He comes from a Jewish family that fled persecution in Germany. He studied to become an otolaryngologyst (i.e., ear, throat, and nose doctor) like his parents but ultimately chose to pursue his passion for music.
Drexler made his full-length album debut with La Luz Que Sabe Robar (1992), followed by Radar (1994). In hopes of furthering his career, he went to Spain in 1995 upon the invitation of legendary singer/songwriter Joaquín Sabina , who showed him around the Madrid music scene and helped him secure an international recording contract. So impressed with Madrid that he chose to make his permanent residency there, Drexler got together with a band of Spanish musicians to re-record material from his first two albums along with new material and release it internationally as Vaivén (1996), the first of four albums on Virgin España. The highlights of Vaivén along with those of its three follow-ups, Llueve (1998), Frontera (1999), and Sea (2001), were later compiled on the best-of compilation La Edad Del Cielo (2004).
Upon his switch to the Dro Atlántic label, Drexler's career reached new heights of success with the critically acclaimed Eco (2004). Most notably, the album includes the Oscar-winning song ''Al Otro Lado Del Río'', which was prominently featured during the closing credits of the Walter Salles film The Motorcycle Diaries (2004).
Eco proved so successful, in fact, that it was re-released with bonus material as Eco² (2005). Subsequent albums include 12 Segundos de Oscuridad (2006), the double-disc live album Cara B (2008), and Amar la Trama (2010).
De Amor Y De Casualidad
Jorge Drexler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yo tengo el pelo sefaradí
Somos la mezcla de tus abuelos
Y tu, mitad de ella y mitad de mí
El padre de tu madre es de Cádiz
Mi padre se escapó de Berlín
Yo vengo de una noche de enero
Tu madre vino aquí desde Suecia
La mía se crió en Libertad
Tu madre y yo somos una mezcla
Igual que tú, de amor y de casualidad
Igual que tú, de amor y de casualidad
Tu madre tiene los ojos claros
Yo un tatarabuelo de Brasil
Yo soy del sur, de Montevideo
Y tu mitad de allá y mitad de aquí
En este mundo tan separado
No hay que ocultar de donde se és
Pero todos somos de todos lados
Hay que entenderlo de una buena vez
Tu madre se crió en Estocolmo
La mía al sur de Tacuarembó
Tu madre y yo vinimos al mundo
Igual que tú, porque así lo quiso el amor
Igual que tú, porque así lo quiso el amor
In Jorge Drexler's De Amor y Casualidad, the lyrics delve into the idea of identity and heritage. The song speaks about the mixed heritage of the parents of the subject and the two halves coming together to make the individual. Drexler cites his own heritage, having Sephardic hair, and the father of the subject's mother being from Cádiz. Meanwhile, his father escapes from Berlin, adding a fascinating dynamic to his story.
The lyrics also speak about the geographical location of the parents of the subject. The subject's mother came from Stockholm, and Drexler's mother from Libertad. These locations all have unique cultures, customs, and beliefs that have all blended together to create the individual they're singing about. The song emphasizes that in this modern world, there's no need to hide where you come from, as everyone is from everywhere.
Furthermore, the chorus of the song provides the title 'De Amor y Casualidad,' suggesting that one's identity is something that isn't entirely predictable or planned. The individual is the product of the love that their parents shared, and it is by pure coincidence that they exist.
Overall, De Amor y Casualidad talks about the vital importance of diversity and identity in this world. It emphasizes that everyone comes from different places and is a blend of many heritages and cultures.
Line by Line Meaning
Tu madre tiene sangre holandesa
Your mother has Dutch blood
Yo tengo el pelo sefaradí
I have Sephardic hair
Somos la mezcla de tus abuelos
We are the mixture of your grandparents
Y tu, mitad de ella y mitad de mí
And you, half of her and half of me
El padre de tu madre es de Cádiz
Your mother's father is from Cadiz
Mi padre se escapó de Berlín
My father escaped from Berlin
Yo vengo de una noche de enero
I come from a January night
Tu vienes de una siesta en Madrid
You come from a nap in Madrid
Tu madre vino aquí desde Suecia
Your mother came here from Sweden
La mía se crió en Libertad
Mine grew up in Liberty
Tu madre y yo somos una mezcla
Your mother and I are a mixture
Igual que tú, de amor y de casualidad
Just like you, of love and chance
Tu madre tiene los ojos claros
Your mother has light-colored eyes
Yo un tatarabuelo de Brasil
Me, a great-great-grandfather from Brazil
Yo soy del sur, de Montevideo
I am from the south, from Montevideo
Y tu mitad de allá y mitad de aquí
And you, half from there and half from here
En este mundo tan separado
In this world so separated
No hay que ocultar de donde se és
One shouldn't hide where they're from
Pero todos somos de todos lados
But we are all from everywhere
Hay que entenderlo de una buena vez
We must understand this once and for all
Tu madre se crió en Estocolmo
Your mother grew up in Stockholm
La mía al sur de Tacuarembó
Mine in the south of Tacuarembo
Tu madre y yo vinimos al mundo
Your mother and I came into the world
Igual que tú, porque así lo quiso el amor
Just like you, because love wanted it so
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JORGE ABNER DREXLER, JORGE ABNER DREXLER PRADA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind