Fabrice Knecht Tango DJ
Fabrice Knecht Tango DJ
Style
Orchestra
Singer
Author
Composer
Date
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.
Palermo is a Tango written by Juan Villalba and composed by Enrique Delfino.
“Palermo” addresses the struggles and allure of gambling on horse races in the neighborhood of Palermo, a famous locale for such activities in Buenos Aires. The speaker expresses regret and a sense of being cursed (“¡Maldito seas, Palermo!”) as the lifestyle he has adopted, centered around gambling, has led him to poverty, illness, and social decline. Despite his awareness of the detrimental impact, his addiction to the thrill of horse racing keeps pulling him back.
The repetition of the phrase “¡Maldito seas, Palermo!” initially suggests a curse, symbolizing the powerful, almost malignant grasp that gambling has on the speaker’s life. Palermo itself becomes a symbol of all temptations that bring momentary thrill but long-term destruction. Further, the use of “pingos” (a colloquial term for horses) symbolizes fleeting illusions of success and prosperity, which repeatedly disappoint the speaker. The vivid imagery like “las patas de un tungo roncador” (the legs of a snoring nag) ridicules the consistent failures faced despite the obsession.
The Tango “Palermo” was written in 1966, a time when Argentina was experiencing significant political and social changes. This period serves as a backdrop for the narrative’s emotional depth, reflecting personal downfall amidst societal turbulence. Palermo, an area in Buenos Aires, was notably associated with horse racing, which was both a popular sport and a gambling hub. Cultural emphasis on luck, fate, and personal ruin owing to vices such as gambling are deeply ingrained in both the tango tradition and Argentine collective consciousness. This tango reflects such cultural narratives, cautioning against the perils of over-indulgence in gambling.
Juan Villalba was a lyricist known for contributing to Tango music, capturing the nuances of Argentine culture and emotions through his poignant words.