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 poncho del amor is a Tango written by Alberto Vacarezza and composed by Antonio Scatasso.
“El poncho del amor” tells the story of a man deeply rooted in the traditional tango districts of Buenos Aires, specifically mentioning “el barrio de la ribera”. He describes himself as a son of an immigrant, linking his own identity with the cultural and emotionally resonant sounds of the tango and the bandoneón. The lyrics unfold the tale of his passionate encounter and subsequent heartbreak, leading him into a restless quest for a love as consuming as the one he lost.
The poncho, a traditional South American garment, symbolizes in this context the overwhelming and all-encompassing nature of love. In the phrase “con el poncho del amor,” the poncho represents a shroud of emotional intensity that blankets and perhaps even smothers the soul. Additionally, the riverbank neighborhood (“el barrio de la ribera”) depicted in the lyrics not only grounds the story in a specific, culturally rich location but also symbolizes the flow of emotion and life, akin to the currents of a river.
Written in 1955, a period when tango was undergoing transformations and also facing competition from modern musical trends, “El poncho del amor” utilizes traditional tango themes such as longing, nostalgia, and personal struggle. The historical context of Argentina during this time, including urbanization and influx of immigrants, could also reflect the protagonist’s feelings of displacement and his complex identity as the son of an immigrant, as mentioned in the lyrics.
Alberto Vacarezza was a renowned Argentine playwright and poet, often celebrated for his contributions to the tango lyric genre.