Tito (born: Pablo Rodríguez Lozada) became interested in music as a child. He was always surrounded by musical toys, such as guitars, pianos and trumpets. His older brother, Johnny Rodríguez, was a song composer and bandleader, who inspired Tito to become a musician.
In 1936, 13 year old Tito joined the group of Ladislao (El Maestro Ladí) Martínez, "Industrias Nativas" as a singer and when he was 16 years old, he participated in a recording with the Mayari Cuartet. In 1940, Tito immigrated to New York City shortly after his parents, Jose and Severina died. He went to live with his brother Johnny, who had been living there since 1935.
In New York, Tito found a job as a singer and bongo player for the orchestra of Eric Madriguera. In 1941, he recorded "Amor Guajiro", "Acercate Mas" (Get Closer) and "Se Fue la Comparsa". In 1942, Tito joined the band of Xavier Cugat, and recorded "Bin, Bam, Bum" and "Ensalada de Congas" (Conga Salad).
Tito joined and served in the U.S. Army for one year. After he was discharged, he returned to New York where he joined the orchestra of Jose Carbelo. On one occasion, the band performed at the China Doll Cabaret. There he met a young Japanese chorus girl by the name of Tobi Kei (b. Takeku Kunimatsu, 23 January 1925, Bellingham, Washington, USA), who was to become his wife.
In 1947, Tito made his "solo" debut and finally organized his own band, which he named "Los Diablos del Mambo". In 1950, he enrolled in The Juilliard School of the Performing Arts, where he studied the vibrophone, xylophone and percussion.
He renamed his band "Los Lobos del Mambo" and later he dropped the name altogether. That's when he decided to go with the name "The Tito Rodriguez Orchestra". The first song that he recorded under the bands new name which became a "hit" was "Besame La Bemba" (Kiss My Big Lips). In 1952, he was honored for having developed his own unique singing style by the "Century Conservatory of Music of New York". His orchestra won the "Gran Trofeo Award" for two consecutive years.
In 1953, Tito heard a percussionist, by the name of Cheo Feliciano. So impressed was Tito that he offered Cheo a job in his band and hired him. Tito discovered that Cheo also knew how to sing and gave him an opportunity to sing at the Palladium Ballroom.
Eventually, Cheo went to work for another band but, the friendship between them lasted for the rest of their lives. Among the other orchestras that played at the Palladium, where the Charlie Palmieri and Tito Puente orchestras.
A rivalry which was to last for years, quickly developed between the two Tito's. The popular latin music craze at the time was the cha-cha and the merengue. With the beginning of the 1960s, all that was going to change with the popularity gained by rock music. Latino bands began to switch their styles and started playing more salsa and boogaloo, which was more attractive to the latin youth.
Tito decided to try his luck with boleros and recorded an album titled "Inolvidable" (Unforgettable), which is considered by many to be his greatest "hit". It sold over a million and a half copies world wide. He also produced records for other groups, such as Los Hispanos and Los Montemar.
The feud between the two Tito's was reflected on some of Rodriguez's recordings. "Avisale a Mi Contrario Que Aqui Estoy Yo" (Tell My Counterpart That I Am Here) and "Que Pena Me Da" (I Pity You), are just two examples of the bad feelings between both of them.
Tito returned to Puerto Rico in 1970 and built a Japanese style house in Santurce, where he lived with his family. Tito produced his own television show called "El Show de Tito Rodriguez" which was transmitted through channel 7. Among the special guest stars which appeared in his show were, Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett and Shirley Basey. Tito also founded his own recording studio called TR Records.
Tito's last public appearance was with Machito and his Band on February 2, 1973 at Madison Square Garden in New York. Tito Rodríguez died of leukemia on February 28, 1973, in his Coral Gables, Florida home where he had recently moved with wife.
En El Balcón
Tito Rodriguez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
RECUERDAS TU
AQUELLA TARDE GRIS
EN EL BALCON AQUEL
DONDE TE CONOCI
YO TE MIRE
Y EN UN BESO FEBRIL
QUE NOS DIMOS TU Y YO
RECUERDAS TU
LA LUNA SE ASOMO
PARA MIRAR FELIZ
NUESTRA ESCENA DE AMOR
HOY YA NO ESTAS
Y LLENO DE DOLOR
MUY SOLO EN EL BALCON
SUFRIDO POR TU AMOR
HOY YA NO ESTAS
Y LLENO DE DOLOR
MUY SOLO EN EL BALCON
SUFRIDO POR TU AMOR
TU VOLVERAS
LO DICE EL CORAZON
PORQUE TE ESPERO YO
COLMADO DE ANSIEDAD
Y ME DARAS
TU AMOR IGUAL QUE AYER
EN EL BALCON AQUEL
LA LUNA BRILLARA
Y ME DARAS
TU AMOR IGUAL QUE AYER
EN EL BALCON AQUEL
LA LUNA BRILLARA
RECUERDAS TU LA NOCHE QUE TE VI
YO ME ACUERDO MI COSA RICA
DE AQUEL BESO QUE TE DI, QUE TE DI
RECUERDAS TU LA NOCHE QUE TE VI
QUE NO ME LLORES, NO ME LLORES MI MULATICA
TU SABES QUE SOY DE TI, DE TI
RECUERDAS TU LA NOCHE QUE TE VI
YO QUISIERA MI COSA BUENA
ESTAR SIEMPRE JUNTO A TI,
SOLO A TI
RECUERDAS TU LA NOCHE QUE TE VI
RECUERDAS TU LA NOCHE QUE TE VI
QUIEREME MI CARIÑITO
QUE SOLO YO SOY DE TI, DE TI
RECUERDAS TU LA NOCHE QUE TE VI
DE AQUEL BESO QUE ME TU ME DISTE, LA HUELLA ME QUEDO A TI, A TI
RECUERDAS TU LA NOCHE QUE TE VI
NO ME MUERDAS MI COSA RICA,
MIRA QUE ME HACES SUFRIR, SUFRIR
RECUERDAS TU LA NOCHE QUE TE VI
LA LA LA LA LA LA
RICORDI TU
QUELLA SERA GRIGIA
SU QUEL BALCONE
DOVE TI HO CONOSCIUTA
IO TI HO GUARDATA
IN UN BACIO FEBBRILE
CHE CI SIAMO DATI TU ED IO
SIGILLAMMO IL NOSTRO AMORE
RICORDI TU
LA LUNA SI AFFACCIÒ
PER GUARDARE FELICE
LA NOSTRA SCENA D'AMORE
OGGI NON CI SEI PIÙ
E PIENO DI DOLORE
MOLTO SOLO SUL BALCONE
SOFFERENTE PER IL TUO AMORE
OGGI NON CI SEI PIÙ
E PIENO DI DOLORE
MOLTO SOLO NEL BALCONE
SOFFERENTE PER IL TUO AMORE
OGGI NON CI SEI PIÙ
E PIENO DI DOLORE
MOLTO SOLO NEL BALCONE
SOFFERENTE PER IL TUO AMORE
TU TORNERAI
LO DICE IL CUORE
PERCHÈ IO TI ASPETTO
COLMO DI ANSIETÀ
E MI DARAI
IL TUO AMORE COME IERI
SU QUEL BALCONE
LA LUNA BRILLERÀ
RICORDI TU LA NOTTE CHE TI HO VISTA
IO MI RICORDO MIA CARA
DI QUEL BACIO CHE TI DIEDI, CHE TI DIEDI
RICORDI TU LA NOTTE CHE TI HO VISTA
NON PIANGERE, NON PIANGERE MIA
MULATTINA
TU SAI CHE IO SONO TUO, SONO TUO
RICORDI TU LA NOTTE CHE TI HO VISTA
IO VORREI MIA CARA
STARE SEMPRE CON TE,
SOLO CON TE
RICORDI TU LA NOTTE CHE TI HO VISTA
RICORDI TU LA NOTTE CHE TI HO VISTA
AMAMI MIO TESORUCCIO
CHE SONO SOLO TUO, SOLO TUO
RICORDI TU LA NOTTE CHE TI HO VISTA
DI QUEL BACIO CHE MI HAI DATO, L'IMPRONTA CHE MI HAI LASCIATO, CHE MI HAI LASCIATO
RICORDI TU LA NOTTE CHE TI HO VISTA
NON MORDERMI MIA CARA
GUARDA CHE MI FAI SOFFRIRE, MI FAI SOFFRIRE
RICORDI TU LA NOTTE CHE TI HO VISTA
The lyrics of Tito Rodriguez's song "En El Balcón" depict a nostalgic and melancholic tale of a past love, centered on a romantic memory that took place on a balcony on a gray afternoon. The singer remembers the moment he met his lover for the first time, and they shared a passionate kiss that sealed their love. The moon looked down on them, happy to witness their love scene. However, now the singer is alone on the balcony, filled with pain and suffering from the loss of his love. He longs for her return and hopes to repeat their love story once again on the same balcony, where the moon will shine bright again.
The song is filled with vivid imagery that captures the essence of a bygone time. The almost cinematic narrative style of the lyrics allows the listener to experience the emotions of the singer in a heartfelt and sentimental way. The repeated use of the phrase "Recuerdas tu" (Do you remember) creates a sense of longing and nostalgia that runs through the whole song. The theme of lost love and hope for a new beginning makes this song a timeless classic that resonates with many listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
LA LA LA LA LA LA
The song starts with an instrumental intro.
RECUERDAS TU
Do you remember?
AQUELLA TARDE GRIS
That gray afternoon.
EN EL BALCON AQUEL
On that balcony.
DONDE TE CONOCI
Where I met you.
YO TE MIRE
I looked at you.
Y EN UN BESO FEBRIL
And in a feverish kiss.
QUE NOS DIMOS TU Y YO
That we gave each other.
SELLAMOS NUESTRO AMOR
We sealed our love.
LA LUNA SE ASOMO
The moon appeared.
PARA MIRAR FELIZ
To watch happily.
NUESTRA ESCENA DE AMOR
Our scene of love.
HOY YA NO ESTAS
Today you're not here anymore.
Y LLENO DE DOLOR
And full of pain.
MUY SOLO EN EL BALCON
Very alone on the balcony.
SUFRIDO POR TU AMOR
Suffering for your love.
TU VOLVERAS
You'll come back.
LO DICE EL CORAZON
The heart says so.
PORQUE TE ESPERO YO
Because I'm waiting for you.
COLMADO DE ANSIEDAD
Full of anxiety.
Y ME DARAS
And you'll give me.
TU AMOR IGUAL QUE AYER
Your love just like yesterday.
LA LUNA BRILLARA
The moon will shine.
RICORDI TU
Do you remember?
QUELLA SERA GRIGIA
That gray evening.
SU QUEL BALCONE
On that balcony.
DOVE TI HO CONOSCIUTA
Where I met you.
IO TI HO GUARDATA
I watched you.
IN UN BACIO FEBBRILE
In a feverish kiss.
CHE CI SIAMO DATI TU ED IO
That we gave each other.
SIGILLAMMO IL NOSTRO AMORE
We sealed our love.
LA LUNA SI AFFACCIÒ
The moon appeared.
PER GUARDARE FELICE
To watch happily.
LA NOSTRA SCENA D'AMORE
Our scene of love.
OGGI NON CI SEI PIÙ
Today you're not here anymore.
E PIENO DI DOLORE
And full of pain.
MOLTO SOLO SUL BALCONE
Very alone on the balcony.
SOFFERENTE PER IL TUO AMORE
Suffering for your love.
TU TORNERAI
You'll come back.
LO DICE IL CUORE
The heart says so.
PERCHÈ IO TI ASPETTO
Because I'm waiting for you.
COLMO DI ANSIETÀ
Full of anxiety.
E MI DARAI
And you'll give me.
IL TUO AMORE COME IERI
Your love just like yesterday.
LA LUNA BRILLERÀ
The moon will shine.
RICORDI TU LA NOTTE CHE TI HO VISTA
Do you remember the night I saw you?
IO MI RICORDO MIA CARA
I remember, my dear.
DI QUEL BACIO CHE TI DIEDI, CHE TI DIEDI
Of that kiss we gave each other.
NON PIANGERE, NON PIANGERE MIA MULATTINA
Don't cry, don't cry, my little mulatta.
TU SAI CHE IO SONO TUO, SONO TUO
You know that I'm yours, I'm yours.
IO VORREI MIA CARA
I would like, my dear.
STARE SEMPRE CON TE
To always be with you.
SOLO CON TE
Only with you.
AMAMI MIO TESORUCCIO
Love me, my little treasure.
CHE SONO SOLO TUO, SOLO TUO
That I belong only to you, only to you.
DI QUEL BACIO CHE MI HAI DATO, L'IMPRONTA CHE MI HAI LASCIATO, CHE MI HAI LASCIATO
Of that kiss you gave me, the imprint you left on me.
NON MORDERMI MIA CARA
Don't bite me, my dear.
GUARDA CHE MI FAI SOFFRIRE, MI FAI SOFFRIRE
Look, you make me suffer, make me suffer.
Writer(s): Tito Rodriguez
Contributed by Daniel V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Javier Ramos
on No Lo Recuerdas
this songs name is Hipotesis track # 5 on this album