Dani Klein, the lead singer, and Willy Lambregt had previous success in the band Arbeid Adelt! and decided to form the band Vaya Con Dios together with contrabassist Dirk Schoufs, because their interests were with gypsy music, jazz and opera which are genres which they felt were underappreciated in Brussels.
Their first single "Just a Friend of Mine" has a Latin feel to it and became a big hit in France, selling over 300,000 copies. Willy Lambregt left the group and was replaced by Jean-Michel Gielen. Even though Vaya Con Dios had success in Latin countries, they remained largely unknown in the Netherlands partially due to being a Belgian band, but also because of their gypsy style. In the Summer of 1990, they finally broke through in the Netherlands with "What's a Woman?" peaking at #1 for three weeks, thus making Vaya Con Dios the second Belgian artists to have a #1 hit in the Netherlands; the first being Ivan Heylen in 1974. The song is about the difficulties of men and women who on the one hand need one another, yet sometimes have a difficult time understanding each other.
In 1991, Dani Klein and Dirk Schoufs decided to go their seperate ways and from then on the group consisted of only Dani Klein singng with various musicians. On 24 May 1991, Schoufs died of an AIDS-related illness, which he contracted due to his heroin addiction. Even though they were no longer a team, Dani was very saddened and the third album Time Flies is much more melancholic than the previous albums.
Even though the music and the composition of the band changed, Vaya Con Dios remained popular in large parts of Europe, especially France, Germany, and Scandinavia, until 1996, when Dani left the music business complaining of too much stress. She returned in 1999 as singer in the group "Purple Prose", also the title of the début album that same year. Vaya Con Dios returned in 2004 with a new album called "The Promise," released on an independent label.
In November 2006, Vaya Con Dios released a new album called 'The Ultimate Collection'. It's a CD and DVD of the acoustic concert in Brussels (Belgium) at 31 August 2006.
In total, Vaya Con Dios sold more than 7 million albums and more than 3 million singles
Puerto Rico
Vaya Con Dios Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Manolo is already waiting by the old water-pipe
Her shoes in one hand she carefully walks down the stairs
Holding her breath 'cause there's danger and love in the air.
Aïe aïe aïe aïe aïe aïe Puerto Rico
Aïe aïe aïe aïe aïe aïe Puerto Rico
Begging the Virgin won't help when you hear Manolito shout,
Manolito shout
He's already standing under the starlit sky
You run to his arms and you laugh and you cry as he holds you tight
Aïe aïe aïe aïe aïe aïe Puerto Rico
Aïe aïe aïe aïe aïe aïe Puerto Rico
He says he'll be leaving you soon still you beg him to stay
But he wants to make it somewhere in the U.S.A.
And though he'll be far he promises he'll write every day
When time will be right, he'll come back and he'll take you away
Aïe aïe aïe aïe aïe aïe Puerto Rico
Aïe aïe aïe aïe aïe aïe Puerto Rico
Your papa don't like him, he says he's no good
He steals and he fights and he never behaves, like a young man should
Angelita she knows, he's not that bad inside
She takes the medal, she wears on a chain, and presses it into his palm.
Aïe aïe aïe aïe aïe aïe Puerto Rico
Aïe aïe aïe aïe aïe aïe Puerto Rico
The lyrics of Vaya Con Dios's song, "Puerto Rico," tell the story of a young woman named Angelita who sneaks out of her home to meet Manolo. Angelita carefully walks down the stairs holding her shoes as her mother turns off the light, indicating that it's time for her to go to sleep. Manolo is already waiting for her, and they run to each other with passion and excitement. Angelita is cautious because she knows that her father would beat Manolo if he ever found out about their relationship. However, their connection is too strong, and they laugh and cry in each other's arms as they hold each other tight.
Manolo tells Angelita that he will be leaving soon to make a life for himself in the U.S.A, but he promises to write to her every day. He assures her that when the time is right, he will come back and take her away with him. Angelita's father does not approve of Manolo and claims he is no good because he steals, fights, and never behaves as a young man should. However, Angelita knows that Manolo has a good heart and gives him a medal that she wears on a chain for protection. The song captures the passion, danger, and love of two young people who defy societal expectations and follow their hearts.
Line by Line Meaning
Wake up Angelita, your mama just turned off the light
Angelita is told to wake up because her mother turned off the light, signaling that it is time for her to sneak out to see her lover.
Manolo is already waiting by the old water-pipe
Manolo, her lover, is already waiting for her at the designated meeting spot.
Her shoes in one hand she carefully walks down the stairs
Angelita is careful as she walks down the stairs, holding her shoes in one hand so as to make no noise and avoid waking anyone in the house.
Holding her breath 'cause there's danger and love in the air.
She is anxious and excited at the same time because she knows there is danger in getting caught, but also feels the overwhelming thrill of being in love.
Aïe aïe aïe aïe aïe aïe Puerto Rico
Expressing the strong emotions of the situations in the song.
Your papa will beat him if he ever finds out
Angelita's father does not approve of her relationship with Manolo and threatens him with physical harm if he finds out they are seeing each other.
Begging the Virgin won't help when you hear Manolito shout, Manolito shout
Angelita prays to the Virgin Mary for help, but comes to the realization that she has to depend on her own strength and resolve when Manolo calls out to her.
He's already standing under the starlit sky
Manolo is waiting for Angelita outside, under the starry sky.
You run to his arms and you laugh and you cry as he holds you tight
Angelita and Manolo embrace each other, laughing and crying in joy and relief at being together again.
He says he'll be leaving you soon still you beg him to stay
Manolo lets Angelita know that he will be leaving soon, but she still pleads with him to stay with her.
But he wants to make it somewhere in the U.S.A.
Manolo has aspirations of making it in the U.S.A. and leaving his current life and problems behind.
And though he'll be far he promises he'll write every day
Manolo promises to keep in touch with Angelita by writing to her every day despite being far away.
When time will be right, he'll come back and he'll take you away
Manolo promises Angelita that he will come back for her and take her away when the time is right for them to be together permanently.
Your papa don't like him, he says he's no good
Angelita's father disapproves of Manolo and thinks that he is no good and not a suitable partner for his daughter.
He steals and he fights and he never behaves, like a young man should
Angelita's father believes Manolo is a troublemaker and a bad influence because he steals and fights, going against how a young man should behave.
Angelita she knows, he's not that bad inside
Angelita sees the good in Manolo and knows that he is not as bad as her father believes him to be.
She takes the medal, she wears on a chain, and presses it into his palm.
Angelita gives Manolo a medal that she wears on a chain, as a way to show her love and faith in their future together.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DANIELLE MARIE J. SCHOOVAERTS, DIRK SCHOUFS, MARC FRANCOIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@fahdboziri8729
I listened to this song as a kid in the eighties laying on the beach in Casablanca Morocco, years later I married a Puerto Rican 😊
@inanooki3560
This is art for eternity ❤
Bless this voice
@freedomsports3365
Thank God i was born 1977.., and now how to apreciated GOOD MUSIC !!!
@momarock4434
La voz de esta mujer tiene un nivel muy superior , de otras que venden millones de discos.😍
@angiehoole1
Veritat! Es Belga…
@MariaEliza877
Sí, perfect❤
@Amo-rd6qr
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
@manuelhiguerasnavas128
Si es muy limpia❤
@falconman6214
يا سلام على الموسيقى و الاحساس
نعم اي ياي ياي بويرتو ريكو ❤
@paulhatem3114
No words to describe the beauty the class and the soul relief for the songs of the DUCHESS VAYA CON DIOS