Fabrice Knecht Tango DJ
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.
Barranca abajo is a Tango written by José Vázquez Vigo and composed by Manuel García Servetto.
“Barranca abajo” tells a heart-wrenching tale of a rural individual who moves to the urban sprawl, carrying dreams and songs, only to be ensnared by the metaphorical ‘golden cage’ of urban life that includes superficial allurements, like love and champagne. The protagonist’s journey from hopeful innocence to painful disillusionment with life’s realities is poignantly captured, as hope turns into despair, depicted through the descent metaphorically into the abyss of alcohol. The phrase “barranca abajo”, translating to “downhill” or “down the ravine” in English, serves as a powerful symbol for his spiraling downfall, underscoring a loss of control and gradual destruction of his dreams and heart.
The recurring phrase “barranca abajo” acts as a central symbol within the song, embodying the universal struggle against life’s hardships, which here are compounded by the dramatic shift from rural to urban life. This metaphor powerfully encapsulates the descent into despair and the dangerous allure of alcohol as a fallacious solace. Additionally, the “golden cage” and the “alcohol abyss” evoke striking images of being trapped and engulfed, underlining the dual themes of entrapment and destruction. The use of “zorzal” or thrush bird, often a symbol of the soul in Latin cultures, suggests the protagonist’s pure, albeit naive nature, contrasting sharply with his eventual downfall.
The Tango was recorded in 1942, during an era when Argentina was witnessing significant urbanization and cultural shifts. The thematic focus on rural displacement reflects broader social anxieties about urban migration and the loss of traditional, rural ways of life. Moreover, the year 1942 globally echoes a period of extreme societal and economic strain due to World War II, further intensifying themes of hardship and disillusionment, making the Tango not only a personal tale of decline but also a reflection of wider societal challenges.
José Vázquez Vigo was an influential lyricist in the Tango genre, often noted for his emotive language and profound thematic explorations.