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Carta brava

Carta brava is a Tango written by Rosita Quiroga and recorded by Domingo Federico in 1965. The Tango Carta brava is written by Rosita Quiroga, Domingo Federico has recorded Carta brava with the singer Rubén Sánchez.
“Carta Brava,” or “Fierce Letter,” evokes a sense of impassioned communication, a message written with intensity. This piece, whether instrumental or sung, embodies a bold declaration of emotions, unrestrained and heartfelt. Through vibrant melodies or stirring verses, it captures the essence of words that dance with vigor and urgency, refusing to be silenced.

Tango

Style

Domingo Federico

Orchestra

Rubén Sánchez

Singer

Celedonio Flores

Author

Rosita Quiroga

Composer

1965/1/1

Date

Rubén Sánchez
Rubén Sánchez
Domingo Federico
Domingo Federico

Discover Other Orchestras

Quinteto Real (Horacio Salgán) – Adiós muchachos – 1964/1/1
Quinteto Real (Horacio Salgán) – A fuego lento – 1960/1/1
Quinteto Real (Horacio Salgán) – Buenos Aires – 1960/1/1
Quinteto Real (Horacio Salgán) – De puro guapo – 1964/1/1
Quinteto Real (Horacio Salgán) – Ya no cantas chingolo (Chingolito) – 1960/1/1
Anibal Troilo – Volver – 1970/8/13
Anibal Troilo – El motivo (Pobre paica) – 1970/8/13
Lucio Demare – Torrente – 1944/10/11
Lucio Demare – No nos veremos más – 1943/2/11
Lucio Demare – Canción de rango (Pa’ que se callen) – 1942/11/10
Lucio Demare – Al compás de un tango – 1942/3/13
Lucio Demare – El pescante – 1943/2/11
José Basso – La puñalada – 1955/9/16
José Basso – Tres éxitos (Fumando espero
Historia de un amor
Bailemos) – 1956/4/20
José Basso – Dónde estás – 1957/9/27
José Basso – Guardia vieja – 1955/9/16
José Basso – Dos que se aman – 1948/1/1

Recommended

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.

Carta brava recorded by other Orchestras

Carta brava recorded by other Orchestras

1965/1/1 – Que falta que me haces – Miguel Calo
1965/1/1 – Caminito – Miguel Calo
1965/1/1 – A media luz – Miguel Calo
1965/1/1 – A media luz – Miguel Calo
1965/1/1 – Adios pampa mia – Miguel Calo
Carta brava – 1965/1/1 – Domingo Federico – Ruben Sanchez
Carta brava – 1927/10/14 – Orquesta Tipica Victor – Instrumental

Lyrics Translation of the Tango Carta brava

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

Letra del Tango Carta brava

Decís que andás en la mala, que hay días que pasás hambre,

que el destino te ha fajado sin tenerte compasión.

¡La perdiz es desgraciada si se mata en el alambre!

¡Porque la pobre volando pierde tino y dirección!

Pero vos que fuiste un lince pa’ tallar entre polleras,

que viviste del rebusque en las timbas de bulín,

te tirás al abandono como una Aurora cualquiera

y abandonás la pelea tirando la esponja al ring.

Bien sabés que no se gana el monte de la existencia

echándose boca arriba y poniéndose a llorar,

si no tenés pa’ un apunte, copála de prepotencia

y llevá toda la contra, que si no, ¡te vas a armar!

Vos sabés que soy un reo que puedo darte consejos

pues la vida me ha enseñado lo que es bien y lo que es mal.

Yo que vos, me volvería nuevamente con los viejos

a la modesta casita del barrio sentimental.



Y besándola a la vieja le diría suplicante

aquí estoy, vengo buscando paz, amor y redención,

cansado de aguantar golpes como baúl de emigrante,

más jugado que baraja de mistongo bodegón.

Y pondría sol de amores en sus días sin belleza,

sería un rayo de luna en sus noches de dolor,

armoniosa serenata en su balcón de tristeza

y en su jaulita de alambre sería un misto cantor…

English lyrics of the Tango "Carta brava"

You say you’re down on your luck, that there are days you go hungry,

that fate has beaten you without any compassion.

The partridge is unlucky if it gets caught in the wire!

Because in flight, poor thing, it loses sense and direction!

But you, who were a fox when it came to flirting under skirts,

who lived by your wits in private gambling dens,

now you give up like any common Jane

and quit the fight, throwing in the towel in the ring.

You know well that you don’t win life’s wilds

by lying face up and starting to cry,

if you don’t have a penny, take charge with audacity

and always bet against the odds, or else, you’ll be done!

You know I’m a convict who can give advice

because life has taught me what’s good and what is bad.

If I were you, I’d go back to my parents

to the modest home in the sentimental neighborhood.

And kissing mom, pleadingly I’d say

Here I am, seeking peace, love, and redemption,

tired of taking blows like an immigrant’s trunk,

more worn than a deck of cards in a shabby tavern.

And I’d bring a sun of love into her beauty-less days,

be a beam of moonlight on her nights of pain,

a harmonious serenade on her balcony of sadness

and in her caged loneliness, I’d be a soulful singer…

Carta brava by Celedonio Flores

Carta brava is a Tango written by Celedonio Flores and composed by Rosita Quiroga.



Story behind the Tango Carta brava

The lyrics of “Carta brava” reflect a person reflecting on their hardship and lack of fortune, contrasting it with advice on resilience and hope. The song is essentially a letter from someone who has experienced life’s rougher edges, offering wisdom and a path back to familial and emotional security. The narrative uses vivid imagery and metaphors related to struggle and redemption, evoking deep emotional responses.



Symbolism of Carta brava

“Carta brava” literally translates to “Fierce Letter” in English highlighting its powerful message and earnest tone. The song utilizes a gambit of symbols such as “la perdiz en el alambre” (the partridge in the wire), indicating a trapped or vulnerable state, and “echoándose boca arriba” (lying face up), symbolizing surrender to hardships. The lyric “más jugado que baraja de mistongo bodegón” (more played than a deck of cards in a cheap tavern) vividly illustrates a life worn out by constant challenges.



Carta brava in historic Context

“Carta brava” was penned in 1965, a period of considerable political and social change in Argentina. The themes of hardship, resilience, and returning to one’s roots resonate deeply in a society experiencing fluctuation and instability. This context amplifies the song’s underlying message of enduring through hardships and seeking redemption and peace in familiar spaces and relations.



Celedonio Flores

Celedonio Flores was a renowned Argentine poet and tango lyricist known for his poignant portrayals of urban life and the bohemian world.