Pretendas comes from the verb pretender, which can mean 'to pretend' but also 'to expect' or 'to intend'. It's a versatile word that often causes confusion for learners.
In this song, the line "No pretendas que te quiera" means "Don't expect me to love you." It's a direct and impactful way for the singer to state that he's moved on, making it a key word for understanding the song's emotional core.
Dread Mar I, the reggae master from Argentina, brings us a song about moving on from a past love. It's a pretty direct message, actually! He's telling someone, "Si me decÃs que me quieres, No pretendas que te quiera" [If you tell me you love me, Don't pretend that I love you].
He's clear that the feelings he once had are gone: "de mi corazón se ha ido Eso que por ti sentÃa" [that which I felt for you has left my heart]. The chorus, "Es que hoy, hoy, no te amo" [It's that today, today, I don't love you], really drives the point home. He acknowledges that their love was beautiful, even if it didn't last long, and now it's just a memory. He also wishes them well, saying, "Yo sé que encontraras El amor que más te quiera" [I know you will find The love that loves you most], which is a kind way to end things. He's changed, too: "Yo ya no soy el que era" [I am no longer who I was].
Mariano Javier Castro, known as Dread Mar I, is a pioneering Argentine reggae and ragga singer born in Quequén, Buenos Aires Province in 1978. Starting his music career in the early 2000s, he blends reggae rock, reggae en Español, ska, and pop to create a vibrant and soulful sound.
Dread Mar I gained national and international recognition with albums like Jah Guia (2005) and Amor-es (2008), performing extensively across South America. Known for his powerful lyrics and heartfelt performances, he holds the record for the most viewed Argentine song on YouTube with his hit single "Tú sin mÃ". Over two decades, he has become a key figure in Latin American reggae, continuing to inspire with albums like Caminarás caminos (2018) and Yo (2021).