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)” paint a poignant picture of a woman whose past glories in the vibrant tango scene have faded into a life marked by poverty and loneliness. Once celebrated as a queen of the dance halls (“la más papa milonguera”), she now struggles without money or companionship, suffering from illness and abandonment. This dramatic fall from grace highlights the fleeting nature of fame and beauty, as well as the harsh realities faced by those once adored when their fortune turns.
Contursi uses powerful symbolic imagery to deepen the emotional impact of the tango. The transformation of the woman’s eyes (“Ya no tienen sus ojazos esos fuertes resplandores”) and the fading of her colors (“en su cara los colores se le ven palidecer”) conveys her loss of vitality and the dimming of her spirit. Moreover, the expression “pobre florcita de fango” symbolizes her fragility and the harsh environment she faces, juxtaposing the delicate nature of a flower with the muddy, unforgiving streets of the slums. The recurring metaphor of the tango music itself evokes nostalgia, connecting her current misery with memories of happier times.
Recorded in 1966 at a time of cultural revival and transformation in Argentina, “El motivo (Pobre paica)” both reflects and critiques aspects of Argentine society, particularly the marginalization of those who fall out of favor. The tango scene in Argentina, notably vibrant and theatrical, serves as the backdrop for this narrative, imposing the genre’s characteristic blend of passion and melancholy. This song not only provides commentary on the socioeconomic issues of the time but also preserves the emotional and cultural essence of the tango tradition.
Pascual Contursi was an influential figure in the history of tango, known for integrating slangy, colloquial language and narrative elements into the music to create a new form, which deeply resonated with the working-class communities of Buenos Aires.