Forget your troubles. Clear the room.
And put on your dancing shoes.
LET'S TANGO!!
I can't remember when I made this video, but I pulled it out of my secret files and dusted it off (it's also available on YouTube).
Por una Cabeza, without a doubt, is my absolute favorite Argentine tango. It is heartfelt, intriguingly sensual, with a tinge of old-fashioned sentimentality.
Whenever I hear it, I'm transported to a distant place where I'd rather be:
a sultry, smoke-filled, lamp-lit Latin cafe, where the late-evening hours are perfumed with beautiful women and smouldering with handsome men.
Where I am languidly smoking a cigarillo and leisurely sipping a glass of Malbec.....and savoring the possibilities of a mesmerizing night.
Forgive me - my romanticism is kicking in.
When I was a little younger and considerably more agile, and when I was living in the delectable State of Illusion known as Hollywood - somebody (names need not be mentioned) taught me to tango.
I was never a dancer - by any stretch of the imagination - but a few glasses of sangria and a balmy summer night can inspire me to try just about anything. Old records on an antique Victrola. Candlelight. A smooth partner.
I learned the steps, the moves.
I tangoed.
Por una Cabeza is a Spanish horse-racing term meaning "by a head".
It was written by the French-Argentine singer/composer Carlos Gardel (1890-1935), who tragically died in a plane crash at the age of 44.
This tango has been used in numerous films over the years, including Schindler's List and (I think) Scent of a Woman.
Will you join me in a tango?
This video will be more enjoyable if viewed full-screen.
Note that in the second - more passionate - theme of the tango, I incorporate a lady in a red dress.
I finally added the Followers thing to my sidebar!
I am a terrible dancer, and not elegant at all. :) But I love watching others dance.
ReplyDeleteI'm a terrible dancer, too, and I've never enjoyed it (except for watching others dance). Dancers tend to be exhibitionists and extroverts - which (believe it or not) is contrary to my personality.
DeleteI well remember that tango scene in the Al Pacino film, Scent of a Woman. It was my favorite next to the car driving scene. I have never danced a tango, but it does seem romantic and, of course, very sensual.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen "Scent of a Woman" but I did hear about the tango scene. I am definitely not a dancer and prefer to keep my pathetic attempts at it safely in the closet.... but I love the tango!
DeleteIf you're interested, Jon, you can watch that movie tango scene online and I re-watched it today after my comment.
DeleteYou're right. I just found it on YouTube and I watched it, too. A really nice scene.
DeleteOooh am I on your list?
ReplyDeleteRe tango. Teenager, time to learn to dance, said mother. Fortunately I enjoyed the whole experience and even did some competition dancing. However, I could never master the jerkiness of tangoes and the teacher eventually gave up and refused to enter me for tango displays. Oh boy, was I pleased.
My dancing skills are clumsy and uncoordinated, so I prefer to keep them asfely away from the public eye.
DeleteYou don't seem to be on my "list", but just press the "Follow" icon and you'll be on it.
Thank you for translating as I was reading it as, 'For a Head' and wondering what the hell that meant! Lol. I never learned the Tango, but it always looks incredibly fun. Love the clever ending with the red dress.
ReplyDeleteThere are lyrics originally written for this tango and there's an old recording of composer Carlos Gardel singing it. I think it's available on YouTube.
DeleteI liked the red dress idea for the video. Thanks!
Jon, you can wax 'romanticism' anytime you want! That atmosphere sounds more than a little compelling. I never have tried to tango; and in fact, loathe trying to dance. (Fearing people looking and snickering.) Great visuals; and yes, I liked the pop of red!
ReplyDeleteI can always count on you to appreciate my romantic ramblings. I would never dare to attempt dancing in public - - I'm far too self-conscious. I'll only dance by myself at home - where the bewildered cats are my audience.
DeleteYou've described the perfect scenario. Yes! I love to tango!
ReplyDeleteI'm delighted to know that you appreciated my scenario! I'm definitely not a dancer, but I do love the tango.
DeleteSuch a glamorous dance! I haven't heard a tango for ages, I realise.
ReplyDeleteThe tango really is a unique dance - unlike any other. It's a creative form of physical expression.
DeleteWith my bad back and knee, I'd probably be hospitalized if I ever tried to tango again...
Last week at work aka McDonald's there was a flash mob dance to the Get Up song that stopped everything. Customers were dancing workers were dancing even the managers were dancing! It was a real scream! Funniest thing I've seen in a long time! Everyone who didn't take part was recording it on their phones
ReplyDeleteThat's hilarious! I would like to have seen that. I'm wondering if you danced - - or did you just record (*smile*)? I think of you every time I go past that place (it's always so crowded).
DeleteI saw a cell phone at Wlmrt that I like and might buy it the next time I go. HOPEFULLY I can get a signal out here again. I don't like being without a cell phone.
Anyway, take care!
Did not dance. Am not co-ordinates any more. I get dizzy if I bend over. Had a major laugh though.
ReplyDeleteYES, I'd LOVE to tango! Thanks so much for asking. Unfortunately, with all our aches and pains, I'm afraid it'd be more of a tang-OW! It's been many many years since I tangoed, and that was in school. We were taught a lot of different dances, and it was a lot of fun. The tango is such a sensuous dance, though, we schoolkids weren't all that terribly well-suited for it. Besides, they didn't even provide us girls a single rose to hold in our teeth. (Sheesh!)
ReplyDeleteYour imagined place to be sounds ideal. Sexy. Romantic. You can let your romantic side any ol' time you like. You're very good at it.
Great video. (The color red rocks!) Have a super weekend.
Susan, I can definitely identify (and sympathize) with the aches and pains. I'm finally at the point where I'd probably sustain an injury just WATCHING a tango - let alone participating in one.
DeleteLove the Tango, but couldn't manage to do it even at gunpoint and tipsy. Amazing to listen to, and romantic to watch. After watching several other tangos and other romantic dances and music, I came back here.
DeleteThanks for making me think of the Tango.
I think I will be touring through some Zydeco music next. I may get culture shock on the way.
Susie, with my bad back and tricky knee it would be best if I merely watched the tango from a safe distance (I miss those youthful days when I could actually move without pain). Glad you enjoyed the tango!
DeleteI tried to leave a comment, but somehow it didn't get posted. I asked if we could at my end kind of make amends for things I've said that were inappropriate and offensive. I'm sorry. I wish you well. I can't recreate the post that disappeared, but it was more eloquent than this, lol.
ReplyDeleteTake care, and wish you well.
Mike
Mike, I didn't see any previous comment from you. I recently deleted two comments - which were definitely spam from anonymous senders.
DeleteYou're welcome here any time, and I promise I won't bite......well, not much, anyway (*smile*). Thanks for the visit.
I've always enjoyed watching the Tango --I'm a longtime Valentino fan-- because it expresses the intensity of love and lust under the restraint of romanticism. Unlike the freeform antics of the late '60s and the adversarial choreography of French L'Apache dancing, Tango does not end in pregnancy or hospitalization. It accords dignity to its performers. Excellent post, Jon!
ReplyDeleteGeo - I'm laughing at the "pregnancy or hospitalization" quip. L'Apache dancing always affords such risks. My tango video is, of course, a rerun but it's one of my favorites.
DeleteI also have long been a Valentino fan. In fact, I watched "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" a few nights ago - - and I reran the famous tango scene several times. It is fascinating to watch their feet. And the spurs on his boots are incredible!
what a sultry dance. conjuring up all the passion that two souls can have. wonderful video.
ReplyDeleteThis video always puts me in a good mood. Thanks!
DeleteAfter quite a while a bit blog-hopping, for a change, via Mr Troutbirder, Mike @ Should Fish More and Geo, in a comment section I clicked on your name, landed here, read, intrigued, a bit here and there ... and despite – or because? – having become a lazy blogger and even lazier visitor & commenter thought I ought to at least leave a little com(pli)ment.
ReplyDeleteHerewith done.
Ah, and would you mind me to embed your Tango-vid on my blog? It's lovely.
Sean, I'd be honored if you posted my Tango video on your blog.Many thanks for your comment - and I hope you'll visit again.
ReplyDeleteThank you for both the welcome and the permission, Jon. As for visiting: I shall try to cheat my laziness, now and then.
Delete