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.
Percal is a Tango written by Homero Expósito and composed by Domingo Federico.
The lyrics of “Percal” recount the story of youthful dreams and the realities that alter them. The protagonist reminisces about a younger individual, possibly a woman, who once aspired to leave her modest origins symbolized by ‘percal’—a simple, inexpensive fabric—to seek success and forget her past. The vivid memories of aspirations and youthful optimism are contrasted with the present, where those dreams are either lost or transformed by life’s unpredictabilities. The haunting refrain “¿Te acuerdas del percal?” (Do you remember the percal?) serves as a poignant reminder of the simplicity and innocence that were left behind.
The choice of ‘percal’ as a central symbol is particularly resonant. In the context of the song, percal represents more than just a fabric; it symbolizes the modest beginning and the humble, perhaps constraining, circumstances that the individual strives to transcend. Phrases like “anhelos de sufrir y amar” (dreams of suffering and loving) emphasize the intensity and profundity of youthful desires. As the protagonist’s journeys unfold, the initial fabric becomes a metaphor for anything in our past that remains with us, influencing or shadowing our present and future, as indicated by “y saber que al final/no olvidaste el percal.” (and to know that in the end, you did not forget the percal).
Written and recorded in 1965, “Percal” emerges in a significant historical context. This period in Argentina was marked by social and political unrest, which likely influenced the themes of change and nostalgia in the song. The Argentine tango, traditionally a dance of the working-class environs, often carried undertones of melancholy and disenchantment, reflecting the sentiments of a population grappling with rapid modernization and the loss of old ways. “Percal,” with its reflections on the passage of time and the evocation of simpler days, can be viewed as an emotional response to these broader social changes.
Homero Expósito was a renowned Argentine lyricist and poet, celebrated for his profound and evocative contributions to the genre of tango.