The Most Recognized Yet Most Mysterious Tango
Think back to an obscure tango scene you remember from any Hollywood movie. Maybe you picture Al Pacino in Scent of a Woman, tangoing while blind with a young woman. Maybe you recall the closing scene of True Lies with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis. There’s a chance you picture a scene without any dancing and imagine the opening scene in Schindler’s List, when Oskar is first introduced. Or perhaps you ignore the Hollywood prompt and imagine that scene in Money Heist when Berlin dances with Ariadna. What ties these all together? They all feature the same song.
“Por una cabeza” was composed and performed by Carlos Gardel, an icon of the River Plate tango. I spent half of my childhood in Uruguay, where Gardel is lauded and remembered through his many melancholic love songs. There is a small museum of him in Tacuarembó, where Gardel was supposedly born. Therein lies the mystery behind this famous tango: the origin of its songwriter.
Carlos Gardel’s success as a singer and pioneer in the world of tango led him to become a beloved figure in Latin America during the 1920’s and 30’s. Many have compared him to Frank Sinatra, as they were both young, suave gentlemen who “excelled at the depiction of sophisticated romantic despair.” Gardel was also involved in the movie industry in New York City. He made 35 films in his lifetime and he even sings “Por una Cabeza.” in his final film, Tango Bar (1935).
Following Carlos Gardel’s success, there has been some verbal quarrel over which country he was from. The French claim he was French, the Argentinians claim he was Argentinian, and of course, the Uruguayans claim he was Uruguayan. Since Gardel lived several years in Argentina, where his career began to flourish in the 20’s, he is mostly considered Argentinian, like his tango and its style. According to many sources, Gardel was born in Toulouse, France. However, Gardel himself was often cited saying he was Uruguayan.
The museum of him in Tacuarembó is the fruit of investigative journalism that sought to solve the mystery. According to the documents in the museum – which include his libreta de enrolamiento, or an identification card, his death certificate, his passport, and several newspaper clippings – Gardel was not only born in Uruguay, but he was born three years before the acknowledged date of birth. If you are interested in the full story, visit Welcome Uruguay’s website.
The controversy has subsided with the years, but so has the recognition of Carlos Gardel outside of Latin America. Even without knowing who he was, many people still recognize Gardel’s music in movies and television shows. His work, especially “Por una cabeza,” lives on as a classic example of tango.
If you’re a student at Florida State and would be interested in learning the tango or another Latin American dance, there are a few clubs on campus that you can join or support! Anhelo is an Argentine tango group that teaches and shares the art with anyone who would like to join. Azúcar!, Synthesis, and Corazón Dancers are other amazing Latin American dance groups on campus. Although not using the song "Por una Cabeza" in the clip, you can check out some of the Corazón Dancers in a clip below!
Written by: Isabella Massardi | Instagram
Art by: Amanda Rivera | Instagram
