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
The Party Time Megamix
Gloria Estefan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everybody know it's party time
And when the moon is rising high
I'll be yours, I know you will be mine (party time)
All day the world goes round & round
You can feel the changes coming down
It dosen't matter who you are
We see the treasures all around
And burn ourselves into the ground
Everyone's trying to survive
We're not just born to be alive
I know
What I feel inside is true
You know
Every road I follow is leading me to you
When the sun is setting in the sky
Everybody knows it's party time
And when the moon is rising high
I'll be yours, I know you will be mine (party time)
We live our lives in mystery
While everything is meant to be
No reason here to wonder why
All that we seek is in the sky
You are the one that I want to hold
I feel you deep inside my soul
Only our love will set us free
This night belongs to you and me
I know
What I feel inside is true
You know
Evey road I follow is leading me to you
When the sun is setting in the sky
Everybody knows it's party time
And when the moon is rising high
I'll be yours, I know you will be mine (party time)
When the sun is setting in the sky
Everybody knows it's party time
And when the moon is rising high
I'll be yours, I know you will be mine (party time)
The lyrics to Gloria Estefan's song The Party Time Megamix convey a sense of freedom, joy, and love - a feeling of letting go and enjoying the moment. The song talks about how party time is when people come together, feel the changes going on around them, and let loose. Gloria sings about how love is what matters, and with love, one can go far in life. The lyrics suggest that we take the time to appreciate the treasures around us, not just those that are material, but those that are intangible, like love and happiness.
The song also talks about a sense of connection with another person, with the lyrics "you are the one that I want to hold, I feel you deep inside my soul." It suggests that the night belongs to them and that their love will set them free, further emphasizing the idea of freedom, joy, and love. The chorus repeats the phrase "party time," emphasizing the celebratory nature of the song and encouraging people to let go and dance.
Overall, The Party Time Megamix is a positive and upbeat tune about love, joy, and freedom, and encourages people to let go and enjoy themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
When the sun is setting in the sky
As the day draws to a close
Everybody know it's party time
It's time to have fun
And when the moon is rising high
As night approaches
I'll be yours, I know you will be mine (party time)
We'll be together and enjoy the moment
All day the world goes round & round
Life keeps moving forward
You can feel the changes coming down
Change is inevitable
It doesn't matter who you are
Everyone is equal
With love to give you will go far
Love is important for success
We see the treasures all around
There is beauty in the world
And burn ourselves into the ground
We work hard
Everyone's trying to survive
We all have struggles
We're not just born to be alive
We have a purpose
I know
What I feel inside is true
I am certain of my feelings
You know
Every road I follow is leading me to you
I am committed to our relationship
We live our lives in mystery
Life is unpredictable
While everything is meant to be
Everything happens for a reason
No reason here to wonder why
There's no need for questioning
All that we seek is in the sky
Our aspirations are limitless
You are the one that I want to hold
You mean everything to me
I feel you deep inside my soul
I love you completely
Only our love will set us free
Love conquers all
This night belongs to you and me
We'll create wonderful memories together
When the sun is setting in the sky
As the day ends
Everybody knows it's party time
Time to celebrate
And when the moon is rising high
As night approaches
I'll be yours, I know you will be mine (party time)
Let's enjoy the moment together
When the sun is setting in the sky
As the day draws to a close
Everybody knows it's party time
Time to have fun
And when the moon is rising high
As night approaches
I'll be yours, I know you will be mine (party time)
We'll be together and enjoy the moment
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Foreign Imported Productions & Publishing
Written by: EMILIO JR. ESTEFAN, LAWRENCE DERMER, CLAY OSTWALD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mervin Fernandez
Para mi Gloria es la mejor de todos los tiempos, interprete, compositora, productora, en todo genero deleito con sus bellas canciones, lo maximo.
expixi
quizás la mejor percusión latina de todos los tiempos, producida con todo el poderío del Stefan...impecable
Yuranis Piñeros.
Asi es, Gloria y Selena eran las primeras latinas en abrir puertas para los demas cantantes latinos a que los anglosajones les prestaron atencion. 👍
bijeto
First heard this song (and this mix) at the gym in 2007. Made me want to go clubbing after working out, and finally made me appreciate Gloria Estefan.
Alondra Caballero
Un Clásico que Hasta Los Jóvenes y Niños Hace Bailar :)
Isaac Labrada
Hola
Super Ronald Medina
Épocas de oro..
Dj Jimy Nyc
TREMENDO TEMA DEBIO DE SER MIL VECES MAS TOP HITS... ;)
Juan diaz luna
es uno de los clasicos muy buenos
Eliza 21&
Lo maximo gloria 😘