She started her career as an actress, working in the theatre and in some of the most famous Spanish movies from the 1940 decade.
During the 1950s, she started singing professionaly, eventually abandoning her career as an actress in the 1960s. Since then, she has recorded more than 35 albums.
As a singer, she is specialized in traditional Spanish and Latin American music: bolero, copla, ballad, ronda, vals, and folk music (Peruvian, Argentinian, Mexican, and Venezuelan). Her voice tone is clear and slightly low, and she has an extremely proper Spanish pronunciation. She typically sings with the only company of guitars, requintos, and drums.
She singed for close to 30 years with the same group, Los Gemelos, formed by two twin brothers, Santiago López Hernández and Julián López Hernández, until the death of Santiago in the early 1990s.
Fina Estampa
Maria Dolores Pradera Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tendida como una cinta con sus lados de arrebol
Arrebol de los geranios y sonrisas con rubor
Arrebol de los claveles y las mejillas en flor
Perfumada de magnolia rociada de mañanita
La veredita sonrie cuando tu pie la acaricia
Y la cuculi se ríe y la ventana se agita
Fina estampa caballero
Caballero de fina estampa
Un lucero que sonriera bajo um sombrero
No sonriera más hermoso
Ni más luciera caballero
En tu andar andar reluce la acera al andar andar
Te lleva hacia los zaguanes y a los patios encantados
Te lleva hacia las plazuelas y a los amores soñados
Veredita que se arrulla con tafetanes bordados
Tacón de chapin de seda y justes almidonados
Es un caminito alegre con luz de luna o de sol
Que he de recorrer cantando por si te puede alcanzar
Fina estampa caballero quien te pudiera guardar
Fina estampa caballero
Caballero de fina estampa
Un lucero que sonriera bajo um sombrero
No sonriera más hermoso
Ni más luciera caballero
En tu andar andar reluce la acera al andar andar
The first stanza of María Dolores Pradera’s song “Fina Estampa” describes a delightful little path, “una veredita”, that shines under both moonlight and sunlight. It is presented as a ribbon with sides of arrebol, a deep red hue that appears in geraniums and blushing smiles, and is also featured in carnations and blooming cheeks. This path is perfumed with magnolia and watered by early morning dew. When one walks on it, the path smiles back and the mockingbird laughs, while the window shakes with joy. All of these elements combine to present a picturesque scene of a happy path that is awaiting the arrival of someone special.
The second stanza addresses this person, the “fina estampa caballero”, or elegant gentleman. He is compared to a shining star who dazzles under his hat. No one can smile more beautifully than he does or outshine him in his gentlemanly stride. The path leads him to blissful courtyards and enchanting squares, where he dreams of love. The path itself is lulled to sleep by embroidered taffetas and silk slippers, while starched laces match the beat of the heels striking the pavement. The singer wishes to travel down this path while singing, hoping to catch up with the elegant gentleman, and marvels at how exquisite his steps look upon the pavement.
Line by Line Meaning
Una veredita alegre con luz de luna o de sol
A cheerful path with moonlight or sunlight shining down, stretching like a ribbon with sides of a reddish glow
Arrebol de los geranios y sonrisas con rubor
A reddish glow of geraniums and blushing smiles
Tendida como una cinta con sus lados de arrebol
Stretching like a ribbon with sides of a reddish glow
Arrebol de los claveles y las mejillas en flor
A reddish glow of carnations and blooming cheeks
Perfumada de magnolia rociada de mañanita
Scented with magnolia, dewy with morning mist
La veredita sonrie cuando tu pie la acaricia
The path smiles when your foot caresses it
Y la cuculi se ríe y la ventana se agita
And the cuckoo laughs and the window shakes
Cuando por esa vereda tu fina estampa pasea
When your fine figure walks along that path
Fina estampa caballero
Fine gentlemanly figure
Caballero de fina estampa
Gentlemanly figure with fine appearance
Un lucero que sonriera bajo um sombrero
A star that would smile under a hat
No sonriera más hermoso
Would not smile more beautifully
Ni más luciera caballero
Nor would a gentleman shine brighter
En tu andar andar reluce la acera al andar andar
In your walking, the sidewalk shines brightly
Te lleva hacia los zaguanes y a los patios encantados
It leads you to the entrance halls and enchanted courtyards
Te lleva hacia las plazuelas y a los amores soñados
It leads you to the squares and to the dreamed loves
Veredita que se arrulla con tafetanes bordados
A path that is lulled by embroidered taffetas
Tacón de chapin de seda y justes almidonados
Silk high-heeled shoes and starched leggings
Es un caminito alegre con luz de luna o de sol
It is a happy little path with moonlight or sunlight shining down
Que he de recorrer cantando por si te puede alcanzar
That I will travel singing, in case I can catch up with you
Fina estampa caballero quien te pudiera guardar
Fine gentlemanly figure, who could keep you
Writer(s): Isabel Chabuca Granda, Eduardo O. Rovira
Contributed by Aria R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Elhojalatero1
Tesoro de canción de la Gran Chabuca, yo la edité con Miguel Poveda.....Eres inmensa María Dolores!!!!!!!!!! Gracias por compartir amiga Rossiel
@deliavega2367
Se corta la cancion
@deliavega2367
En todas las canciones
@rosaceciliavidalortiz7380
ML l MN
Gracias
@juanamariaquintero1229
Yo era una niña y me facinaba
@margaritalanda5347
Estás canciones las escuchaba de niña es una maravilla escucharlas a mis 44 años
@punkoireggae5673
La Española mas Limeña grandes temas de la mas grande cantande de la ciudad de los Reyes Lima Perú nuestra grandisima Chabuca Granda
@alvarosifuentes5206
Gracias Perú, gracias España,, soy mexicano,, como admiro ésta interpretación,,, Dios los bendiga
@salvadorvelazquez1194
En donde diablos se perdió en el tiempo tan hermosa musica????? Hoy solo los chavos escuchan reggaeton y demás musica basura......y lo peor es que vende.....ya en estos tiempos casi nadie oye las letras de chabuca granda.....maria dolores pradera es el icono de toda la mejor musica que a habido en el mundo.....tuve la dicha de escucharla x allá en los 80's en el auditorio de la vocacional 3 xq ella daba conciertos a los estudiantes, y lleno el auditorio, me enamore de esa musica......la calidad, clase y su "fina estampa" arrasaban
@burronalopez504
En donde hay un Hombre Ché!! Ahí se canta al Hombre, caballeroso, Hombre de Respeto