Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: opera
Song Meaning of “L’ Africaine (The African Maid), Act IV: Mi batte il cor … O paradiso” by Giacomo Meyerbeer
Mi batte il cor … O paradiso, or ‘My heart beats … Oh paradise,’expresses the longing, yearning, and love of a man for a woman he cannot have. He is captivated by her beauty, spirit, and grace that he likens to heaven itself. He expresses his unrequited love for her, wishing that one day his heart will find paradise.
The song speaks of the turmoil of a forbidden love which the man feels when he looks into his African lover’s eyes. He knows that his love must remain unrequited, but his heart continues to beat for her and hope of an idyllic future together. The phrase “O paradiso” asks the listener to join him in wishing for the impossible—a future of mutual devotion, understanding, and joy with the one he loves.
The song speaks to the power of love and its ability to transcend boundaries, be it physical or cultural. Even though the man may never be able to be with his African lover, his love is strong enough to keep him dreaming of a better future; “Mi batte il cor … O paradiso” is like a mantra, encouraging the listener to cling on to the most beautiful dreams even in the face of insurmountable odds.