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Mala junta

Mala junta is a Tango written by Julio De Caro and recorded by Horacio Salgán in 1950. Horacio Salgán has recorded Mala junta as an instrumental Tango.
“Mala Junta,” meaning “Bad Company” in English, evokes the dance of entangled souls lost in the rhythm of misfortune. It speaks of the magnetic pull of ill-fated alliances, where passion and mystery entwine like fleeting shadows. Through its haunting melody, this piece captures the intoxicating allure of danger and the beauty found within life’s chaotic tangos.

Tango

Style

Horacio Salgán

Orchestra

Instrumental

Singer

Juan Velich

Author

Julio De Caro

Composer

1950/11/8

Date

Instrumental
Instrumental
Horacio Salgán
Horacio Salgán

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Mala junta recorded by other Orchestras

Mala junta recorded by other Orchestras

Letra del Tango Mala junta

Por tu mala junta te perdiste, nena

y nos causa tu extravío, llantos, ¡pena!…

De un vivir risueño te han hablado

y al final… ¡te has olvidado

de tu vieja y de mi amor!…

En la fiebre loca de mentidas galas

se quemaron tus divinas, ¡níveas alas!…

En tu afán de lujos y de orgías

recubriste de agonías

¡a mi vida y a tu hogar!…



Fuiste el ángel de mis horas de bohemia,

el bien de mi esperanza,

tierno sueño encantador;

y no puedo sofocar mis neurastenias

cuando pienso en la mudanza

¡de tu cruel amor!…



(recitado)

¡Pobre de mí… que a cuestas con mi gran cruz

rodando he de marchar por mi oscura senda;

¡sin el calor de aquella fulgente luz

que tu mirar dispersó en mi corazón!



(canto)

Sueños de gloria

que truncos quedaron

y herido me dejaron

entre brumas de dolor…



Por tu mala junta te perdiste, nena,

y nos causa tu extravío llantos, ¡pena!…

Por seguir tus necias ambiciones

mis doradas ilusiones

¡para siempre las perdí!…

Una santa madre delirante clama

y con ella mi cariño, ruega, ¡llama!…

El perdón te espera con un beso

si nos traes con tu regreso

¡la alegría de vivir!…



Tus recuerdos se amontonan en mi mente,

tu imagen me obsesiona,

te contemplo en mi ansiedad;

y te nombro suspirando tristemente,

pero en vano… ¡no reacciona

tu alma sin piedad!…



Y como el cisne

que muere cantando

así se irá esfumando

¡mi doliente juventud!…

English lyrics of the Tango "Mala junta"

Due to your bad company, you lost your way, girl,
and your loss brings us tears, sorrow!…
They spoke to you of a cheerful life,
and in the end… you’ve forgotten
you mother and my love!…
In the mad fever of false splendors,
your divine, snowy wings burned!…
In your craving for luxuries and orgies,
you covered
my life and your home with agony!…

You were the angel of my bohemian days,
the goodness of my hope,
a charming, tender dream;
and I cannot suppress my neurasthenia
when I think of the change
in your cruel love!…

(recited)
Woe is me… carrying my great cross
I must roll on through my dark path;
without the warmth of that brilliant light
that your gaze scattered in my heart!

(sung)
Dreams of glory,
cut short
that left me wounded
among mists of pain…

Due to your bad company, you lost your way, girl,
and your straying brings us tears, sorrow!…
By following your foolish ambitions
my golden illusions
I have lost forever!…
A delirious mother screams
and with her, my love, pleads, calls!…
Forgiveness awaits you with a kiss
if you bring with your return
the joy of living!…

Your memories pile up in my mind,
your image haunts me,
I see you in my anxiety;
and I name you while sighing sadly,
but in vain… your soul without mercy does not react!…

And like the swan
that dies singing,
so will fade
my ailing youth!…

Mala junta by Juan Velich

Mala junta is a Tango written by Juan Velich and composed by Julio De Caro.

Story behind the Tango Mala junta

The lyrics of “Mala junta” delve into the poignant narrative of a man lamenting the downfall of a loved woman, who was led astray by bad influences and false promises of a glamorous life. The title, translating to “Bad Company” or “Bad Association,” sets the tone for a story of loss and yearning, where the woman’s decisions to pursue superficial opulence result in her moral and emotional decline. The speaker reminisces about the past, expressing deep sorrow and the devastating impact of this transformation on his life and their shared memories.

Symbolism of Mala junta

“Mala junta” uses powerful symbolic imagery to highlight the consequences of the woman’s choices. The “níveas alas” (snow-white wings) symbolize her innocence and purity, which are ultimately tarnished and destroyed by her lavish yet hollow lifestyle. This change is further emphasized through contrasting images of light and darkness, with references to the diminishing light in the speaker’s life as the woman continues on her detrimental path. The ongoing theme of youth fading away like a dying swan song encapsulates the deep anguish and irreversible losses born from her decisions.

Mala junta in historic Context

Recorded in 1950, “Mala junta” reflects post-war Argentina, a period marked by cultural shifts and economic instability. Tango often mirrored societal concerns, and in this context, the song criticizes the lure of materialism and the moral degradation it can bring. The emphasis on traditional values like family and loyalty, juxtaposed with the pursuit of “lujos y orgías” (luxuries and revelries), speaks to a broader societal apprehension about the erosion of cultural and familial bonds in pursuit of modernity and superficial fulfillment.

Juan Velich

Juan Velich, an influential figure in the world of Tango, crafted narratives that often explored themes of love, betrayal, and societal critique through his poignant lyrics.