Firuletear de bandoneon (Bedazzling Bandoneon, 1943)

Photo: A "grand homage" to Pedro Laurenz with a performance by his orchestra at the cabaret/nightclub Ocean Dancing, 1944. Note the decorative "fileteado" at the top and bottom of the ad.

"Bedazzling bandoneón!
In your caresses you hold suspended
the chords of a flash tango
to whisper in her ear
that I am dying of love."

Firuletear de bandoneón
(Bedazzling bandoneón!) *
Tango 1942
Música: Ángel Domínguez
Letra: José Rótulo

YouTube: Pedro Laurenz w/ Alberto Podestá

 

Firuletear que tienes la dicha de llevar en tus notas mi canción —como si fuera un murmullo de amor— a la pebeta que espera. En tus caricias llevas prendido los acordes de un tango compadrón para decirle al oído que yo estoy muriendo de amor. Junto a tu lado fui feliz, —¡mas ciego un día!— por unos ojos olvidé que te quería. Hoy, ni el amor de aquellos ojos me queda... pagué ya vez, con la traición que te diera. Sueño de amor, que convertí en llanto... ¿Por qué me fui y te quería tanto? ¡Vuelvo a buscar en tu pecho nuevamente calor de nido, para mi corazón! Yo sé corazón que vas a llorar... Tal vez, porque no supe quererla, mas hoy, estoy penando por verla ya ves corazón, ¡que hoy voy buscando tu perdón!

Bedazzling bandoneón, you have the joy * of carrying my song in your notes —as if it were a murmur of love— to the girl who is waiting. In your caresses you hold suspended the chords of a flash tango * to whisper in her ear that I am dying of love. I was happy at your side but --blinded for one day by a couple of eyes!-- I forgot that I loved you. Today, not even the love of those eyes remains... I paid, you see, for betraying you. Dream of love, that turned into weeping... Why did I leave when I loved you so? I’m trying to find in your breast once again a warm nest for my heart! I know, heart, that you’re going to weep... Perhaps, because I didn’t know how to love her, but now, just seeing her hurts, you see, heart, that now I’m asking your forgiveness!

NOTES:

* bedazzling bandoneón: Firuletear de bandoneón. The verbal noun firuletear (from firulete, "an ornament ridiculous and in bad taste") means "to perform complicated steps in a dance in order to show off" or "to show off with inappropriate or ridiculous ornaments." The bandoneón of the title is bedazzling, but perhaps also a bit ridiculous.

* a flash tango: un tango compadrón. The slang term compadrón means a buddy or pal, but it is also a braggart, loudmouth, or show-off. Here, the term seems to echo the ambiguity of the title (see previous note). The tango, with its showy adornments, is impressive, but perhaps also over-blown or ostentatious.