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El trompito

El trompito is a Tango written by Enrique Cadícamo and recorded by Ángel d’Agostino in 1943. The Tango El trompito is written by Enrique Cadícamo, Ángel d’Agostino has recorded El trompito with the singer Ángel Vargas.
“El Trompito,” meaning “The Little Spinning Top” in English, captures the playful and dizzying dance of life. Its melody swirls with the vibrant energy of a spinning top, evoking childhood nostalgia and carefree joy. Each note twirls gracefully, embodying the simple pleasures and fleeting moments of delight that whirl through our everyday existence.

Tango

Style

Ángel d'Agostino

Orchestra

Ángel Vargas

Singer

Enrique Cadícamo

Author

Enrique Cadícamo

Composer

1943/6/10

Date

Ángel Vargas
Ángel Vargas
Ángel d'Agostino
Ángel d’Agostino

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Lyrics Translation of the Tango El trompito

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

Letra del Tango El trompito

Nací en un barrio apartado,
allá por los Mataderos,
y de pebete, nomás,
bailé el tango bien milonguero.
Me apadrinó el bandoneón
en mi lejana niñez
y en los bailongos rufleros
yo vi bailar los carreros.
Y por eso siento bien el tango,
porque en el fandango
lo vi y lo aprendí.

La corrida de costao
es necesaria, muchachos,
como la caña al borracho,
como el cuchillo al asao.
El ocho, che, ha de trenzar
haciendo hamacar la piba
y en forma provocativa
la sentada hay que marcar.

Soy pa’l tango como un trompo,
bailarín de meta y ponga.
Cuando salgo a la milonga
me salen a copiar
mi forma de bailar.
En los cortes me hago el rengo
y en las vueltas, con cuidao,
por la afinidad que tengo
me llaman ‘El Aceitao’.

Soy pa’l tango como un trompo
porque el fuelle es un piolín.

English lyrics of the Tango "El trompito"

I was born in a distant neighborhood,
over in Mataderos,
and from a young age,
I danced the tango, true milonguero style.
The bandoneon sponsored me
in my distant childhood
and at the rowdy dances,
I saw the cart drivers dance.
And that’s why I feel the tango deeply,
because at the fandango
I saw it and I learned it.

The sideways glide
is a must, fellas,
like the cane to a drunk,
like the knife to the roast.
The figure eight, folks, must weave
making the girl sway
and in a provocative way,
the sit-down must be marked.

I’m for the tango like a top,
a dancer of hit and go.
When I hit the milonga
they try to copy
my way of dancing.
In the breaks, I play the cripple,
and in the turns, with care,
due to the affinity I have
they call me ‘The Oiled One’.

I am for the tango like a top
because the bellows is a lifeline.

El trompito by Enrique Cadícamo

El trompito is a Tango written by Enrique Cadícamo and composed by Enrique Cadícamo.



Story behind the Tango El trompito

El trompito, translating to “The Top” in English, is a vibrant narrative that transports listeners to the early days of Tango in the Mataderos neighborhood of Buenos Aires. This Tango, through its emotive lyrics, tells the story of a person who has been deeply entwined with Tango since their childhood. Guided by the bandoneon’s melodies, and grown amongst the rural wagon-drivers (“carreros”), the speaker captures the essence of Tango not just as a dance but as a part of their identity. The lyrics reflect a celebration of this cultural heritage, showing the speaker’s profound connection and mastery over the traditional dance steps of Tango.



Symbolism of El trompito

The title itself, “El trompito”, symbolizes the constant, spinning motion of a top, akin to the fluid, intricate movements of a Tango dancer. This symbol is reflective of the narrator’s own life and identity—constantly revolving around Tango. Notable language choices such as “La sentada” and “La corrida de costao” are terms from Tango that denote specific steps, emphasizing the technical proficiency and the cultural depth the dancer brings into the play. These terms not only highlight his expertise but also serve as a bridge connecting the dance to the cultural atmosphere of traditional Argentine Tango.



El trompito in historic Context

Recorded in 1943, during a time when Argentina was marked by its political upheavals and a burgeoning national identity, “El trompito” serves as a cultural reaffirm and celebration of Argentine roots through the universal language of dance. Tango, a dance entwined deeply with Argentine culture, was a means for people to express their emotions, hardships, and joy. By 1943, Tango had evolved into a symbol of national pride, and Cadícamo’s lyrics reflect this resurgence of interest in preserving and glorifying native cultural expressions during a time of global and local uncertainties.



Enrique Cadícamo

Enrique Cadícamo was a prominent Argentine poet and tango lyricist, whose works have significantly shaped the world of Tango music and dance.