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
Goodnight My Love Pleasant Dreams
Gloria Estefan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Goodnight my love, my moment with you now is ending
It was so heavenly, holding you, close to me
It will be heavenly to hold you again in a dream
The stars above have promised to meet us tomorrow
Till then my love, how dreary the new day will seem
So for the present, dear, we'll have to part
Sleep tight, my love, goodnight, my love
Goodnight my love, your mommy is kneeling beside you
Goodnight my love, to dreamland the sandman will guide you
Come now you sleepyhead, close your eyes, and go to bed
My precious sleepyhead, you mustn't play peek-a-boo
Goodnight my love, your little Dutch dolly is yawning
Goodnight my love, your teddy bear called it a day
Your doggy's fast asleep, my but he's smart
Sleep tight, my love, goodnight my love
In Gloria Estefan's "Goodnight My Love Pleasant Dreams," the singer bids farewell to her lover as the night comes to a close. She expresses her desire to hold him again in a dream and reminds him that he is hers. The stars above promise to reunite them tomorrow, and until then, the new day will be dreary without him. The singer shifts gears in the second verse as she addresses a child, presumably her own. She tells the child goodnight and instructs them to close their eyes and go to sleep. She references the child's bedtime toys, including their Dutch dolly, teddy bear, and doggy, all of whom have retired for the evening.
The song seems to be filled with elements of separation, longing, and fatigue. The singer acknowledges that the moment with her lover is ending and expresses sadness at having to part ways. She also recognizes the child's sleepiness, signaling that it's time for rest. The lyrics seem to evoke a sense of bittersweet goodbyes, but also offer the promise of a new day, full of possibilities.
Line by Line Meaning
Goodnight my love, the tired old moon is descending
As the moon sets, our time together comes to a close. This magical moment of the night is ending, but our love will remain forever strong.
Goodnight my love, my moment with you now is ending
Though our time is up, moments spent together are like treasures for me. It was truly heavenly to have held you so close to my heart.
It was so heavenly, holding you, close to me
Physical closeness cannot compare to the feeling of being emotionally and spiritually connected with you. It was a blissful experience for me.
It will be heavenly to hold you again in a dream
As we part, I look forward to the moment when I will be able to be with you in a dream world where anything is possible.
The stars above have promised to meet us tomorrow
The stars in the sky remind me of the love that we share. They hold the promise of tomorrow when we will be reunited again.
Till then my love, how dreary the new day will seem
The prospect of not being with you during the day makes me feel a sense of loss and sorrow.
So for the present, dear, we'll have to part
Although this moment is fleeting, our love will remain eternal. We know that we will soon be together again.
Sleep tight, my love, goodnight, my love
May you have a peaceful and restful sleep through the night, my love. I miss you already.
Remember that you're mine sweetheart
I want you to wake up knowing that my love for you is unwavering, and that you belong to me. Have sweet dreams, my dear.
Goodnight my love, your mommy is kneeling beside you
As your mother watches over you, I too think of you as you drift off to sleep. You are surrounded by love and warmth.
Goodnight my love, to dreamland the sandman will guide you
As you drift off into sleep, the sandman takes you to the world of dreams where anything is possible. Sweet dreams, my love.
Come now you sleepyhead, close your eyes, and go to bed
As you lay down to rest, let go of the worries of the day and allow yourself to drift off to sleep. I will be here waiting for you when you wake up.
My precious sleepyhead, you mustn't play peek-a-boo
Though your childish curiosity is endearing, it's time to let go of playtime and focus on resting. Sleep well, my little one.
Goodnight my love, your little Dutch dolly is yawning
As you close your eyes, it's as if the world is yawning alongside you. Your little Dutch dolly is sleepy too.
Goodnight my love, your teddy bear called it a day
Even your beloved teddy bear has had enough of the day, and is now resting alongside you. May you both have sweet dreams.
Your doggy's fast asleep, my but he's smart
Even your beloved doggy knows the importance of a good night's sleep. You are lucky to have such a smart and loving companion.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, ANTHEM ENTERTAINMENT LP
Written by: Harry Revel, Mack Gordon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind