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.
Angustia is a Tango written by José María Contursi and composed by Antonio Rodio.
The lyrics of “Angustia” express profound sadness and desolation, characteristic of many classic tangos. The narrator speaks of solitude and a life shattered by grief. His sadness is palpable, described as etched in his gaze, and he is unable to recover from this emotional blow. The poetic voice in the song carries a sense of finality, a resignation to lost love, yet there remains a faint, hidden hope that someday his soul might be reunited with his beloved, as if by divine intervention.
The word ‘Angustia’, translated from Spanish, means ‘anguish’ or ‘distress’, encapsulating the primary emotion of the song. Symbolism is rich in the lyrics, particularly through natural imagery. The “gota de rocío” (drop of dew) trembling at dawn symbolizes something pure and fragile, its existence transient and vulnerable. This image connects with the narrator’s own fleeting happiness. The “brisa alegre del estío” (joyful summer breeze) that once brought this drop of dew to him symbolizes happier times now past. The final comparison of himself to a “pichón muerto en el nido” (dead fledgling in the nest) for lack of warmth poignantly illustrates his complete despair and loss of vitality without his love.
Written and recorded in 1938, “Angustia” emerged during a period of profound social and political changes in Argentina. The late 1930s were marked by the infamous ‘Década Infame’, a time of corruption and electoral fraud, which might have mirrored the themes of betrayal and lost hope in personal relationships, as seen in this tango. The social context could be influencing the melancholy and despair, reflecting not just personal grief but a broader sentiment of disillusionment prevalent in society at the time.
José María Contursi was a prominent figure in the Argentine Tango scene, known for his deeply emotive lyrics often reflecting themes of love, loss, and nostalgia.