Fabrice Knecht Tango DJ
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These Tangos, Valses, and Milongas were recorded around the same time. Take a look to discover what else this orchestra—or others—may have recorded during the same week or even on the exact same day.
Amurado is a Tango written by José De Grandis and composed by Pedro Maffia.
The lyrics of “Amurado” depict the somber narrative of a man who feels abandoned and distraught after the departure of a significant other. In the tango, the speaker walks us through his surroundings and the emptiness he feels both physically in his home, symbolized by the empty bed (“catrera desolada”), and emotionally. The leaving of his partner has left him speaking to himself, seeking solace in alcohol, and wandering the streets at night. The anguished tone suggests a deeper, reflective confrontation with loneliness and aging.
The term “amurado” itself, translated as “walled up” or “blocked off,” symbolizes profound emotional isolation and abandonment. This is reflected in the image of the speaker’s solitary confines of his small room (bulincito) and the streets he aimlessly roams. The possessions left behind—a small picture, old clothes, and wilted flowers—are poignant symbols of faded memories and lost love. The reference to drinking (“ir por los cafetines”) suggests escapism from his sorrowful reality. His increasing age and white hair, contrasted with his nostalgia for happiness, symbolize the harsh passage of time and unyielding despair.
Created in Argentina in 1944, “Amurado” emerges in a time defined by global upheaval during World War II, though Argentina remained neutral for much of it. The era was economically and socially challenging for many Argentinians, with growing urbanization that often led to feelings of loneliness and displacement. The tango, with its themes of loss and search for solace, resonates with the emotional landscape of its time, underscoring a universal narrative of personal and social anxiety.
José De Grandis was an Argentine lyricist known for his deep, emotive tangos that often explored themes of love, loss, and loneliness.