Early career to 1978
Julio was the son of Julio Iglesias Sr, a doctor. He was a professional football player with Real Madrid, where he played as goalkeeper. During this time, he also enrolled in law school. He had an accident that dashed his hopes of becoming a great soccer player, but during his period in bed, he started to compose songs. He received a certificate as a lawyer from Cambridge University a little later.
In 1968, he won the Benidorm International Song Festival, a songwriter's contest in Spain, and signed a contract with a Columbia Records Latin music label, Discos Columbia. He represented Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1970, finishing fourth behind Northern Irish singer Dana Scallon, and the Welsh singer Mary Hopkin. His entry was the song "Gwendolyne" which was his first recording. During the 1970s he married the Spanish-mestiza Philippine socialite Isabel Preysler with whom he had three children: Chabeli Iglesias, who has been a show host and is now a news reporter in Washington D.C., Enrique Iglesias, now a world-famous singer who followed in his father's footsteps, and Julio José Iglesias, a model who has released two CDs. It was during the 1970s that the Iglesias family's private life became very public, with Julio and the rest of the family frequently featured on the covers of various international magazines.
Peak of success 1978-1990
In 1978, he signed a contract for CBS International, adding English, French, Portuguese, German and Italian to his language repertoire. He had his first hit in English with a cover of "Begin the Beguine" and released a collection Julio in 1983 building his reputation.
In 1984, he released the smash hit album 1100 Bel Air Place, which gave him considerable fame in English-language markets. The album sold three million albums in the US alone, with the first single "To All The Girls I've Loved Before", a duet with Willie Nelson reaching the top five on the Billboard Hot 100. The album also featured "All of You", a hit duet with Diana Ross.
In 1985, his father was kidnapped but found well and alive after two agonizing weeks. This prompted Julio, who had already divorced Preysler, to move his family to Miami, Florida, where they settled in a mansion at Miami Beach. That year he also recorded duets with Diana Ross and Willie Nelson. It was rumored in 1986 that Julio, perhaps seeking to get away from all the fame and hoopla for one week, was found walking around the streets of Cayey, Puerto Rico, after disappearing for seven days. Julio feels there is a deep connection between him and Puerto Rico because one of his grandmothers was Puerto Rican.
Iglesias won a Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album in the 1988 Grammy Awards for the album Un Hombre Solo ("A Single Man"). He also recorded a duet with Stevie Wonder on "My Love" from his Non Stop album which achieved crossover success in 1988.
Stories of Julio's expensive private jets, boats, and houses became legendary during that decade, and his world tours took him to many countries and continents around the world performing in many sold out concerts among the vast women populations.
Career 1990-today
In the 1990s, Julio went back to his Spanish music roots, and in 1996, he released a CD nicknamed Tango. He is slowly stepping out of the limelight now and enjoying his son Enrique's popularity, together with his long-time companion Miranda and their 2 sons Miguel Alejandro (September 7, 1997), Rodrigo (April 3, 1999) and twin daughters Cristina and Victoria (May 1, 2001). Julio is very amenable to signing autographs, although he can be a little difficult to reach sometimes, due to his and his family's security detail, which they have had since the 1985 kidnapping of Julio's father.
Iglesias returned to the headlines in October, 2003, when he went to Argentina and kissed show host Susana Gimenez three times during a live telecast of her show.
2003 saw the release of the Spanish album "Divorcio." (Divorce) In its first day of sales, "Divorcio" sold a record 350,000 copies in Spain; and quickly reached the #1 spot on the charts in Spain, Portugal, France,Italy, and Russia.
The remainder of 2003 and early 2004 featured a mega 10 month world tour; which took Iglesias, fuled with the success of "Divorcio" from Europe and Asia to The United States, South America, and Africa. More than half the shows on the tour sold out within days of going on sale, showing that fans still adore Julio.
In December of 2004, Miranda and Julio recorded a duet of the Christmas song Silent Night. The song, which was not released also included a voice message from Julio, Miranda, and their 4 young children. The song was released online through the singer's web page, and was a holiday gift from the Iglesias' to their fans around the world.
Julio has made important investments in the Dominican Republic's eastern town of Punta Cana, a major tourist destination, where he spends most of the year when he is not on tour.
Julio, Jr. has a half-brother who is 60 years younger than him. Julio's father, Julio Sr. had a child at 89 called Jaime. The birth came after a 17-year romance with Ronna, which culminated in them walking down the aisle in 2001. His wife underwent fertility treatment in order to conceive first time around and medical science is believed to have played a role in her latest pregnancy too. After little Jaime made his debut in 2004, Julio Sr. rejected suggestions Ronna was the driving force behind their decision to start a family. "At my age, a child is marvellous," he declared. "If people say I just did it for my wife, I don't take it as an insult, but the truth is I wanted it just as much as her." Julio Iglesias's father died just days after he announced he was to become a father for the fourth time at the age of 90. Julio Sr. died after suffering a cardiac arrest at his home in Madrid. Julio Sr. confirmed that his wife of four years, Ronna Kneit, was expecting their second child together. He said he wanted his 42-year-old partner to have something to remember him by. "My wife wanted it and I owed it to her," he explained. "It was an act of generosity towards her. I leave her part of my blood, of my life. I need her so much that I said to her 'Here, this is what you wanted for when I am gone'."
Currently, Julio is in the studio recording a new English Album titled "Romantic Classics" which is due out in September of 2006. Romantic Classics is a series of the greatest love songs in American culture, and features the hits "I want to know what love is", "Careless Whisper", and "Right Here Waiting" all major hits of the past 20 years. A series of promotional events, followed by a world tour will help promote the album after its release.
The singer's web page [1] is currently under construction, and will feature information from "Romantic Classics" when it is updated later this year.
Discography
This list contains all albums of original material plus notable collections.
Gwendolyne (1970)
Julio Iglesias (1972)
Un Canto a Galicia (1973)
A Flor de Piel (1974)
A Mexico (1974)
El Amor (1975)
En El Olympia (1976) recorded live at the Paris Olympia
Si Mi Lasci (1976)
Yo Canto (1977)
A Mis 33 Anos (1977)
Sono Un Pirata, Sono Un Signore (1978)
Soy (1978)
The 24 Greatest Songs (1978)
A Vous Les Femmes (1979)
Aimer La Vie (1979)
America (1979)
Emociones (1979)
Innamorarsi Alla Mia Eta (1979)
Hey! (1980)
Sentimental (1980)
Fidele (1981)
Zartlichkeiten (1981)
From A Child To A Woman (1981)
Minhas Cancoes Prefidas (1981)
Moments (1982) also Momento or Momenti
Por Una Mujer (1982)
In Concert (1983)
Pelo Amor di Uma Mulher (1983)
Julio (1983)
1100 Bel Air Place (1984)
Libra (1985)
Un Hombre Solo (1987)
Tutto L'Amore Che Ti Manca (1987)
Non Stop (1988)
Latinamente (1989)
Raices (1989)
Starry Night (1990)
Ein Weihnachtsabend Mit Julio Iglesias (1992)
Calor (1992)
Crazy (1994)
La Carretera (1995)
Tango (1996)
My Life: The Greatest Hits (1998)
Noche de Cuatro Lunas (2000)
Una Donna Puo Cambiar la Vita (2001)
Ao Meu Brasil (2001)
Personalidad: 20 Exitos (2002)
Divorcio (2003)
Love Songs (2004)
l'homme que je suis (2005)
Romantic Classics (To Be Released in September of 2006)
Quelque Chose de France (2007)
Julio Iglesias 1 (2011) - He is starting with this new world tour.
Extracted from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julio_Iglesias
Love Has Been A Friend To Me
Julio Iglesias Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A friend my whole life through
Always saw the best in me
As only friends will do
It was young when I was young
And both of us were blind
We made it through the careless years
Love has been a friend to me
Companions of the heart
Following where passion leads
We learn what fools we are
Even when it breaks my heart
And hope is hard to find
I still remember all the ways
Love has been a friend of mine
In a world ever changing
Every season must end
Love makes only one promise
It will find you again
I remember every word
That love has ever said
To a perfect melody
Running through my head
On a not too far tomorrow
I'll sing back every line
The title of my song will be
'Love Has Been A Friend Of Mine'
Love is happiness and sorrow
It's everything in time
Through it all I'm glad to say
Love has been a friend of mine, of mine
In Julio Iglesias's song Love Has Been A Friend To Me, the singer reflects on the enduring presence of love in his life. Love, for him, has been a constant companion, always "seeing the best in [him]" and leading him through the ups and downs of life. He likens love to a friend who has been there for him from youth to old age.
The song explores the theme of the enduring power of love. Love, for Iglesias, is not just an emotion but a force that guides and shapes his life. He acknowledges that love is not always easy and can sometimes "break [his] heart" and leave him feeling hopeless. However, he remains optimistic and hopeful, convinced that love will always find him again.
Furthermore, the song also portrays love as a teacher of life's most important lessons. Iglesias sings that love leads us where "passion leads" and that we learn the most important lessons from our foolish mistakes. He suggests that even in the face of changing seasons and circumstances, love remains a constant, like a "perfect melody" running through our heads.
Overall, the song is a reflective and romantic ode to the enduring power of love. It suggests that love is not just an emotion, but a force that shapes our lives and teaches us the most important lessons we will ever learn.
Line by Line Meaning
Love has been a friend to me
Love has provided companionship and emotional support throughout my life
A friend my whole life through
Love has been my constant companion
Always saw the best in me
Love has helped me see the best in myself
As only friends will do
Like a true friend, love has supported and encouraged me
It was young when I was young
My experience with love started when I was young
And both of us were blind
At the time, I didn't fully understand love and its implications
We made it through the careless years
Despite our inexperience, love has helped us navigate through difficult times
Love has been a friend of mine
Love has been a constant in my life, through thick and thin
Companions of the heart
Love and I share a deep emotional bond
Following where passion leads
We've pursued our passions together, letting love guide us
We learn what fools we are
Love has taught us both valuable lessons, including some hard truths about ourselves
Even when it breaks my heart
Despite the pain love can sometimes cause, I still value it
And hope is hard to find
In difficult times, it can be hard to remain optimistic and hopeful
I still remember all the ways
I hold dear to my heart all of the ways that love has touched my life
Love has been a friend of mine
Love has consistently been a source of comfort and joy, even in the toughest of times
In a world ever changing
The world is constantly evolving and shifting
Every season must end
All good things eventually come to an end, including the best of times with love
Love makes only one promise
Love only promises one thing, that it will find its way back to you eventually
It will find you again
Despite any setbacks, love will find its way back to me
I remember every word
I cherish every memory of love and hold them close
That love has ever said
The words of love have been among the most meaningful and impactful to me
To a perfect melody
These memories are set to a beautiful and unforgettable soundtrack
Running through my head
These memories and melodies stay with me always, even in quiet moments
On a not too far tomorrow
Sometime in the near future
I'll sing back every line
I will recall every precious moment and memory with love
The title of my song will be
I will name my story of love accordingly
'Love Has Been A Friend Of Mine'
The most fitting and heartfelt title for my personal love story
Love is happiness and sorrow
Love brings both joy and pain
It's everything in time
Love encompasses all aspects of life, and takes time to fully understand and appreciate
Through it all I'm glad to say
Despite the ups and downs, I am grateful for all that love has brought me
Love has been a friend of mine, of mine
Throughout my life, love has been my trusted ally and true friend
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALBERT HAMMOND, JOHN BETTIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Zarate William
A beautiful song!!! Is amazing what this man has achieved as a singer worldwide. Indeed Mr Iglesias is a remarkable artist ...Undoubtedly he is so talented with a beautiful voice.
PEDRO TELLECHEA
Impresionante como canta esta cancíón de Albert Hammond. Sus mejores años posiblemente. La seleccionaría posiblemente entre sus 20 mejores interpretaciones.
J Lamberty
Timeless music by the one and only Julio, I fall in love every time I listen to his voice. He’s the lover in my dreams and my husband is my Dream come true.❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Antonio Mendez
Hermosa cancion !!! ... 👏👏👏👏 bravo julio eres espectacular !!!
Isabel amo a julio con todo mi corazon Soto
Amo sus canciones en inglés ,también lo amo a el .cada vez que canta cierro mis ojos,y lo siento a mi lado💞💘💕💓
francise954
This song is PERFECT, love his voice.
Donaldo Zarate
a great song and an excellent performance by Julio Iglesias who never desappoints no matter in what language.
snowstorm1956
An extraordinary performance this man gives, In any language,he sings you will understand..
snowstorm1956
+Emery Terry ;-)
Emery Terry
+snowstorm1956 ---Singing with EMOTION & FEELINGS Theres none other.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,100% agreement