The family returned to Puerto Rico in 1971, and while seeking a degree in Biology at the University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez, Wilkins decided to pursue a formal singing career, eventually doing it full-time. In 1973, Wilkins made his recording debut with an album titled "Wilkins" (produced by Tito Puente), which was followed in 1974 and in 1975 with the recordings of the albums "Por Tu Rumbo" (By your Path) and a second "Wilkins", respectively. The albums' successes were followed by several successful concerts, both in Puerto Rico and Latin America. Wilkins' music has also been popular in Germany and Japan. Wilkins became the first pop music performer to sing in the Luis A. Ferre Fine Arts Center in San Juan, Puerto Rico, which was only reserved for classical music performers.
In 1980, Wilkins released "Respiraré" (I will Breathe) which was named best recording of the year by ASCAP. He was twice named by Billboard and ASCAP as the singer and composer of the year. In 1988, Wilkins participated in the film "Salsa", as a homeless person, starring Robby Rosa alongside the likes of Celia Cruz and Tito Puente. In the movie, he sang the song "Margarita", which he composed and which is also included in his "Paraiso Perdido" album. "Margarita" became one his greatest "hits" and he won Gold Record Awards in Puerto Rico, Latin America, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Greece, Egypt, South Africa and the Philippines.
In 1989, a dance craze called the "Lambada" (The Forbidden Dance) spread across the world. Wilkins sang the Latin version of the song which became a huge success. In 1990, Wilkins included the "Lambada" in his new album titled "Una Historia Importante" (An Important Story).
In 1991, Wilkins' song "Sopa de Caracol" (Shell Soup), co-produced by Emilio Estefan, reached the German "Hit Parade List" and over 25,000 people attended a concert that he gave in Berlin, after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Wilkins suffered a personal tragedy when his young son died. He stayed away form the music world for three years. In 1995, he recorded "El Amor Es Mas Fuerte" (Love is Stronger) which won a "Tu Musica Award" as best album of the year. He was also awarded the Dominican Republic's Casandra Award that same year. He then made his official comeback with a sold-out concert at San Juan's Hiram Bithorn Stadium, the biggest concert and sports venue in Puerto Rico. That same year also won another Gold Record Award for the recording of "Wilkins-Leyenda", which consists of a set of four CDs with 70 songs. In the 1990s, he released several other successful albums such as "Pole-Pole" and held a concert in El Morro fortress in San Juan. In 2005, Wilkins released his 43rd album, "Tu Fan", recorded in Italy. Wilkins has won over 23 Gold Record and 10 Platinum Record Awards over the years.
In November 2006, Wilkins released a Greatest Hits collection, featuring a DVD with 17 music videos and five new songs, called "Disco de Oro: Cuatro Décadas de Éxitos y Cinco Nuevas Canciones".
Te Extraño
Wilkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
En lo que me queda por vivir
Qué difícil es recomenzar
Si no vas a estar conmigo
Adelante y sin mirar atrás
Esta pena ya me pasará
Me ilusiono con muy poca convicción
Si tú vieras cómo brilla el sol
Que no sabe nada de tu adiós
Los colores de nuestra ciudad
Para nada me consuelan
Sé que solo debo descubrir
El misterio de mi porvenir
No me queda en realidad otra elección
Desde que no estás aquí
Coro x2
No puedo aparentar
Que todo sigue igual
Si tengo rota el alma
Tú no regresarás
Lo tengo que aceptar
Por más que me hagas falta
Tan intenso es mi dolor
Que es casi una oración
Que siempre me acompaña
Y te cuento desde acá
Que el mundo es tan distinto si no estás
Yo recuerdo bien tu sencillez
Esa fuerza que te daba fe
En tus ojos negros la bondad
Revelaba tu grandeza
Cuando no hubo tiempo para más
Y tu cuerpo se empezó a apagar
Un silencio despiadado te llevó
Alejándote de mí
Coro x 2
Desde donde estés manda una luz
Déjame saber cómo estás tú
Te extraño
The lyrics of Wilkins's Te Extraño express the pain and difficulty of moving on after a loved one has left. The singer reflects on the many things he must do without his partner, and how hard it is to start over without them. He tries to find consolation in the beauty of the world around him, but it brings him no comfort. He knows that he must discover his own future and make his own choices, but the absence of his loved one weighs heavily on him.
The chorus repeats the sentiment of the title: "I miss you." The singer cannot pretend that everything is the same without his partner, and he accepts that he must live with this pain. He begs for a sign from his loved one, a light to let him know how they're doing. The emotional intensity of the song is captured in the final verse, which remembers the simple goodness and strength of the departed loved one, and how their passing has changed the world for the singer.
Overall, the lyrics of Te Extraño are a poignant expression of grief and the struggle to move on after the loss of a loved one. The singer's pain is palpable, but he also recognizes the need to find his own way forward, even as he remembers the person he has lost.
Line by Line Meaning
Cuántas cosas debo hacer sin tí
I have so much to do without you
En lo que me queda por vivir
For the rest of my life
Qué difícil es recomenzar
Starting over is hard
Si no vas a estar conmigo
If you are not going to be with me
Adelante y sin mirar atrás
Moving forward without looking back
Esta pena ya me pasará
This pain will pass
Me ilusiono con muy poca convicción
I try to have faith, but it is hard
Si tú vieras cómo brilla el sol
If you could see how the sun shines
Que no sabe nada de tu adiós
That knows nothing of your goodbye
Los colores de nuestra ciudad
The colors of our city
Para nada me consuelan
Do not comfort me
Sé que solo debo descubrir
I know I must discover
El misterio de mi porvenir
The mystery of my future
No me queda en realidad otra elección
I do not have many choices
Desde que no estás aquí
Since you are not here
No puedo aparentar
I cannot pretend
Que todo sigue igual
That everything is the same
Si tengo rota el alma
If my soul is broken
Tú no regresarás
You will not come back
Lo tengo que aceptar
I have to accept it
Por más que me hagas falta
As much as I miss you
Tan intenso es mi dolor
My pain is so intense
Que es casi una oración
It is almost like a prayer
Que siempre me acompaña
That always accompanies me
Y te cuento desde acá
And I tell you from here
Que el mundo es tan distinto si no estás
That the world is so different without you
Yo recuerdo bien tu sencillez
I remember your simplicity well
Esa fuerza que te daba fe
That strength that gave you faith
En tus ojos negros la bondad
The kindness in your dark eyes
Revelaba tu grandeza
Revealed your greatness
Cuando no hubo tiempo para más
When there was no time for more
Y tu cuerpo se empezó a apagar
And your body began to fade away
Un silencio despiadado te llevó
A ruthless silence took you away
Alejándote de mí
Taking you away from me
Desde donde estés manda una luz
Send a light from where you are
Déjame saber cómo estás tú
Let me know how you are
Te extraño
I miss you
Writer(s): ODRIA MARIA DEL CARMEN, ORLANDI GOFFREDO
Contributed by Emily W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@laprincesita162009
“No puedo aparentar que todo sigue igual, si tengo rota el alma.” 🥺🥺🥺 Dedicada a mis abuelos Elena y Ángel en el cielo❤️💕
@LMONTI16
Le dedico esta cancion a los que ya no estan con nosotros, la familia Montanez. Papi (Don Andres), mis sobrinos Leny y David, mi hermana Bruni y en especial mi gemela Gloria (Bombon). Los extrano mucho, Lydia
@esdrasrivas5457
Esa canción y sentimental ya tenía una hermana que murió de cáncer yo le llevaba 5 años hace 7 años que falleció pero siempre confían en Jehová
@melinlapechera
WILKINS, ES SINONIMO DE SER UN GRAN ARBOL QUE DA VERDES OJAS TODOS LOS OTOÑOS, TE QUEREMOS MUCHO EN REPUBLICA DOMINICANA, ERES TAN NUESTRO COMO DE PUERTO RICO , CON TODO MI CORAZON, WILKINS, ERES UNA GLORIA DEL CANTAR DE HABLA HISPANA . DESDE ESTADOS UNIDOS Y LLEVANDO TU MUSICA SIEMPRE , UN DOMINICANO LATINOAMERICANO QUE AMA LA CULTURA HISPANICA
@jesusramos2832
Nunca habra un cantante como wilkins, en cada cancion pone su corazon la primera vez q escuche esta cancion me conmovio. Gracias Wilkins por tus canciones valoro mas la vida.
@vannecat
es muy fuerte lo que nos has escrito, no se quien eres, pero es mas que obvio que sufres, dejame decirte que tu madre siempre estara contigo, ten calma para aguantar el dolor, que Dios te bendiga!!!
@renatodinapoli
Wilkins, hermano Desde siempre he sido un admirador tuyo. En la época de los 70 fuiste mi inspiración y hasta incursioné en el canto (estuve en tu programa de radio en Radio Weko). La vida hace que uno cambie de sendero pero aún sigo fan tuyo y me alegro de ver tu retorno.
@TB.839
Hoy 17 de octubre 2019 escucho esta canción y es para pelos. Un sentimiento increíble de Wilkins. Mis respetos compatriota.
@miriammarrerosv4009
Esta cancion deberia tener muchos 📢millones de visita. Muy triste 👏y bonito mensaje 👏
@fucsiapink7448
No puedo escuchar esta canción ni una sola vez sin llorar, esta canción recoge perfectamente el dolor que sentimos los que hemos perdido un ser querido, hay muchas canciones sobre estos momentos de perdida pero ninguna como esta donde realmente uno logra sentir el dolor del intérprete.