The idea behind this quartet's creation came to Simon Cowell after listening to Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman's rendition of "Con Te Partirò." He realized he loved lyrical voices but not opera, so he decided to form a multinational quartet (France, Switzerland, Spain, and United States) that sounded like The Three Tenors but sang pop songs and looked like handsome Armani models.
With this idea, Cowell commenced a worldwide search for young singers who were willing to embark on the Il Divo project. His search lasted two years, from 2001 until December 2003, when the fourth member of Il Divo, American tenor David Miller, was signed. The well-established formation of Il Divo comprises a renowned Spanish opera and zarzuela baritone, Carlos Marín, a French pop singer, Sébastien Izambard, and two classically trained tenors, Swiss Urs Bühler and American David Miller. Recording of their first album started in the first half of 2004 in Sweden.
The group's debut album, the self-named Il Divo, contains renditions of Frank Sinatra's hit "My Way (A Mi Manera)," Toni Braxton's hit "Unbreak My Heart (Regresa a Mi)," an adaptation of Ennio Morricone's soundtrack titled "Gabriel's Oboe" from the movie La Misión titled "Nella Fantasia" and several songs sung in Spanish, English, Italian, and Portuguese ("Volta Pra Mim"), including 1994's San Remo Festival winner "Passerà."
Il Divo hit the #1 slot on both Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com after a breakout career-defining appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show on April 5, 2005, where the quartet performed its interpretation of "Unbreak My Heart."
In the United Kingdom, the Il Divo album topped Robbie Williams as number 1 in the UK charts (allegedly Williams said to them during the Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason film premiere, "Oi, you're the bastards that knocked me off!"). This multiplatinum-selling CD became number one in the charts in a total of 13 countries around the world, and achieved top 5 placing in 25 countries.
Il Divo's second album, Ancora, was recorded in both Sweden and London with world-renowned recording giants Per Magnusson and David Kreuger and producer Steve Mac, who was also the producer of their first album. Released on November 7, 2005 in the UK, it hit number one both in the UK and Australia within one week. Ancora was released in the US on January 24, 2006. It entered the Billboard albums chart at number 1, selling more than 150,000 copies during its first week of sales.
Highlights on Ancora include "Isabel," "I Believe In You," a duet with Céline Dion, and Il Divo's cover of Eric Carmen's "All By Myself (Solo Otra Vez)." Two of the tracks on this CD, "O Holy Night" and "Ave Maria," appear on the 2005 US-only release, Christmas Collection.
Il Divo was the perfomer of the 2006 FIFA World Cup official song "A Time of Our Lives."
Volver
Il Divo Lyrics
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De las luces que a lo lejos
Van marcando mi retorno
Son las mismas que alumbraron
Con sus pálidos reflejos
Hondas horas de dolor
Siempre se vuelve al primer amor
La quieta calle donde el eco dijo
"Tuya es su vida, tuyo es su querer"
Bajo el burlón mirar de las estrellas
Que con indiferencia hoy me ven volver
Volver
Con la frente marchita
Las nieves del tiempo
Platearon mi sien
Sentir
Que es un soplo la vida
Que veinte años no es nada
Que febril la mirada
Errante en las sombras
Te busca y te nombra
Vivir
Con el alma aferrada
A un dulce recuerdo
Que lloro otra vez
Tengo miedo del encuentro
Con el pasado que vuelve
A enfrentarse con mi vida
Tengo miedo de las noches
Que, pobladas de recuerdos
Encadenen mi soñar
Pero el viajero que huye
Tarde o temprano detiene su andar
Y aunque el olvido, que todo destruye
Haya matado mi vieja ilusión
Guardo escondida una esperanza humilde
Que es toda la fortuna de mi corazón
Volver (volver)
Con la frente marchita
Las nieves del tiempo
Platearon mi sien
Sentir
Que es un soplo la vida
Que veinte años no es nada
Que febril la mirada
Errante en las sombras
Te busca y te nombra
Vivir
Con el alma aferrada
A un dulce recuerdo
Que lloro otra vez
The lyrics of "Volver" by Il Divo delve deep into themes of longing, nostalgia, and the complexities of returning to one's past. The song opens with a profound sense of recognition and familiarity as the singer observes the distant lights signaling their return. These lights, which once illuminated moments of sorrow and pain, now act as a guiding force back to where it all began. Despite not consciously desiring this return, the pull of the first love or the place of origin is strong and inevitable.
The quiet street where echoes once declared ownership and love becomes a poignant setting for reflection. The singer is reminded of the transient nature of life and the passing of time, as shown by the weathered forehead symbolizing the years gone by. The indifference of the stars above highlights the insignificance of human affairs in the grand scheme of the universe, emphasizing the personal significance of returning to a place that holds memories and emotions.
The lyrics express a profound sense of vulnerability and fragility in the face of life's brevity. The recognition that twenty years mean nothing in the grander context of existence adds a sense of urgency to the search for lost connections and names. Living with a soul clinging onto a sweet memory that once again brings tears highlights the emotional weight of revisiting the past and confronting unresolved feelings.
The fear of revisiting the past and the potential pain it may bring is a significant theme throughout the song. The singer grapples with the possibility of facing a past that may disrupt their present life. Despite the destructive power of forgetting and the loss of old dreams, there remains a glimmer of hope hidden within the heart. This humble hope, encapsulated in a simple desire for return and reconciliation, becomes the true treasure that sustains the singer's journey and quest for closure. The cyclical nature of returning, reminiscing, and reconciling with the past is beautifully woven into the profound storytelling of "Volver" by Il Divo.
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Carlos Gardel, Alfredo Le Pera
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind