Fabrice Knecht Tango DJ

Una vez

Una vez is a Tango written by Osvaldo Pugliese and recorded by Osvaldo Pugliese in 1946. The Tango Una vez is written by Osvaldo Pugliese, Osvaldo Pugliese has recorded Una vez with the singer Alberto Moran.
“Una vez,” which translates to “Once” in English, captures the fleeting yet profound moments that linger in the heart. It embodies the nostalgia of a bygone era, a dance of memories waltzing through time. This piece speaks to the singular, unforgettable experience that shapes who we are, leaving an indelible mark on the soul.

Tango

Style

Osvaldo Pugliese

Orchestra

Alberto Moran

Singer

Cátulo Castillo

Author

Osvaldo Pugliese

Composer

1946/11/8

Date

Alberto Moran
Alberto Moran
Osvaldo Pugliese
Osvaldo Pugliese

Discover Other Orchestras

Recommended

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

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"

Mina, once the finest at the dance halls,
the queen of festivities at tango nights.
Now she owns neither shoes nor dresses,
she’s sick and her lover brought nothing home.

Her big eyes no longer shine bright,
her face’s colors are fading away.
She is sick, she suffers and cries,
knowing sick and broke, no one will love her.

Poor girl who once mesmerized the crowds,
and captured passion with a glance.
Now no one comes close to offer love to her bed.
Poor girl from the outskirts left heartless!

And when bandoneons play a tango’s notes,
poor little flower of the mud feels her soul stir
with nostalgia for times of pleasure and love,
now just bitterness inviting her to weep!

El motivo (Pobre paica) by Pascual Contursi

El motivo (Pobre paica) is a Tango written by Pascual Contursi and composed by Juan Carlos Cobián.


Story behind the Tango El motivo (Pobre paica)

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.


Symbolism of El motivo (Pobre paica)

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) in historic Context

“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

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.