Fabrice Knecht Tango DJ
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.
Trampa is a Tango written by Carlos Bahr and composed by Juan D´Arienzo y Fulvio Salamanca.
The lyrics of “Trampa” (meaning “Trap” or “Deception” in English) by Carlos Bahr narrate the journey of a man who engages in deceitful deeds, particularly in gambling and in love, leading to a fall from grace. The atmosphere is reflective and disillusioned, narrated by someone who has learned harsh life lessons through a series of existential and moral crises. The protagonist recounts their manipulation of fate through cheating (‘Gané con trampa y ventajas’) and ultimately bears the consequences of these actions, as symbolized by imprisonment and existential regret.
In “Trampa,” Bahr extensively uses card game metaphors to communicate deeper meanings about life and fate. The cards become a symbol not just for games of chance, but for the gamble one takes with deceitful actions in life. Phrases like “El naipe me dio su libro” (The card gave me its book) and “Mi mano se hizo ligera” (My hand became light) illustrate the clever yet dishonest manipulation in the card games parallel to life choices. The transformation of life’s opportunities into something tainted through dishonesty is epitomized in the disillusioned realization: “Entonces supe entre rejas / Que el azar se desquitó” (Then I knew between bars / That fate took its revenge).
“Trampa” was recorded in 1952, a period of political instability and social disruption in Argentina. The time reflects a culture entwined with tango, not just as a dance, but as a profound narrative medium discussing everyday struggles, love, betrayal, and demise. This context enriches the understanding of “Trampa” as it mirrors the socio-economic struggles where people often resorted to gambling as both a pastime and a desperate bid to improve their dire economic circumstances. The portrayal of deceit and its repercussions perhaps serves as a moral compass set against the backdrop of a society grappling with integrity and survival.
Carlos Bahr was a prolific Argentine tango lyricist, renowned for his deep and often poignant reflections on love, life, and society through the lens of tango music and culture.