Juan Francisco Secada (born October 4, 1962 in Havana, Cuba) better known … Read Full Bio ↴Juan Francisco Secada (born October 4, 1962 in Havana, Cuba) better known as Jon Secada is an Afro-Cuban singer and songwriter. Secada was born in Havana, Cuba, and raised in Hialeah, Florida. He has won two Grammy Awards and sold 20 million albums since his English-language debut album in 1992, made famous for his song Just Another Day. His music fuses funk, soul, pop and Latin percussion. Secada also has appeared as a songwriter for Gloria Estefan, Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin, Mandy Moore and other performers.

Secada arrived with his parents in the United States in 1971 at the age of nine. While attending school, his family managed a coffee shop. As a teen, Secada discovered his gift for music. In the culturally diverse city of Miami, Secada was exposed to salsa and merengue. Secada also became interested in R&B and pop music performed by Barry Manilow, Marvin Gaye, Billy Joel, Elton John and Stevie Wonder.

Secada graduated from South Florida's Hialeah High School in 1979 and then enrolled at the University of Miami. During college, he became an accomplished jazz musician. He was inducted into the Iron Arrow Honor Society, the highest honor afforded a University of Miami student. He completed a Bachelor's degree in Music and then earned a Master's degree in Jazz Vocal Performance.

In the late 1980s, Gloria Estefan hired Secada as a background singer. He also started composing music for Estefan, including some of her best-known ballads. Among other songs, Secada co-wrote and sang background on Coming Out of the Dark Gloria's number one hit from her 1991 album Into the Light. During Estefan's "Coming Out of the Dark" tour, Secada was given the life-changing opportunity of taking over the stage and performing solo. It launched his career as a solo performer.

In 1991, Secada legally changed his first name from Juan to Jon. The following year, Secada released his self-titled debut album Jon Secada (SBK/EMI), which sold over six million copies worldwide and being certified triple platinum in the U.S., where it reached No. 15 among the Billboard 200 albums chart.

Secada scored a No. 5 Pop hit (and a No. 5 UK hit) with his Gold single "Just Another Day", and three more top 30 hits, Angel (No. 18 Pop, No. 23 UK), I'm Free (No. 27 Pop, No. 50 UK), Do You Believe in Us? (No. 13 Pop, No. 30 UK), and Do You Really Want Me (No. 30 UK) received national radio play. The Spanish-language version of Secada's solo album, Otro Día Más Sin Verte (EMI-Latin), became the Number One Latin album of 1992 and earned Secada his first Grammy Award for "Best Latin Pop Album".

In 1994 by Secada's second album, Heart Soul and Voice (EMI) featured members of The Miami Sound Machine and guests Arturo Sandoval (trumpeter) and Betty Wright (background vocals). The album went Platinum in the US. One of its singles had a top ten Pop hit If You Go and a Top 30 hit Mental Picture, which was used in the soundtrack for the film "The Specialist". His third album on EMI, Amor, was released in 1995 and earned Secada his second Grammy for "Best Latin Pop Performance".

Secada co-wrote the song Bella, the Spanish version of She's All I Ever Had for Ricky Martin's 1999 Multi-platinum self-titled album. He also co-wrote and co-produced the song Baila for Jennifer Lopez, which appeared on her 1999 multi-platinum album, On the 6. He worked with teen singing sensation Mandy Moore on two of her tracks, One Sided Love and It Only Took a Minute from her self-titled multi-platinum album. In 2001 he was a backing vocalist on Enrique Iglesias's album multi-platinum Escape on the tracks Don't turn off the Lights and Love 4 Fun.

Secada has performed with opera legend Luciano Pavarotti and recorded a duet with Frank Sinatra on "The Best Is Yet to Come" from Sinatra's Duets II album.

In 1995, Secada starred on Broadway's hit musical Grease, where he acted in the lead role of "Danny Zuko". Broadway called upon Secada once again in 2003, where he played the Emcee role in Sam Mendes' acclaimed version of Cabaret. In the fall of 2004, Secada also starred as "Joseph" in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's theatrical hit Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Nov 30, 2007: Jon participated in the Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade which taped inside the Magic Kingdom at Disney World Orlando, Florida.

Jon Secada Albums
1992 Jon Secada SBK
1992 Otro Dia Mas Sin Verte Capitol
1994 Heart, Soul & A Voice SBK
1994 Si Te Vas EMI International
1995 Amor EMI Latin/SBK
1997 Secada Capitol
1997 Secada (Spanish Version) EMI International
1999 Greatest Hits Virgin
1999 Grandes Exitos EMI International
2000 Better Part Of Me Epic/550 Music
2001 The Gift Sony
2002 Solo Lo Mejor: 20 Exitos EMI Latin
2002 Latin Classics EMI International
2002 Amanecer Sony International
2003 30 Exitos Insuperables EMI International
2005 Same Dream Big3 Records
2006 Lo Esencial De Jon Secada EMI Latin
2008 Dentro De Mí Big3 Records

Links
http://www.jonsecada.com
http://www.jonsecada.net
http://www.justsecada.com
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/secada/

You can write to Jon Secada @:-
Jon Secada
2250 Coral Way
Miami
FL 33145-3509

Do You Really Want Me
Jon Secada Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I try a little bit of this, ease your pain
I try a little bit of that and more
Cause I know what and when you need it
It's you that I adore
So tell me why, tell me why
Why you keep your distance

Why do you try to resist

Every time I insist
My love, my love, my love, my love

Do you really want me
Do you really want me

Every time you bring me up
You bring me down
It really breaks my heart
I could never say goodbye

Never stay apart
It's a crime, it's a crime
We can't stay together
Cause I got nothing to hide
I just want you to try
My love, my love, my love

Do you really want me
Do you really want me

And it's a shame
That you keep your distance
Why do your try to resist
Every time I insist
My love, my love, my love, my love

Do you really want me
Do you really want me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Jon Secada's song "Do You Really Want Me" depict a love story of two individuals who seem to struggle with the idea of being together. The first verse shows the singer's willingness to try different things to make his love interest's pain go away. He knows when and what to offer her because he adores her. However, despite his efforts, she keeps her distance, and he wonders why she resists him every time he insists on his love.

In the chorus, the singer asks a direct question, "Do you really want me?" twice. This repetition emphasizes the desperation and confusion he feels due to their complicated situation. The next verse shows his heartbreak as she keeps taking him up and down emotionally. He cannot bring himself to say goodbye or stay apart as it would be a crime. He is honest about not having anything to hide from her and wants her to try to be with him; however, she resists him once again.

The final chorus repeats his questions, questioning her reluctance to be with him when he is willing to do everything to make it work. The singer's voice beautifully complements the romantic tune, making the song a perfect representation of unrequited love, captivating the audience by telling a story of passionate yet complicated love.

Line by Line Meaning

I try a little bit of this, ease your pain
I attempt various things to help alleviate your discomfort

I try a little bit of that and more
I try different approaches, continuously striving for improvement

Cause I know what and when you need it
I have a deep understanding of your needs and the appropriate timing for fulfilling them

It's you that I adore
I hold great love and admiration for you

So tell me why, tell me why
Please explain to me the reason behind your actions

Why you keep your distance
What is the cause for you to maintain a significant spatial separation from me?

Why do you try to resist
What compels you to oppose my advances?

Every time I insist
Whenever I urge or persist

My love, my love, my love, my love
The depth and intensity of my affection for you

Do you really want me
Is the desire for my presence genuine?

Every time you bring me up
When you elevate my status or position