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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 1954. Carlos di Sarli has recorded Cuidado con los cincuenta as an instrumental Tango.
“Cuidado con los cincuenta” translates to “Beware of the Fifties.” This evocative title hints at the complexities and nuances that emerge with age, where wisdom dances with nostalgia and the vigor of youth softens into contemplation. The music captures the bittersweet essence of this life stage, blending vibrant rhythms with reflective melodies, inviting listeners to embrace the journey with grace and awareness.

Tango

Style

Carlos di Sarli

Orchestra

Instrumental

Singer

Ángel Villoldo

Author

Ángel Villoldo

Composer

1954/1/4

Date

Instrumental
Instrumental
Carlos di Sarli
Carlos di Sarli

Discover Other Orchestras

Carlos Gardel – Aquellas cartas – 1933/1/13
Carlos Gardel – Medallita de los pobres (Virgencita de Pompeya) – 1929/10/23
Carlos Gardel – La mina del Ford – 1924/1/1
Carlos Gardel – La huella (2) – 1917/1/1
Carlos Gardel – Adiós que te vaya bien – 1924/1/1
Horacio Salgán – Ilusión de mi vida – 1965/1/1
Horacio Salgán – La gayola – 1962/1/1
Horacio Salgán – Canchero – 1962/1/1
Horacio Salgán – NP (No place) – 1951/12/17
Horacio Salgán – Homenaje – 1957/7/17
Alfredo Gobbi – La viruta – 1947/5/16
Alfredo Gobbi – Y algún día – 1957/4/16
Alfredo Gobbi – El andariego – 1951/6/27
Alfredo Gobbi – Mi colegiala – 1958/7/7
Alfredo Gobbi – Triste destino – 1954/12/14
Domingo Federico – Carta brava – 1965/1/1
Domingo Federico – Fuelle azul – 1961/1/1
Domingo Federico – Percal – 1961/1/1
Domingo Federico – Por qué perdi su querer – 1953/4/29
Domingo Federico – Te soñé una noche – 1966/1/1

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

1954/1/4 – La cancion mas triste – Carlos di Sarli
1954/1/4 – Royal Pigall (Que has hecho de mi carino) – Carlos di Sarli
1954/1/4 – La misma tarde – Carlos di Sarli
1954/1/5 – Picaneao – Osvaldo Pugliese
1954/1/5 – Porque no te tengo mas – Osvaldo Pugliese
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 on morality
was decreed by the police authority
and for which a man must refrain
from saying sweet words to a woman.
When we see a beautiful one coming
not a compliment can we say
and we’ll just have to watch and be silent
if we value our freedom.
Goodness!… I don’t know why
they forbid a man
from giving a compliment to a woman!
Hush!… Don’t speak,
because whoever is bold
will pay fifty to console!

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

And with caution,
because if she notices,
oh, those fifty
I won’t escape.

Due to the original ordinance
an incident happened to Don Pascual:
last night, upon seeing a naive lady,
he said: Goodbye, bright star, divine houri.
Upon hearing him, she got furious
and gave the poor one a slap
and took him to the police bird…
For offending morality.
Goodness!… I don’t know why
they forbid a man
from giving a compliment to a woman!…
Don’t speak!… Hush,
because it could cost them
fifty of the nation!

Great caution must be taken
when facing a woman.

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

Cuidado con los cincuenta by Composed 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

The tango “Cuidado con los cincuenta” humorously critiques a certain ordinance that, through its satire and playful narrative, prohibits men from complimenting women in public. It captures an era where social norms and legal measures were emerging to regulate public behavior, particularly concerning interactions between men and women. The narrative of the tango revolves around the experiences of men like “don Pascual,” who innocuously tries to compliment a woman and faces humorous but exaggerated consequences, highlighting the absurdity of such restrictions.

Symbolism of Cuidado con los cincuenta

The song employs vivid symbolism and colloquial language to capture its message. The “cincuenta” (fifty) symbolizes the penalty for overstepping the bounds of this ordinance. The reference to phrases like “Adiós, lucero, divina hurí” (Goodbye, star, divine houri) showcases how simple compliments are seen as transgressions, turning a poetic tradition into a forbidden act. The repeated exclamations of “¡Chitón!” (Hush!) and instructions to keep silent suggest a loss of freedom and a humorous rebellion against absurd rules. These elements combine to reflect a societal critique masked in humor and irony.

Cuidado con los cincuenta in historic Context

Set in Buenos Aires in the early 1950s, this tango reflects a period of significant cultural and social changes. Argentina, during this time, was experiencing transitions in its approach to social norms and personal interactions, with urban spaces evolving rapidly. This period was marked by governmental efforts to impose social order, formalizing street behavior that, traditionally, would have been overseen by cultural norms. Buenos Aires, being a hub of tango and vibrant street life, provides an apt backdrop for such a story, as the tango captures a local aura that resonates with its geographical nuances.

About the Author

Ángel Villoldo was a seminal figure in tango music, widely recognized for his contributions as a composer during the early 20th century, earning him the title “Father of the Tango.”