Tango Lyrics 101--A Quiz: Do you know what you are dancing to?

As La Tanguera cruises the Milongas of many cities in the U.S., she cannot help but wonder... "Do all these dancers know what they are really dancing to?"

As a native spanish speaker, I cannot possibly conceive the Tango to be complete without its lyrics. Whatever words are pronounced by the beautiful voices of Podestá, Castillo, Echagüe and so many other legendary Tango singers resonate inside me as I dance, and have much, much to do with my interpretation of the song as I follow my leader...

Because of this, I have, in the past, wondered to what extent the understanding of Tango lyrics--or lack thereof-- determines the depth of the Tango experience for dancers who do not speak Spanish, particularly those in communities outside Argentina. From my vantage point--and likely, from that of most Spanish speakers--a very significant part of the "spirit" of the Tango is reflected in such lyrics and, as a result, much of this spirit is lost when the lyrics are not understood.

Or, as my very Argentinean friend TanGuillo put it in a recent series of wonderful essays on the essence of Tango (which, of course, only an Argentinean could have written...):

"The Tango is its lyrics. They are something fundamental. [...] Those lyrics represent not only some of the most beautiful poetry of the XX century, but are vital to understand the Tanguero sentiment and thought. [...] The lyrics in Tango are not only an adornment... they are what bring the heart of the song out, and may even be its most important component.

The Tango is a culture. In the Tango lyrics and music one can see the reflection of Argentina: its history, its uses, its way of life and that of its people. The football [soccer!], the cafes, the friendships, the man's perception of a woman, the neighborhood, the mother, the love... and if it is true that these are life experiences common to all cultures, the way of experiencing and feeling them can be extremely different. Knowing the specifics of Argentina with no doubt can help understand much more deeply what the Tango expresses."

This is so true. Very often I have the impression that those of my fellow dancers who do not speak Spanish--and who do not take the time to find out what their favorite Tangos are about--often dismiss the Tango lyrics as cheesy songs representing the cry of broken-hearted men (and women). And yes, many of them may be about broken hearts... but the approach and the themes emerging in many others are the true expression of a culture and a lifestyle, and may surprise many...

So, now, let's take...

A little Quiz for all my Tango-blog-readers:

Do you have a clue of what you are dancing to?

(Answers and Grading Keys are at the bottom. Each question is worth one point, and includes a link to a performance of the song in You Tube to give you a hint to the answer. This is an "Honors" test, so please don't cheat and look at the Answer Key only once you've finished it all!!! ;P)

* * *

1. The famous Tango "Por una cabeza" ("Because of a head" being the literal translation) is about:

a) A man crying of sorrow for having to leave behind the beautiful face and hair of the woman he loves, as he abandons Buenos Aires for Paris against his will.

b) A man describing the misfortunes that came upon him as he lost the last cattle head he had in his possesion, having to abandon his Estancia and the woman he loved.

c) A man lamenting his poor luck when betting at the horse races--where he has so often lost in the last seconds of the race, just by the head of another horse--and his similar failure in winning the favors of the woman he loves, which he also lost when he felt he already had them.

d) Carlos Gardel showing off his hat collection.


2. The popular Tango "El Sueño del Pibe" ("A Kid's dream") first recorded by Pugliese and later by Tanturi (and, in the link provided, well-interpreted by a Tango-loving Argentinean gentleman) is about:

a) The longings of a young man for the young woman he's fallen in love with, and his dream of marrying her one day.

b) The dispair of kid left out in one of the poorest arrabales of Buenos Aires, his fight to survive and his dream to find his lost mother.

c) The excitement of a young football soccer player, as he gets a letter from an official soccer club to enroll in the team. That same night, he dreams of a crucial soccer match in which he scores the defining goal, breaking the tie and bringing his team to victory in the last minute of the game.

d) The only dreams I'm starting to have are the ones you are provoking, Tanguera, as I fall asleep with this silly quiz.


3. The fun and upbeat Milonga "Toca Tango" ("Play Tango") composed by Juan Carlos Caceres describes the following scene:

a) The social gathering of a group of musicians who celebrate the history of Tango by emulating its black roots in a fun Milonga reminiscent of the Canyengue rythms.

b) The path of the black slaves that disembarked from Africa, were taken to Retiro to be marked with iron and then taken to the mines of Potosi, in the North of Argentina, where their lives were quickly exhausted from the hard work. Those who were not sent to the mines occupied offensive jobs in the city, and were often recruited and sent at the front of the troups whenever Argentina went into war, suffering grave injuries and facing death.

c) A wedding party between a young and beautiful black woman and hear handsome beau, that brings the entire neighborhood into a carnival.

d) The hardships and joys of a young man as he starts his career as a tango musician; every night he plays as part of a Tango Band in a Conventillo, and this opens his eyes to an entire new world of crazy partying. The men gathering at the Conventillo continuosly ask for more wine to drink, more women, and more Tango to be danced.

e) Couldn't care less; I love this Milonga in any case.


4. The cheerful vals "Con los amigos" ("With my friends"), which has a popular recording by Ricardo Tanturi's orchestra, is about:

a) A young, rich and handsome man who describes his constant partying with friends, his playing with women and his generally nonchalant lifestyle. He remarks his unwillingness to give up his freedom, which prevents him from falling in love.

b) A man's upbeat view of his life in the barrios of Buenos Aires, where everyday's hardships are easily compensated by the good moments he spends next to his friends.

c) A man's regrets as he lies in his death bed, and sees his mother as the one and only loyal and loving person standing next to him, despite the fact that in life he left her alone, in poverty and worried for him, while he spent his hours drunk, throwing all his money away in the bad company of his opportunistic friends.

d) Wow. This is such a nice vals... how could you ever come up with such depressing ideas as choices for this particular question??? Tanguera, I'm starting to think *you* need to go out and have a drink with *your* friends... (N.B. I agree...!)


5. The beautiful tango "La Bruja" ("The Witch") masterfully interpreted by D'Arienzo is about:

a) The disenchantment of a man who suddenly sees the woman he's been in love with as she really is--as the spell that she had seemingly cast on him is gone, he gathers the strength to finally leave her behind.

b) The story of a prostitute nicknamed "La Bruja" because of her mysterious past and skill to seduce men into an intense love for her, after which she dumps them, leaving them morally destroyed.

c) The story of a man who losses all his money after betting on a mare named "La Bruja" who races at the hipodrome; broke, the man enters in deep dispair, once he realizes he will not be able to support his wife, his mother, and his six kids, who live in a modest apartment in a poor barrio of Buenos Aires.

d) How badly Snow White used to treat her Evil Step-Mother when they were both behind the scenes and she thought nobody saw her.

e) OK, Tanguera. I'm not questioning it anymore; you *do* need serious help.


6. El tango "El Tropezón" ("The Stumble", inmortalized by Carlos Gardel and interpreted here by Julio Sosa) tells the story of:

a) A man who is enraged by the betrayal of the woman he loves, and is being taken away by a police officer and into jail as he threatens to take her life away.

b) A man who, in his nostalgia and sadness, remembers his life's mistakes in life, including his own betrayal to his best friend

c) A man who is telling his friends, in a little café in Buenos Aires, the story of his failures as he was growing up and how he overcame them.

d) Hummm... at least you managed to come up with *one* more positive theme! About time, too much tragedy so far.


7. The famous "Nido Gaucho" ("The Gaucho's Nest") so brilliantly interpreted by DiSarli/Podestá, presents the following story:

a) That of a man describing to the woman he loves the beautiful and bright scenery of the Argentinean countryside, where he has a small ranch that should serve both of them as a lovenest where to share their happiness together

b) That of an old "gaucho" sharing his life experiences over wine, at the light of the fire, with his fellow gaucho friends

c) That of a group of compadritos in the Buenos Aires barrios; having been raised in the countryside, they long to go back after having their hearts broken by the city's prostitutes.

d) Next!


8. The world-famous tango "El Choclo" ("The ear of corn", here interpreted by the timeless Libertad Lamarque) is:

a) The story of a farmer in the Argentinean countryside who's hoping to marry the woman he loves once he collects the money from harvesting corn this season.

b) A tribute to Argentine Tango, and to all it represents to the Argentinean, regardless of his/her condition or social extraction: the history, the past, the culture, family, the hopes, and love for life.

c) The story of a compadrito in the barrios of Buenos Aires, who remembers with nostalgia those days in which he was growing up, and his mother fed him with nutritious corn-made stews.

d) I think I'll just make popcorn and go watch a Netflix movie instead...


9. El vals "Soñar y Nada Más" ("To dream and nothing more"), which Alfredo De Angelis made so popular:

a) Advices a young woman in love to keep on dreaming and loving passionately, since awakenings in love are always tearful.

b) Describes the hopes and dreams of a young couple who, stranded in the poorest neighborhood of Buenos Aires, expect to escape their misery and move to the countryside.

c) Tells the story of a young, non-chalant compadrito, whose life is a constant party.

d) Awww... I love this vals!

10. The tango "Tabernero" ("The barman") inmortalized by Gardel tells us the story of:

a) An enebriated man, who keeps asking the tavern's barman for more wine, while explaining that only those powerful drinks can stupidize his head to make him forget all his pain.

b) A barman who, working in a cheap cabaret of Buenos Aires, got his heart broken by one of the local ladies.

c) A barman who watches the ups and down of all those who drink at his bar: a sad old man, who lost it all; an old and tired prostitute who has reached the end of her road; the parties and games of a lucky compadrito.

d) Hum. Let's just better go have a drink. I'm starting to need some "sex on the beach".

11. And, to finish the Quiz, a bonus question: "La Cumparsita" is about...

a) Is this a trick question? La Cumparsita has no lyrics!

b) Is this a trick question? La Cumparsita has many different versions, some with several different lyrics and some without lyrics.

c) The longings of a man who is dying of nostalgia for his lost love, and has been abandoned by family and friends.

d) All of the above

e) b and c

f) None of the above

g) I'm confused

e) Thank God is over... I bet I failed, though!

_______________________________

Answers:

1.(c); 2.(c); 3.(b); 4.(c); 5.(a); 6.(a); 7.(a); 8.(b); 9.(a); 10.(a); 11.(e)

Grading System:

9-11 correct answers:

Congratulations!!! No doubt you are a true hard-core Tanguero(a)! A++ if you are not a Spanish speaker, by the way...

5-8 correct answers:

This is still a pretty impressive result! Right on! You definitely have a deep knowlege of Tango...

1-4 correct answers:

Most average non-native Spanish speakers who are nontheless hard-core Tango Addicts should land here...

0 correct answers:

Ahaha. I knew *somebody* would end up landing in this category... Hum... C'mon... *If* you *really* like Tango--as much as you say you do--do yourself a favor, and learn a bit more about it!! You will discover another world... I promise! ;)