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El as de los ases

El as de los ases is a Tango written by Eduardo Pereyra and recorded by Héctor Varela in 1952. The Tango El as de los ases is written by Eduardo Pereyra, Héctor Varela has recorded El as de los ases with the singer Rodolfo Lesica.
“El as de los ases,” or “The Ace of Aces,” unfolds like a masterful dance, where passion meets precision. This title suggests a pinnacle of excellence, embodying both the daring spirit of the tango and the virtuosity required to perform it. Each note and step whispers tales of triumph, evoking the unparalleled skill of a champion in love and life.

Tango

Style

Héctor Varela

Orchestra

Rodolfo Lesica

Singer

Celedonio Flores

Author

Eduardo Pereyra

Composer

1952/5/7

Date

Rodolfo Lesica
Rodolfo Lesica
Héctor Varela
Héctor Varela

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Francisco Rotundo – Lo que me hablaron de vos – 1956/9/10
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Francisco Rotundo – Milonguera – 1954/4/12
Francisco Canaro – Estoy sobrando – 1916/1/1
Francisco Canaro – Caminito – 1926/1/1
Francisco Canaro – Barcelona – 1926/12/11
Francisco Canaro – Ki-Ki – 1924/1/1
Francisco Canaro – El palomo ladrón – 1922/1/1
José Garcia – No creas – 1943/6/22
José Garcia – María Triniá – 1943/5/13
José Garcia – Prestame tu pañuelo – 1942/6/17
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José Garcia – Farolito de papel – 1944/1/17

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.

1952/5/7 – Tierra negra – Hector Varela
1952/5/6 – Entrador – Osvaldo Pugliese
1952/5/6 – Para dos – Osvaldo Pugliese
1952/5/6 – Contratiempo – Jose Basso
1952/5/6 – Ronda de ensueno – Jose Basso

Lyrics Translation of the Tango El as de los ases

This is the translation of the Tango “El as de los ases” from Spanish to English. The English lyrics of the Tango “El as de los ases” have been done with AI.

Letra del Tango El as de los ases

La moza más linda del barrio orillero,

bonita y con fama de alegre y coqueta,

que fue la querida de aquel guitarrero

matón y biabista, cantor y poeta.



Tristemente evoca el recuerdo querido

de amores lejanos y triunfos fugaces,

es que ella no ignora que tuvo un marido

que fue, entre los guapos, el as de los ases.



El as porque nunca en los entreveros

lo vieron los taitas ponerse amarillo,

se dio todo entero y su ágil visteada

remató en la marca de su fiel cuchillo.

Y cuando cantaba, más bien parecía

su canto una airada protesta de pena,

a la novia mala, que no lo quería,

y a su madrecita, viejcita y buena.



El destino ingrato, que no tuvo halago

para su existencia ruin y atravesada,

tradicionalmente se creyó un rezago

de gaucho bandido, perseguido y paria.



Por eso en las noches templadas de luna

pulsó su vigüela bajo el emparrado

y en una milonga deshojó, una a una,

las rosas marchitas del viejo pasado.



Por eso la viola ya no es en la pieza

nada más que un mueble que adorna lujoso.

Su dueño, una noche, en gaucha proeza

cayó bajo el plomo mortal de un bufoso.

Por eso la moza del barrio orillero,

bonita y con fama de alegre y coqueta,

recuerda a su guapo, aquel guitarrero,

cantor y biabista, matón y poeta.

English lyrics of the Tango "El as de los ases"

The prettiest girl from the waterside neighborhood,

pretty with a reputation of being joyful and flirtatious,

who was the lover of that guitar player—

a thug and a gambling man, a singer and poet.

Sadly, she evokes the beloved memory

of distant loves and fleeting triumphs,

for she is well aware that she once had a husband

who was, among the tough, the ace of aces.

The ace because never in brawls

did anyone see him turn pale;

he gave his all, and his agile maneuvering

ended with the mark of his loyal knife.

And when he sang, it seemed

his song was a fierce protest of sorrow,

for the unkind girlfriend who did not love him,

and his little old mother, so good and kind.

Harsh fate, which had no cherishing

for his wretched and troubled existence,

was believed to be the remnants

of a bandit gaucho, persecuted and outcast.

That’s why on warm moonlit nights

he played his vihuela under the vine-shaded trellis

and in a song, plucked one by one,

the withered roses of the old past.

That’s why in the room, the guitar

is no more than a piece of decorative furniture.

Its owner, one night, in a cowboy’s brave feat,

fell under the deadly lead of a treacherous gun.

That’s why the girl from the waterside neighborhood,

pretty and known to be joyful and flirtatious,

remembers her handsome man, that guitar player,

a singer and gambler, a thug and poet.

El as de los ases by Celedonio Flores

El as de los ases is a Tango written by Celedonio Flores and composed by Eduardo Pereyra.



Story behind the Tango El as de los ases

The lyrics of “El as de los ases” paint a vivid picture of a woman reminiscing about her late husband, a quintessential figure in the neighborhood, renowned for his prowess in both love and conflict. He is portrayed as a fearless man, never hesitating in confrontations, his life marked by intense passions and violent ends. This tango highlights the romantic and tragic life of a ‘guapo’ (a brave or tough man), reflecting the cultural significance of such figures in Argentine folklore.



Symbolism of El as de los ases

The song is rich in symbolism, using terms like “as de los ases” to represent superiority and supremacy, likely both in love and physical confrontations. The continuous reference to the guitar (“guitarrero”) symbolizes the character’s artistic side, contrasting with his violent tendencies. These dualities suggest the complexities of personal and public personas, themes often explored in Argentine tango. The imagery of withered roses in the verse “deshojó, una a una, las rosas marchitas del viejo pasado” metaphorically speaks of past experiences, lost youth, and faded love.



El as de los ases in Historic Context

“El as de los ases” was penned in 1952, a period marked by political and social turmoil in Argentina. The portrayal of the guitarrero as both an admired and notorious individual reflects the societal contradictions of the time—where public figures were often both revered and reviled. This historical context enhances the understanding of the characters in the tango, anchoring it in a time when honor, love, and retribution were central themes in the cultural narrative.



Celedonio Flores

Celedonio Flores was an iconic Argentine tango lyricist known for his poignant and evocative writings that often delve deep into the urban culture and ethos of Buenos Aires.