Fabrice Knecht Tango DJ
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.
La Payanca is a Tango written by Jesús Fernández Blanco and composed by Augusto Berto.
The melody of “La Payanca” carries the story of a man reflecting upon his youth, filled with ardor and success in love, signifying a bittersweet nostalgia. The use of the term “payanca,” which means a kind of double-edged knife, mirrors the double-edged nature of his experiences—both bright and tainted by the passage of time. Initially, the protagonist boasts about wielding his “payanca of love,” a metaphor for his youthful charm and romantic prowess that allowed him to win the hearts of many and triumph over rivals. Yet, despite these victories, the song transitions into a tone of loss and longing, lamenting the unreturnable nature of youth and the pure joys it held.
The central symbol in this tango, “payanca,” represents the protagonist’s tool for conquering love, analogous to how a knife might be used in a duel. However, as much as it describes his ability to win over love interests, it also suggests the impermanent, sometimes painful cuts of memories that remain sharp in his heart. Phrases like “mil bocas como una flor” and “hasta saciar mi sed de amor” evoke images of abundant, youthful passion, which contrast sharply with the solitude and yearning in his later years expressed in lines like “y sólo tu recuerdo fiel me ha seguido.”
Written and recorded in the postwar period of 1949 in Argentina, “La Payanca” emerges during a time of cultural renaissance and personal introspection in the country. The tango scene was a reflection of the broader societal mood— one oscillating between the celebration of the end of global conflict and the introspective assessment of personal loss and change. As such, this song captures both the vibrant past and the more contemplative present, using the dance of love as a metaphor for life’s broader battles and triumphs.
Jesús Fernández Blanco was an influential lyrical poet and tango lyricist, whose works often capture the emotional and cultural intricacies of early 20th century Argentina.