Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin has been extremely influential to Latin music, so it’s long past time that he be included on this site. He released the duet “Recuerdo” with Carla Morrison on July 23, 2020. It appears on his EP Pausa which was released on May 29, 2020, and reached number twelve on the Billboard Latin Pop Songs chart.

Song information from Wikipedia.

About the Artists

Ricky Martin

Enrique Martín Morales, who performs as Ricky Martin, is a singer, songwriter and actor from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Martin got his start in music at the age of twelve when he joined the Puerto Rican boy band Menudo. At seventeen years old he left the group and began a solo career while also pursing acting. His first solo album, the Spanish-language Ricky Martin was released in November of 1991. After releasing several Spanish language albums he wrote “La copa de la vida” for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. His performance at the World Cup final was broadcast to over a billion viewers in 187 countries and reached number one on the charts around the word, going gold and platinum in various countries. In 1999 he performed this song at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards, and was credited with bringing Latin pop to mainstream American audiences and sparking nationwide interest in Latin music.

Following this success, Martin attained worldwide success with the release of his first English-language album Ricky Martin, which included the single “Livin’ la Vida Loca”. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, sold 661,000 copies in the first week, and became the most successful album debut on the Billboard charts by a Hispanic artist. It is his best selling album to date, reaching number one in many countries around the world and having sold 15 million copies worldwide, earning 7× platinum certification in the US. The single “Livin’ la Vida Loca” is generally seen as the song that began the Latin pop explosion of 1999 and paved the way for other Spanish-speaking artists like Enrique Iglesias and Shakira to move into the English-speaking market.

Ricky Martin has received numerous awards, including 2 Grammy Awards, 4 Latin Grammy Awards, 5 MTV Video Music Awards, 3 Billboard Music Awards, 9 Billboard Latin Music Awards, 2 American Music Awards, and 2 Latin American Music Awards. He is known as the “King of Latin Pop” and is one of the best-selling and most influential Latin music artists of all time with over 70 million records worldwide.

Biographical information from Wikipedia.

Carla Morrison

Carla Patricia Morrison Flores, known as Carla Morrison, is an indie-pop singer and composer from Tecate, Baja California, Mexico. When she was 17 she decided to move to Phoenix, Arizona to dedicate herself to music. She began studying music at Mesa Community College, but she soon dropped out of school because her approach to music was more spiritual, emotional and self taught than academic. She performed for a short time locally in a band called Babaluca. In 2009 and 2010 she released two EPs, entitled Aprendiendo a Aprender and Mientras Tú Dormías, which led to performances throughout Mexico and in some areas of the US and Colombia. She released her first full album Déjenme Llorar in March of 2012, which was certified Gold in Mexico. The album won a Latin Grammy Awards for Best Alternative Album and it’s title track won the Latin Grammy Award for Best Alternative Song.

Biographical information from Wikipedia.

Cultural References, Idioms and Explanations

‘recuerdo’ – The word ‘recuerdo’ can either be a noun meaning ‘memory’ or the first person singular (yo) present tense conjugation of the verb ‘recordar’ meaning ‘to remember’. As both meanings appear in this song the title could mean either, though I have chosen ‘memory’ as it appears both in the chorus and more times throughout the song.

‘no tengo saciedad’ – Translating literally as ‘I don’t have satiation’, a better translation for this phrase would be ‘I can’t get enough of you’.

‘lo que’ – Literally translating as ‘it that’, this phrase better translates as ‘what’, ‘whatever’, or ‘which’.

‘pedir’ – This verb usually means ‘to ask for’, however it can also mean ‘to need’, ‘to want’ or ‘to cry out for’, for example ‘estas paredes están pidiendo una mano de pintura’ meaning ‘these walls are needing a coat of paint’ or even ‘these walls are crying out for a coat of paint’.

‘al dormir’ – The contraction ‘al’ (a + el) means that something is done at the time of the accompanying noun or verb. For example ‘al amanecer’ means ‘at dawn’, ‘al llegar’ means ‘on arrival’ and here ‘al dormir’ means ‘when at sleep’.

Song Lyrics with Grammatical Breakdown

Mouse over a term for grammatical information. A chart of the terms and grammatical information can be found here.

Recuerdorecuerdomemory, memories; souvenir, momento | noun | masc sing

[Verse 1]
Vengovenirto come, to arrive; to return, come back | verb | first pers sing pres aato, into, by | prep ti,tiyou | pron | sec pers sing, obj of prep confiesoconfesarconfess, admit | verb | first pers sing pres
Cadacadaeach, every | adj emociónemociónemotion, feeling; excitement, anticipation | noun | fem sing latiendolatirto beat | verb | ger
Estoestothis | pron | masc sing mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing impideimpedirprevent, block, hinder, impede | verb | third pers sing pres respirarrespirarto breathe | verb | infin
Yayanow, already | adv nononot | adv puedopoderto be able to | verb | first pers sing pres
Mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing perdíperderto lose | verb | first pers sing pret | perderse = to get lost; to miss enenin, on, during | prep tutuyour | poss adj | masc and fem sing cuerpocuerpobody | noun | masc sing
Cadacadaeach, every | adj rincónrincóncorner | noun | masc sing secretosecretosecret, hidden | adj | masc sing
Dedefrom, of | prep titiyou | pron | obj of a prep nononot | adv tengotenerto have | verb | first pers sing pres saciedadsaciedadsatiation, fullness | noun | fem sing
Sonserto be | verb | third pers pl pres tustusyour | adj | masc and fem pl besosbesokiss | noun | masc pl

[Pre-Chorus]
Nononot | adv puedopoderto be able to | verb | first pers sing pres fingirfingirto pretend, feign, fake, imitate | verb | infin
Lolohim, it | pron | masc sing, neuter | lo que = what, whatever, which quequethat, than | conj | lo que = what, whatever, which vesverto see, to watch | verb | sec pers sing pres enenin, on, during | prep mímíme | pron | first pers sing, obj of prep esserto be | verb | third pers sing pres porporfor; because of; by | prep titiyou | pron | obj of a prep
Déjamedejar + meto let, allow; to leave + me | verb + pron | sec pers sing impera sentirsentirto feel; sense; hear; taste; feel about, think about; feel sorry about | verb | infin
Solosoloonly, just | adv acércateacercarseapproach; take interest; go to | verb | sec pers sing impera

[Chorus]
Porqueporquebecause | conj enenin, on, during | prep titiyou | pron | obj of a prep pudepoderto be able to | verb | first pers sing pret ververto see | verb | infin mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing reflejoreflejoreflection, reflex | noun | masc sing
Lalathe | def art | fem sing mitadmitadhalf; middle | noun | fem sing dedefrom, of | prep mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing vidavidalife | noun | fem sing hechahechomade | adj | fem sing versoversoverse, poetry | noun | masc sing
Cadacadaeach, every | adj sol,solsun | noun | masc sing cadacadaeach, every | adj lunalunamoon | noun | fem sing enenin, on, during | prep mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing cielocielosky, heaven | noun | masc sing
Yyand | conj enenin, on, during | prep tustusyour | adj | masc and fem pl ojosojoeye | noun | masc pl mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing sustentosustentosustenance, food; foundation, support | noun | masc sing
Fueserto be | verb | third pers sing pret tutuyour | poss adj | masc and fem sing luzluzlight | noun | fem sing lalathe | def art | fem sing ilusión,ilusióndream, hope, wishful thinking; excitement, eagerness; illusion | noun | fem sing lalathe | def art | fem sing cariciacariciastroke, pat, caress; pet | noun | fem sing
Tustusyour | adj | masc and fem pl palabraspalabraword | noun | fem pl besandobesarto kiss | verb | ger laslasthe | def art | fem pl míasmíasmine | poss adj | fem pl
Fueserto be | verb | third pers sing pret tutuyour | poss adj | masc and fem sing aroma,aromascent, aroma | noun | masc sing pociónpociónpotion, medicine | noun | fem sing tantanso, such; as | adv divinadivinodivine, heavenly, delightful | adj | fem sing
Tutuyour | poss adj | masc and fem sing recuerdorecuerdomemory, memories; souvenir, momento | noun | masc sing nononot | adv puedopoderto be able to | verb | first pers sing pres olvidarolvidarto forget | verb | infin

[Verse 2]
Buscobuscarlook for, search for; pick up, collect | verb | first pers sing pres enenin, on, during | prep mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing silenciosilenciosilence | noun | masc sing
Cadacadaeach, every | adj razónrazónreason | noun | fem sing quequethat, than | conj puedopoderto be able to | verb | first pers sing pres
Mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing mentementemind | noun | fem sing pidepedirto ask for, request; demand; order | verb | third pers sing pres olvidarolvidarto forget | verb | infin
YoyoI | pron | first pers sing nononot | adv puedopoderto be able to | verb | first pers sing pres
Fuisteirto go | verb | sec pers sing pret elelthe | def art | masc sing firmamentofirmamentosky, firmament | noun | masc sing
Ununa | indef art | masc sing bálsamo,bálsamobalm | noun | masc sing ununa | indef art | masc sing misteriomisteriomystery | noun | masc sing
Contigocontigowith you | pron hicehacerto do, make | verb | first pers sing pret mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing verdadverdadtruth | noun | fem sing
Yyand | conj mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing credocredocreed | noun | masc sing

[Pre-Chorus]
Nononot | adv puedopoderto be able to | verb | first pers sing pres fingirfingirto pretend, feign, fake, imitate | verb | infin
Lolohim, it | pron | masc sing, neuter | lo que = what, whatever, which quequethat, than | conj | lo que = what, whatever, which vesverto see, to watch | verb | sec pers sing pres enenin, on, during | prep mímíme | pron | first pers sing, obj of prep esserto be | verb | third pers sing pres porporfor; because of; by | prep titiyou | pron | obj of a prep
Déjamedejar + meto let, allow; to leave + me | verb + pron | sec pers sing impera sentirsentirto feel; sense; hear; taste; feel about, think about; feel sorry about | verb | infin
Solosoloonly, just | adv acércateacercarseapproach; take interest; go to | verb | sec pers sing impera

[Chorus]
Porqueporquebecause | conj enenin, on, during | prep titiyou | pron | obj of a prep pudepoderto be able to | verb | first pers sing pret ververto see | verb | infin mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing reflejoreflejoreflection, reflex | noun | masc sing
Lalathe | def art | fem sing mitadmitadhalf; middle | noun | fem sing dedefrom, of | prep mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing vidavidalife | noun | fem sing hechahechomade | adj | fem sing versoversoverse, poetry | noun | masc sing
Cadacadaeach, every | adj sol,solsun | noun | masc sing cadacadaeach, every | adj lunalunamoon | noun | fem sing enenin, on, during | prep mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing cielocielosky, heaven | noun | masc sing
Yyand | conj enenin, on, during | prep tustusyour | adj | masc and fem pl ojosojoeye | noun | masc pl mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing sustentosustentosustenance, food; foundation, support | noun | masc sing
Fueserto be | verb | third pers sing pret tutuyour | poss adj | masc and fem sing luzluzlight | noun | fem sing lalathe | def art | fem sing ilusión,ilusióndream, hope, wishful thinking; excitement, eagerness; illusion | noun | fem sing lalathe | def art | fem sing cariciacariciastroke, pat, caress; pet | noun | fem sing
Tustusyour | adj | masc and fem pl palabraspalabraword | noun | fem pl besandobesarto kiss | verb | ger laslasthe | def art | fem pl míasmíasmine | poss adj | fem pl
Fueserto be | verb | third pers sing pret tutuyour | poss adj | masc and fem sing aroma,aromascent, aroma | noun | masc sing pociónpociónpotion, medicine | noun | fem sing tantanso, such; as | adv divinadivinodivine, heavenly, delightful | adj | fem sing
Tutuyour | poss adj | masc and fem sing recuerdorecuerdomemory, memories; souvenir, momento | noun | masc sing nononot | adv puedopoderto be able to | verb | first pers sing pres olvidarolvidarto forget | verb | infin

[Post-Chorus]
No-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh
Tutuyour | poss adj | masc and fem sing recuerdorecuerdomemory, memories; souvenir, momento | noun | masc sing nononot | adv puedopoderto be able to | verb | first pers sing pres olvidarolvidarto forget | verb | infin

[Bridge]
Tutuyour | poss adj | masc and fem sing vozvozvoice | noun | fem sing habitahabitarto live (in), dwell, inhabit | verb | third pers sing pres enenin, on, during | prep mímíme | pron | first pers sing, obj of prep
Mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing pielpielskin; peel; leather | noun | fem sing mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing pidepedirto ask for, request; demand; order | verb | third pers sing pres titiyou | pron | obj of a prep
Teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, sec pers sing miromirarlook, watch | verb | first pers sing pres enenin, on, during | prep mismismy | poss adj | masc and fem pl sueñossueñosleep; sleepiness, drowsiness; dream | noun | masc pl
Teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, sec pers sing buscobuscarlook for, search for; pick up, collect | verb | first pers sing pres ala + elto the | prep + def art | masc sing dormirdormirverb | infin
Nononot | adv puedopoderto be able to | verb | first pers sing pres escribirescribirto write | verb | infin
Hoyhoytoday; nowadays, now | adv solosoloonly, just | adv sésaberto know | verb | first pers sing pres sentirsentirto feel; sense; hear; taste; feel about, think about; feel sorry about | verb | infin
Teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, sec pers sing pido,pedirask for, request; order; demand; need, cry out for | verb | first pers sing pres teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, sec pers sing recuerdorecordarto remember | verb | first pers sing pres

[Chorus]
Porqueporquebecause | conj enenin, on, during | prep titiyou | pron | obj of a prep pudepoderto be able to | verb | first pers sing pret ververto see | verb | infin mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing reflejoreflejoreflection, reflex | noun | masc sing
Lalathe | def art | fem sing mitadmitadhalf; middle | noun | fem sing dedefrom, of | prep mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing vidavidalife | noun | fem sing hechahechomade | adj | fem sing versoversoverse, poetry | noun | masc sing
Cadacadaeach, every | adj sol,solsun | noun | masc sing cadacadaeach, every | adj lunalunamoon | noun | fem sing enenin, on, during | prep mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing cielocielosky, heaven | noun | masc sing
Yyand | conj enenin, on, during | prep tustusyour | adj | masc and fem pl ojosojoeye | noun | masc pl mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing sustentosustentosustenance, food; foundation, support | noun | masc sing
Fueserto be | verb | third pers sing pret tutuyour | poss adj | masc and fem sing luzluzlight | noun | fem sing lalathe | def art | fem sing ilusión,ilusióndream, hope, wishful thinking; excitement, eagerness; illusion | noun | fem sing lalathe | def art | fem sing cariciacariciastroke, pat, caress; pet | noun | fem sing
Tustusyour | adj | masc and fem pl palabraspalabraword | noun | fem pl besandobesarto kiss | verb | ger laslasthe | def art | fem pl míasmíasmine | poss adj | fem pl
Fueserto be | verb | third pers sing pret tutuyour | poss adj | masc and fem sing aroma,aromascent, aroma | noun | masc sing pociónpociónpotion, medicine | noun | fem sing tantanso, such; as | adv divinadivinodivine, heavenly, delightful | adj | fem sing
Tutuyour | poss adj | masc and fem sing recuerdorecuerdomemory, memories; souvenir, momento | noun | masc sing nononot | adv puedopoderto be able to | verb | first pers sing pres olvidarolvidarto forget | verb | infin

[Post-Chorus] x 2
No-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh
Tutuyour | poss adj | masc and fem sing recuerdorecuerdomemory, memories; souvenir, momento | noun | masc sing nononot | adv puedopoderto be able to | verb | first pers sing pres olvidarolvidarto forget | verb | infin

Lyrics with Translation

Songs in any language often leave room for multiple interpretations. Following is my interpretation of the song lyrics.

Recuerdo
Memory

[Verse 1]
Vengo a ti, confieso
I come to you, I confess
Cada emoción latiendo
Every emotion beating
Esto me impide respirar
This keeps me from breathing
Ya no puedo
I can’t anymore
Me perdí en tu cuerpo
I got lost in your body
Cada rincón secreto
Every secret corner
De ti no tengo saciedad
I can’t get enough of you
Son tus besos
It’s your kisses

[Pre-Chorus]
No puedo fingir
I can’t pretend
Lo que ves en mí es por ti
What you see in me is because of you
Déjame sentir
Let me feel
Solo acércate
Just come closer

[Chorus]
Porque en ti pude ver mi reflejo
Because in you I could see my reflection
La mitad de mi vida hecha verso
Half my life put into poetry
Cada sol, cada luna en mi cielo
Every sun, every moon in my sky
Y en tus ojos mi sustento
And in your eyes my foundation
Fue tu luz la ilusión, la caricia
Your light was the illusion, the caress
Tus palabras besando las mías
Your words kissing mine
Fue tu aroma, poción tan divina
It was your aroma, such a divine potion
Tu recuerdo no puedo olvidar
I can’t forget your memory

[Verse 2]
Busco en mi silencio
I search my silence
Cada razón que puedo
Every reason I can
Mi mente pide olvidar
My mind asks to forget
Yo no puedo
I can’t
Fuiste el firmamento
You were the firmament
Un bálsamo, un misterio
A balm, a mystery
Contigo hice mi verdad
With you I made my truth
Y mi credo
And my creed

[Pre-Chorus]
No puedo fingir
I can’t pretend
Lo que ves en mí es por ti
What you see in me is because of you
Déjame sentir
Let me feel
Solo acércate
Just come closer

[Chorus]
Porque en ti pude ver mi reflejo
Because in you I could see my reflection
La mitad de mi vida hecha verso
Half my life put into poetry
Cada sol, cada luna en mi cielo
Every sun, every moon in my sky
Y en tus ojos mi sustento
And in your eyes my foundation
Fue tu luz la ilusión, la caricia
Your light was the illusion, the caress
Tus palabras besando las mías
Your words kissing mine
Fue tu aroma, poción tan divina
It was your aroma, such a divine potion
Tu recuerdo no puedo olvidar
I can’t forget your memory

[Post-Chorus]
No-oh-oh-oh-oh
No-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh
Oh-oh
Tu recuerdo no puedo olvidar
I can’t forget your memory

[Bridge]
Tu voz habita en mí
Your voice lives in me
Mi piel me pide ti
My skin asks me for you
Te miro en mis sueños
I watch you in my dreams
Te busco al dormir
I look for you when I sleep
No puedo escribir
I can’t write
Hoy solo sé sentir
Now I only know ow to feel
Te pido, te recuerdo
I need you, I remember you

[Chorus]
Porque en ti pude ver mi reflejo
Because in you I could see my reflection
La mitad de mi vida hecha verso
Half my life put into poetry
Cada sol, cada luna en mi cielo
Every sun, every moon in my sky
Y en tus ojos mi sustento
And in your eyes my foundation
Fue tu luz la ilusión, la caricia
Your light was the illusion, the caress
Tus palabras besando las mías
Your words kissing mine
Fue tu aroma, poción tan divina
It was your aroma, such a divine potion
Tu recuerdo no puedo olvidar
I can’t forget your memory

[Post-Chorus] x 2
No-oh-oh-oh-oh
No-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh
Oh-oh
Tu recuerdo no puedo olvidar
I can’t forget your memory

Grammatical Concepts Used in this Song

• -go verbs:
  • venir
    • Vengo a ti, confieso
  • tener
    • De ti no tengo saciedad

• Stem changing verbs:
  • confesar:
    • Vengo a ti, confieso
  • impedir:
    • Esto me impide respirar
  • poder:
    • Ya no puedo
    • No puedo fingir
    • Tu recuerdo no puedo olvidar
    • Cada razón que puedo
    • Yo no puedo
    • No puedo escribir
  • pedir:
    • Mi mente pide olvidar
    • Mi piel me pide ti
    • Te pido, te recuerdo
  • recordar:
    • Te pido, te recuerdo

• Gerund:
  • Cada emoción latiendo
  • Tus palabras besando las mías

• Long-form possessive adjectives:
  • Tus palabras besando las mías

• Pret:
  • perder
    • Me perdí en tu cuerpo
  • poder
    • Porque en ti pude ver mi reflejo
  • ser
    • Fue tu luz la ilusión, la caricia
    • Fue tu aroma, poción tan divinafue,
    • Fuiste el firmamento

• Pronominal verbs:
  • perderse
    • Me perdí en tu cuerpo
  • acercarse
    • Solo acércate

• Verb ‘ser’:
  • Son tus besos
  • Lo que ves en mí es por ti

• Imperative:
  • Déjame sentir
  • Solo acércate