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.
Vieja amiga is a Tango written by José María Contursi and composed by Pedro Laurenz.
“Vieja amiga,” which translates to “Old Friend” in English, encapsulates a poignant narrative of a man confronting his lingering feelings towards a past love. The lyrics unveil his attempts to detach himself and overcome the loneliness exaggerated by the passage of time, underscored by the emerging wrinkles on his forehead. Despite his aged appearance and the perceived desperation it might suggest, he clarifies that he has come neither to seek reconciliation nor explanations for past hurts. His visit is a simple yet emotionally charged gesture: to see her one last time. The tango ends with a bitter acceptance of their irreversible separate paths, leaving behind all his happiness with her as he departs.
In “Vieja amiga,” José María Contursi uses personal agony and resignation as a tool to explore deeper themes of time, memory, and irreparable emotional distances. The ‘arrugas en mi frente’ (wrinkles on my forehead) symbolizes not only the physical manifestations of aging but also the scars of past pains and regrets. The repeated declamations of not seeking pity or reconvergence, ‘No he venido a suplicarte,’ underscore the irreversible separation and personal resolve, highlighting the depth of his resignation. His choice to leave behind all his happiness with her intensifies the poem’s emotional weight, signifying a total and final sacrifice of his past joy and love.
Created in the late 20th century, “Vieja amiga” reflects the mature phase of Tango music, where the lyrical content grew intensely introspective and nostalgic. This period was marked by a reflective exploration of past relationships and emotions, often imbued with a sense of loss and melancholic acceptance. This tango, given its date and Argentine origins, might subtly mirror the socio-economic and political disillusionment felt in Argentina during the 1980s, using personal narratives to echo broader national sentiments of despair and resignation.
José María Contursi was a prominent Argentine lyricist known for his profoundly emotional and often melancholic tangos.