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.
Con alma de tango is a Tango written by Carlos Waiss and composed by Juan D’Arienzo.
“Con alma de tango” (With the Soul of Tango) captures the essence of tango not just as a dance form, but as a profound emotional expression. The lyrics reflect a deep sense of bitterness (“cargado de rencor y desengaños”), disappointment, and sorrow that resonates with the soulful, often melancholic spirit of traditional tango music. The repetition of “Yo soy el alma misma de mi tango” emphasizes the personal connection the singer has with the essence of tango, presenting it as an extension of their own experiences and inner turmoil.
The imagery of a broken kiss in a cup (“Mi beso que soñó su boca, su boca que mintió”) symbolizes lost love and betrayal, central themes in many tango lyrics that reflect the emotional drama of the music. The ‘cup’ could represent the vessel of the singer’s emotions, now emptied by deception, waiting to be refilled by memories (“que el vino del recuerdo ha de llenar”). The songwriter utilizes the weather—a grey afternoon—as a metaphor for the mood of longing and desolation that pervades the song. This setting symbolizes the dimming of hope and the closing in of melancholy.
Recorded in Argentina in 1946, “Con alma de tango” emerged during a period when tango was both a popular form of entertainment and a profound cultural expression reflecting the sentiments of the common people. Post World War II, Argentina was facing a mix of new beginnings and many societal struggles. This environment could be mirrored in the lyrics’ somber tone and reflective quality, hinting at both personal and collective disillusionment yet also a resilient spirit inherent to the tango genre.
Carlos Waiss, an Argentine lyricist and poet, is known for his contributions to the tango genre, capturing the essence and soul of Argentinean culture through his evocative and often poignant lyrics.