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Bien criolla y bien porteña

Bien criolla y bien porteña is a Milonga written by Armando Pontier and recorded by Miguel Caló in 1945. The Milonga Bien criolla y bien porteña is written by Armando Pontier, Miguel Caló has recorded Bien criolla y bien porteña with the singer Raul Iriarte.
“Bien criolla y bien porteña,” which translates to “Truly Creole and Truly Port City,” captures the soul of Buenos Aires with its vibrant and authentic essence. The music sways with the rhythm of daily life in the city, blending traditional Creole roots with the bustling energy of a cosmopolitan port. It paints a sonic portrait of the people, streets, and stories that define Buenos Aires.

Milonga

Style

Miguel Caló

Orchestra

Raul Iriarte

Singer

Homero Expósito

Author

Armando Pontier

Composer

1945/3/9

Date

Raul Iriarte
Raul Iriarte
Miguel Caló
Miguel Caló

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Bien criolla y bien porteña recorded by other Orchestras

Lyrics Translation of the Milonga Bien criolla y bien porteña

This is the translation of the Milonga “Bien criolla y bien porteña” from Spanish to English. The English lyrics of the Milonga “Bien criolla y bien porteña” have been done with AI.

Letra del Milonga Bien criolla y bien porteña

Para cantarle al amor

no se precisa experiencia:

se forma un nido entre dos

y lo demás… va sin letra.

Que así empecé esta milonga

bien criolla y bien porteña,

para cantarle al amor

que sólo siento por ella.



Ella es triste como un tango,

ella tiene gusto a menta

y es sencilla como el lazo

que me anuda a su tristeza.

Ella es como el mate amargo,

bien criolla y bien porteña,

y es acorde en la guitarra.

¡Qué milonga milonguera

la canción de la esperanza

que el amor hace canción!



Para cantarle al amor

no hay que mirar las estrellas,

hay que ser hombre de honor

y lo demás… no interesa,

que al terminar la milonga

bien criolla y bien porteña,

para cantarle al amor

yo canto de esta manera.

English lyrics of the Milonga "Bien criolla y bien porteña"

To sing about love,
no experience is needed:
a nest is formed between two,
and the rest… goes without words.

So, I began this milonga,
very native and very porteña,
to sing about the love
I only feel for her.

She is as sad as a tango,
she tastes of mint,
and is as simple as the knot
that ties me to her sadness.
She is like bitter mate,
very native and very porteña,
and is a chord on the guitar.
What a milonga milonguera,
the song of hope
that love turns into song!

To sing about love,
you don’t need to look at the stars,
you must be a man of honor
and the rest… doesn’t matter,
because at the end of the milonga,
very native and very porteña,
to sing about love,
I sing in this way.

Bien criolla y bien porteña by Homero Expósito

Bien criolla y bien porteña is a Tango written by Homero Expósito and composed by Armando Pontier.



Story behind the Tango Bien criolla y bien porteña

Bien criolla y bien porteña is a tango that captures a deep, personal narrative centered on emotions and memories of love. The lyrics speak about singing to love without requiring experience, suggesting a natural, intrinsic ability to express deep feelings through song. The phrase “se forma un nido entre dos” metaphorically represents building a life or a home together, indicating a partnership in love. This song is depicted as a “criolla” (relating to local or native, especially to Spanish America) and “porteña” (pertaining to Buenos Aires), embedding itself deeply in Argentine culture.



Symbolism of Bien criolla y bien porteña

The terms “criolla” and “porteña” are central to understanding the song’s essence, symbolizing authenticity and belonging to Buenos Aires. The lyrics “Ella es triste como un tango,” directly associating the woman described with the emotional depth of tango itself, use tango not just as a musical style but as an emotional state. The analogy with “mate amargo” (bitter mate tea), a traditional South American drink, further enhances the motif of everyday Argentine life and its bittersweet moments. These elements are used to construct a vivid, emotional landscape that mirrors the songwriter’s intimate feelings.



Bien criolla y bien porteña in historic Context

Written in 1945, a time when Argentina was undergoing significant political and social changes, Bien criolla y bien porteña emerges as a reflection of local identity amidst nationwide evolution. The song was created in an era when tango was not just a dance or a music genre but a cultural expression that encapsulated the sentiments of the people, especially in Buenos Aires. This period saw a resurgence in national identity, and the emphasis on being “criolla y bien porteña” can be seen as a reaffirmation of traditional Argentine roots and the unique spirit of Buenos Aires during a transformative era.



Homero Expósito

Homero Expósito was a renowned Argentine poet and tango lyricist known for infusing his works with deep emotional narratives and complex symbolism.