The Latin American Bolero: A Transnational Popular Music Main Menu The Bolero From Santiago to Mexico City and the World "Tristezas" (1883) The Bolero is born in Santiago de Cuba Los Cuatro Grandes "Boda Negra" (1919) The Bolero Arrives in Mexico Bolero Yucateco "Presentimiento" (1924) Bolero Yucateco "Nunca" (1927) Bolero Yucateco Agustin Lara's Boleros "Imposible" (1928)

"Solamente Una Vez" (1942)

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Agustin Lara's music was widely disseminated through radio, television and film. This began in the 1930s with La Hora Azul on XEW, a radio show which later became a television program. His boleros provided the soundtrack to many films during the golden era of Mexican cinema (1936-1956), and sometimes for international films. 



"Solamente Una Vez" first appeared in the 1942 Argentine film, Melodías de America, produced by San Miguel Films (Argentina). The film is set in Rio de Janeiro and tells a love story between a young woman from Buenos Aires and a Mexican singer. The film was directed by the Argentinean Eduardo Morera, directed over 18 films, most of them focused on music. He was instrumental in popularizing the tango singer Carlos Gardel.
 
Solamente una vez
amé en la vida,
solamente una vez
y nada más
 		Only once
Did I love in my life
Only once
And never more
una vez, nada mas
en mi huerto brillo la esperanza,
la esperanza que alumbra el camino
de mi soledad		Only once, only
There was the brightness of hope in my orchard
The hope that lit the path
Of my solitude
 
Una vez, nada más
se entrega el alma
con la dulce y total
renunciación,
 		Only once, only
Does one give their soul
With sweet and complete
Renunciation
y cuando ese milagro realiza
el prodigio de amarse,
hay campanas de fiesta que cantan
en el corazón...		And when that miracle occurs,
That marvel of being in love,
There are festive bells singing
In the heart


The song also inspired covers by popular American singers like Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby. Cole's version retains the original Spanish lyrics, while Crosby's 1945 version is a translation titled "You Belong to My Heart."

Nat King Cole: 



Bing Crosby:



Los Panchos also recorded a cover of the song in 1958, in a more traditional bolero style:

In the 1990s, the Mexican pop singer, Luis Miguel recorded several classic boleros, with "Solamente Una Vez" being one of them:


 

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  1. Agustin Lara's Boleros Jeannelle Ramirez

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