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.
Pavadas is a Tango written by Isusi and composed by Mario Demarco.
The tango “Pavadas” tells a poignant story steeped in the stark realities of urban poverty and despair. It sketches the tumultuous life of a person born in a shanty town, echoing the harsh upbringing devoid of basic comforts or love. The narrative threads through the protagonist’s life describing his descent into resentment and eventual downfall. This person, once a child without so much as a toy, grows into an adult seeking revenge on life itself, only to be subdued by the very life he challenges.
The word ‘Pavadas’ generally refers to ‘nonsense’ or ‘trivialities’ in English, setting a stark contrast against the heavy themes of the tango. This title might imply how the deeper, painful issues of life are often dismissed as trivial by those who overlook the suffering of others. ‘Resaca, cosas del fango, letras de tango, pavadas’ – this phrase further underscores how the societal mud and the daily grind, which are painful realities for some, are often minimized or treated as mere lyrical musings in tango songs by others. The imagery of toys, cradles, and homes use stark, simple language to paint a vivid picture of what is lacking from a childhood surrounded by poverty.
Written and recorded in 1969, “Pavadas” captures a period in Argentine history marked by social and political unrest. The tango reflects the darker tones of society’s landscape during this time, mirroring the hardships faced by the marginalised communities in the suburbs of Argentina. The political climate, with its upheavals, likely added layers of cynicism and loss, elements that resonate in the ominous fate of the song’s protagonist, who ends up ‘among the bars,’ a metaphor for prison or possibly a tragic end.
Isusi was a reflective and evocative lyricist, known for capturing the essence of the Argentine spirit through his poignant and often stark narratives.