He soon gained fame due to the power and strength of his voice. The young tenor earned valuable experience and significant recognition while touring on the invitation of soprano Joan Sutherland, making his 1965 U.S. debut in Miami, Florida on her recommendation. His position was solidified in the years between 1966 and 1972, during which Pavarotti first appeared at Milan's seminal La Scala, at other major European houses, and, in 1968, at NYC's Metropolitan Opera. He received great acclaim, particularly working well with Joan Sutherland.
By the mid-70s, the tenor became known worldwide, famed for the brilliance and beauty of his tone, especially into the upper register. His "high C" became one of his trademarks. The late 70s and 80s saw Pavarotti making significant appearances in the world's opera houses and establishing himself as one of the great singers of the era.
Popular stardom came at the 1990 World Cup in Italy with the performances of "Nessun Dorma" (from Turandot) and as one of The Three Tenors in their famed first concert held on the eve of the final match of the tournament (repeated at later Cups). Pavarotti sang together with fellow star tenors Plácido Domingo and José Carreras and brought to the much wider audience hits previously confined to the opera world. Appearances in advertisements and with pop icons in concerts around the world furthered his influence. Pavarotti always maintained his identity as an opera star, unlike many crossover artists.
The later years brought a decline in ability to perform on stage due to a weight gain and lack of mobility. Pavarotti's final appearance in an opera was at the Met in March 2004. The 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy saw him performing for the last time. Pavarotti sang Nessun Dorma, with the crowd as its Chorus, and got a thunderous standing ovation. On September 6, 2007, he died at home in Modena from pancreatic cancer.
Malia
Luciano Pavarotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I am a big lady
Mama, will a prince come and take me away?
When I said these things, I believed in kings
Then I didn't know love could hurt me so
Slowly she replied, tears had filled her eyes
Baby, not so fast, let your young life last
Mama, when my dollies have babies
And I am a big lady
Mama, will a prince come and take me away?
I sang to her in fun, my teens had just began
My age was not the same, still we played this game
Her eyes were filled with pride, slowly she replied
Soon enough you'll be a very pretty bride
Mama, when my dollies have babies
And I am a big lady
Mama, will the hurt go away deep inside
When I sang this song, my poor world had gone along
All my early dreams has turned to crystal streams
My love, it last and more tears have past
And left me just one thing, a tender voice that sing
Mama, when my dollies have babies
And I am a big lady
Mama
, will you still be by my side?
The lyrics of Pavarotti's Malia are a poignant reflection on the passage of time and the changing nature of romantic love. The song is primarily focused on the relationship between a mother and her daughter as the daughter grows up and begins to experience the world around her. At the heart of the song are a series of questions that the daughter asks her mother about her future. The line "Mama, will a prince come and take me away?" is particularly telling, as it speaks to the young girl's belief in the romantic ideals of fairy tales.
As the song progresses, the daughter's innocence begins to give way to a more worldly understanding of love. Her mother guides her through this difficult process, acknowledging the pain that often comes with falling in love but ultimately offering her reassurance that she will always be there to support her. The lyrics of the song also touch on the themes of aging and the passage of time, as the daughter reflects on her own growth and the way that her relationship with her mother has changed over the years.
Line by Line Meaning
Mama, when my dollies have babies
As a child, I wondered about my future and if I would have children someday.
And I am a big lady
When I grow up and become an adult.
Mama, will a prince come and take me away?
I used to believe in fairy tales where a prince would sweep me off my feet and take me away to a better life.
When I said these things, I believed in kings
As a child, I had a naive and innocent perception of royalty and happiness.
Then I didn't know love could hurt me so
As I grew up, I learned that love can be painful and heartbreaking.
Slowly she replied, tears had filled her eyes
My mother knew the harsh realities of life and didn't want me to rush into adulthood too quickly.
Baby, not so fast, let your young life last
She advised me to cherish my youth because once it's gone, it's gone forever.
I sang to her in fun, my teens had just began
As a teenager, I sang this song to my mother as a playful way to express my anxieties and dreams.
My age was not the same, still we played this game
Despite the generation gap, my mother and I connected through this song that reflected my hopes and fears for the future.
Her eyes were filled with pride, slowly she replied
My mother was proud of the person I was becoming and gave me wise advice to help me navigate through life.
Soon enough you'll be a very pretty bride
She reassured me that I would find love and happiness, and one day get married.
Mama, will the hurt go away deep inside
As I matured, I became aware that life can be painful and I wondered if the emotional pain would ever heal.
When I sang this song, my poor world had gone along
As an adult, I sang this song with a heavy heart because I had experienced loss and disappointment in life.
All my early dreams has turned to crystal streams
My childhood dreams had become distant memories like streams of crystal that I could no longer reach.
My love, it last and more tears have past
I may have suffered heartbreak and sadness, but my love for life endured and I have shed many tears.
And left me just one thing, a tender voice that sing
Even though life had thrown me many challenges, I still had my voice to sing and express my emotions.
Mama
The song ends with a simple acknowledgement of the mother-daughter bond that has remained constant throughout the years.
Writer(s): Lorin Maazel, Francesco Paolo Tosti, Rocco Emanuele Paglilara
Contributed by Audrey O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.