Fabrice Knecht Tango DJ
Fabrice Knecht Tango DJ
Style
Orchestra
Singer
Author
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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.
Cómo se pianta la vida is a Tango written and composed by Carlos Viván.
The lyrics of “Cómo se pianta la vida,” translated as “How life fades away,” provide a reflective look at the youthful escapades of the protagonist and their consequences on his present life. The speaker’s past is marked by reckless indulgences – attending dance halls (‘milongas’), gambling (‘timbas’), and other misdemeanors that have ultimately depleted his health and fortune. The recurring metaphor of life being a ship laden with feats that runs aground depicts a journey filled with adventure but ending in misfortune. This narrative arc speaks to themes of regret and the irrecoverable nature of youth.
The tango uses evocative language to deepen its emotional impact. Phrases like “Mi vida fue un barco cargado de hazañas” (My life was a ship loaded with feats) symbolize the adventurous yet ultimately destructive path the speaker took. The phrase “Cómo se pianta la vida” reveals a sense of abruptness in how quickly life can change its colors, painting a picture of lost vibrancy and fading vitality, symbolizing the inevitable decay of time and consequences of youthful recklessness. The heartfelt lament “Es triste la primavera si se vive desteñida” (Spring is sad when it’s lived faded) poignantly captures the melancholy of experiencing life’s seasons without the same zest or color of youth.
Recorded in 1940, during a turbulent era for Argentina which was marked by political instability and the onset of World War II impacting the world, “Cómo se pianta la vida” reflects a universal theme of the era—disillusionment. During this time, tango music often captured the socio-economic struggles, portraying the real-life effects of such times on personal lives. The mention of dice games (“timbas”) and other youthful indiscretions reflects a common escape in popular culture from the harsh realities of everyday life in Argentina.
Carlos Viván was an Argentine tango lyricist and composer known for his reflective and often poignant storytelling through tango music.