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El motivo (Pobre paica)

El motivo (Pobre paica) is a Tango written by Juan Carlos Cobián and recorded by Anibal Troilo in 1970. Anibal Troilo has recorded El motivo (Pobre paica) as an instrumental Tango.
The piece “El motivo (Pobre paica)” translates to “The Motif (Poor Girl)” in English. This title evokes the story of a humble, forlorn woman whose life is marked by struggle and melancholy. The music weaves a tapestry of her emotions, capturing the somber dance of her dreams and desires against the backdrop of an uncaring world.

Tango

Style

Anibal Troilo

Orchestra

Instrumental

Singer

Pascual Contursi

Author

Juan Carlos Cobián

Composer

1970/8/13

Date

Instrumental
Instrumental
Anibal Troilo
Anibal Troilo

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El motivo (Pobre paica) recorded by other Orchestras

El motivo (Pobre paica) recorded by other Orchestras

Letra del Tango El motivo (Pobre paica)

Mina que fue en otro tiempo

la más papa milonguera

y en esas noches tangueras

fue la reina del festín.

Hoy no tiene pa’ ponerse

ni zapatos ni vestidos,

anda enferma y el amigo

no aportó para el bulín.



Ya no tienen sus ojazos

esos fuertes resplandores

y en su cara los colores

se le ven palidecer.

Está enferma, sufre y llora

y manya con sentimiento

de que así, enferma y sin vento

más naide la va a querer.



Pobre paica que ha tenido

a la gente rechiflada

y supo con la mirada

conquistar una pasión.

Hoy no tiene quien se arrime

por cariño a su catrera.

¡Pobre paica arrabalera

que quedó sin corazón!



Y cuando de los bandoneones

se oyen las notas de un tango,

pobre florcita de fango

siente en su alma vibrar

las nostalgias de otros tiempos

de placeres y de amores,

¡hoy sólo son sinsabores

que la invitan a llorar!

English lyrics of the Tango "El motivo (Pobre paica)"

Mina, once the ultimate milonga dancer,
and in those tango nights,
was the queen of the feast.
Now, she doesn’t have enough for
shoes or dresses,
wanders sick while a friend
failed to support their little nest.

Her big eyes no longer
shine with intense light,
and her face’s colors
seem to fade.
She’s ill, in pain, and crying,
knowing too well,
that sick and broke,
no one will love her.

Poor girl who once had
everyone wildly cheering,
and knew just how to spark
a passion with a glance.
Now, no one comes close
with affection to her bedside.
Poor girl of the suburbs,
left heartless!

And when from the bandoneons
the notes of a tango sound,
poor little flower of the mud
feels her soul quiver
with longing for other times
of pleasures and loves.
Now, only bitterness
inviting her to weep!

El motivo (Pobre paica) by Pascual Contursi

El motivo (Pobre paica) is a Tango written by Pascual Contursi and composed by Juan Carlos Cobián.



Story behind the Tango El motivo (Pobre paica)

The tango “El motivo (Pobre paica)” tells the poignant story of a woman, once celebrated in the tango world, now forgotten and in despair. The lyrics illustrate her transformation from a popular figure who captivated everyone’s attention at the milongas (tango dance gatherings) to a lonely, impoverished woman abandoned by those she once charmed. This narrative brings forth themes of temporal beauty, the ephemerality of youth, and the harsh realities of aging and social neglect. The refrain “Pobre paica” resonates as an expression of pity and sorrow for the woman’s plight, reflecting a common societal tragedy.



Symbolism of El motivo (Pobre paica)

This tango uses vivid imagery and metaphors to deepen the emotional impact of the woman’s decline. Phrases like “florcita de fango” (little mud flower) symbolize her delicate beauty tarnished by hardship, suggesting how environmental factors can mar personal blossoms. The consistent reference to tango elements, including the nostalgic vibration of bandoneons, links her life intimately to the dance genre, symbolizing her identity and the cultural backdrop of her existence. The imagery of her faded vibrancy through the “pale colors” on her face and the lack of glimmer in her “big eyes” paint a stark contrast to her former glory, emphasizing the theme of decay and neglect.



El motivo (Pobre paica) in historic Context

Recorded in 1970, a time when tango music was undergoing significant changes in Argentina, “El motivo (Pobre paica)” reflects the socio-cultural attitudes of the era towards aging and societal value. During this period, Argentina was experiencing political and economic turbulence, which often influenced cultural productions, infusing them with themes of loss and nostalgia. The decline of the woman in the song mirrors the fading of traditional tango culture, which by the 1970s was being overshadowed by modern musical influences and the shifting dynamics of Argentinian society.



Pascual Contursi

Pascual Contursi was a pivotal figure in the history of tango, known for integrating narrative and colloquial lyrics into the music, thus playing a crucial role in the evolution of Tango Canción (Tango Song).