Rie payaso by Emilio Falero

Rie payaso is a Tango written by Emilio Falero and composed by Virgilio Carmona.

Story behind the Tango Rie payaso

“Rie payaso” translates to “Laugh, Clown” in English, a phrase exhorting the subject to disguise true emotions behind a facade of laughter. The lyrics delve deep into the juxtaposition of public joy and private sorrow, portraying a clown whose exaggerated laughter and gestures at a carnival hide his true feelings. This theme extends metaphorically to anyone who masks their deeper struggles with an outward appearance of joy, including the narrator himself who seeks to drown his sorrows in indulgent revelry. The poetic narrative unfolds a poignant tale of heartache where both the clown and the narrator find solace in fleeting pleasures, underlined by the recurring escape into “champagne” to forget their pain.

Symbolism of Rie payaso

The symbolism in “Rie payaso” is rich, with the “clown” serving as a central metaphor for masking one’s true feelings. The repetitious plea to “laugh” in the face of undisclosed pain signifies the societal pressure to maintain appearances. Champagne, as a recurring motif, represents temporary escape and self-indulgence, a means to cope with underlying despair. The act of the clown crying silently in a corner where “there are witnesses” illuminates the duality between public perception and private reality. The imagery is evocatively captured through phrases like “con deseos de descansar” which hints at a deeper exhaustion beyond physical, reaching into the emotional and psychological realms.

Rie payaso in historic context

The creation date of “Rie payaso” in 1949 Argentina is significant because it was a period of notable political and social change. Post World War II, the nation was under the rule of Juan Domingo Perón whose regime was both popular for its social welfare policies and criticized for its authoritarian elements. This period was marked by a complex mix of hope, progress, and undercurrents of dissent. The tango, a dance that often encompasses themes of passion, disillusionment, and struggle, serves here as a poignant reflection of the internal and societal masks people wore. The timing and location infuse the lyrics with an extra layer of melancholy, interweaving personal emotional turmoil with broader social and political currents.

Emilio Falero

Emilio Falero was a notable figure in the world of Argentine Tango, contributing greatly with his introspective and often melancholic lyrics.