233 Politics and Tango
Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2001 23:36:21 -0600
From: Tom Stermitz <Stermitz@RAGTIME.ORG>
Subject: Politics and Tango
I find it interesting that tango lyrics rarely if ever deal with
political issues.
This lack is especially strange given the fundamentally political
aspects of Argentine culture and history over the past 100 or so
years. Even Country Western music in the US (perhaps one of the least
political societies on earth) seems to occasionally have bursts of
nationalism or populism or something.
While this tango list might best avoid politics by charter or
communal sensibility, it is important to remember that denying
politics is itself a way of taking a political position.
Here in Denver, we held our practice last Tuesday despite the day's
events, precisely because Tango Colorado felt it best to come
together as a community. Even if we didn't dance very much that
night, it was better than sitting home alone in front of the TV.
I think that is better than doing or saying nothing.
I found Mark's, (i.e. Jai's) personal account to be more real and
touching than the flickering images on the TV screen, because as
Deborah put it, he is someone we know by his participation in the
tango list community.
Calls to war, no matter how compelling the purpose, have a way of
destroying community. For every hero rising to help, I fear two angry
bigots ready to form a vigilante posse against anyone in our midst
accused of having the wrong religion, nationality, skin color or
clothes style.
I'm reminded that World War I started with the assassination of a
minor prince, in a minor backwater region with politics no one really
understood. The real issues were imbalances and competition amongst
colonial powers.
Voices of moderation couldn't hold back the dam as the flood waters
of war surged through.
--
Tom Stermitz
2612 Clermont St
Denver, CO 80207
home: 303-388-2560
cell: 303-725-5963
Date: Wed, 19 Sep 2001 14:53:56 -0700
From: ruddy zelaya <ruddy.zelaya@SUN.COM>
Subject: Re: Politics and Tango
Tom wrote (Tue, 18 Sep 2001 23:36:21):
>>I find it interesting that tango lyrics rarely if ever deal with
>>political issues.
>>
>>This lack is especially strange given the fundamentally political
>>aspects of Argentine culture and history over the past 100 or so
>>years. Even Country Western music in the US (perhaps one of the least
>>political societies on earth) seems to occasionally have bursts of
>>nationalism or populism or something.
Whoa Nelly! not so fast. Tango lyrics *do* have politics. You just
have to have a deeper understanding of Argentine history and culture
to see them. One has to keep in mind that Argentina's citizens for
almost as long as there has been an Argentina have not had freedom
of expression as we in the US are fortunate to have. While things
are getting better, for a looooong time -as it was/is the case in
so many other countries around the world- to speak one's mind on
political/social issues (sometimes it was enough just to *look* as
if one might be thinking those thoughts) would get you a beating,
a quick trip to prison, the cemetery or worse (as thousands of
"desaparecidos" would attest to if they could.)
Because of this, veiled references to politics and social change can be
found in many lyrics and a few are as clear as water. Keep in mind that
many lyricists and musicians are by nature liberal and those views
surface in some of their work. Here's a veiled example penned by Homero
Manzi who was very active politically on the left:
Milonga del 900:=20
Soy del partido de todos I belong to everybody's [political] party
y con todos me la entiendo and I come to agreement with everyone
pero vayanlo sabiendo: but I'll have you know
soy hombre de Leandro Alem. I am Leandro Alem's man.
Leandro Alem (who changed his last name from Alen to Alem after his
dad was hanged for supporting Juan Manuel de Rosas, political leader
and governor of Buenos Aires for more than 20 years) co-founder of the
political party Union Civica Radical and who fought against the repressive
government of Juarez Celman.
Any time you hear references to "El Restaurador" -The Restorer- like
in the milongas La Mulateada, or Rosa Morena, they are talking about
J.M. de Rosas caudille/dictator/tyrant who ruled Buenos Aires with an
iron hand between 1829-1832 and 1835-1852.=20
Cambalache by Discepolo is a social indictment in the purest sense
(I won't bother to translate it as it can be found at several web sites if
you are interested). Discepolo's Quevachache also has lyrics such as these:
Pero, no ves, gillito embanderado, But, can't you see, you raving fool
que la razon la tiene el de mas guita? that reason belongs to whom has more money?
Que la honradez la venden al contado That honesty is sold for cash
y a la moral la dan por moneditas? and morals for coins?
Que no hay ninguna verdad que se resista That there is no truth that can stand
frente a dos pesos moneda nacional? in front of 2 bucks of national coin?
There is even one called "Made in the USA" recorded by Alfredo de Angelis
that chastises Argentines for not being patriotic enough and always
thinking that foreign goods are better than their own.
I'll share the following tango which I find just as compelling as
Cambalache:
BRONCA ANGER
Lyrics by MARIO BATTISTELLA ZOPPI
Music by Edmundo Rivero
POR SEGUIR A MI CONCIENCIA For following my conscience
ESTOY BIEN EN LA PALMERA I am pennyless
SIN UN MANGO EN LA CARTERA whithout a buck in my wallet
Y CON FAMA DE CHABON. and with fame of [being a] blunderer.
ESTA ES LA EPOCA MODERNA This is the modern epoch
DONDE TRIUNFA EL DELINCUENTE where the delinquent triumphs
Y EL QUE QUIERE SER DECENTE and he who wants to be decent
ES DEL TIEMPO DE COLON, is from Columbus time.
LO CORTES PASO DE MODA, courtesy is out of fashion,
NO HAY MODALES CON LAS DAMAS; there are no manners for the ladies;
YA NO SE RESPETAN CANAS, gray hair is not respected,
NI LAS LEYES NI EL PODER. nor the laws nor power.
LA DECENCIA LA TIRARON Decency has been thrown out
EN EL TACHO 'E LA BASURA into the garbish can
Y EL AMOR A LA CULTURA and the love for culture
TODO ES GRUPO, PURO BLUFF. all are lies, pure bluff.
QUE PASA EN ESTE PAIS? What is happening in this country?
QUE PASA MI DIOS, What is happening my God,
QUE NOS VENIMOS TAN ABAJO? that we sunk so low?
QUE TAPA NOS METIO What an end was given to us
EL AŅO 62! by the year [19]62!
QUE PASA? What's going on?
QUE SIGNO INFERNAL What infernal sign
LO ARRASTRA AL DOLOR? drags [us, the country] to pain?
YA NI ENTRE HERMANOS SE ENTIENDEN Now not even brothers understand each other
EN ESTA GRAN CONFUSION... in this great confusion...
QUE SI FALTA LA GUITA... If we don't have money...
QUE SI NO HAY MAS LEALTAD... if there is no more loyalty...
Y NUESTRA CONCIENCIA, and our conscience,
NO VALE ESO MAS? isn't that worth more?
PUCHA, QUE BRONCA ME DA Son-of-a-bitch! what anger it gives me
VER TANTA INJUSTICIA DE LA HUMANIDAD! to see so much injustice in humanity!
REFUNDIR A QUIEN SE PUEDE To screw anybody you can
ES LA ULTIMA CONSIGNA is the last order
Y NINGUNO SE RESIGNA and no one is resigned
A QUEDARSE SIN CHAPAR... to be left without grabbing some...
SE TRAFICA CON LA DROGA, [there is] drug trafficking,
LA VIVIENDA, EL CONTRABANDO... trafficking with the home, contraband...
TODOS LADRAN POR EL MANDO... everybody barks for command...
NADIE QUIERE LABURAR. nobody wants to work.
LOS MULEROS VAN EN COCHE, The liers ride on automobiles,
SATANAS ESTA DE FARRA Satan is on a spree
Y DETRAS DE LA FANFARRA and behind the revelry
SALTA Y BAILA EL ARLEQUIN... jumps and dances a harlequin...
ES LA HORA DEL ASALTO! Is the hour of the assault!
METANLE QUE SON PASTELES! Get in there that all is pie!
Y ASI QUEMAN LOS LAURELES And thus they burn the laurels
QUE SUPIMOS CONSEGUIR. that we managed to earn.
Historical note: in 1962 the government of Arturo Frondizi came to an
end at the hands of the military. That act begat the incipient civil
war of the mid 60s and culminated with the murder of thousands in
the 70s and the ill-fated Malvina's war of 1982. The current sorry
state of Argentina today could arguably be traced back to that date.
One last example, Osvaldo Pugliese spent many a months in jail
because of his socialist views. If you have his CD "Ausencia"
-Absence- you'll see in the cover a picture of a piano with a
single red rose over the key. That's no accident or done for
aesthetics. Whenever the Troesma was in jail, his orchestra would
perform without him but they would always lay a red rose over the piano
to indicate his absence, a subtle but clear political statement.
Regards,
--
ruddy
Date: Sun, 30 Sep 2001 02:16:54 -0500
From: Lisandro Gomez <lisandro.gomez@SYMPATICO.CA>
Subject: Re: Politics and Tango
Your comments on politics and tango are very much appreciated-We recently
used Cambalache, Exilio de Gardel (among others ) as part of our theatre
work (Tango Diaspora) relating to aspects of "the dirty war " in Argentina.
It was extremely well recieved by many including Chileans and other
South(and Central) Americans who also related to being in similar situations
of opression.Though many people would like to reduce dance to mere movement,
or just apolitical "joyous expression", this is to dissociate tango from its
cultural context, creating stereotypes.From the time of Peron's exile
(mid-50's) to 1980 when I finally left Argentina, I lived through massive
censorship in tango(I was also living in fear for my life), whereby, tango
with political content ie, Cambalache, was effectively banned by the
Army.Unfortunately, the List's attempt to discourage connecting tango to
political reality, continues injust censorship.
Lisandro
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2001 4:53 PM
Subject: Re: Politics and Tango
"Tango lyrics *do* have politics. You just
have to have a deeper understanding of Argentine history and culture to see
them. One has to keep in mind that Argentina's citizens for
almost as long as there has been an Argentina have not had freedom
of expression as we in the US are fortunate to have ...
Regards,
--
ruddy
