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.
Parlamento is a Tango written by Richard Russo and composed by Julio De Caro.
“Parlamento” vividly captures the essence of life in the urban underbelly of Argentina, portraying the cunning and survival strategies of its characters. The lyrics delve into the relationship between men and women, highlighting a dynamic where men often seek to charm women for their own benefit, using sweet words (“parlamento”) and a facade of love. It reflects a common theme in tango lyrics: the gritty reality of life, love, and deception in the streets of Buenos Aires.
The repeated use of the word “parlamento” (speech or dialogue) symbolizes manipulation through sweet-talking and persuasion. The phrase “hacerle un trabajo de rococó” metaphorically suggests an intricate, ornate effort to win someone’s affection, similar to elaborate Rococo art, emphasizing how adornment in speech can be akin to visual beauty but potentially superficial. The line “en donde sin minga de moños, ni flor, tendrás poco o mucho amor” uses absence of decoration (“minga de moños, ni flor”) to underscore the reality behind the pretense, suggesting that the love offered may be modest but is real.
Recorded in 1979 by Julio De Caro, a prominent tango musician known for his innovative contributions to the genre, “Parlamento” reflects a time in Argentina of great political and social change. The use of Lunfardo slang within the lyrics is a nod to tango’s roots in the lower classes of Buenos Aires and serves as a rebellious embrace of local identity during a period marked by the Dirty War (1970s to early 1980s), a time of severe censorship and political repression. The lyrics may subtly mirror the era’s atmosphere of disguised truths and deceptive narratives propagated by authoritarian rule.
Richard Russo was a prolific lyricist in the tango scene, known for his evocative texts which often reflected the societal undercurrents of Argentina.