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.
Del barrio de las latas is a Tango written by Emilio Fresedo and composed by Raúl De los Hoyos.
The lyrics of “Del barrio de las latas” tell the tale of an individual who arises from a humble neighborhood, described metaphorically as ‘the neighborhood of tin’ (literal translation of “Del barrio de las latas”), to a life of apparent wealth and refinement in the bustling streets of Corrientes and Esmeralda in Buenos Aires. This transformation is marked by his shift from wearing simple alpargatas to sporting fashionable gaiters, symbolizing his social ascent. The narrative captures the protagonist’s forgetting of his origins and the people who aided him in his earlier life, particularly an old woman who repeatedly helped him.
The term “Del barrio de las latas” symbolically represents a place of poverty or low social status, emphasizing the protagonist’s humble beginnings. The transition to wearing “polainas” (gaiters) symbolizes his new social mask and identity in a more affluent society. The repeated mentions of specific locations like Corrientes, Esmeralda, and Boedo establish a vivid geographical context and contrast between his past and present life. Moreover, the reference to “vieja chocha” symbolizes the forgotten supporters who aided his rise, showcasing the protagonist’s ingratitude or selective memory as he integrates into higher social circles.
Written and recorded in 1968, during a period of significant social and political changes in Argentina, “Del barrio de las latas” reflects themes of upward mobility and social transformation. This era was marked by economic fluctuations and increasing urbanization, which might have influenced Fresedo’s narrative of a man moving from a marginal to a more central urban zone, symbolizing economic and social progress, and perhaps the neglect of traditional values amidst rapid modernization.
Emilio Fresedo, an Argentine tango lyricist, is renowned for his contributions to the Tango music genre.