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Cuidado con los cincuenta

Cuidado con los cincuenta is a Tango written by Ángel Villoldo and recorded by Carlos di Sarli in 1942. Carlos di Sarli has recorded Cuidado con los cincuenta as an instrumental Tango.
The piece “Cuidado con los cincuenta,” or “Beware of the Fifties,” dances through the years like a Tango of time. It whispers caution about the transformative power and inevitability of life’s fifth decade, urging mindfulness of both its fleeting beauty and newfound challenges. Here, every note captures the blend of nostalgia and anticipation that marks this pivotal chapter.

Tango

Style

Carlos di Sarli

Orchestra

Instrumental

Singer

Ángel Villoldo

Author

Ángel Villoldo

Composer

1942/6/23

Date

Instrumental
Instrumental
Carlos di Sarli
Carlos di Sarli

Discover Other Orchestras

Horacio Salgán – Yo te bendigo – 1962/1/1
Horacio Salgán – Grillito – 1954/1/1
Horacio Salgán – Mala junta – 1950/11/8
Horacio Salgán – La casita de mis viejos – 1957/7/17
Horacio Salgán – Mal de amores – 1965/1/1
Edgardo Donato – Alla en el pago – 1931/1/1
Edgardo Donato – La caida de la estanteria – 1935/2/5
Edgardo Donato – Cha digo con la vieja – 1932/1/1
Edgardo Donato – El huracán (b) – 1932/12/9
Edgardo Donato – La chacarera – 1931/1/1
Rodolfo Biagi – Con un silbido en los labios – 1963/1/1
Rodolfo Biagi – Paloma – 1945/2/6
Rodolfo Biagi – Guapo y varón – 1940/7/16
Rodolfo Biagi – Mi alondra – 1959/3/6
Rodolfo Biagi – Calla corazón – 1942/4/15
Alfredo Gobbi – Y algún día – 1957/4/16
Alfredo Gobbi – Cuánta angustia – 1957/9/25
Alfredo Gobbi – Sombras – 1949/12/21
Alfredo Gobbi – El Incendio – 1948/4/13
Alfredo Gobbi – Salto mortal – 1950/10/31

Recommended

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.

Cuidado con los cincuenta recorded by other Orchestras

Cuidado con los cincuenta recorded by other Orchestras

1942/6/23 – Junto a tu corazon – Carlos di Sarli
1942/6/23 – El amanecer – Carlos di Sarli
1942/6/18 – Mirame en la cara – Juan D-Arienzo
1942/6/18 – Tierra negra – Juan D-Arienzo
1942/6/18 – El amasijo – Juan D-Arienzo
Cuidado con los cincuenta – 1942/6/23 – Carlos di Sarli – Instrumental
Cuidado con los cincuenta – 1954/1/4 – Carlos di Sarli – Instrumental
Cuidado con los cincuenta – 1954/9/14 – Carlos di Sarli – Instrumental

Letra del Tango Cuidado con los cincuenta

Una ordenanza sobre la moral
decretó la dirección policial
y por la que el hombre se debe abstener
decir palabras dulces a una mujer.
Cuando una hermosa veamos venir
ni un piropo le podemos decir
y no habrá más que mirarla y callar
si apreciamos la libertad.
¡Caray!… ¡No sé
por qué prohibir al hombre
que le diga un piropo a una mujer!
¡Chitón!… ¡No hablar,
porque al que se propase
cincuenta le harán pagar!

Yo cuando vea cualquiera mujer
una guiñada tan sólo le haré.

Y con cuidado,
que si se da cuenta,
¡ay!, de los cincuenta
no me salvaré.

Por la ordenanza tan original
un percance le pasó a don Pascual:
anoche, al ver a una señora gilí,
le dijo: Adiós, lucero, divina hurí.
Al escucharlo se le sulfuró
y una bofetada al pobre le dio
y lo llevó al gallo policial…
Por ofender a la moral.
¡Caray!… ¡No sé
por qué prohibir al hombre
que le diga un piropo a una mujer!…
¡No hablar!… ¡Chitón,
porque puede costarles
cincuenta de la nación!

Mucho cuidado se debe tener
al encontrarse frente a una mujer.

Yo, por mi parte,
cuando alguna vea,
por linda que sea
nada le diré.

English lyrics of the Tango "Cuidado con los cincuenta"

An ordinance about morality
was decreed by the police authority
stating that a man should refrain
from speaking sweet words to a woman.
When a beauty we happen to see,
not a compliment may we say,
just look and stay silent,
if we value our freedom.
Gosh!… I don’t know
why they forbid a man
from giving a compliment to a woman!
Hush!… Stay quiet,
for those who do otherwise
a fine of fifty they will pay.

When I see any woman,
I’ll just give her a wink.

And carefully,
for if she notices,
oh, those fifty
I will not escape.

Due to this original ordinance,
a mishap befell Mr. Pascual:
last night, seeing a certain lady silly,
he said: Goodbye, star, divine houri.
Upon hearing this, she got enraged
and slapped the poor man,
taking him to the police station…
For offending morality.
Gosh!… I don’t know
why they forbid a man
from giving a compliment to a woman!…
Stay quiet!… Hush,
for it might cost them
fifty of the nation’s fine!

Be very careful when you are
standing before a woman.

As for me,
when I see one,
no matter how pretty,
nothing will I say.

Cuidado con los cincuenta by Ángel Villoldo

Cuidado con los cincuenta is a Tango written by and composed by Ángel Villoldo.

Story behind the Tango Cuidado con los cincuenta

This tango tells a humorous yet poignant story set in a society governed by strict moral codes. The narrative revolves around a law that penalizes men for expressing admiration or affection through words, a reflection of a police directive aiming to control public decorum. The protagonist experiences internal conflict as he grapples with the absurdity and impact of this regulation, ultimately advocating for cautious behavior to avoid the hefty fine of “los cincuenta” (fifty). Through its witty storytelling, the tango explores themes of censorship, gender dynamics, and social conformity.

Symbolism of Cuidado con los cincuenta

The titular “cincuenta” serves as a potent symbol of the societal oppression experienced by individuals trying to navigate through arbitrary rules. The “fifty” in this context represents the fine imposed, capturing the financial and personal constraints placed upon free expression. The term “piropo” (compliment) reflects cultural practices of courtship and admiration, which are stifled under the new law. The character of “don Pascual” symbolizes the everyman caught in the societal crossfire, his misfortune highlighting the absurdity and severity of such sanctions. Moreover, references to “lucero” (star) and “divina hurí” (divine beauty) elevate the woman to celestial levels, underscoring the natural human inclination to admire beauty, which the law attempts to thwart.

Cuidado con los cincuenta in historic Context

Written in Buenos Aires during the early 1940s, “Cuidado con los cincuenta” captures a unique moment in Argentinian history marked by political instability and social reform. The period saw a rise in efforts to impose order and moral standards, reflective in the tango’s depiction of police directives. The humor in the lyrics might have served as a gentle critique of these overarching controls, highlighting the disconnect between official mandates and everyday human interactions. As tango music itself was evolving, the song reflects a blend of traditional themes with a modern, critical edge, using satire to navigate the changing social landscape of Buenos Aires.

Ángel Villoldo

Ángel Villoldo was a pivotal figure in the early development of tango music, often praised for his vivid storytelling and cultural reflections embedded in his compositions. His works frequently encapsulate the spirit and dynamics of Buenos Aires society.