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Agua florida

Agua florida is a Tango written by Ramón Collazo and recorded by Ángel d’Agostino in 1941. The Tango Agua florida is written by Ramón Collazo, Ángel d’Agostino has recorded Agua florida with the singer Ángel Vargas.
“Agua Florida,” meaning “Floral Water” in English, dances through the senses like a fragrant breeze on a warm evening. It envelops the listener in a tapestry of blooming scents, each note a droplet of color and emotion. This piece washes over the soul, cleansing and renewing, with the elegance and passion of a Tango’s embrace.

Tango

Style

Ángel d'Agostino

Orchestra

Ángel Vargas

Singer

Fernán Silva Valdés

Author

Ramón Collazo

Composer

1941/11/13

Date

Ángel Vargas
Ángel Vargas
Ángel d'Agostino
Ángel d’Agostino

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Lyrics Translation of the Tango Agua florida

This is the translation of the Tango “Agua florida” from Spanish to English. The English lyrics of the Tango “Agua florida” have been done with AI.

Letra del Tango Agua florida

Agua florida, vos eras criolla.
Te usaban las pobres violetas del fango
de peinados lisos, como agua’e laguna,
cuando se bailaba alegrando el tango
con un taconeo y una media luna.
Perfume del tiempo taura que pasó,
pues todo en la vida ha de ser así,
cuando las percantas mentían que no
mientras las enaguas batían que sí.

Chinas
sencillas y querendonas,
que al son de las acordeonas
bailaban un milongón.
Chinas
que oliendo a agua florida
se metían en la vida
a punta de corazón.

Agua florida vos eras criolla.
De cuando una viola tocaba de prima
y otras las cuarteaban dando a las bordonas,
y un ramo de taitas era cada esquina
y la vida era linda y guapetona.
Vos eras del tiempo del gacho ladeao,
de la mina airosa anclada al bulín,
del lazo en el pelo, del percal floreao
y de la academia y el peringundín.

English lyrics of the Tango "Agua florida"

Florida water, you were native-born.
Used by the humble violets from the mud
with straightened hairdos, like pond water,
when they danced, brightening up the tango
with a tap of the heel and a half-moon.
Perfume of a brave bygone era,
for everything in life must be this way,
when the girls pretended to say no
while their petticoats insistently said yes.

Ladies,
simple and affectionate,
who to the sound of accordions
danced a vigorous milonga.
Ladies
scented with florida water
who plunged into life
with all their heart.

Florida water, you were native-born.
From when a viola played the leading tune
and others joined in strumming the bass strings,
and a group of tough guys was each corner
and life was beautiful and bold.
You belonged to the era of the tilted hat,
of the graceful woman anchored to her love nest,
of the ribbon in the hair, of the flowered percale
and of the dance hall and the cheeky fun.

Agua florida by Fernán Silva Valdés

Agua florida is a Tango written by Fernán Silva Valdés and composed by Ramón Collazo.


Story behind the Tango Agua florida

The lyrics of “Agua florida” evoke a strong sense of nostalgia for the old days of tango in Argentina, reflecting on the traditions and the lifestyle of the time. The song reminisces about the simple yet passionate lives of the people known as ‘chinas’—a term affectionately used for women in this context—who were fragrant with “Agua florida” and lived life with heartfelt sincerity. It paints a vivid picture of local dances, musical accompaniment, and the vibrant community life centered around tango culture.


Symbolism of Agua florida

“Agua florida,” which translates to “Florida Water” in English, symbolizes more than just a fragrance in this tango; it represents an era marked by authenticity and raw emotion. It was a popular perfume used by women of the working class, imbued with a sense of belonging and identity. This perfume, coupled with visuals of smooth hairstyles and lively dances under the moonlight, evokes a powerful sensory memory that captures the essence of a bygone but cherished era.


The repeated reference to “Agua florida” symbolizes nostalgia and the fragrance of memories that linger like a perfume, suggesting a longing for the simplicity and truthfulness of past times. The personification of the era as “linda y guapetona” (beautiful and bravely attractive) adds a layer of romanticism to the ordinary lives of the people celebrated in the song.


Agua florida in historic Context

Recorded on November 13, 1941, “Agua florida” emerges during a period rich in Argentine tango history, where tango music and dance were ingrained deeply into the country’s cultural fabric. This era saw the tail end of the Golden Age of tango, a time when this music form was at its peak in terms of both popularity and artistic development. The societal context, still recovering from economic struggles and approaching the tumult of mid-20th century politics, used tango as an outlet for expression and as a form of social cohesion.


Fernán Silva Valdés

Fernán Silva Valdés was a prominent Uruguayan poet known for his deep engagement with regional themes and rural life, often incorporating elements from the gaucho (South American cowboy) culture in his works.