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.
Frase is a Tango written by Félix Rosario Arena and composed by Víctor Lavallén.
The lyrics of “Frase” convey a deep, reflective narrative about the struggles and values of a working-class individual from the Barracas neighborhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Through conversational verses, the speaker challenges common notions about money and happiness, juxtaposing the rich and their financial ease against his own lifelong struggle. The protagonist asserts his dignity and the ineffectiveness of wealth in buying a clear conscience, emphasizing a life of honest labor and integrity.
The recurring phrase, “Que el dinero no es la felicidad” (Money is not happiness), serves as a potent symbol challenging materialistic values. This rhetorical question to the wealthy, asking why, if money isn’t happiness, it isn’t shared, highlights the gap between the rich and the poor. The references to being “una hormiguita más” (just another ant) and the repeated struggles, “siempre sacando cuentas y sigo cero al as” (always doing the math and still at zero), symbolize the ongoing, often unrecognized, labor of the working classes. The harsh, cold winds that bite without compassion further illustrate the daily adversities faced by the common man.
“Frase” emerged during the 1960s in Argentina, a period characterized by significant social and political upheaval. The contrasting lifestyles between the working class and the affluent, amplified by industrial growth and urban challenges, reflect broader social themes of equity and justice. The mention of Barracas, a notable working-class district in Buenos Aires, roots the tango in a specific urban reality, highlighting the plight and resilience of its residents against the backdrop of broader societal shifts.
Félix Rosario Arena was an Argentine lyricist known for his reflective and often socially charged tango lyrics that vividly captured the essence of the working-class spirit and their struggles.