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.
Ella is a Tango written by José Alfredo Jiménez and composed by José Alfredo Jiménez.
The lyrics of “Ella” narrate the poignant tale of a man’s unrequited love and his despair over a relationship ending. The man, after persistent but fruitless attempts to win back his love, ultimately resolves to end his pleas, marked deeply by her final rejection. The narrative unfolds with the protagonist reflecting on his emotional turmoil and attempt to drown his sorrows through traditional Mexican music and tequila, which, contrary to providing solace, deepened his sadness. The song culminates in a scene where, after a heartfelt toast, the woman recognizes his sorrow but decides to leave—realizing too late that her departure would become final.
“Ella” is rich with symbolism that underscores the emotional gravity of the situation. References to “un abismo profundo y negro” symbolize the deep and dark despair felt by the protagonist, likening his fate to a bleak, insurmountable void. The use of traditional Mexican elements like mariachis and tequila not only places the song within a cultural context but also illustrates the protagonist’s attempt to seek comfort in cultural rituals, which ultimately fail to relieve his pain but instead enhace his sorrow, as indicated by “me hicieron llorar.” Lastly, the breaking of the glass symbolizes the end of an era, the physical manifestation of his hope and heart shattering simultaneously.
The song, created in the mid-1950s, emerges during a period where Latin American music, particularly from Mexico, was weaving into the broader cultural fabric of romance and melancholy in music. “Ella,” recorded in this era, captures the essence of tango’s evocative appeal and emotional depth, serving as a medium to explore themes of love, rejection, and existential sorrow within a cultural frame that is distinctly Mexican. The lament of lost love, expressed in the cultural language of mariachis and tequila, speaks to a universal human experience, contextualized within the specific emotional and cultural landscape of 1950s Mexico.
José Alfredo Jiménez was a prolific Mexican singer-songwriter known for his significant contributions to the ranchera music genre. His works resonate deeply within the heart of Mexican culture.