark-skinned individuals, encourages self-expression, and embodies the spirit of liberation and resilience.
Line by Line Meaning
Color morena la piel
My skin is dark in color
Libre calzar y de raso
Free to wear whatever I want
Pespuntear del taconazo
The sound of my heels clicking
Serpentina de papel
Like paper streamers
Sube al cielo el cascabel
The sound of the bell rises to the sky
Con la mudanza en el hueso
With the excitement in my bones
Pirotécnico embeleso
Magical fireworks
Al son de mi propiedad
To the rhythm of my own
Un canto de libertad
A song of freedom
Cantaré sólo por eso
I will sing just for that
La noche me oye cantar
The night hears me sing
El son con voz popular
A popular song with a voice
Yo tengo mi cascabel
I have my own bell
Si le repica el ariel
If the bell rings
Al cascabel por menor
To the smaller bell
Voy a pedirle a la flor
I will ask the flower
De pétalos sólo un beso
For just a kiss from its petals
Aunque me mate el dolor
Even if the pain kills me
Aguamarina la ingrata
The ungrateful drops of water
De la piedra que no mata
From the stone that doesn't kill
Mata clara de aguamiel
Clear and sweet honey
Viene del este y de aquel
Comes from the east and the west
Y del sur de la estanzuela
And from the south of the small town
Con aires de Venezuela
With the spirit of Venezuela
Ariles de la mañana
The first light of the morning
De esta feria campirana
Of this country fair
En la víspera y la duela
On the eve and in the court
Dejaste escrito en la arena
You left written in the sand
El cantar de la azucena
The song of the lily
La canción del coronel
The song of the colonel
En boca de San Miguel
On the lips of Saint Michael
Donde rielan las verbenas
Where the verbena flowers shine
De desaires y morenas
Of indifference and dark-skinned women
La consolación y el frío
The comfort and the cold
Del brazo del mismo río
From the arm of the same river
Para que enjugar la pena
To wipe away the sorrow
Cantaré solo por eso
I will sing just for that
Sólo por eso
Only for that
Cantaré solo por eso
I will sing just for that
Sólo por eso
Only for that
Lyrics © MAXIMO AGUIRRE MUSIC PUBLISHING, INC.
Written by: David Haro
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gema Lora
Voz, inteligencia y belleza (interior y exterior) es esta mujer MEXICANA. ¡¡Mi admiración y respeto para ella!!
fe galvez
Soy Dominicana, y un día de hace 25 años y mirando televisión encuentro esta belleza de artistas y desde ese momento soy su fanática al cien por ciento.
Daniela Hernández Moguel
Color morena la piel
libre calzar y de raso
pespuntear del taconazo
serpentina de papel
sube al cielo el cascabel
con la mudanza en el hueso
pirotécnico embeleso
al son de mi propiedad
un canto de libertad
cantare solo por eso.
Color morena la piel
la noche me oye cantar
el son con voz popular
yo tengo mi cascabel
si le repica el Ariel
al cascabel por menor
voy a pedirle a la flor
de pétalos solo un beso
cantaré solo por eso
aunque me mate el dolor.
Color morena la piel
aguamarina la ingrata
de la piedra que no mata
mata clara de agua miel
viene del este y de aquel
y del sur de la estanzuela
con aires de Venezuela
ariles de la mañana
de esta feria campirana
en la víspera en la duela.
Color morena la piel
dejaste escrito en la arena
el cantar de la azucena
la canción del coronel
en boca de san miguel
donde riegan las verbenas
te desaires y morenas
la consolación y el frió
del brazo del mismo rió
para que jugar la pena.
Color morena la piel
libre calzar y de raso
pespuntear del taconazo
serpentina de papel
sube al cielo el cascabel
con la mudanza en el hueso
pirotécnico embeleso
al son de mi propiedad
un canto de libertad
cantare solo por eso.
JOSE MANUEL CASILLAS RUIZ
Sra León usted a partido mi vida y en mis momentos mas memorables. Siempre hay cerca una canción con su Voz. Y agradezco a la vida que nos la mantenga mucho mucho tiempo en esta tierra
Isabel lopez
Me encantan sus interpretaciones, auténtica, versatil, hermosa tesitura y color de voz.
Diana Reys
Alguien sabe quien es el arreglista??