Fabrice Knecht Tango DJ
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.
El motivo (Pobre paica) is a Tango written by Pascual Contursi and composed by Juan Carlos Cobián.
The lyrics of “El motivo (Pobre paica)” vividly portray the tale of a woman, once the queen of dance halls, whose life has devolved into poverty and neglect. She is depicted as a former milonguera, a term for a female tango dancer, notoriously captivating in her youth. The song describes her fall from grace – from a lively existence filled with admirers and luxuries to her current state, where she is ill, abandoned, and financially destitute. The emotive language of the lyrics, such as references to her pale face and tear-filled nostalgia, underscores the melancholy and despair of her situation. This poignant depiction reveals broader themes of transience and the harsh realities that can befall those once celebrated in youth.
The Tango uses visceral and impactful symbolism to deepen the emotional impact of the story. Phrases like “florcita de fango” (little flower of the mud) symbolize her fragile beauty tarnished by harsh circumstances, reflecting the central theme of loss and decay of what once was. The imagery of faded colors on her face and her faded resplendence in people’s memories illustrates the transient nature of beauty and adoration. The recurring mention of tears and crying in the face of old Tango tunes playing evokes a powerful sense of nostalgia and loss, contrasting her vibrant past with her bleak present.
The song emerges from a significant era in Argentine culture, which was rich with Tango evolution. Created in 1965, a period marked by social changes and a nostalgic longing for the ‘golden age’ of Tango in the 20s and 30s, the lyrics reflect societal attitudes towards aging and destitution and offer commentary on the darker undercurrents in the lives of entertainers. The Tango scene often romanticized in cultural expressions is shown here in its stark reality, highlighting the fleeting nature of fame and beauty and the societal neglect of formerly celebrated individuals.
Pascual Contursi was a key figure in the history of Tango, known for integrating lunfardo (Buenos Aires slang) and everyday stories into the lyrics, considerably influencing the course of the genre.