Linda's parents decided to move to New York soon after her birth. Upon their arrival, they settled down in the South Bronx and lived with her grandmother. Linda's grandmother had an important influence on her life because she was a very strong willed lady and Linda looked up to her. Linda went to school and received her elementary education in the Bronx. During her grade school she met and became friends with Louie Vega. Vega introduced her to the urban street music scene where she learned to appreciate the hip hop style of the day.
Linda's fine dark features and long straight black hair earned her the nickname "India". In 1985, when Linda was 14 years old, she signed as back-up singer for the Latin Hip Hop group "TKA", who scored a number one "hit" with "I Can't Get No Sleep". She was under the tutelage of John "Jellybean" Benitez, a Puerto Rican DJ who was once involved with Madonna. She also contributed backing vocals on Jellybean's Club Hit "Mirage". She later had her own Freestyle classic single "Dancing on the fire". Linda was also a part time model.
In 1990, when she was 19 years old, Linda married her friend from grade school, Louie Vega who then went by the name of "Little" Louie Vega. "Little" Louie was then a DJ and record producer. Before marrying "Little" Louie, Linda had a record contract with Warner Bros., who planned on making her the "Latin" Madonna. After recording "Breaking Night", Linda decided that she didn't want to take that route in her career.
Things changed one day for Linda while she was at her husbands studio singing. Salsa band leader Eddie Palmieri happened to visit the studio and was impressed with what he heard. In 1992, Palmieri produced Linda's first Spanish salsa album "Llego La India via Eddie Palmieri" (The India has Arrived via Eddie Palmieri) which was acclaimed as one of the "best" salsa albums of the year.
Linda was now known to all as "La India". In 1994, La India together with Vega recorded an album of salsa dance tunes which paid tribute to "Santeria" titled "Yemaya y Ochun". La India's involvement with Santeria, a syncretic religion based in the Caribbean, bothered many people and therefore she was criticized by many. She later recorded "Dicen Que Soy" (They Say that I Am) which was a top Billboard Hit and where La India states that she doesn't care what others think of her.
In 1996, La India worked with Tito Puente in the production of "Jazzin" the English version of some swing classics with a Latin twist for "RMM Records". She sang "Voces Unidas" (United Voices) in a duet with Marc Anthony. She also released "India:Mega Mix" that same year before divorcing Vega. La India also sang a duet, "La Voz de la Experiencia" (The Voice of Experience), with Celia Cruz, "The Queen of Salsa". It was then that Celia named La India "The Princess of Salsa".
In 1997, La India recorded "Sobre el Fuego" (Over the Fire) with Puerto Rican salsa singer Kevin Ceballo as back-up, and was nominated for the "Best Latin Tropical Performance" Grammy Award and in 1998 she won an ACE Award.
On May 31, 1998 La India had two sold out concerts at the Luis A. Ferre Center of Beautiful Arts in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She returned to the United States where Cable Channel UPN aired one of her shows. La India also held concerts in New York's Madison Square Garden and in El Festival de la Calle Ocho in Miami, Florida.
On February 5, 2000, a full page ad was placed in Billboard Magazine congratulating her on her second Grammy Award nomination. On March 2000, she was featured on Vibe Magazine.
In 2005, La India participated in the musical presentation Selena Vive, a tribute to the late Tejano sensation Selena Quintanilla-Perez. In 2006, La India released the album Soy Diferente, which contained two songs that became award-winning hits. The 2007 Annual Latin Billboard Awards honored India with Best Tropical Album of the Year Female for "Soy Diferente" (I Am Different), and Latin Dance Club Play Track of the Year for "Solamente Una Noche" (Just For One Night). In 2007, India collaborated with Latin sensation Gloria Estefan in a duet titled "90 Millas." [5]
India is set to release her ninth studio album in 2010, which will propel her music to various European and Asian countries. India mentioned to the Associated Press, "I am reinventing myself...changing my physical image. India will return to become a Barbie. But more than that, I feel like a new woman because I have been blessed with many beautiful things. After many years, I have my family with me and I am not separated from my mother, in which I suffered greatly. I have her in my life and that brings inner peace that I haven't had in a long time."
On February 23, 2010 India's newest single "Estupida" was released on Itunes. The single has been recorded in two versions a salsa version and also a ballad version.India has filmed a video for both versions, that has been released. 'Estupida' peaked on the tropical billboard charts at #10 and made it to #1 in just a couple weeks. India's ninth studio album Unica was released June 1, 2010
Among La India's reocrdings are the following:
STUDIO RECORDINGS (New Material):
Breaking Night (1989)
Llego La India Via Eddie Palmieri (1992)
Dicen Que Soy (1994)
Jazzin' [with Tito Puente] (1996)
Sobre El Fuego (1997)
Sola (1999)
Latin Songbird: Mi Alma Y Corazon (2003)
Soy Diferente (2006)
COMPILATIONS:
Love and Happiness EP (with River Ocean) (1993)
India Megamix (1997)
The Best of India (2004)
CONTRIBUTIONS ON OTHER RECORDINGS:
Masters At Work
1993 - When You Touch Me and I Can't Get No Sleep (from "The Album")
1998 - Runaway (from "Nuyorican Soul")
2002 - Backfired (from "Our Time Is Coming")
MAW Records: The Collection Volume I
1998 - To Be In Love (MAW Remix)
24 Hour Woman Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
1999 - India Con Lavoe (Viva Puerto Rico)
Empire Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
2003 - Empire, Imperio
Last Days of Disco Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
1998 - I Love The Nightlife (Disco Round)
RMM Combinacion Perfecta
1994 - Vivir Lo Nuestro (duet with Marc Anthony)
Voces Unidas: The Atlanta Olympics
1999 - Banderas
En Nueva York
1997 - Hazme El Amor (duet with Oscar D'Leon)
El Anillo
La India Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Quiere decir por eso que tu estes enamoradoEs tan solo un
CompromisoPero amor amor jamas aunque te finjas dichosoTe delata tu sonrisaY en la cara se te notaUna
Mueca de dolorVivo contando las horas de que caigas en la
CuentaEse anillo es una prendaPero no amor de
VerdadMucho anillos se compranTantas cosas se
RegalanPero lo que no se compraSe regala jamasEs la justicia divinaY el sentimiento del almaCon
Dinero no se compraAmor ni felicidad (ese anillo es solo
Anillo es solo una prenda)Aunque te finjas dichosoEn
La cara se te nota una mueca de dolor (ese anillo es solo una
Prenda)Es una prenda solo una prenda no es de corazon(ese anillo es solo una prenda)Vivo contando las horas
De que caigas en la cuentaQue el amor no se compra con oro
Ni con prendas(la felicidad)La felicidad que no tienesEs un realidad lo que quierasEs el sentimiento del
AlmaQue no se puede compra (con dinero no se compra la
Felicidad)Que no se compra, jamas se compra el amor (no se
Compra ni con dinero laFelicidad)Tienes que se
Sincero o viviras prisionero (con dinero no se compra laFelicidad)Es tan solo un compromisoEse anillo que
Te llevas y que luces con orgullo (no se compran ni con dinero
LaFelicidad)Se que pronto iras al altar y un dia vas
A verQuien la que le entregaste ese anillo no te
Quiere!!
In La India's song "El Anillo" (The Ring), the singer addresses a person who is wearing a ring and exhibiting it proudly, implying that it signifies a forthcoming wedding. However, the singer clarifies that just because the person is wearing a ring, it doesn't necessarily mean they are in love. The ring is just a "compromiso" (commitment), but true love and happiness cannot be feigned. The singer can see through the person's mask of happiness and sees the pain behind their smile. The song warns the person wearing the ring that they will someday realize that love and happiness cannot be bought with material possessions like rings.
The entire song revolves around the message that love cannot be bought, and material possessions like rings cannot be substitutes for genuine feelings. The singer longs for the person wearing the ring to understand this truth and not end up a prisoner of their own making. The lyrics warn against the illusion that money can buy love and happiness, and that it's a trap that many fall into, leading to sadness and disappointment.
Overall, "El Anillo" is a warning to those who believe that a piece of jewelry can buy them love, to those who think that being in a committed relationship is a replacement for genuine love, and a reminder that true love is priceless, cannot be bought with money, and its presence is undeniable.
Line by Line Meaning
Ese anillo que ahora llevas
The ring that you wear now
Y que luces con orgullo
And that you proudly display
Significa simplemente
Simply means
Que pronto iras al altar
That soon you will go to the altar
No quiere decir por eso que tu estes enamorado
It doesn't mean that you are in love
Es tan solo un compromiso
It's just a commitment
Pero amor amor jamas aunque te finjas dichoso
But love, love never, even if you pretend to be happy
Te delata tu sonrisa
Your smile gives you away
Y en la cara se te nota
And it shows on your face
Una mueca de dolor
A grimace of pain
Vivo contando las horas de que caigas en la cuenta
I live counting the hours until you realize
Ese anillo es una prenda
That ring is a garment
Pero no amor de verdad
But not true love
Mucho anillos se compran
Many rings are bought
Tantas cosas se regalan
So many things are given
Pero lo que no se compra
But the thing that can't be bought
Se regala jamas
Is given never
Es la justicia divina
Is divine justice
Y el sentimiento del alma
And the feeling of the soul
Con dinero no se compra
Money can't buy
Amor ni felicidad
Love or happiness
Ese anillo es solo una prenda
That ring is just a garment
Pero no amor de verdad
But not true love
No tienes felicidad
You don't have happiness
Aunque te finjas dichoso
Even if you pretend to be happy
En la cara se te nota una mueca de dolor
On your face, it shows a grimace of pain
Es una prenda solo una prenda no es de corazon
It's just a garment, only a garment, not of the heart
Vivo contando las horas de que caigas en la cuenta
I live counting the hours until you realize
Que el amor no se compra con oro ni con prendas
That love cannot be bought with gold or garments
La felicidad que no tienes
The happiness that you don't have
Es un realidad lo que quieras
It's a reality, whatever you wish
Es el sentimiento del alma
It's the feeling of the soul
Que no se puede compra
That cannot be bought
Con dinero no se compra la felicidad
Money can't buy happiness
Que no se compra, jamas se compra el amor
That love, it can't be bought, never be bought
No se compra ni con dinero la felicidad
Happiness cannot be bought with money
Tienes que ser sincero o viviras prisionero
You have to be honest or you'll live as a prisoner
Es tan solo un compromiso
It's just a commitment
Ese anillo que te llevas y que luces con orgullo
That ring that you wear and that you proudly display
No se compran ni con dinero la felicidad
Happiness cannot be bought with money
Se que pronto iras al altar y un dia vas a ver
I know that soon you'll go to the altar and one day you'll see
Quien la que le entregaste ese anillo no te quiere!!
Who you gave that ring to, doesn't love you!!
Contributed by Jonathan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@dayanaramosecheverri3371
Sólo es eso un ""Anillo" .NO es Amor de Verdad. Un contrato un convenio.Matrimonio de Conveniencia negocio puro y duro..
Al final sacrificas tu Felicidad.
MLSR 💙💙💙
@elagonz8682
Este Bolero lo amooooo en la voz de la India
@analange2795
Hola mi amor, oigo todo de ti de canciones, porque no hay más personas
Las canciones no son para herir ♥️♥️👄😘
@Lolabellad
2024 YES❤
@doritogomez
Ese anillo que ahora llevas
Y que luces con orgullo
Significa simplemente
Que pronto iras al altar
No quiere decir por eso que tu estes enamorado
Es tan solo un compromiso
Pero amor amor jamas aunque te finjas dichoso
Te delata tu sonrisa
Y en la cara se te nota
Una mueca de dolor
Vivo contando las horas de que caigas en la cuenta
Ese anillo es una prenda
Pero no amor de verdad
Mucho anillos se compran
Tantas cosas se regalan
Pero lo que no se compra
Se regala jamas
Es la justicia divina
Y el sentimiento del alma
Con dinero no se compra
Amor ni felicidad (ese anillo es solo una prenda)
Pero no amor de verdad no tienes felicidad (ese anillo es solo una prenda)
Aunque te finjas dichoso
En la cara se te nota una mueca de dolor (ese anillo es solo una prenda)
Es una prenda solo una prenda no es de corazon
(ese anillo es solo una prenda)
Vivo contando las horas de que caigas en la cuenta
Que el amor no se compra con oro ni con prendas(la felicidad)
La felicidad que no tienes
Es un realidad lo que quieras
Es el sentimiento del alma
Que no se puede compra (con dinero no se compra la felicidad)
Que no se compra, jamas se compra el amor (no se compra ni con dinero la
Felicidad)
Tienes que se sincero o viviras prisionero (con dinero no se compra la
Felicidad)
Es tan solo un compromiso
Ese anillo que te llevas y que luces con orgullo (no se compran ni con dinero la
Felicidad)
Se que pronto iras al altar y un dia vas a ver
Quien la que le entregaste ese anillo no te quiere!!