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.
Limeña
Maria Dolores Pradera Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Repican las castañuelas de tu tacón
Pasito a paso, vas caminando
Por la vereda que va entonando
Como si fuera un bordón
Con pases de marinera con tu tacón
Boquita de caramelo, cutis de seda
Magnolia que se ha escapado de la alameda
Que enamorado, llega hasta el cielo
Perfumado de jazmín
Para bailar marineras por San Martín
Boquita de caramelo, cutis de seda
Magnolia que se ha escapado de la alameda
En tu sonrisa hay un pañuelo
Que enamorado, llega hasta el cielo
Perfumado de jazmín
Para bailar marineras por San Martín
Boquita de caramelo, cutis de seda
Magnolia que se ha escapado de la alameda
En tu sonrisa hay un pañuelo
Que enamorado, llega hasta el cielo
Perfumado de jazmín
Para bailar marineras por San Martín
Boquita de caramelo, cutis de seda
Magnolia que se ha escapado de la alameda
En tu sonrisa hay un pañuelo
Que enamorado, llega hasta el cielo
Perfumado de jazmín
Para bailar marineras por San Martín
The lyrics to Maria Dolores Pradera's song Limeña convey the beauty and grace of a woman from Lima, Peru. The first line describes her as having a soul of tradition, implying that she embodies the rich cultural heritage of her city. The verse goes on to describe her dancing, with the sound of castanets from her heel and a steady rhythm like that of a drone accompanying the lively steps of a marinera dance.
The second verse is focused on the physical beauty of the limeña. Her mouth is compared to caramel, and her skin to silk or magnolia petals. Her smile is said to be so enchanting that even the handkerchief she holds seems to reach the skies, perfumed with the scent of jasmine. All of these descriptions come together to paint a picture of a woman who is both elegant and charming, embodying the grace and liveliness that are a hallmark of Peruvian culture.
Overall, the song is a celebration of Lima and its people, particularly its women. It highlights the cultural richness of the city, as well as the physical beauty and vivacious spirit of its inhabitants.
Line by Line Meaning
Limeña que tienes alma de tradición
You, Limeña, embody the soul of tradition
Repican las castañuelas de tu tacón
The castanets on your heel are clicking
Pasito a paso, vas caminando
You walk step by step
Por la vereda que va entonando
Singing, you walk along the path
Como si fuera un bordón
As if it were a drone
Con pases de marinera con tu tacón
Your tap dancing includes the steps of the marinera
Boquita de caramelo, cutis de seda
Your mouth is like candy, your skin like silk
Magnolia que se ha escapado de la alameda
You are a magnolia that has escaped from the avenue
En tu sonrisa hay un pañuelo
Your smile holds a handkerchief
Que enamorado, llega hasta el cielo
That, enamoured, reaches the sky
Perfumado de jazmín
Scented with jasmine
Para bailar marineras por San Martín
For dancing marineras in San Martín
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: AUGUSTO ARMANDO POLO CAMPOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind