Tango began in Buenos Aires, Argentina in the late 1800s. The dance originated in brothels and bars in the lower-class districts. As a result, the upper classes looked down upon tango dancing. But eventually it became extremely popular as it spread throughout Europe at the beginning of the 20th century.

Let’s look at some lyrics from a popular tango song in both Spanish and an English translation. You can follow along with this guy as he lip-synchs!

El Choclo

Con este tango, que es burlón y compadrito,
Se ató dos alas la ambición de mi suburbio.
Con este tango, nació el tango, y como un grito,
Salió del sórdido barrial, buscando el cielo,
Conjuro extraño de un amor hecho cadencia
Que abrió caminos sin más luz que la esperanza,
Mezcla de rabia, de dolor. de fe, de ausencia,
Llorando en la inocencia de un ritmo juguetón.Por tu milagro de notas agoreras,
Nacieron sin pensarlo las paicas y las grelas,
Luna en los charcos, canyengue en las caderas
Y una ansia fiera en la manera de querer.
Al evocarte, tango querido,
Siento que tiemblan las baldosas de un bailongo,
Y oigo el rezongo de mi pasado.
Hoy que no tengo más a mi madre,
Siento que llega en punta’e pie para besarme,
Cuando tu canto nace al son de un bandoneón.

Carancanfunfa se hizo al mar con tu bandera,
Y en un Pernod, mezcló a París con Puente Alsina.
Fuiste compadre del gavión y de la mina
Y hasta comadre del bacán y la pebeta.
Por vos, shúsheta, reo, cana y mishiadura
Se hicieron voces al nacer con tu destino,
Misa de faldas, querosén, tajo y cuchillo
Que ardió en los conventillos y ardió en mi corazón.

Al evocarte, tango querido,
Siento que tiemblan las baldosas de un bailongo
Y oigo el rezongo de mi pasado.

(English Translation)

The Ear of Corn

With this tango, which is mockery and boasting,
Were tied the wings of the ambition of my suburb.
With this tango, the tango was born, and, like a shout,
Rose from the squalid swamp, seeking Heaven,
Strange spell of a love turned into a cadence
That opened roads with no more light than hope,
A mixture of fury, of sorrow, of faith and of absence,
Weeping in the innocence of a playful rhythm.

By the miracle of your prophetic notes,
The girls and the women were born without thinking about it,
Moon in the puddles, a sway in the hips,
And a wild yearning in their way of love.
When I evoke you, beloved tango.
I feel the tiles of a dance hall trembling,
And I hear the grumblings of my past.
Now that I no longer have my mother,
I feel that she is arriving on tiptoe to kiss me,
When your melody is born to the sound of an accordion.

The caracanfunfa set sail with your flag,
And in a Pernod, mixed Paris with Puente Alsina.
You were the homeboy of the libertine and the woman,
And even the madam of the sugar-daddy and the girl.
For you, the dandy, the tramp, the police and poverty
Became voices when they were born with your destiny,
A mass of skirts and kerosene, slash and knife,
That burned in the tenements and burns in my heart.

When I evoke you, beloved tango.
I feel the tiles of a dance hall trembling,
And I hear the grumblings of my past.

The “caracanfunfa” is a way of dancing the tango.
“Pernod” is an anise liqueur.
“Puente Alsina” is a neighborhood of Buenos Aires.

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