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.
Precio is a Tango written by Carlos Bahr, and composed by Manuel Sucher.
“Precio,” meaning “Price” in English, delves into a man’s deep emotional conflict caused by a tumultuous and consuming love affair. The lyrics narrate the speaker’s intense and havoc-wreaking journey through love that leads him to neglect his moral integrity and values. Initially, the song reflects on destiny’s harshness in having crossed paths with the object of his affection, hinting at a predestined and fateful encounter that spirals into chaos.
The recurring theme of “precio” or “price” in the tango symbolizes the sacrifices and the moral compromise the protagonist endures in his quest to sustain this overpowering love. Phrases like “perdí por tus antojos mi conciencia y mi decoro,” which translates to “for your whims, I lost my conscience and my decency,” depict the detrimental impact of love on the speaker’s character and personal values. Additionally, the tango uses symbolic expressions like “pan de un hogar que fue barranca abajo,” suggesting that his domestic stability and peace, symbolized by bread, spiraled downward because of his passionate affair.
Emerging in the post-World War II era, “Precio” reflects the 1950s societal conventions of Argentina where familial and religious morals held significant importance. In a period marked by political tension and changing social ethics, Carlos Bahr captures the personal agony of a man who negates societal and divine rules for love. Lyrics such as “He negado los sagrados mandamientos,” or “I have denied the holy commandments,” emphasize the moral conflicts and the extent of his sacrifices, aligning them with the societal backdrop of the time, where personal turmoil often mirrored broader social transformations.
Carlos Bahr was a notable Argentine lyricist renowned for his poignant and expressive tango lyrics, often weaving complex human emotions with melodramatic flair.