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.
Malena is a Tango written by Homero Manzi and composed by Lucio Demare.
“Malena” depicts the narrative of a woman who sings tango with both unique talent and haunting emotion. Her voice embodies the essence of the suburban streets and the emotional landscape of the Tango itself, reflecting a deep-seated melancholy. Each stanza conveys the raw, somber experiences stamped on her life, possibly alluding to a painful romantic history hinted at but never fully disclosed. This enigmatic figure, Malena, becomes a symbol of Tango itself – deep, emotional, and complex.
The lyrics richly employ symbolism to deepen the narrative. Malena’s voice is described as perfuming the air like “yuyo del suburbio,” suggesting her ability to transform the ordinary with her emotional depth. Her sadness is metaphorically connected to the Bandoneon, an instrument central to tango music, symbolizing how integral her sorrow is to her art. Terms such as “voz de sombra” (voice of shadow) and “pena de bandoneón” (sorrow of the Bandoneon) further reinforce her connection to the melancholic soul of tango.
Written in 1965 amidst Argentina’s complex political and cultural landscape, “Malena” echoes the underlying currents of social and emotional turmoil. The tango was used during this period as an outlet for expressing the unspoken, often carrying the weight of the people’s hardship and resilience. Malena, as a figure, can be seen as a representation of Argentina itself – beautiful, bruised, and resonant with a lingering sadness born from historical struggle.
Homero Manzi was a seminal Argentine lyricist and tango poet, noted for his profound and evocative narratives that capture the spirit of his surroundings.