Although best known for her bel canto roles, Caballé eventually sang over eighty operatic roles, from baroque opera to Verdi, Wagner, and Puccini, including the Marschallin in Richard Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier and the title role in Salome.
Caballé is also a noted recitalist, particularly of songs of her native Spain.
Her voice is noted for its purity, precise control, and power. She is admired less for her dramatic instincts and acting skills than for her superb technique, vocal shadings, and exquisite pianissimos.
The result of one of her brief excursions to the world of pop music, Caballé's duet with rock singer Freddie Mercury, Barcelona , was a hit single in 1987, accompanied by an album of the same name. The title track later became the anthem of the 1992 Summer Olympics which was hosted by the city, and appeared again in the pop music charts throughout Europe. Caballé also performed the song live, accompanied by a recording of the deceased Mercury, before the 1999 UEFA Champions League football final in Barcelona's Nou Camp stadium.
Caballé has dedicated herself to various charities. She is a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and she has established a foundation for needy children in Barcelona.
Caballé does not appear to have retired from the stage. She continues to assume new roles: in 2002, Catherine of Aragon in Saint-Saëns' Henri VIII; in 2004, the title role in Massenet's Cléopâtre, both at the Liceu. At the age of 73 (2006), she still maintains a busy schedule of recitals and concerts, mainly in Germany. And she is due to appear as The Duchess of Crackentorp in La fille du régiment at the Vienna State Opera in 2007.
Had To Be
Montserrat Caballé Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Had to be
No escape, no room for doubt
No way out
Seeing you, it was easy to decide
Cut and dried
Had to be
Don't resist, don't even think at all
Simply fall
In love
This is what
Had to be
She was easy to seduce
Let her loose
In a world where the fake and shallow shine
She'll be fine
Had to be
She's a woman, nothing more
Falling for whatever comes along
She's so wrong
A fool
To herself
Had to be
Don't ever tell me
How to live my life, tell me who I should love
No don't ever tell me
What to say or do in the life I will share with you
Had to be (no one can tell me)
For we get what we deserve (how I should live my life)
Lose your nerve (no one can tell me)
And the fates hustle in and take control (or take control)
Of your soul
Had to be
Of your fool
Had to be
But the spark of hope remains
And sustains the echo of a smile
For a while (no one can tell me)
We're fools
To ourselves--have to be (no one has told me)
We're fools (it had to be)
To ourselves
Had to be
First, it is important to acknowledge that the lyrics of this song may be viewed as controversial and may have different interpretations. However, the overall theme of the song seems to be centered around two individuals falling in love with each other and accepting that it was inevitable. The lyric "Had to be" is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing that the union was predestined and that there was no way out. The lyrics further suggest that love is a force that cannot be controlled or rationalized, and that the individuals in the relationship simply had to fall in love with each other.
The second verse of the song appears to change perspectives, possibly criticizing the idea of someone being easy to seduce and falling for anything that comes along. The lyrics suggest that the woman in question is a fool to herself for falling so easily for someone or something. However, the song ends on a hopeful note, acknowledging that despite the potential pitfalls of love, there is still a spark of hope that remains and sustains the essence of the relationship.
Overall, the lyrics of "Had to Be" present a complex portrayal of the nature of love and relationships, highlighting both the positives and negatives that come with falling in love.
Line by Line Meaning
Had to be
This is the inevitable outcome
No escape, no room for doubt
There are no other options or uncertainties
No way out
There is no alternative
Seeing you, it was easy to decide
There was no difficulty choosing the course of action
Cut and dried
The situation was straightforward and easily resolvable
Now we know why we exist
The purpose of existence has been realized
Don't resist, don't even think at all
Do not oppose or contemplate the decision made
Simply fall
Just embrace and accept it
This is what
This is the only outcome
She was easy to seduce
It was effortless to manipulate her
Let her loose
Let her go, do not hold onto her
In a world where the fake and shallow shine
In a culture that values insincerity and superficiality
She'll be fine
She will adapt and survive in this environment
She's a woman, nothing more
Her gender defines her, not her character or abilities
Falling for whatever comes along
Easily influenced by anyone or anything
She's so wrong
Her behavior or attitude is mistaken or incorrect
A fool
Someone who lacks commonsense or judgement
To herself
Only harming herself
Don't ever tell me
Commands or demands about my life or choices are unwelcome
How to live my life, tell me who I should love
Instructing how to live life or who to love is unacceptable
What to say or do in the life I will share with you
Dictating what to say or do infringes on personal freedom
For we get what we deserve
Results are dependent on actions and choices
Lose your nerve
When courage falters or disappears
And the fates hustle in and take control
Fortune or destiny can overtake and manipulate decisions
Of your soul
Taking over the deepest part of oneself
But the spark of hope remains
A glimmer of optimism endures
And sustains the echo of a smile
Still holds onto the memory of happiness
We're fools
We are foolish
To ourselves--have to be
It is necessary to be foolish to ourselves
It had to be
It was inevitable
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Farrar, Tim Rice
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind