Tango Stories #4 - Calle Corrientes
TANGO STORIES #4 - Tango History along Corrientes Street
The lyrics of many tangos talk about the old Calle Corrientes of early 20th century Buenos Aires, where so much tango history was made. A lot of the famous bars, theaters and milongas were located along this narrow street. In them the great orchestras and singers performed the tango hits of their day. But in the 1930’s the city government decided that Calle Corrientes had to be widened in order to accommodate the growing crowds of people and increasing traffic as the city expanded. As part of the widening project, many of the famous buildings had to be demolished, including the Café Dominguez (1537) and the theaters Politeama Argentino (1490), Apolo (1382), Odeón (782) and the old Opera (800). The street widening was finished in 1936 and it was once again reopened, now as the Avenida Corrientes. Today it is still the hub of nightlife in the City of Buenos Aires. Many memorials and plaques have been placed along Corrientes to commemorate the famous places and artists of tango.
Here are a few of the tango lyrics about Calle Corrientes:
Esta es mi calle Corrientes
This is my Corrientes street
Los bares, los teatros, los cines, la gente
Muchachas hermosas de rítmico andar,
Nocturna porteña es lindo su ambiente
Ofrece de todo mi calle sin par.
Palabras, bullicio, desfile surtido
Quien vive un cariño, quien sufre amargor,
Piropo y ensueño tristeza y olvido
Y el tango cantando su historia de amor.
Ésta es mi calle Corrientes
La de mi dulce bohemia . . . . . .
Bars, theaters, cinemas, people
Beautiful girls walking rhythmically,
Buenos Aires nightlife is beautiful
It offers all my street without peer.
Words, hustle, assorted parade
Who lives a love, who suffers bitterness,
Compliment and sad reverie and oblivion
And the tango singing his love story.
This is my Corrientes street
That of my sweet bohemia . . . .
Letra y música : Felipe Mitre Navas 1944
Translation by Unknown
Some tangos tell of the old, narrow street of tango’s formative years and the new wide Corrientes, nearly purged of its tango history; of the grandeur and the squalor; of both the real landmarks and the fictitious addresses. For example, this secret hideaway at number 348:
A Media Luz
Soft Light
Corrientes 3-4-8
Segundo piso, ascensor.
No hay porteros ni vecinos
Adentro, cocktail y amor . . . .
Corrientes No. 3-4-8
Second floor, up the elevator
There's no concierge, no neighbours
Inside, cocktails and love . . .
Letra: Edgardo Donato
Translation by Paul Bottomer
The Café Dominguez literary bar was located on Corrientes between Paraná and Montevideo, and was a meeting place for poets and musicians in the early part of the last century. It was the first one to be open twenty-four hours. This location is now occupied by a hotel and a theater.
Café Dominguez
Café Dominguez
Café Domínguez de la vieja calle Corrientes
que ya no queda
café del cuarteto bravo de Graciano de Leone
a tus mesas caían Pirincho, Arola, Firpo y Pacho
a escuchar tus tangos
era el imán que atraía
como el alcohol atrae a los borrachos
Café Domínguez de la vieja calle Corrientes
que ya no queda.
Café Dominguez on the old Corrientes Street
That’s no longer there.
Café of the Cuarteto Bravo of Graciano de Leone
To your tables came Pirincho, Arolas, Firpo and Pacho
To listen to your tangos
It was the magnet that drew people
Like alcohol attracts drunkards
Café Dominguez on the old Corrientes Street
That’s no longer there.
Lyrics: Enrique Cadícamo (he lived at #1330)
Translation by Paul Bottomer
And of those people on the street who are less fortunate
Tristezas de la calle Corrientes
Corrientes Street Blues
Calle como valle
de monedas para el pan.
Río sin desvío,
donde sufre la ciudad.
¡Qué triste palidez
tienen tus luces!
Tus letreros
sueñan cruces,
tus afiches
carcajadas de cartón.
Risa que precisa
la confianza del alcohol.
Llantos hechos cantos
pa' vendernos un amor . . . .
Street like a valley
begging for coins.
River without bends,
where the city suffers.
What sadness
in your pale lights!
Your signs burdened
by dreams,
and your posters...
only cardboard laughter.
Laughter that needs
the courage of alcohol.
Crying turned into songs
of love for sale . . . .
Letra: Homero Expósito (1942)
Translation by Rick McGarrey,
Finally, at the end of Avenida Corrientes lies the Chacarita Cemetery. The whole world of tango’s past rests there, Osvaldo Pugliese, Carlos Gardel, Francisco Canaro and dozens more of the famous and respected musicians and poets of tango.
Sources: hermanotango.com; es.wikipedia.org; facebook group “Today’s Tango is“; Tango and Chaos.org.
By Donald Cooper