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.
El motivo (Pobre paica) is a Tango written by Pascual Contursi and composed by Juan Carlos Cobián.
The Tango “El motivo (Pobre paica)” tells the sorrowful tale of a woman who was once celebrated in the tango milongas but has now fallen into poverty and illness. The lyric portrays her dramatic fall from grace – from a vibrant participant in the vibrant nightlife to someone who is forgotten, struggling, and devoid of aid. The emotional depth conveyed by the lyrics carries a poignant blend of nostalgia, bitterness, and despair as it narrates the cruel turns of fate.
The song uses vivid imagery and symbolism intensively. The phrases “mina que fue en otro tiempo” and “pobre florcita de fango” symbolize the transformation and degradation of the woman’s life. The contrasts between her past and present state highlight a common theme in Tango lyrics – the fleeting nature of pleasure and the inevitable descent into hardship. “Florcita de fango” (little mudflower) poignantly illustrates her delicate beauty, tainted and overwhelmed by her grim life circumstances.
“El motivo (Pobre paica)” was recorded in 1966, a period marked by social and political turmoil in Argentina. The themes of melancholy and decline resonated with the broader societal struggles during this era. The Tango’s setting in the milongas of Buenos Aires invokes a distinct urban environment, portraying the city’s nightlife as both a space of former glory and current decay. The juxtaposition serves as a critique of the transient nature of societal values, where the celebrated are often quickly forgotten.
Pascual Contursi is heralded as a seminal figure in the history of Tango music, known for integrating poignant and narrative lyrics to the once primarily instrumental style.