Fabrice Knecht Tango DJ
Style
Orchestra
Singer
Author
Composer
Date
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.
Cuanta angustia is a Tango written by Manuel Barros and composed by Julián Plaza.
The song Cuanto Angustia, or “How Much Anguish” in English, reveals a narrative of profound emotional turmoil and despair. It reflects the voice of a protagonist who has compromised his beliefs for the sake of love, only to experience the looming shadows of abandonment and betrayal. The lyrics poignantly describe the depths he reached, from being dishonest to a point where even his cries for help are stifled. This desperate sentiment peaks as the protagonist ultimately accepts the solitude and heartbreak but acknowledges the painful impact of the inevitable farewell.
The lyric “la nieve de tu carne de azucena” stands as illustrative of the loved one’s coldness, likening to the snow’s chill, and the purity or fragility suggested by the “azucena” or white lily. This vivid image conveys the freezing despair that consumes the speaker, ignited by the lover’s apathy. Furthermore, the line “un mísero retazo de compasión” symbolizes the small, inadequate amounts of pity left in their relationship, emphasizing the overwhelming desolation that characterizes the lyricist’s emotional state.
Composed in 1957 by Julián Plaza with lyrics by Manuel Barros, the Tango emerged during a culturally rich era of Argentine music but also a tumultuous political climate. The year indicates a period not long after Juan Domingo Perón’s presidency, during a time of social and political unease. In this light, the themes of despair, resilience against fate, and personal turmoil might also subtly reflect the broader disarray and the collective anxiety of the society during those times.
Manuel Barros was an Argentine lyricist renowned for his contributions to the Tango music genre, often engaging themes of love, suffering, and societal reflections in his work.