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.
Tarde gris is a Tango written by Luis Rubistein and composed by Juan Bautista Guido.
The song “Tarde gris” (translated as “Gray Afternoon”) tells of a poignant reunion at a hospital. The narrator visits someone they once loved and vowed to hate forever due to past grievances. At the hospital, instead of harboring resentment, the narrator finds that their heart still beats with love for the person, despite the pain caused. This emotional turmoil transforms into forgiveness and aspirations for a renewed start. This narrative explores the complexities of love, pain, and redemption.
The title “Tarde gris” symbolizes the emotional state of the narrator – gray being a color often associated with sadness, loneliness, and desolation. The gray afternoon matches the narrator’s feelings as they wrestle with their emotions upon seeing their former love in distress. Key phrases such as “mi corazón latir con santo amor,” “la tarde gris, tan gris como mi pena,” and “cuando se curen tus males / mi corazón volverá a despertar,” illustrate the transition from pain to redemptive love, symbolizing the internal and external conflicts the narrator endures.
Written in post-war Argentina in 1946, “Tarde gris” emerges during a time when social and political change permeated everyday life. The song could be viewed as a reflection on reconciliation and healing, mirroring the public sentiment of rebuilding after difficult times. The personal reconciliation within the tango may parallel national feelings of recovery and hope for renewal. Set in a hospital, the environment used in the lyrics also emphasizes recovery, not just physically but emotionally, urging a path towards compassion and renewed relationships.
Luis Rubistein was an Argentine tango lyricist known for capturing deep emotional experiences within his works.