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.
Príncipe is a Tango written by Francisco García Jiménez and composed by Anselmo Aieta.
The narrative of “Príncipe” portrays the declination of a man who once held a prestigious status, symbolized as a prince, who has experienced the heights of love and comfort but has subsequently lost everything. The lyrics outline the protagonist’s fall from grace and his lament over not only his lost status but more profoundly, his lost love and home. This tale of lost grandeur and existential despair is communicated through a conversational tone, shifting from reminiscence to interactions with a less sympathetic outside world.
In “Príncipe,” the titular term symbolizes more than royalty; it denotes a time of happiness, stability, and respect which the singer once enjoyed. Key phrases like “Príncipe fui, tuve un hogar y un amor” and repeated assertions “Príncipe fui” assert his lost noble status, juxtaposing his past life with his present misery. The concept of being derided by those he tells his tale to, who label him “loco” (crazy), highlights societal indifference to personal downfall, making the prince’s nostalgia a private sanctuary uncorrupted by external disbelief and ridicule. This mockery from the masses encapsulates the cruelty of society, and their laughter serves as a painful backdrop to his grief.
Written and recorded in the post-World War II era, “Príncipe” by Francisco García Jiménez emerged during a time when Argentina was undergoing significant social and economic changes. The year 1946 marked the beginning of Juan Perón’s presidency, which dramatically transformed Argentine society. This context might reflect not only personal loss but also a broader societal commentary on the changing values and perhaps the disillusionment with the old social order, where status and honor were ostensibly more revered.
Francisco García Jiménez was a renowned lyricist known for his contributions to the Argentine Tango, capturing the spirit and transformations of early 20th century Argentine society.