Los mareados by Enrique Cadicamo

Los mareados is a Tango written by Enrique Cadicamo and composed by Juan Carlos Cobian.

Story behind the Tango Los mareados

“Los mareados,” often translated as “The Dizzy” or “The Bewildered,” touches on a poignant encounter in a bar where old lovers meet again. The scene begins with a woman seen drinking, masking her sadness with alcohol-induced laughter. The lyrical narrative expresses the narrator’s pain upon seeing her so changed, sparking a bittersweet reunion where shared memories and present sorrows intertwine. This tango deals not only with love but also with loss and the cruel passage of time that leaves previous passions relegated to mere memories.

Symbolism of Los mareados

The use of alcohol in the lyrics symbolizes an attempt to escape reality. The repeated reference to drunkenness and the atmosphere of a bar speak to themes of forgetfulness and the numbing of emotional pain. Furthermore, the electric spark in the woman’s eyes symbolizes lingering life and passion, despite her outward attempt to drown her sorrows. The toast “because we will never see each other again” underlines the finality of their farewell, emphasizing the depth of their previous connection and the inevitability of moving on.

Los mareados in historic Context

Though the lyrics were set in the mid-1980s, “Los mareados” taps deeply into the traditional Tango culture of Argentina, where tango served as a reflection of the social and personal narratives of its time. This particular period was marked by significant political and economic changes in Argentina, and tangos like “Los mareados” could be perceived as emotional outlets for expressing complex feelings of loss, nostalgia, and love amidst societal turmoil.

Enrique Cadicamo

Enrique Cadicamo was an Argentine lyricist and poet, renowned for his significant contributions to the world of Tango, creating some of the genre’s most famous songs.