Guillot and her family moved to Ciudad Havana when she was a small child. As a teenager, she and her sister, Ana Luisa, performed as a duo, named the "Duo Hermanitas Guillot".
It wasn't until 1945 that her talent as a bolero singer would be discovered, when Facundo Rivero, an influential man in the Cuban music industry of the era, heard her sing for the first time, and helped her make her professional singing debut, at a famous Havana night club. Soon after, Guillot met Miguelito Valdes, who took her to New York city, where Guillot was able to record her first album, with the Decca label.
Guillot traveled to Mexico in 1948. There, she established herself as an international singer and actress, participating in various films and making her second album. In Mexico, Guillot began to enjoy much popularity for the first time in her career.
In 1954, she recorded her song "Mienteme" ("Lie to Me"), which became a hit across Latin America, and earned her three consecutive awards back home in Cuba as Cuba's best female singer.
1958 proved to be an important year for Guillot, as she toured Europe for the first time, including stops in Italy, France, Spain and Germany. She sang alongside the equally legendary Édith Piaf during a concert held in Cannes.
Olga Guillot kept a house in Cuba as she traveled around the world with her music, apart from her house in Mexico. But Guillot opposed Fidel Castro's Government, and, in 1961, she decided to leave Cuba for good and establish herself in Venezuela. Not long after that, she left Venezuela, making Mexico her only permanent residence country.
Meanwhile, she kept touring around the world, singing in places such as Israel, Japan, Hong Kong and many others. In 1963, Guillot was given the Golden Palm award as "best bolero singer of Latin America". She received the award in Hollywood, California. Guillot sang in 1964 at New York's famed Carnegie Hall.
Guillot continued on touring for the next forty years, releasing over fifty albums and winning numerous awards for her activity in the music world. She was very good friends with Celia Cruz, to whom she often referred to as "(her) sister". When Cruz died from cancer, Guillot was one of the most affected persons in the show business world.
Her albums and music are prohibited in Cuba. Guillot remained a quiet, but strong critic of Castro and his policies towards Cuban residents.
Guillot lived mainly in Mexico and had another home on Miami Beach, Florida.
On July 12, 2010, she died of an infarction at the age of 87 in the city of Miami Beach. She is survived by one daughter, Olga Maria Touzet-Guillot, born from her relationship with pianist and composer, René Touzet.
Contigo Aprendí
Olga Guillot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
emociones
contigo aprendi a conocer un mundo
nuevo de ilusiones
descucri que la semana tiene mas de siete dias
a ser mayores mis contadas alegrias
a ser dichoso yo contigo lo aprendi
contigo aprendi a ver la luz del otro lado de la luna
descubri que puede un beso ser mas dulce y mas profundo
que puedo irme mañana de este mundo
las cosas buenas ya contigo las vivi
y tambien aprendi que yo naci el dia en que te conoci
descubri que puede un beso ser mas dulce y mas profundo
que puedo irme mañana de este mundo
las cosas buenas ya contigo las vivi
y tambien apredi que yo naci el dia en que te conoci
The lyrics to Olga Guillot's song Contigo Aprendí describe the learning and growth that the singer experiences through being in a loving relationship with someone. The song speaks to the transformative power of love and how being with someone can open up a whole new world of emotions and possibilities. The first line, "contigo aprendi que existe nuevas y mejores emociones" (with you I learned that there exist new and better emotions), sets the tone for the rest of the song, as it emphasizes that the singer's life has been enriched by being in love.
Throughout the song, the singer reflects on various things that they have learned since being with their loved one. They have learned to see the world in a new way ("contigo aprendi a conocer un mundo nuevo de ilusiones") and to appreciate the little things in life ("descucri que la semana tiene mas de siete dias / a ser mayores mis contadas alegrias"). They have also learned that true happiness comes from being with the one you love ("a ser dichoso yo contigo lo aprendi").
The final verses of the song are particularly powerful, as they speak to the idea that the singer's life truly began when they met their loved one. They have experienced so many good things with this person that they feel like they have already lived a full life ("las cosas buenas ya contigo las vivi"). The song ends with the line, "y tambien apredi que yo naci el dia en que te conoci" (and I also learned that I was born on the day I met you), emphasizing that the singer's life has truly been transformed by their relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
contigo aprendi que existe nuevas y mejores emociones
With you, I learned that there are new and better emotions that I never knew existed before.
contigo aprendi a conocer un mundo nuevo de ilusiones
Being with you showed me a new world of possibilities and dreams.
descucri que la semana tiene mas de siete dias
I realized that the week has more than just seven days when I am with you because time seems to slow down or stand still.
a ser mayores mis contadas alegrias
My limited moments of happiness increased and became greater when I met you.
a ser dichoso yo contigo lo aprendi
I learned what it truly means to be happy and content because of you.
contigo aprendi a ver la luz del otro lado de la luna
Being with you allowed me to see the beauty and potential in even the most impossible or unlikely situations.
contigo aprendi que tu presencia no la cambio por ninguna
I discovered that your presence and companionship are irreplaceable and cannot be substituted by anyone else.
descubri que puede un beso ser mas dulce y mas profundo
I discovered that a kiss can be so much sweeter and more profound when I am with you.
que puedo irme mañana de este mundo
I realized that I could leave this world tomorrow, but I am grateful for the good things I have already experienced with you.
las cosas buenas ya contigo las vivi
The good things in life are already lived and enjoyed with you.
y tambien aprendi que yo naci el dia en que te conoci
Lastly, I also learned that my life truly began the day that I met you.
Writer(s): Armando Manzanero Canche
Contributed by Mateo F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.