Fabrice Knecht Tango DJ
Style
Orchestra
Singer
Author
Composer
Date
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.
Gerardo Matos Rodriguez is a Tango written by Raúl Rosales and composed by Pablo A. Hechim.
The tango “Gerardo Matos Rodriguez” narrates a poignant homage to an influential figure in the tango world, presumably the Uruguayan musician Gerardo Matos Rodríguez. Rosales’ lyrics speak from the perspective of the arrabal, or the outskirts, portraying a voice that commits to immortalizing Rodríguez through song. The references to different tangos like “El Rosal,” “Mocosita,” and “La Cumparsita,” further anchor the piece in a rich tango tradition, highlighting Rodríguez’s impact on the genre. The verse “I sing instead of crying” underscores the bittersweet nature of commemorating his legacy through music.
Symbolism is rife within the lyrics, using the genre of tango itself as a metaphor for emotional expression and cultural identity. Phrases like “his abandoned San Telmo” and “his poor heart” symbolically represent the desolation felt by the tango community and perhaps the melancholy often found in tango music. The use of specific locations such as San Telmo, a neighborhood emblematic of tango’s origins, adds depth to the portrayal of Rodríguez’s departure affecting the heart of tango culture.
1962, Argentina—a time when tango music had permeated deep into the cultural fabric, yet faced modernizing pressures. In this historical backdrop, “Gerardo Matos Rodriguez” serves not just as a tribute, but as a reaffirmation of traditional tango against the evolving music scenes. Additionally, the mention of La Aguada, a neighborhood known for its ordinary yet culturally rich life in Montevideo, situates Rodríguez within a genuine urban context, revered and remembered deeply by those in his community.
Raúl Rosales was a prolific lyricist known for his deep connections to traditional tango music and culture.