Fabrice Knecht Tango DJ
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.
Corrientes y Esmeralda is a Tango written by Celedonio Flores and composed by Francisco Pracánico.
The tango “Corrientes y Esmeralda” paints a vivid tableau of early 20th-century Buenos Aires, particularly focusing on the street corner where Corrientes and Esmeralda intersect. This place, bustling with life and brimming with the vibrancy of the city, serves as a historical marker within the lyrics. Boldness and bravery are themes, reflected through references to local toughs or ‘guapos’ and their street battles. The juxtaposition of refined dances like pase inglés with local slang and urban sketching forms a narrative celebrating the spirit of Buenos Aires’ nightlife and street culture.
The symbolism in “Corrientes y Esmeralda” is robust and layered, using the corner as a metaphor for convergence of various societal elements. Notable phrases such as “curdelas de grappa y locas de pris” and “sueña con la pinta de Carlos Gardel” not only point to specific cultural references—like actor Carlos Gardel— but also illustrate the mingling of different societal layers from the mischievous to the mythical. The tango itself stands as a symbol of the Argentine identity, with its vibrant yet melancholic tone reflecting the complexity of city life and personal connections within it.
Written in 1944, “Corrientes y Esmeralda” is lodged in a period when Buenos Aires was a melting pot of cultural and political activity. Following the early 20th century, which was marked by intense urbanization and European immigration, the tango emerged as a voice for the urban poor and a reflection of their challenges and aspirations. Flores’ lyrics, mentioning streets and locations like Retiro, not only geographically situate the song but also culturally situate it within a specific era of tango history that interacts deeply with its social circumstances.
A key figure in Argentine tango, Celedonio Flores was known for his poignant and streetwise lyrics that encapsulated the life and soul of Buenos Aires.