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La muchacha del circo

La muchacha del circo is a Tango written by Gerardo Matos Rodríguez and recorded by Osvaldo Fresedo in 1928. Osvaldo Fresedo has recorded La muchacha del circo as an instrumental Tango.
“La muchacha del circo,” or “The Circus Girl,” is a vibrant dance of nostalgia and wonder. Within its melody swirls the enchanting tale of a young performer, whose life spins between the dazzling lights and shadows beneath the big top. Her story is one of whimsical grace, where dreams and reality intertwine in an endless waltz.

Tango

Style

Osvaldo Fresedo

Orchestra

Instrumental

Singer

Manuel Romero

Author

Gerardo Matos Rodríguez

Composer

1928/7/26

Date

Instrumental
Instrumental
Osvaldo Fresedo
Osvaldo Fresedo

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La muchacha del circo recorded by other Orchestras

La muchacha del circo recorded by other Orchestras

Letra del Tango La muchacha del circo

Yo soy la muchacha del circo,
por una moneda yo doy
un poco de humilde belleza,
un poco de tibia emoción.
Yo soy la muchacha del circo,
por esos caminos yo voy
ceñida en mi malla de seda
repartiendo a todos
flores de ilusión.

Colgada del frágil trapecio,
su cuerpo elegante parece al saltar
una paloma blanca que al cielo
con ansias locas quisiera llegar.
Mientras la gente
Emocionada
contempla inquieta su salto mortal,
bajo la lona
del viejo circo
un frío de muerte se siente cruzar.

Ahí va la muchacha del circo,
no encuentra consuelo ni amor,
regala a los otros la dicha
y sufre miseria y dolor.
Por fin una noche la mano,
cansada, el trapecio aflojó
y… ¡pobre muchacha del circo!
buscando un aplauso,
la muerte encontró.

English lyrics of the Tango "La muchacha del circo"

I am the circus girl,
for a coin I give
a bit of humble beauty,
a bit of warm thrill.
I am the circus girl,
along these paths I travel
encased in my silk suit
sharing with everyone
flowers of illusion.

Hanging from the fragile trapeze,
her elegant body seems as it jumps
a white dove that to the sky
with mad yearnings wants to reach.
While the people,
excited,
watch anxiously her deadly leap,
under the canvas
of the old circus
a deadly chill is felt crossing.

There goes the circus girl,
she finds neither solace nor love,
she gives others happiness
and suffers misery and pain.
At last one night the hand,
tired, loosened the trapeze
and… poor circus girl!
seeking applause,
death she found.

La muchacha del circo by Manuel Romero

La muchacha del circo is a Tango written by Manuel Romero and composed by Gerardo Matos Rodríguez.



Story behind the Tango La muchacha del circo

La muchacha del circo,” or “The Circus Girl,” unfolds the poignant story of a circus performer narrated in a first-person perspective. It reveals the character’s life, underscored by sacrifice and a continuous struggle against adversity. She describes herself as offering “a little humble beauty, a little warm emotion” for just a coin. This narrative dives deep into the inner world of circus performers, often romantically idealized yet plagued by physical risk and emotional isolation. Her tragic end, falling while performing seeking applause, evokes a powerful and painful irony, reflecting the severe and often overlooked costs of entertainment.



Symbolism of La muchacha del circo

The young tango singer’s life overflows with symbolism. The circus serves as a metaphor for the transience of life and the impermanence of human connections; its tent and fleeting spectacles evoke themes of impermanence and superficiality. Her costume, “wrapped in silk mesh,” symbolizes the delicate balance and vulnerability circumscribed within her spectacle. The “white dove” metaphor invoking her during her trapeze act elevates the artist to something ethereal and pure, contrasting sharply with the “deathly chill” felt from the circus’s reality. The applause, ironically, becomes a symbol for her unattainable salvation and eventual downfall.



La muchacha del circo in historic Context

Released in 1928, this tango reflects an era in Argentina colored by social and cultural changes, with entertainment like the circus offering an escape from everyday hardships during periods of economic challenge. The physical and emotional turmoil depicted in the song mirrors the broader societal struggles of the time, portraying the darker sides of entertainment industries prominent in early 20th-century Argentina. It resonates with the transient joys and enduring sorrows of working-class individuals in an era marked by both cultural richness and economic difficulties.



Manuel Romero

Manuel Romero was an eminent Argentinean songwriter and director, best known for his prolific contributions to the cinematic and musical landscapes of Latin America during the early 20th century.