Check out this fun article on math and tango
/Check out this fun article on math and tango!
https://observatory.tec.mx/edu-bits-2/between-tango-and-mathematics
Come have coffee with me in Buenos Aires...
Rosamel
/I like the beginning notes of Di Sarli's Rosamel, because it reminds me of "I know you," from Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty.
Rosamel is an unusal name, but I was intrigued because it reminded me of both rosemary and honey. 1940
Lyrics : Héctor Marcó (Héctor Domingo Marcolongo)
Music : Carlos Di Sarli
Singer: Roberto Rufino
In this recording, he only sings the first verse, but I put the rest on just because.
Often, when I do these translations, they sound so dark. It's only when you listen to the music, that you realize the nice melody and upbeat orchestration make it a much happier tone. That is typical of tango though; these dark themes, off set by a happier music. Like sugar making coffee taste less bitter. Hopefully this time, the pictures convey the tone.
Rosamel
My little house sleeps in its flowering hills
in the peace the moons paints itself in a sky of love.
You're missing...
and my imagination runs crazily
that for my secret suffering, my hours of torment
a god will fault you...
I would like to be a condor,
with a penetrating gaze and daring feathers
to take you to the sky
on top of my wings...
And there, in the white peaks of my illusions
to raise my nest,
so far from the forgetting
that you can't return
If you hear this voice
have faith in me
it is the voice of my pain, that returns to you..
and if your height breaks your bitterness
its that my love is only for you!
Rosamel
my sad little street again fell asleep
but now, because of you, the honeysuckle on its hill has died.
Return to me
I can't reconcile sleep without your love
Come, that even the moon, in a reproach
to make my night even worse
hides itself, from pain
Spanish Lyrics: https://www.el-recodo.com/music?id=2484&lang=en
Si el corazon supiera - If the heart knew
/I was exploring the music of Fresedo, and of the singer Carlos Mayel, when I came by this song. Fresedo's music is always so sweet, which, as often in tango, belies the sadder or darker themes. 1940.
Glowing like a spring sun I found you
I went through life without feeling my heart
Then you lit it, and I threw it in your arms, with the promise of your love.
Who could imagine that the mouth that kissed
The cross of a promise, talking like that,
I drowned in the secret of its forgetting, where later, I lost myself.
If the heart knew...
that your kisses are not mine,
Better to die, I think
than to kiss your cold lips;
If the heart knew..
That from death you've hurt me,
Destroyed, and without rancor
I would only know to how weep with love.
Your eyes carry luminous desires to live...
Your lips, a caprice of the moment, well I know!
I carry the insupportable sadness of premonition
Of your steps walking away.
Come closer an instant, what deliriousness, if you are not here
My poor heart, don't be cruel, reanimate it!
In my heart, I'm asking you,
Once more, trick me for its sake.
Spanish Lyrics https://www.el-recodo.com/music?id=6129&lang=es
Here the music here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-BM3o81LOw
Image by Dimitris Vetsikas from Pixabay
Image by Mystic Art Design from Pixabay
Image by Selling of my photos with StockAgencies is not permitted from Pixabay
Así se baila el tango - This is how you dance tango
/
What do they know, that upper crust, so classy and elite,
What do they know of tango, what do they know of rhythm?
Here is the elegance, what a look, what a silhouette!
What comportment, what arrogance, what class, for dancing!
This is how you dance tango, while I draw the figure eight
With those filigrees, I'm like a painter
And now a run, a turn, a seat,
That's how you dance tango, the tango of my youth!
This is how you dance tango!
Feeling the blood rising in your face at each beat
While the arm like a serpent, coils around the waist, as if it would break
This is how you dance tango!
Our breaths mixing
Closing the eyes to listen better,
How the violins tell the bellows
why, since that night, Malena no longer sang.
[Lyrics from Adriana Varela’s version ]
Will it be woman or reed when a break is made
Will she have a spring or cord, to move the feet?
The truth is that my outfit is better than nothing,
Dancing is a wild thing that makes me go crazy.
Sometimes I ask myself if it wouldn't be my shadow
That always pursues me, or some being without will.
But it was born this way, for the milonga
And like me, is dying to dance.
These tango lyrics of Así Se Baila el Tango nostalgically describe how to dance tango, and different moves, in a way that propels us to dance. This song has the connotation that the upper-class is trying to dance tango, but they don’t really know how to tango. The first line of this song, "Qué saben los pitucos, lamidos y shushetas," has a lot of lunfardo, which is the word to describe Argentinian slang, especially Argentinian slang of the golden era. When I have a song like this is I compare the different translations of each word in conjunction with the other words, to find the combination that makes the most sense. Similarly, in the last line that Adriana Varela sings in her version, the word “prenda” was confusing.
Alberto Castillo - singer, Ricardo Tanturi - orchestra: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HSM4TLPO5c
Adriana Varela’s Version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puI0IN5vhGk
Lyrics: https://www.letras.mus.br/adriana-varela/1578059/
Maquillaje - Make Up
/I'm continuing Adriana Varela's recordings, because she is awesome! I like when songs take an old piece of poetry, and then write lyrics inspired by it. What does this song mean? Have you ever been in a situation like this?
[Spoken Section ]
Why is that blue sky that we all see,
not sky, nor even blue?
Such a shame, that so much beauty, is not true.
-Lupercio Leonardo de Argensola, 1559-1613
No...
It's not the sky, nor is it blue
Nor is it true, your candor
Nor, by the end of it, your youth
You buy the lipstick
and the pot of blush
that shudders on your cheeks
and on your under-eye circles, you use concealer
to fill your powder mask with love
You
How shy, and fatal
you arrange the pain
after sobbing*
You'll know how I loved you,
One day upon awaking,
without faith nor makeup
Already ready for that trip,
that descends unto the final shade
Lie
They are lies, your virtue
your love and your goodness
and finally, your youth
Lie
you put makeup on your heart
Lies without piety
What a shame of love
You buy the lipstick
and the pot of blush
that shivers in your cheeks,
and on your under-eye circles, you use concealer***
to fill your powder mask with love
You
How shy, and fatal
you rearrange the pain
after sobbing
You'll know how I loved you,
One day upon awaking,
without faith nor makeup
Already ready for that trip,
that descends unto the final shade
Personally, I am "pro-makeup," meaning I don't think women should be criticized for wearing makeup. It is kind of a double standard, to simultaneously critize women's flaws, but also criticize women for trying to cover up those flaws! But I think in this song, make-up is a metaphor, 'painting' the picture of a person with artifice, that goes more than skin-deep. I hesitated to publish this translation, because as a feminist, it seems to me they lyrics are kind of ageist; are they shaming the subject for simply the passage of time? However, the metaphors and the singer’s point of view seem to more take issue with artifice in general, how the subject is duplicitous in her actions. But the make-up cannot cover her other sins. After all, the song concludes, when we meet our maker, it will be without any make-up on.
* I like how Adriana Varela kinda sobs herself on this word, on the first lyric
** The original Spanish uses a word called “verdín,” which I couldn’t find a translation for, which seems related to green. I know that some under-eye concealers are green tinted, to hide redness.
Hear Adriana Varela sing here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ1obel2-7o
See original Spanish lyrics here: https://www.letras.com/adriana-varela/1012627/
I used these images from Pixabay to make my collages:
Image by jplenio from Pixabay
Image by まきこ 川崎 from Pixabay
Image by Adina Voicu from Pixabay
Image by Pexels from Pixabay
Image by Irina Gromovataya from Pixabay
Fuimos - We were
/Translation by Tango Allison/Allison Carter - My favorite version of this song, Fuimos, is by Adriana Varela, in her album Maquillaje, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOPUUvNrs7s&list=PL122F472850DA6196&index=1
I was like a rain of ash and weariness
in the resigned hours of your life
Drop of vinegar spilled,
fatally spilled, over all your wounds.
You were, and it was my fault, a swallow in the snow
a rose consumed by the cloud that doesn't rain.
We were the hope that doesn't arrive, that doesn't quite reach,
that cannot illuminate its gentle afternoon
We were the traveler who doesn't beg, who doesn't pray, who doesn't cry, who just sits down and dies.
Go!
Can't you understand that you're killing yourself?
Can't you understand that I'm calling you?
Go!
Don't kiss me, that I'm crying over you,
And I would like to not cry over you anymore
Don't you see?
It's better that my pain
remains thrown away with your love
freed of my final love
Go!
Don't you understand that I'm saving you?
Don't you understand that I'm loving you?
Don't follow me, nor call me, nor kiss me,
nor cry over me, nor love me more!
We were clutching the anguish of a premonition
by the night of a pathway without exits
pale remains of a shipwreck,
shaken by the waves of love and of life.
We were pushed in a desolate wind
shadows of a shadow that turned around the past.
We were the hope that doesn't arrive, that doesn't quite reach,
that can't illuminate its sunny afternoon
We were the traveler who doesn't ask, who doesn't pray, who doesn't cry, who just sits down and dies.
Check out the Spanish lyrics here: https://www.letras.com/adriana-varela/1012637/
Who is the first female director of the Buenos Aires Tango World Cup?
/https://vegannews.co/who-is-the-first-female-director-of-the-buenos-aires-tango-world-cup/13919/
Repost: Strictly Come Dancing is late to the party with same-sex couples: men have been dance partners for centuries
/Take the Argentine tango (right), which we associate with strongly fixed gender roles: the powerful, brooding man, the seductive woman. However, when tango emerged in Buenos Aires in the 19th century, there were far more young men around – immigrants sent by their European families to earn a living. So men would practise the tango with other men in preparation for social dances. Fathers would teach their sons; it was a point of pride to be a great tango dancer.
https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/strictly-come-dancing-same-sex-couples-men-dance-partners-centuries-1202464
Repost: JoJo Siwa’s Argentine Tango – Dancing with the Stars
/Had to post this! Even though ballroom tango is very different than Argentine tango, you can never go wrong with Britney!
September!
/
https://lisadore.com/comme-il-faut-terciopelo-fuchia-y-turquesa
Comme il Faut - Terciopelo Fuchia y Turquesa
Repost: Tango Shalom - Interview with Lainie Kazan
/“It’s a film on tolerance. Everybody has their own path, and they are entitled to it, and they can observe.” - Lainie Kazan
“This is the first time that a rabbi, a Muslim, and a priest come together to work in a film together. It’s lovely and a great film about a man that wanted to dance the tango but couldn’t do that because he has to touch a woman,” - Lainie Kazan
https://www.digitaljournal.com/entertainment/interview-lainie-kazan-talks-about-tango-shalom-movies-and-my-big-fat-greek-wedding-films/article Article by Markos Papadatos, ENTERTAINMENTInterview: Lainie Kazan talks about ‘Tango Shalom’ movie, and ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’ films
Read more: https://www.digitaljournal.com/entertainment/interview-lainie-kazan-talks-about-tango-shalom-movies-and-my-big-fat-greek-wedding-films/article#ixzz75hvUIKag
PSL Season
/PSL Season is here! (For those of you that aren’t norteamericanos, this refers to the American tradition of having syrupy, cinnamon-y Pumpkin Spiced Lattes.
Luckily for us tangueras, we have a plethora of fall-themed tango shoes to match. Here I’ve compiled just a sampling, from one of my favorite brands, Comme Il Faut. I’ve included the names and the links below, I often by from Lisadore, as they have a great shipping policy.
PSL Season - Stands for Please Some more Lisadore! I am not affiliated with Lisadore, but I do recommend them, for their great shipping track record, and great supply of Comme Il Faut tango shoes!
Comme Il Faut Bronce T-Strap: https://lisadore.com/en/comme-il-faut-bronce-t-strap?search=brown&description=true
Comme Il Faut Charol Bordo Y Cobre: https://lisadore.com/en/comme-il-faut-charol-bordo-y-cobre-1
Comme Il Faut Terciopelo Leopardo y Naranja Marron: https://lisadore.com/en/comme-il-faut-terciopelo-leopardo-y-naranja-marron?search=naranja&description=true
Lisadore Main Site: https://lisadore.com/en
Repost: My Favorite Corner of San Francisco: Grant Avenue and Green Street
/by Camille Cusumano
Where dancing feet meet a San Francisco beat at American Bites
I left my tango shoes in San Francisco! Next time you’re in the bay area, check out this restaurant for your next milongadventure.
Repost: Last Tango with Charlie
/https://www.jazziz.com/last-tango-with-charlie/
Article by Fernando Gonzalez
When I heard the news that Charlie Watts had died, my mind flashed back to the night we went to hear tango in Buenos Aires.
Santa Barbara Milonga
/Nice to see the world opening up and tango returning. If you’re in Santa Barbara on Oct. 10th, check out this Milonga: https://www.independent.com/2021/08/26/tango-milongas-brings-dance-to-santa-barbara/
Repost: Reserved Finns express their deepest emotions through tango
/“When a Finnish man starts dancing a tango, he doesn't dare whisper 'I love you' into a girl's ear. But when the lyrics of the tango say something to that effect, the man can squeeze his partner's hand a little tighter” - Kari Tapio
"Tango has a healing effect. Tango belongs to everyone, and it can be sung by everyone in their own style," - Doctor Ammond
“There was concern that the dance hall culture was disappearing from Finland…Due to dance turning into a sport, even the tempos of the songs are now of a certain type, at the request of dancers, in order for the tango to be suitable for this hobby” - Tarja Närhi,
"Tango will never disappear. It is eternal," - Kari Tapio
Repost: A tango dancer who left a life of oppression behind in Russia
/Cheers to Otar Bagaturia and his husband, for living their lives freely and proudly. So great to see a variety of tango styles. It is fascinating to continue the conversation, around the history of tango, the history of the traditional gender roles within tango, and how they are being explored, expanded upon, and challenged, in today’s world.
We teach tango, both regular tango and queer tango. Tango is a very hetero-normative dance: The man leads and the woman is led, and in queer tango we break that pattern. In queer tango you can be a man who’s led, you can dance in same-sex couples. We did it in Russia, and we brought it here [Israel]. - Otar Bagaturia
How did you start dancing?
I trained in karate for many years, and then realized that I didn’t want to fight any more. I was surprised to discover how similar tango is to karate. The energy is different, but the postures, the movement, are very much alike. The feeling in tango can sometimes be like in war, but it depends on the emotion you bring to the dance. The sexual tension is always there.
There is so much to explore between the areas of martial arts and tango!
When I started to do queer tango [in Russia], I wasn’t very good and I had to prove myself to everyone. Here [in Israel] you can be an average dancer and dance with a man, and no one cares. It’s amazing. You don’t have to be the best in order to survive. In Russia I had to be a very good dancer in order to be able to dance with my husband.
Wow, he has been through so much as a dancer. In the arts and sports, there have been many stories of how the “best in the field,” can break down barriers for other minorities, and blaze trails for others. But it can be unfair to experience that sort of pressure. For two reasons; one, what if your particular unique style does not fit the norm/majority of what is considered good tango, or good art, etc? Also, if you are marginalized, it might be harder to get the chance to prove yourself at all. This couple has done a great service, not just to other gay dancers, but also to their Russian and Israeli communities, by continuing and pushing the art form. I’m glad they can now enjoy a milonga in peace.
Can’t wait to meet you and dance in person someday Otar, and continue to explore and expand tango together!
