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La cumparsita (Apologia del tango)

La cumparsita (Apologia del tango) is a Tango written by Gerardo Matos Rodriguez and recorded by Rodolfo Biagi in 1942. The Tango La cumparsita (Apologia del tango) is written by Gerardo Matos Rodriguez, Rodolfo Biagi has recorded La cumparsita (Apologia del tango) with the singer Jorge Ortiz.
“La Cumparsita (Apology of the Tango)” resonates between timeless elegance and evocative melancholy. The original Spanish name, “La Cumparsita,” suggests a small or modest parade, embodying the dance of life itself. As the “Apology of the Tango,” it celebrates the tango’s profound ability to express sorrow, passion, and the intricate tapestry of human emotions.

Tango

Style

Rodolfo Biagi

Orchestra

Jorge Ortiz

Singer

Enrique Maroni

Author

Gerardo Matos Rodriguez

Composer

1942/4/15

Date

Jorge Ortiz
Jorge Ortiz
Rodolfo Biagi
Rodolfo Biagi

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Osvaldo Fresedo – Lluvia sobre el mar – 1952/12/23
Miguel Caló – Verdemar – 1943/9/28
Miguel Caló – Yo – 1945/4/20
Miguel Caló – Si volviera Jesús – 1935/9/28
Miguel Caló – Entre dos – 1967/6/12
Miguel Caló – He vuelto muchachos – 1967/6/5
Quinteto Real (Horacio Salgán) – Julián – 1960/1/1
Quinteto Real (Horacio Salgán) – Canaro en París – 1960/1/1
Quinteto Real (Horacio Salgán) – Ensueños – 1960/1/1
Quinteto Real (Horacio Salgán) – El abrojito – 1964/1/1
Quinteto Real (Horacio Salgán) – Romance de barrio – 1960/1/1
Juan MAGLIO – Milonguero viejo – 1928/4/2

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La cumparsita (Apologia del tango) recorded by other Orchestras

La cumparsita (Apologia del tango) recorded by other Orchestras

1942/4/15 – Calla corazon – Rodolfo Biagi
1942/4/14 – El naranjerito – Lucio Demare
1942/4/14 – Un tango guapo – Lucio Demare
1942/4/17 – Batallon de solteros – Jose Garcia
1942/4/17 – El distinguido ciudadano – Jose Garcia
La cumparsita (Apologia del tango) – 1928/1/1 – Juan D-Arienzo – Raquel Notar
La cumparsita (Apologia del tango) – 1942/4/15 – Rodolfo Biagi – Jorge Ortiz

Lyrics Translation of the Tango La cumparsita (Apologia del tango)

This is the translation of the Tango “La cumparsita (Apologia del tango)” from Spanish to English. The English lyrics of the Tango “La cumparsita (Apologia del tango)” have been done with AI.

Letra del Tango La cumparsita (Apologia del tango)

Tango de triste motivo
Cuando siento tu chamuyo,
Se queda en mi alma el arrullo
De tus pesares cautivo.
Por eso cuando percibo
Tu melancólico son,
Me acongoja la emoción
De tu rezongo compadre,
Y entonces pienso en mi madre
Y me llora el corazón.

Por eso cuando lo siento
Le abro en mi alma las rejas,
Y entra cantando sus quejas
Pa´ amargar mi sentimiento.
Entonces, mirá, no miento
Siento que en mi pecho anida,
Todo el dolor de mi vida
Y por eso me encurdelo,
Tengo hambre de consuelo
Y lo busco en la bebida.

Tango, que me hiciste mal
Y sin embargo te quiero,
Porque sos el mensajero
Del alma del arrabal.
No sé qué encanto fatal
Tiene tu nota sentida,
Que en la mistonga guarida
Del corazón se me ensancha,
Como pidiéndole cancha
Al dolor que hay en mi vida.

Triste, sensual, dormilón,
Mezcla de risa y lamento,
Vuela de los instrumentos
Y se mete al corazón.
Allí enciende la pasión
Que en el alma está dormida,
Nos habla de la querida
Del amigo traicionero,
Es un grato mensajero
Que se nos cruza en la vida.

Por vos me he morfao más canas
Que pelos tengo en el mate,
Por vos hizo el disparate
De envenenarse mi hermana.
No hay bochinche ni macana
Que en tu homenaje no hiciera,
Y en cualquier fiesta arrabalera
Donde campeás con honor,
Me has dado siempre valor
Pa´ hacerle frente a cualquiera.

Es cachetada y caricia
Tiene querer y grandeza,
También maldad y nobleza
Tiene fealdad y belleza.
Es la infinita tristeza
Que a ser malo me convida,
Es la cárcel, la guarida
Mis versos y mi guitarra,
El tango, es como una garra
Que se ha clavao en mi vida.

English lyrics of the Tango "La cumparsita (Apologia del tango)"

Tango of sorrowful cause
When I hear your chatter,
It leaves in my soul the lull
Of your captive sorrows.
That’s why when I perceive
Your melancholy sound,
The emotion overwhelms me
Of your brotherly murmur,
And then I think of my mother
And my heart weeps.

That’s why when I feel it
I open the gates of my soul,
And it enters singing its complaints
To embitter my feeling.
Then, look, I’m not lying
I feel that in my chest nests,
All the pain of my life
And that’s why I get tangled,
I’m starving for comfort
And I seek it in drink.

Tango, you have hurt me
And yet I love you,
Because you are the messenger
Of the soul of the slums.
I don’t know what fatal charm
Your heartfelt note has,
That in the shanty hideout
Of the heart it expands,
As if asking for space
For the pain in my life.

Sad, sensual, somnolent,
A mix of laughter and lament,
It flies from the instruments
And enters the heart.
There it ignites the passion
That in the soul is dormant,
It speaks to us of the beloved
Of the treacherous friend,
It’s a pleasant messenger
That crosses paths in our life.

For you I’ve sprouted more grey hairs
Than hairs on my head,
For you my sister did the madness
Of poisoning herself.
There’s no ruckus or trick
That I wouldn’t do in your honor,
And at any shanty party
Where you reign with honor,
You have always given me courage
To face anyone.

It’s slap and caress
It has love and grandeur,
It also has malice and nobility
It has ugliness and beauty.
It’s the infinite sadness
That invites me to be evil,
It’s the jail, the hideout
My verses and my guitar,
Tango, it’s like a claw
That has clung to my life.

La cumparsita (Apologia del tango) by Enrique Maroni

La cumparsita (Apologia del tango) is a Tango written by Enrique Maroni and composed by Gerardo Matos Rodriguez.

Story behind the Tango La cumparsita (Apologia del tango)

Through the poignant verses of “La cumparsita (Apologia del tango),” Enrique Maroni explores deep emotions associated with the tango. Maroni’s lyrics are a heartfelt tribute to the tango genre, capturing its essence as a messenger of the urban soul and its emotional struggles. The lyrics poignantly depict how tango, with its melancholic tune and rich emotional expression, stirs deep feelings, reminding the singer of personal pain and challenges, such as the tragic desperation felt by his sister, driven to her demise. The tango, despite causing him distress, also offers a source of consolation and identity.

Symbolism of La cumparsita (Apologia del tango)

The tango is personified as a complex character in Maroni’s lyrics, embodying contrasting traits—cruel yet beautiful, noble yet malicious. Key phrases like “Tango, que me hiciste mal / Y sin embargo te quiero,” illustrate the double-edged nature of tango, symbolizing both the pain and the allure it holds. This duality mirrors human emotions and the beauty drawn from painful experiences. The tango acts as a physical emblem of life’s inherent contradictions, a blend of hardship and solace found in life’s journey. Additionally, references to the “garra” (claw) symbolize how deeply and painfully the tango is ingrained in the singer’s life, suggesting an eternal, unyielding grip on his soul and existence.

La cumparsita (Apologia del tango) in historic Context

Recorded in 1942, in the throes of World War II, “La cumparsita (Apologia del tango)” was crafted during a time of global turmoil and uncertainty, which influenced its themes of despair and resilience. Originating in Argentina, a locale synonymous with the birth of tango, it reflects the cultural backdrop of Buenos Aires’ working-class neighborhoods (arrabales), where the tango was a common expressive outlet among the locals. The tango was not only a dance but also a reflection of the societal struggles and the modest pride of its people, narratives that Maroni tenderly weaves through his lyrics.

Enrique Maroni

Enrique Maroni was a notable figure in the realm of tango, contributing significantly with his poignant and reflective lyrics which echoed the sentiments of Argentine culture and the spirit of its people.