Fabrice Knecht Tango DJ

Una vez

Una vez is a Tango written by Osvaldo Pugliese and recorded by Osmar Maderna in 1946. The Tango Una vez is written by Osvaldo Pugliese, Osmar Maderna has recorded Una vez with the singer Pedro Datila.
“Una vez,” which translates to “Once” in English, echoes the ephemeral nature of a single moment that lingers just beyond reach. It captures the fleeting essence of memory, like a whispered promise in a crowded room. In its notes, we find the mingling of longing and nostalgia, a dance of time that waltzes tenderly through the heart.

Tango

Style

Osmar Maderna

Orchestra

Pedro Datila

Singer

Cátulo Castillo

Author

Osvaldo Pugliese

Composer

1946/10/31

Date

Pedro Datila
Pedro Datila
Osmar Maderna
Osmar Maderna

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Miguel Caló – Jamás retornarás – 1942/10/9
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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.

Una vez recorded by other Orchestras

Una vez recorded by other Orchestras

1946/10/31 – Gracias – Osmar Maderna
1946/10/31 – Pajarito viajero – Osmar Maderna
1946/10/30 – Tiene razon amigazo – Juan D-Arienzo
1946/10/30 – La cancion de mi tristeza – Juan D-Arienzo
1946/11/7 – Justicia criolla – Alfredo De Angelis
Una vez – 1946/11/8 – Osvaldo Pugliese – Alberto Moran
Una vez – 1945/1/1 – Edgardo Donato – Osvaldo Morel
Una vez – 1946/10/31 – Osmar Maderna – Pedro Datila

Lyrics Translation of the Tango Una vez

This is the translation of the Tango “Una vez” from Spanish to English. The English lyrics of the Tango “Una vez” have been done with AI.

Letra del Tango Una vez

Una vez fue su amor que llamó

y después sobre el abismo rodó,

la que amé más que a mi mismo fue.

Luz de su mirada, siempre, siempre helada.

Sabor de sinsabor, mi amor,

amor que no era nada.

Pequeñez de su burla mordaz,

una vez, sólo en la vida, una vez.



Pudo llamarse Renée

o acaso fuera Manón,

ya no me importa quien fue,

Manón o Renée, si la olvidé…

Muchas llegaron a mí,

pero pasaron igual,

un mal querer me hizo así,

gané en el perder, ya no creí.



Luz lejana y mansa

que ya no me alcanza.

Mi voz gritó ayer,

hoy, amor, sin esperanza.

Una vez, fue su espina tenaz

una vez, sólo en la vida, una vez.

English lyrics of the Tango "Una vez"

Once it was her love that called

and then it rolled over the abyss,

the one I loved more than myself.

Light of her gaze, always, always cold.

Taste of tastelessness, my love,

love that was nothing.

Petteness of her cutting mockery,

once, only once in life, once.

She might have been called Renée

or perhaps she was Manón,

it no longer matters who she was,

Manón or Renée, since I forgot…

Many came to me,

but they all passed the same,

bad love made me this way,

I gained in losing, I no longer believed.

Distant and gentle light

that no longer reaches me.

My voice cried out yesterday,

today, love, without hope.

Once, it was her relentless thorn

once, only once in life, once.

Una vez by Cátulo Castillo

Una vez is a Tango written by Cátulo Castillo and composed by Osvaldo Pugliese.



Story behind the Tango Una vez

“Una vez” (Once) encapsulates the poignant story of a love remembered—a fleeting, singular encounter that impacts the narrator profoundly. The lyrics, filled with both affection and subsequent bitterness, echo a common theme of love lost in Tango music. Castillo’s words recount a tale of a passionate connection that dwindled into the abyss, symbolizing how intense feelings can deteriorate into nothingness. The lover’s identity, whether Renée or Manón, becomes irrelevant over time, pointing to the heart’s ability to move on from even the most profound encounters.



Symbolism of Una vez

Castillo’s poignant lyrics are rich with symbolism. For instance, “Luz de su mirada, siempre, siempre helada” (The light of her gaze, always, always frozen) symbolizes the coldness and distance that can follow a once warm and affectionate look, illustrating emotional transformation after the initial fire of love cools. The “Luz lejana y mansa que ya no me alcanza” (Distant and gentle light that no longer reaches me) illustrates the insurmountable gap that now exists between the past lovers. The “sabor de sinsabor” (taste of tastelessness) indicates how the memories of love have become bland and joyless. The repetition of “una vez, sólo en la vida, una vez” (once, only in life, once) emphasizes the uniqueness and irreplaceability of the experience despite its fleeting nature.



Una vez in historic Context

“Una vez” was composed after World War II, a period marked by reconstruction and existential reflection globally, including in Argentina. During this time, Argentine Tango was undergoing a transformation, mirroring the societal shift. Cast in 1946, the lyrics resonate with a collective sentiment of loss and nostalgia, yet also underline a personal disillusionment with love that could be reflective of the broader disillusionment of the era. The setting in Argentina, known for its rich tango culture, further roots the song in a tradition of expressing intense, often melancholic emotions through music and dance.



Cátulo Castillo

Cátulo Castillo was a prominent figure in Argentine music, renowned for his contributions to Tango music both as a poet and a lyricist. His works often delve into themes of love, loss, and longing.