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.
Niebla del Riachuelo is a Tango written by Enrique Cadícamo and composed by Juan Carlos Cobián.
“Niebla del Riachuelo”, translated to “Fog of the Riachuelo”, captures the essence of a port area shrouded in both literal and metaphorical fog. These lyrics portray the Riachuelo, a river estuary in Buenos Aires which has historically been associated with decay and melancholia. Cadícamo uses this gloomy backdrop to reflect on deeper themes of abandonment, despair, and unrequited love. Ships that “will never set sail” and the mournful tone suggest a finality, a resignation to loss and the passage of irretrievable things, akin to love that has departed forever.
Symbols of darkness and entrapment pervade the lyrics of “Niebla del Riachuelo.” The “turbid anchorage” and “ships that will never depart” symbolize stagnation and the impossibility of moving forward, aligning with feelings of emotional paralysis post-breakup. The recurrence of elements such as fog, “bridges and rigging where the wind comes to howl”, and the “grim cemetery of ships” enrich the narrative, reinforcing a sense of unescape. Each lyrical component serves to intensify the longing and deserted sentiments the narrator experiences, amplified by the continuous reference to the thick, vision-obscuring fog, which metaphorically represents the uncertainty and haziness of his emotional state following a farewell.
The Tango was recorded on September 17, 1937, a time when the genre was at the heart of Argentinian culture, serving not only as entertainment but also as a social commentary. During that era, Buenos Aires witnessed significant socio-economic changes and the Riachuelo area was a vivid symbol of urban decay, a place where hopes and dreams seemed to fade into the murky waters. In this context, Cadícamo doesn’t just tell a personal story of love and loss, but paints a broader picture of abandonment and melancholy that many could resonate with during a period of significant upheaval.
Enrique Cadícamo was a revered Argentine poet and tango lyricist, known for his profound and poignant lyrics that have left a lasting impact on the genre.