Tango songs have a variety of themes, the most widespread one being love (usually lost love, unfortunately), but also friendship, the harshness of life, gambling… Tango also has another favourite theme: tango itself!
With the expansion of modern media, tango songs became more and more widely broadcast in Argentina – whether on radio, at theaters or in magazines. At this point, tango music became omnipresent and an integral part of Argentine culture and lyrics started to talk about tango from several aspects.
Tango as a dance – tango started as a music style but some songs soon made reference to the dance
P. Contursi, Flor de Tango, 1917
| Del canyengue de algun tango en los brazos de algun gil |
On the beat of some tango in the arms of some idiot |
Marvil, Asi se baila el tango, 1942 –
Read the story about the song and the full lyrics
| Así se baila el tango, mezclando el aliento, cerrando los ojos pa’ escuchar mejor como los violines le cuentan a los fueyes por que desde esa noche Malena no cantó… |
This is how to dance tango, breaths mix, eyes close to listen more to the violins and the bandoneons wondering why Malena stopped singing tonight… |
Tango and seduction: of course, tango has always been associated with night life and with seduction
S. Linning, Milonguita, 1920
| Y en aquellas noches de verano que sonaba tu almita, mujer, al oir en la esquina algun tango chamuyarte de amor? |
And in these summer nights, what did your little soul dream about, woman, when hearing from around the corner some tango sweet-talking you about love? |
Tango as a person: with tango becoming such an omnipresent part of the culture, before long it became a ‘person’ one would refer to.
H. Exposito, ‘Yo soy el tango’, 1941
| Soy el tango milongon nacido en los suburbios malevos y turbios. |
I am the tango from the milonga, born in the ciminal and murky slums. |
H. Pettorossi, ‘Lo han visto con otra’, 1928
| Tango, tango vos que fuiste el amigo confidente de su amor… |
Tango, tango, you were the friend she confided her love to… |
Abrazo,
Tanguito
Source:
Tango, la mezcla milagrosa, un ensayo de Carlos Mina
