554  New songs inspired by Argentina 1976-1983

Date: Sun, 19 May 2002 04:12:24 -0400
From: Daniel Saindon <gardien@TANGO.MONTREAL.QC.CA>
Subject: New songs inspired by Argentina 1976-1983

Hi,

Tonight, I have witnessed the presentation
of two new tango songs composed by Denis Plante
and interpretated by his quatuor, the Tango Vivo de Montreal
along with Sophie Lemaire as a young singer.

These songs were part of a, yet to be recorded,
musical comedy inspired by the dirty war of
Argentina conducted by the military junta to eliminate
all political opposition between 1976 and 1983.

I was very impressed by the lyrics of one song titled,
as well as I could remember, Exputrada (?)

This is an excerpt of the lyrics that I wrote down
on a piece of paper when they first presented it
for the public of the Tangueria about three hours ago.
Sung in French, the translation into English is mine.

Exputrada(?)

...
Partir sans bagages To leave without luggage
Après la nuit tombée after the sunset.
Les soldats sans visages Soldiers without faces
Sont venus m`arrêter. came to arrest me.
…
Je n`avais plus que des larmes The only thing I had left were my tears
Ils me les ont arrachées. and they stole them from me.
J`avais des secrets I was holding some secrets
Ils ont pointés une arme and when they pointed their gun at me
Et me les ont volés. again they stole them from me.

...

The lyrics are powerful, strong, beautiful;
Artsy and full of poetry, in the tradition of
the "la belle chanson francaise" which means
presented with insightful & carefully crafted lyrics
along with a melody that follows accordingly.
Denis Plante and Sophis Lemaire has just paired
to give the repertoire another Classic of "chanson francaise"
done in the tango style

I think that every tango city needs to get
his own tango composer. Montreal is lucky
to have a few and Denis Plante is my favorite one.

Daniel Saindon
gardien@tango.montreal.qc.ca