Later he went to Guayaquil where participating in the radio program "The Supreme Court of Art" began his career that led him to become a popular singer in the 50s.
In 1951, he traveled to Colombia with Plutarch Uquillas Pepe Jaramillo and integrating the "Trío Emperor." When the trio broke up, he settled permanently in Colombia where he developed into the most important stage of his career. His popularity transcended borders not only from Ecuador and Colombia, reaching Mexico where he recorded several albums and broke sales records with the bolero "Tears of Love." Then came other hits like Playita Mía, Tu Duda and mine, Our Pledge, fate, Five Centavitos, Licor Bendito and many more that would be interpreted by Julio Jaramillo.
In the seventies, in Colombia, would record several items next to Julio Jaramillo
Olimpo Cardenas remained active in singing popular until the July 28, 1991 death caught him in the town of Tulua, in Colombia, while serving in a public square.
Esta Pena Mia
Olimpo Cárdenas Lyrics
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Sólo es la tristeza de una melodía,
El último ensueño de alguna fragancia;
Que todo se muere, que la vida es triste;
Que no vendrás nunca por más que te espere;
Que ya no me quieres como me quisiste.
No tiene importancia, yo soy razonable,
Ni es mía la culpa de no ser variable.
Qué valen mis quejas, si no las escuchas
Y qué mis caricias desde que las dejas
Quizá despreciadas porque fueron muchas.
Esta pena mía, que es mía, muy mía;
No es más que la sombra de alguna fragancia;
No es más que el recuerdo de una melodía;
Ya ves que no tiene ninguna importancia.
The lyrics to Olimpo Cardenas's song "Esta Pena Mia" portray the emotions of a person experiencing heartbreak. The singer repeats that his sadness does not matter, that it is only the echo of a melody or a fragrance he remembers. He reminds himself that everything dies and that life can be sad, and he acknowledges that the person he loves will never come back, no matter how much he waits. He recognizes that he cannot ask for love or loyalty and that he is not the one to blame for being unable to change.
The singer then reflects on the futility of his complaints because the person he loves does not listen to them. He also recognizes that his affections went unnoticed and may have been seen as excessive. He concludes that his pain is his alone, that it is just a shadow of a fragrance or melody, and that it is insignificant.
The lyrics reflect a common theme of love and heartbreak that is often described in many different songs. The idea that one's heartbreak does not matter is an interesting concept, as it shows the singer's detachment from his emotions. Despite this, he still feels the pain of the heartbreak and the longing for the person he loved. The idea that the person he loves will never come back is also poignant, as it shows that he has accepted the reality of the situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Esta pena mía no tiene importancia,
My sadness is not important,
Sólo es la tristeza de una melodía,
It is simply the sadness of a melody,
El último ensueño de alguna fragancia;
The last dream of some fragrance;
Que todo se muere, que la vida es triste;
Everything dies, and life is sad;
Que no vendrás nunca por más que te espere;
You will never come no matter how much I wait for you;
Que ya no me quieres como me quisiste.
You don't love me the way you used to.
No tiene importancia, yo soy razonable,
It does not matter, I am reasonable,
No puedo pedirte ni amor ni constancia,
I cannot ask for your love or loyalty,
Ni es mía la culpa de no ser variable.
It is not my fault for not being adaptable.
Qué valen mis quejas, si no las escuchas
What are my complaints worth if you do not listen to them
Y qué mis caricias desde que las dejas
And what about my caresses that you left behind
Quizá despreciadas porque fueron muchas.
Perhaps they were ignored because there were too many
Esta pena mía, que es mía, muy mía;
This sadness of mine, which is mine and only mine;
No es más que la sombra de alguna fragancia;
Is nothing but the shadow of some fragrance;
No es más que el recuerdo de una melodía;
Is nothing but the memory of a melody;
Ya ves que no tiene ninguna importancia.
As you can see, it doesn't matter at all.
Writer(s): Carlos Guerra
Contributed by Zachary J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.