Beginning her career in 1975 as lead vocalist for the then exclusively Spanish-language band, Miami Sound Machine, before crossing over to mainstream pop success with the international hit singles "Dr. Beat" (1984) and "Conga" (1986), Estefan emerged as one of the biggest new stars in the mid-'80s, predating the still nascent Latin pop explosion by a decade, and scoring a series of propulsive dance hits rooted in the rhythms of her native Cuba, before shifting her focus to softer, more ballad-oriented fare.
Born in Havana, Cuba, the young Gloria Fajardo was raised primarily in Miami, FL, after her father, a bodyguard of Cuban president Fulgencio Batista, was forced to flee the island following the 1959 coup helmed by Fidel Castro. In the fall of 1975, Fajardo and her cousin Merci Murciano auditioned for the Miami Latin Boys, a local wedding band headed by keyboardist Emilio Estefan. With their addition, the group was rechristened Miami Sound Machine and four years later, Fajardo and Estefan were wed. As Miami Sound Machine began composing their own original material, their fusion of pop, disco, and salsa earned a devoted local following, and in 1979 the group issued their first Spanish-language LP on CBS International. Despite a growing Hispanic fan base, they did not cross over to non-Latin audiences until "Dr. Beat" topped European dance charts in 1984.
With 1985's Primitive Love, Miami Sound Machine recorded their first English-language effort, scoring three Top Ten pop hits in the U.S. alone with the infectious "Conga", "Bad Boy", and "Words Get in the Way". Following 1987's triple-platinum Let It Loose, Estefan took top billing and the group changed its name to Gloria Estefan & The Miami Sound Machine in 1988, reeling off four Top Ten hits - "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You", "Can't Stay Away from You", the chart-topping "Anything for You", and "1-2-3". 1989's Cuts Both Ways was credited to Estefan alone and generated her second #1 hit, "Don't Wanna Lose You". However, on March 20, 1990, while touring in support of the album, her bus was struck by a tractor trailer. Estefan suffered a broken vertebra that required extensive surgery and kept her off the road for over a year. Her husband Emilio and the couple's son were injured in the crash as well, but all three recovered. Estefan resurfaced in 1991 with Into the Light, again topping the charts with "Coming Out of the Dark", a single inspired by her near-fatal accident. Two more cuts from the album, "Can't Forget You" and "Live for Loving You", secured her foothold on the adult contemporary charts.
With 1993's Mi Tierra, Estefan returned to her roots, recording her first Spanish-language record in nearly a decade and earning a Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin Album; on the follow-up 1994 covers collection, Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, she also recalled her dance-pop origins with a rendition of the Vicki Sue Robinson disco classic, "Turn the Beat Around". Another all-Spanish effort, Abriendo Puertas (1995), earned her a Grammy as well, while Destiny featured "Reach", named the official theme of the 1996 Summer Olympics. As Latin pop made new commercial headway, thanks to the efforts of acts like Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias, Estefan reigned as the most successful crossover artist in Latin music history, with international record sales close to the 50 million mark. In 1999, she also made her feature film debut alongside Meryl Streep in Music of the Heart, recording the film's title song as a duet with *NSYNC, and scoring both a massive pop hit and an Oscar nomination in the process. A new Spanish-language album, Alma Caribeña, followed in the spring of 2000. Several months later, Estefan was awarded a Grammy for Best Music Video for "No Me Dehes de Querer" at the inaugural annual Latin Grammy Awards. Her husband, Emilio, won for Producer of the Year. - Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
Appearances and tours
In April 2004, Estefan appeared on the Fox Broadcasting Company’s program, American Idol, but declined an offer to be an official judge, saying she did not like to “judge” others.
On July 28, 2004, in a press conference hosted by Donald Trump at the Trump Tower, Estefan announced that her then-upcoming tour would be her final one. The Live and Re-Wrapped Summer/Fall 2004 Tour, her first tour in eight years was produced by Clear Channel Entertainment. The tour featured Estefan’s greatest hits, along with new material from Unwrapped.
In December 2006, Estefan appeared as a special guest singer on the UK talent show The X Factor.
Gloria's 11th studio album,Miss Little Havana. The Miss Little Havana Songfacts says that the first nine tracks tells the tale of a young girl who hooks up with the wrong guy in Miami after moving there from Cuba. All of these tracks were written or co-written by Pharrell Williams of The Neptunes. It is described by Estefan as a project in the vein of her 1998 hit album gloria!.
Songfacts reports that "Hotel Nacional" debuted at #1 on Billboard's Latin countdown - the first time a female artist had achieved that feat since the chart was introduced in 1986. Both "Wepa" and "Hotel Nacional" achieved number one on Billboard Latin Songs and on Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs.
Estefan started a reality show called The Next: Fame Is at Your Doorstep opposite Joe Jonas, Nelly and John Rich on the CW Network, where she, and the other three mentors are searched for the next big star, to record an album with Atlantic Records. Unlike other music reality shows, in this program, the mentors selected the "candidates" for the show, and trained them for a live performance, where they'd be voted for the best act of the day. The first season ended in October 2012, with musician Michael Ray, as the big finalist.
This same year, Estefan appeared as a musical guest in Tony Bennett's compilation of duets with Latin-American musicians, Viva Duets with a rendition of the song, "Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)". Weeks later, she helped the American version of Teleton, releasing the charity single "Por Un Mundo Mejor" along with Mexican singer Lucero, Dominican rapper El Cata and Mexican pop band, Reik. A video for the song was shot, with them recording the song, which was marked as the official hymn for the foundation.
In May 2013, she appears doing another duet with the song "Think I'm In Love Again" as part of the albums Duets released by Paul Anka.
Estefan has announced she was working on a new album of covers, The Standards, released in September 2013. The album will feature some collaborations with artists like Laura Pausini, Dave Koz and Joshua Bell, and the selection of songs are mostly songs from the Great American songbook. Estefan released the first single, "How Long Has This Been Going On?", digitally on Amazon and iTunes on July 9, 2013
Official website: http://www.gloriaestefan.com
Auld Lang Syne
Gloria Estefan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Paint a yuletide valentine
Back home i go to those i know
For a christmas auld lang syne
And as we gather 'round the tree
Our voices all combine
In sweet accord to thank our lord
When sleigh bells ring and choirs sing
And the children's faces shine
With each new toy we share their joy
With a christmas auld lang syne
We sing his praise this day of days
And pray next year this time
We'll all be near to share the cheer
Of a christmas auld lang syne
In sweet accord to thank our lord
For a christmas auld lang syne
The lyrics of Gloria Estefan's "Christmas Auld Lang Syne" invoke feelings of warmth and nostalgia, as the artist sings about the familiar sights, sounds, and traditions of the holiday season. The opening lines "When mistletoe and tinsel glow / Paint a yuletide valentine / Back home I go to those I know / For a Christmas auld lang syne" expresses the joyful atmosphere of the holiday season, where even decorations like mistletoe and tinsel evoke feelings of love and affection. The reference to "auld lang syne," a Scottish phrase that roughly means "old times' sake," further emphasizes the nostalgic sentiments of the season, as many people look back on memories of past Christmases.
The next lines refer to the quintessential Christmas gathering around the tree, where family and friends join together to sing carols and exchange gifts. The idea of voices joining together in "sweet accord" helps to underscore the sense of unity and togetherness that is often emphasized during the holiday season. The reference to thanking "our lord" also calls back to the religious roots of Christmas, where many people celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. The final verses of the song continue to emphasize the joy and gratitude of the holiday season, as people share the joys of the season with one another and look forward to future Christmases together.
Line by Line Meaning
When mistletoe and tinsel glow
As the decorations and ornaments shimmer and shine, it reminds us of the upcoming holiday season.
Paint a yuletide valentine
We create a cozy holiday atmosphere like a warm and loving valentine's day.
Back home i go to those i know
I return to the people who matter most to me during this special time of year.
For a christmas auld lang syne
To celebrate Christmas in the old-fashioned way, with love and joy among family and friends.
And as we gather 'round the tree
We come together as a family to share in the excitement and traditions of the holiday season.
Our voices all combine
We add our voices to the chorus of those around us, creating harmony and united joy in song.
In sweet accord to thank our lord
As we sing, we give thanks to God for the blessings we have received throughout the year.
When sleigh bells ring and choirs sing
The sounds of the season, like jingling bells and uplifting melodies, fill us with the Christmas spirit.
And the children's faces shine
We see the wonder and magic of the holiday reflected in the innocent, joyful expressions of children.
With each new toy we share their joy
As we watch the excitement of children opening their gifts, we share in their happiness and delight.
With a Christmas auld lang syne
We mark the season with songs and traditions that reflect the true spirit of Christmas.
We sing his praise this day of days
On this special day, we give thanks to God and express our gratitude for the blessings we have received.
And pray next year this time
We look towards the future with hope, asking for blessings and happiness in the coming year.
We'll all be near to share the cheer
We hope to be reunited with our loved ones for another joyful Christmas celebration next year.
Of a Christmas auld lang syne
A timeless Christmas celebration, filled with the warmth of family, friends and tradition.
Lyrics © TuneCore Inc., BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: FRANCES PHILIP FRANK MILITARY, MANN CURTIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind