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.
Corazón de papel is a Tango written by Alberto Franco and composed by Cátulo Castillo.
The song “Corazón de papel” (Paper Heart) tells a poignantly reflective tale centered on a cloth doll dressed as Pierrot. This doll becomes the symbol of a remembered love, marked by its fabricated paper heart. The narrator contrasts human frailty and fickleness with the steadfastness of this inanimate object—a surrogate of consistent, if lifeless, loyalty. Arriving with dreamy eyes, the protagonist lovingly crafts a heart for the doll, signifying the initiation of affection and care. This act, however, stands in contrast to the eventual abandonment, signifying the transient, fluttering nature of human relationships contrasted with the unaffected, eternal presence of the doll.
Throughout “Corazón de papel,” Alberto Franco employs potent symbolism, making profound observations on human emotions and relationships. The contrast between the paper heart and a human heart reveals deep facets of vulnerability and dispassion. The paper heart is a poignant emblem of manufactured emotions and the ephemeral nature of human affection, highlighting the fragility and superficiality of bonds that may appear deep. The phrases “clavaste en su pecho con un lindo alfiler” (you pinned into its chest with a pretty pin) juxtapose the act of giving heart to something inherently lifeless, symbolizing perhaps unreciprocated or shallow affections in human connections.
Originated in 1971 Argentina, a time characterized by political and social upheaval, “Corazón de papel” perhaps captures the essence of societal transformations and personal introspection. During such periods, themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the nature of love are often magnified, reflecting the uncertainties of the era. The use of a doll symbolizes an ideal of constancy and the longing for something unchanging and reliable amidst social chaos. The choice of a Pierrot outfit, traditionally associated with the naïve and heartbroken character in commedia dell’arte, further deepens the thematic resonance with themes of unrequited love and personal tragedy. The song thus situates personal emotion within a broader scope of temporal and environmental turbulence, using historical context to enrich its narrative.
Alberto Franco, an illustrious figure in the realm of Tango, contributed a deep literary and emotional layer through this song, which explores themes of love, loss, and emotional artifice.