Gildo was born Ludwig Alexander Hirtreiter in Straubing, Bavaria and was a member of the Regensburger Domspatzen choir before going to acting school. His first performance was with the Munich Kammerspiele theatre group in 1956, but he quickly moved into television and film, as well as performing as a singer; most famously duetting with Danish singer Gitte Haenning as "Gitte & Rex".
His most popular songs, such as Speedy Gonzales (1962), Goodbye Susanna (1965) and Fiesta Mexicana (1972) were million sellers and his sentimental, fernweh (wanderlust)-evoking music, often flavoured with Spanish or Mexican lyrics or styles, was especially in demand in the politically unsettled 1960s and 70s. His music and films sold well in Germany, but less so abroad, and he has been compared to Cliff Richard or Tom Jones. He also starred in his own television program, Gestatten - Rex Gildo.
In 1974, Gildo married his cousin Marion Ohlsen. The couple had no children and separated in 1990.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Gildo's popularity decreased and he felt pressured to maintain his public image. His appearances were mainly at folk festivals, shopping centres and other similar venues where audiences were sometimes less than kind; he was also reported to have problems with alcoholism, although this may have been due to medication he was taking. His final performance, on the day of his suicide, was in front of more than 3000 people at a furniture shop outside Frankfurt.
Gildo died in 1999 aged 60, having spent three days in an artificially-induced coma after attempting suicide by jumping from the window of his apartment building. He was said to have been suffering psychological problems.[7] After his death, it was reported that he had been gay and involved in a relationship with Dave Klingeberg, his secretary with whom he lived, for seven years. Gildo was buried next to his long-time companion, Fred Miekley.
In 2007, "Fiesta Mexicana (Hossa)" was brought into a whole new generation of people when the New York Rangers started playing the song whenever winger Marcel Hossa scored a goal.
Margarita
Rex Gildo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sie tanzte dort ganz allein
Und alle Männer
Die klatschten
Neugierig ging ich hinein.
Sie lachte
Als sie mich steh'n sah
Da war mein Herz schon verlor'n.
Und sie sprach: ich trink Margarita
Senor.
Margarita
Margarita
Auf die Sehnsucht
Salute Amor.
Margarita
Margarita
Sich verlieben
Das kommt halt mal vor.
Margarita
Margarita
Hat die Träume zum Fliegen gebracht.
Und wer sich mag
Der weiß
Herzen schlagen heiß
In der spanischen Nacht.
Als ich am Morgen erwachte
Kam es mir vor wie ein Traum.
Ich war alleine I'm Zimmer
Ihr Parfüm hing noch I'm Raum.
Ich fand den Zettel am Boden
Sie schrieb: Adios mi amor
Bitte vergiß mich nicht
Trink heut' nacht auf mich
Margarita
Senor.
Margarita
Margarita
Auf die Sehnsucht
Salute Amor.
Margarita
Margarita
Sich verlieben
Das kommt halt mal vor.
Margarita
Margarita
Hat die Träume zum Fliegen gebracht.
Und wer sich mag
Der weiß
Herzen schlagen heiß
In der spanischen Nacht.
Eines tags
Margarita
Werden wir zwei uns wiedersehn.
Eines nachts
Margarita
Wird das Wunder noch mal gescheh'n.
Margarita
Margarita
Auf die Sehnsucht
Salute Amor.
Margarita
Margarita
Sich verlieben
Das kommt halt mal vor.
Margarita
Margarita
Hat die Träume zum Fliegen gebracht.
Und wer sich mag
Der weiß
Herzen schlagen heiß
In der spanischen Nacht.
The song "Margarita" by Rex Gildo tells a story of a chance encounter between the singer and a beautiful woman named Margarita in a Spanish bar. The singer sees Margarita dancing alone in the bodega and is drawn to her. Margarita laughs when she sees the singer standing there, and he immediately falls in love with her. Later on, the singer invites Margarita to join him for a drink, and she asks for a margarita. They spend the night together, but in the morning, the singer wakes up alone, with only Margarita's perfume lingering in the air. She has left a note saying goodbye and asking the singer not to forget her. The song ends with the singer dreaming of seeing Margarita again someday.
The lyrics of "Margarita" are fairly straightforward, but they evoke a sense of longing and loss that is familiar to anyone who has had a fleeting romance. The song's catchy melody and upbeat rhythm contrast with its bittersweet lyrics, creating a sense of nostalgia for a time and place that can never be recaptured. The use of Spanish words and phrases adds to the song's exotic atmosphere, and the chorus is particularly memorable, with its repeated refrain of "Margarita, Margarita".
Line by Line Meaning
Ich sah sie in der Bodega
I saw her in the winery
Sie tanzte dort ganz allein
She danced there all alone
Und alle Männer, Die klatschten
And all the men clapped
Neugierig ging ich hinein.
Curiously, I went inside.
Sie lachte, Als sie mich steh'n sah
She laughed when she saw me standing there.
Da war mein Herz schon verlor'n.
That's when I lost my heart.
Später lud ich sie ein Und sie sprach: ich trink Margarita Senor.
Later, I invited her and she said, 'I'll drink a Margarita, Senor.'
Margarita Margarita Auf die Sehnsucht Salute Amor.
Margarita, Margarita, cheers to desire, my love.
Margarita Margarita Sich verlieben Das kommt halt mal vor.
Margarita, Margarita, falling in love happens sometimes.
Margarita Margarita Hat die Träume zum Fliegen gebracht.
Margarita, Margarita, made dreams take flight.
Und wer sich mag Der weiß Herzen schlagen heiß In der spanischen Nacht.
And those who like each other know, hearts beat hot in the Spanish night.
Als ich am Morgen erwachte Kam es mir vor wie ein Traum.
When I woke up in the morning, it felt like a dream.
Ich war alleine I'm Zimmer Ihr Parfüm hing noch I'm Raum.
I was alone in the room, her perfume still lingered.
Ich fand den Zettel am Boden Sie schrieb: Adios mi amor Bitte vergiß mich nicht Trink heut' nacht auf mich Margarita Senor.
I found a note on the ground, she wrote: 'Goodbye my love. Please don't forget me. Drink to me tonight, Margarita, Senor.'
Eines tags Margarita Werden wir zwei uns wiedersehn.
One day, Margarita, we will see each other again.
Eines nachts Margarita Wird das Wunder noch mal gescheh'n.
One night, Margarita, the miracle will happen again.
Margarita Margarita Auf die Sehnsucht Salute Amor.
Margarita, Margarita, cheers to desire, my love.
Margarita Margarita Sich verlieben Das kommt halt mal vor.
Margarita, Margarita, falling in love happens sometimes.
Margarita Margarita Hat die Träume zum Fliegen gebracht.
Margarita, Margarita, made dreams take flight.
Und wer sich mag Der weiß Herzen schlagen heiß In der spanischen Nacht.
And those who like each other know, hearts beat hot in the Spanish night.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LOUIS PRIMA, HARRY REVEL, SUNNY SKYLAR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Etienne Helsen
Mooi nummer van Rex
Zijn nummers blijven door de jaren heen nog steeds leuk.
Jigmsful
Hit #83 (Airplay) in Germany 1992