He began singing in several diverse musical groups in Havana, including the Arty Valdés trio ; and then, from 1952 to 1956, he performed in Neno González 's orchestra . In that orchestra she achieved some popularity to the point of recording an album that was successful. At the same time he was working in Neno's orchestra, he was also working in Conjunto Casino . That is where he decide to become a soloist.
He stayed in Cuba during the first years of the revolution . In 1961 he recorded more albums that gave him some notoriety as a headliner. He Played the Alí Bar alongside Beny Moré , Fernando Álvarez and Orlando Vallejo. He also worked with the Musicuba ensemble and in September 1965 he moved to the United States . One of his greatest hits was "Mi Corazonada", by José Fernández Pérez.
Between 1966 and 1970 he performed on a Portuguese tourist boat , while continuing to record. In the 1970s, he recorded an anthology album with Daniel Santos and toured America and Spain .
He finally settled in Medellín , where in the 1970s, he and Daniel Santos were "proclaimed" as Los Jefes by patrons of the bars and cantinas in the city center. There he made recordings with the Fruko y sus Tesos.
Some of his hits include:
En un beso la vida
Sin egoísmo, Difícil
Amarga decepción
Por borracha
Por un puñado de oro
Dónde tu iras
Mi corazonada
Muerto en vida
Dolor de hombre
Que murmuren
Un amigo mío
Amigo de qué
Yo estoy desengañado
Arráncame la vida
Egoísmo
Esta tu canción
Se muy bien que vendrás
Corazón de Madera.
He died in Medellin at the age of 63 under mysterious circumstances.
Egoísmo
Orlando Contreras Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
me aleje. No quise perturbar la dicha que hay en ti dichosa quiero
verte sin sufrir. Para que tenerte asi sin ninguna comprencion si yo
se que tu amor fue una ilucion. Por eso te deje con gran dolor te
abandone por que si de egoismo vivo yo.
Para que tenerte asi sin ninguna comprencion si yo se que tu amor
fue una ilucion por eso te deje con gran dolor te abandone por que
The lyrics to Orlando Contreras's song Egoismo are reflective of a man's decision to let go of a past love in the interest of her happiness. He acknowledges that he lost her and another love has captured her attention. However, instead of trying to cause friction between her and her new love, he has chosen to step back and allow her to experience happiness. He acknowledges that he wishes to see her joyous without having to suffer and thus decides to leave her alone. The chorus, "Para que tenerte asi sin ninguna comprension si yo se que tu amor fue una ilusion" (Why keep you without any understanding, when I know your love was an illusion), depicts his reasoning for his decision. He is cognizant of the fact that he would be selfish to hold on to someone he knows he can't make happy.
He expresses that he is leaving with great pain in his heart because of his selfishness. He chooses to abandon this love for her own wellbeing, recognizing that he cannot be what she needs. He takes responsibility for his decision and acknowledges that it is driven by his ego and his need to prioritize himself. The line "Por que si de egoismo vivo yo y soy feliiiiiiiz" (Because I live in selfishness and I am happy) underscores the decision he has made, recognizing that sometimes one must prioritize their own happiness.
Overall, Orlando Contreras's song Egoismo serves as a reflection on the double-edged sword of love and of letting go. It highlights the importance of considering the happiness of those we care about as much as our own happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo se que te perdi que otro amor te iluciono mas yo lo comprendi y me aleje.
I know that I lost you to another love and I understood it, so I backed away.
No quise perturbar la dicha que hay en ti dichosa quiero verte sin sufrir.
I didn't want to disturb the happiness you feel, and I want to see you happy even if it comes with some pain for me.
Para que tenerte asi sin ninguna comprencion si yo se que tu amor fue una ilucion.
What's the point of holding onto you without any understanding? I know that your love for me was just an illusion.
Por eso te deje con gran dolor te abandone por que si de egoismo vivo yo.
That's why I left you with a lot of pain and abandoned you, because I live for my own selfishness.
Para que tenerte asi sin ninguna comprencion si yo se que tu amor fue una ilucion por eso te deje con gran dolor te abandone por que si de egoismo vivo yo y soy feliiiiiiiz.
What's the point of holding onto you without any understanding? I know that your love for me was just an illusion. That's why I left you with a lot of pain and abandoned you, because I live for my own selfishness, and I am happy this way.
Contributed by Julian J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.