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.
Sabor de Engaño
Orlando Contreras Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Orlando Contreras
Sabor de engaño
tienen tus ojos cuando me miran.
Sabor de engaño
tienen tus labios cuando me besan.
No eres sincera
que aún me quieres,
en tus palabras se nota el filo
de la traición.
Es imposible seguir fingiendo
de esta manera,
yo te agradezco con toda el alma
tu noble empeño
y te prometo sentirme fuerte
cuando me digas
que no me amas,
que es para otro tu corazón.
Sabor de engaño
tienen tus ojos cuando me miran.
Sabor de engaño
tienen tus labios cuando me besan.
No eres sincera
cuando me dices
que aún me quieres,
en tus palabras se nota el filo
de la traición.
Es imposible seguir fingiendo
de esta manera,
yo te agradezco con toda el alma
tu noble empeño
y te prometo sentirme fuerte
cuando me digas
que no me amas,
que es para otro tu corazón.
In "Sabor de Engaño," Orlando Contreras sings about the taste of betrayal that lingers in his mouth when he sees his lover's eyes or feels her lips. He realizes that she's not sincere when she tells him that she still loves him because her words are filled with the sharpness of deceit. He can no longer pretend that everything is okay and appreciates her effort to put on a brave face, but in the end, he promises to be strong when she tells him that she no longer loves him and that her heart belongs to someone else.
The lyrics depict a heart-wrenching situation that many people can relate to - being betrayed by someone they thought they loved and trusted. The bitterness of the deceit is palpable in the words, and the song's melody reinforces the sadness and longing that the singer feels. It's a reminder that sometimes, even though we may want a relationship to work, it's not always possible and that we need to be strong enough to let go and move on.
Line by Line Meaning
Sabor de engaño tienen tus ojos cuando me miran.
Your eyes have the taste of deceit when they look at me.
Sabor de engaño tienen tus labios cuando me besan.
Your lips have the taste of deceit when they kiss me.
No eres sincera cuando me dices que aún me quieres, en tus palabras se nota el filo de la traición.
You are not sincere when you tell me that you still love me, the sharp edge of betrayal is evident in your words.
Es imposible seguir fingiendo de esta manera, yo te agradezco con toda el alma tu noble empeño y te prometo sentirme fuerte cuando me digas que no me amas, que es para otro tu corazón.
It is impossible to continue pretending like this, I thank you with all my heart for your noble effort and I promise to feel strong when you tell me that you do not love me, that your heart belongs to another.
Writer(s): Mario Alvarez Jimenez
Contributed by Camden N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@LuisHernandez-fi7ud
Orlando Contreras un cantante q pocos podrán igualar desde Bogotá colombia
@lindaflores8610
Es imposible no revivir recuerdos de los tiempos que el corazón destilaba amor con estas canciones, voz de romance dolido
@marthaalfaro3073
Que romantico Esto.....q recuerdos inolvidables Oh Dios que viva el amor!....Esto si es musica.....
@renatoromero9401
extraordinaria voz e interpretación de Orlando Contreras!