"Its accent is the song of sentimental voice, its rhythm is the beat that lives in my city. It has no pretense, no desire to show off; it’s called tango and nothing more."
I know, I know--this lyric's been translated before. But it's such a beautiful melody, the lyrics are so complex and evocative, that I thought it worthy of yet another version. I hope Tango Decoder's version will add something to your appreciation of the song as you listen and as you dance.
On YouTube:
• Raul Berón with Orquesta Lucio Demare
• Enrique Campos with Orquesta Ricard Tanturi
[Illus: Raúl Berón]
Una emoción (An emotion) 1943
Music: Raúl Kaplún
Lyric: José María Suñé
Vengan a ver que traigo yo
en esta unión de notas y palabras,
es la canción que me inspiró
la evocación que anoche me acunaba.
Come see what I bring
in this union of notes and words;
it’s the song that inspired me
the memories that rocked me to sleep last night.
Es voz de tango modulado en cada esquina,
por el que vive una emoción que lo domina,
quiero cantar por este son
que es cada vez más dulce y seductor.
It is the rising and falling voice of tango on every corner
sung by he who lives under the spell of an emotion.
I want to sing in that tone,
sweeter and more charming each time.
Envuelto en la ilusión anoche lo escuché,
compuesta la emoción por cosas de mi ayer,
la casa en que nací,
la reja y el parral,
la vieja calesita y el rosal.
Enfolded in a dream, I heard it last night
the emotion composed of my yesterdays
the house I was born in,
the window grates and the grape arbor,
the old carousel and the rosebush.
Su acento es la canción de voz sentimental,
su ritmo es el compás que vive en mi ciudad,
no tiene pretensión,
no quiere ser procaz,
se llama tango y nada más.
Its accent is the song of sentimental voice
its rhythm is the beat that lives in my city.
It has no pretense,
no desire to show off;
it’s called tango and nothing more.
Esta emoción que traigo yo,
nació en mi voz cargada de nostalgia.
Siento un latir de rebelión cuando a este son
sus versos le disfrazan.
Si es tan humilde y tan sencillo en sus compases,
porque anotarle un mal ejemplo en cada frase.
Con este resto de emoción
muy fácil es llegar al corazón.
This emotion that I bring
was born in my voice charged with nostalgia.
My senses rise in rebellion when this tone
is disguised by the verses.
If it is so humble and simple in its rhythms,
why does it set a bad example with each phrase?
With what remains of the emotion
it’s very easy to get to the heart.
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