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.
Un copetín is a Tango written by José Fernández and composed by Juan Maglio.
“Un copetín” translates to “A little drink” in English, which sets the tone for this nostalgic and emotional tango. The lyrics of “Un copetín” revolve around the theme of reminiscing and coping with the loss of a beloved woman. The speaker uses a small drink as a symbolic gesture to honor and remember the love he once shared. The repeated invocation of taking another small drink indicates a mixture of celebration of past love and sorrow over its loss.
The symbolism in “Un copetín” is rich and centered around the act of drinking as a form of remembrance and escape. The small drink (“copetín”) symbolizes a little piece of the past that the narrator clings to, a modest tribute to what was once a profound and life-altering love. The phrase “Ya no tengo más remedio que otro copetín beber” (I have no choice but to drink another little drink) emphasizes drinking as both a ritual for memory and a reluctant medicine for his current pain. It’s also a nod to the sometimes destructive ways people cope with grief. Additionally, “la Vasca,” referring to the Basque woman admired for her steadfastness, embodies the idealized love and possibly the strong cultural identities tied to personal histories in the narrator’s life.
Recorded in 1930, “Un copetín” emerged during a time when tango was deeply woven into the fabric of Argentine culture, often reflecting the social and economic climates of the era. The late 1920s and early 1930s in Argentina were marked by political and economic upheaval, and tango music frequently mirrored the sentiments of the working class and the disenfranchised. In this period of uncertainty, themes of loss, nostalgia, and clinging to the past became especially potent. The reference to times that are not like those before (“Que ya los tiempos no son más aquellos de antes”) also reflects a societal longing for better days amidst contemporary challenges.
José Fernández was an influential lyricist in the Argentine tango scene, known for his poignant and evocative lyrics that often explored themes of love, loss, and nostalgia.