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.
Sobre el pucho (Un callejón en Pompeya) is a Tango written by José González Castillo and composed by Sebastián Piana.
The lyrics of “Sobre el pucho” paint a vivid, somber scene in a back alley of Pompeya, an iconic neighborhood in Buenos Aires, where a lone malevo (a term for a man of the underworld in Argentine slang) reminisces about a lost love while smoking his cigarette down to the stub (pucho). The setting is further animated by the image of a street lamp illuminating the mud and an organ grinder playing a tango. This creates an atmosphere filled with nostalgia and melancholy, embodying the song’s primary themes of lost love and the passing of time.
The phrase “sobre el pucho” itself, which refers to smoking a cigarette down to the very end, symbolizes squeezing the last bits of pleasure out of something that’s about to end. This metaphor extends to the central theme of the song, reflecting on how the protagonist relives the last moments of a love affair that’s no more fulfilling or uplifting, but merely a habit that’s tough to let go. The choice of the neighborhood Pompeya, known for its working-class roots and traditional tango culture, adds another layer to the tango’s emotional and cultural depth. It conveys a sense of authenticity and raw emotion, parallel to the unvarnished truths and feelings the singer shares.
Written and released in 1961, a period marked by significant social and political shifts in Argentina, “Sobre el pucho” reflects a nostalgic yearning for simpler, albeit harder times. Pompeya, the setting of the tango, is situated in the southern part of Buenos Aires and has been a fertile ground for tango culture, often depicting the life of the working class and their struggles. Through his lyrics, Castillo captures the essence of the Argentine spirit – resilience in the face of hardship, and a melancholic but passionate attachment to the past.
José González Castillo was a prominent Argentine playwright and lyricist, known for his profound contributions to the Tango genre.