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.
Dice un refrán is a Tango written by Enrique Cadícamo and composed by Ángel D’Agostino.
‘Dice un refrán,’ translates to ‘A proverb says’ in English, sets the stage for a narrative of unrequited love and sorrowful acceptance. The proverb mentioned suggests an unnatural affection, likening the attachment to something as dreary as a prisoner’s love for his cell bars — an ironic appreciation for one’s own confinement. Cadícamo’s lyrics dive deep into the despair felt by the protagonist, who is grappling with the pain of his beloved in the arms of another.
The lyric utilizes strong visual symbolism, particularly the ‘reja de la cárcel’ (jail bars), representing the feeling of being trapped in painful emotions. The recurring idea of suffering due to unreturned love is akin to the suffering endured in imprisonment, suggesting a lack of freedom caused by emotional bondage. Key phrases like ‘tengo en el alma una hoguera’ (I have a bonfire in my soul) and ‘este dolor de perderte es un horror’ (this pain of losing you is a horror) evoke the burning intensity of his hurt and the terrifying prospect of living with it.
Recorded in 1942 during a globally tumultuous period due to World War II, ‘Dice un refrán’ brings local Argentine emotions to the fore, untouched by the broader conflicts. However, the somber mood of the era possibly seeped into the tango’s themes of despair and longing. Buenos Aires, a city known for its melancholic tango scenes, serves as the perfect backdrop for this dramatic storyline of betrayal and subdued agony, encapsulating a sense of philosophical resignation that was pervasive during the era.
Enrique Cadícamo was a prominent Argentine lyricist and poet, renowned for his significant contributions to the tango genre.