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.
Se perdió el amor is a Tango written by Mariano de la Torre and composed by Antonio Varela.
The lyrics of “Se perdió el amor” (The Love was Lost) paint a poignant story of love and loss. Mariano de la Torre vividly articulates the emotional journey of a person who once was the center of joy in someone’s life, akin to a “ray of sunshine on bright days,” only to later find that destiny has led them to separate paths where love ultimately fades. This progression—a reflection on cherished memories, the agony of misconception, and reluctant acceptance—offers a deeper look into the tumultuous changes that relationships can undergo, influenced by time and circumstance.
The symbolism within this tango is deeply intertwined with natural imagery and emotional responses. The “rayo soleado” (ray of sunshine) represents warmth, positivity, and the irreplaceable nature of the loved one in the narrator’s life. This light dims as “se perdió el amor,” signifying not just the loss of love but also the loss of brightness and direction in the narrator’s life. The physical depiction of meeting again, where the lost love is “más hermosa” (more beautiful) yet observes the narrator with indifference, starkly contrasts the pain and longing that still lingers in the singer, culminating in the dramatic and fatalistic “Y muere un corazón” (And a heart dies).
The period around 1947 when “Se perdió el amor” was recorded was a vibrant yet turbulent time in Argentina, marked by political changes and the rise of Peronism. This era also saw Tango becoming a profound medium for expressing personal and collective sentiments. The melancholic, reflective lyrics of the song resonate with a nation undergoing significant transformations, embodying the personal losses and societal shifts experienced by many. This historical backdrop intensifies the lament and nostalgia present in the song, making it a reflective piece not just on personal loss but also perhaps on a changing society.
Mariano de la Torre was a notable figure in the Tango scene, whose lyrical contributions like “Se perdió el amor” have left a significant mark on the landscape of Latin American music culture.