Nostalgias by Enrique Cadícamo

Nostalgias is a Tango written by Enrique Cadícamo and composed by Juan Carlos Cobián.

Story behind the Tango Nostalgias

“Nostalgias” delves deep into the theme of unrequited love and the torment it brings. The protagonist seeks to drown his sorrows and the haunting memories of a past love through alcohol, attempting to erase the kisses of the loved one with those of others. The line, “Quiero emborrachar mi corazón para apagar un loco amor que más que amor es un sufrir,” which translates to “I want to intoxicate my heart to extinguish a crazy love that more than love is suffering,” sets a tone of despair and a desperate need to forget. Despite these actions, the pain progressively intensifies, captured poignantly in the recurring theme of remembering what he seeks to forget.

Symbolism of Nostalgias

The lyrics of “Nostalgias” are rich in symbolism, particularly through the juxtaposition of the emotional landscape to physical elements. Phrases like “gime, bandoneón, tu tango gris” metaphorically speak volumes of the gray tango played by the bandoneón, reflecting the somber mood of the narrator. The grayness symbolizes the murky, subdued nature of his emotional state. Furthermore, the use of night imagery, “sola y triste en esta noche, noche negra y sin estrellas,” symbolizes the deep darkness and loneliness engulfing him, emphasizing the absence of light and hope in his life.

Nostalgias in historic Context

Recorded in 1952, during a period where Tango music was seeing a resurgence and continued evolution in Argentina, “Nostalgias” captures the essence of the cultural backdrop of its time—a post-war society grappling with new realities and emotional scars. The Tango serves both as a dance of intimate connection and as an expression of deeper societal melancholies. This song, with its themes of love, loss, and loneliness, resonated deeply with an audience familiar with suffering and displacement, thereby finding a universal appeal.

Enrique Cadícamo

Enrique Cadícamo was a renowned Argentine lyricist and poet known for his significant contributions to the Tango genre.