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 CaribeΓ±a, 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 Companyβs program, American Idol, but declined an offer to be an official judge, saying she did not like to βjudgeβ 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 Estefanβs 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
Falling In Love
Gloria Estefan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Feel like another crook that's been captured by your stare
Uh-oh, uh-oh
Falling in love, falling in love again
Uh-oh, uh-oh, and I don't want to no, no, no
Uh-oh, uh-oh, falling in love, falling in love again
Uh-oh, uh-oh, falling, falling
Jealous feelings, reappearing, such a wicked dare
I'm just so damned confused and I wonder, do you care?
Uh-oh, uh-oh
Falling in love, falling in love again
Uh-oh, uh-oh, and I don't want to no, no, no
Uh-oh, uh-oh, falling in love, falling in love again
Uh-oh, uh-oh, falling, falling
Like walking in the park
Or dancing in the dark
Just want to hold you through out the night
Prince of fire, sweet desire, with devil may you care
Release me from your spell
I don't want this, love ain't fair
I'm falling in love again
Uh-oh, uh-oh
Falling in love
Uh-oh, uh-oh, falling, falling
Uh-oh, uh-oh, falling in love, falling in love again
Uh-oh, uh-oh, falling in love, falling in love again
Uh-oh, uh-oh, falling in love, falling in love again Uh-oh, uh-oh, and I don't want to no, no, no
Uh-oh, uh-oh, falling in love, falling in love again
Uh-oh, uh-oh, falling, falling
In "Falling in Love," Gloria Estefan sings about the mixed emotions that come with falling in love, particularly the confusion and jealousy that can arise. The song opens with the image of "two of hearts, lace and satin, something in the air," a romantic and sensual scene that sets the stage for the emotional rollercoaster that follows. Estefan describes the feeling of being entranced by someone's gaze, feeling like "another crook that's been captured". However, the chorus reveals that she doesn't necessarily want to fall in love again, expressing her hesitation through the repeated phrases "Uh-oh, uh-oh, and I don't want to, no, no, no".
As the song progresses, the singer's conflicting emotions become more pronounced. She describes "jealous feelings reappearing," acknowledging that being in love can come with its own set of challenges and difficulties. She seems unsure of her partner's feelings, wondering "do you care?" These doubts are interwoven with moments of pure bliss and passion, such as "walking in the park" and "dancing in the dark" with her love.
The final verse introduces a more sinister element to the song, with the mention of a "Prince of fire" who holds the singer under a "spell." She acknowledges that "love ain't fair" and that she doesn't want to give in to the emotions that the Prince (or her own heart) might be trying to evoke. Despite this, the singer can't escape the fact that she is "falling in love again."
Overall, Gloria Estefan portrays the complexity of love through her lyrics, capturing the mix of joy, confusion, jealousy, and fear that often comes with the territory.
Line by Line Meaning
Two of hearts, lace and satin, something in the air
I feel a romantic connection, a chemistry that may be leading me towards love but I'm unsure.
Feel like another crook that's been captured by your stare
Your gaze has entranced me to the point where I feel guilty for looking back, like I'm succumbing to your charms.
Jealous feelings, reappearing, such a wicked dare
I feel envious of anyone who might be contesting for your affections or attention, and I'm scared of the game that love can be.
I'm just so damned confused and I wonder, do you care?
I'm overwhelmed by my emotions and unsure about whether this attraction is mutual or merely a fleeting fascination.
Like walking in the park, or dancing in the dark, just want to hold you throughout the night
The thought of spending intimate moments with you, just enjoying each other's company and affection, gives me immense joy and comfort.
Prince of fire, sweet desire, with devil may you care
You have intense, almost dangerous allure, and whilst I am drawn to it, I am also afraid of where it might lead.
Release me from your spell, I don't want this, love ain't fair
I'm consumed by this attraction, but I'm also overwhelmed by the emotional toll it's taking on me, and the fear that, in the end, love might not be enough.
Falling in love, falling in love again, and I don't want to no, no, no
I'm scared of falling in love and getting hurt again, but I can't help how I feel.
Falling, falling
I'm losing control of my emotions and can feel myself plummeting towards love, despite my reservations.
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LAWRENCE DERMER, JOE GALDO, RAFAEL VIGIL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@madfranmanr5751
As a 55 yr old guy, this song takes me back to a time and place, only folks around my own age would understand - 80s, I miss those days...
@vannjunkin8041
Right With you Fran!! Golden passage of time the 80s were..
@issues9828
The culture was so much more creative back then. People took risks, and BOLD risks, whether that was career risks, shooting to get into a great college, going after that hot girl who seemed unattainable. And the risks paid off --- so often people succeeded with these bold risks.
I've also noticed that in music the artists collaborated so much more. You saw individual artists partnering more --- Bowie and Queen, Mick Jagger producing for Peter Wolf, Stevie Nicks doing duets, Rod Stewart and Ronald Isley. Live Aid, Do They Know It's Christmastime. Mick Jagger and David Bowie.
It was so dynamic.
@sab4793
I was just a kid but I remember those days like it was yesterday.. Punk rockers, Mohawks, cassette tapes, malls were the hangout spot , the cars π, Madonna was my Momβs favorite person, Shows like Fraggel Rock and we always ate at blimpies
@UPBEATFOREVER
I like duets back then. George Michael and Aretha Franklin- I Knew You Were Waiting /a couple duets of Michael Jackson and Sir Paul McCartney- Say,Say,Say! and The Dog Gone Girl is mine. / Ooooh....last but not least Eddie Money ft. Ronnie Spector-Take Me Home Tonight
@francinezane4076
Amen miss those days had Primitive Love on cassette loved that whole album so many great songs.
@Coolcat559559559
One of my absolute favorite songs by Gloria. I am so glad I got to see her in concert in the 80s. Awesome show.
@matte8663
Saw her and MSM at the Oakdale in CT⦠what a great show. I had such a crush on her
@rondellschuyler7074
This sounds as good as it did in 1987. Way better than today's music. 80s music forever
@EsteFAN5775
this came out in 1985