Humillación by

Humillación is a Tango written by and composed by Rodolfo Biagi.

Story behind the Tango Humillación

“Humillación” weaves a narrative of unrequited love and the internal turmoil it incites. The narrator grapples with the emotional degradation brought on by love that becomes submission. This tango tells the story of a passionate affair where the narrator, overwhelmed by affection, weakens in the face of an unyielding lover. The lyric’s confession reveals a personal struggle and a realization of love’s potential to both elevate and debase.

Symbolism of Humillación

Key phrases such as “amor que se arrodilla” (love that kneels) and “odio este amor, que me humilló a tus antojos” (I hate this love that humbled me to your whims) are rich with symbolism. They evoke images of submission and power imbalance within a relationship. The act of kneeling represents surrender, while the “yugo de tu pretensión” (the yoke of your pretense) suggests the burden of an unequal love. “Balbuceando ruegos, manso de altiveces” (murmuring pleas, tamed of haughtiness) highlights a transformative humiliation, stripping the narrator of pride.

Humillación in historic Context

Created in 1941 in Buenos Aires, “Humillación” emerges from an era and locale where tango was an expressive conduit for societal and personal upheaval. During a time marked by global conflict and national transformation, tangos often mirrored complex emotions and existential reflections. The song’s themes of humility, shame, and self-awareness resonate with the broader Argentine cultural landscape, where tango served as both a personal and collective expression of identity and sentiment.

Rodolfo Biagi, the composer, was a renowned Argentine tango musician known for his influential role in the tango scene. Bringing vivacity and rhythm to traditional tango, Biagi contributed significantly to its development and global recognition.