In 2004 I
spend a great ten weeks in Buenos Aires - a cosmopolitan fusion of latin Europe and South
America cultures - great architecture, the best beef steaks in the world, exciting
football and Argentina's array of natural wonders. The people are friendly, passionate
with a melancholy streak (it has the highest per capita number of psychiatrists
in the world).
It is a
passion (and melancholy) that extends to music and dance, with tango a national
obsession. It was a joy to walk the streets of San Telmo or downtown, entranced
by the sounds of tango buskers, and stunned by the skills of the dancers. The bandoneon
(a type of accordion) produces such a
beautiful and aromatic sound, normally accompanied by guitar, violin and cello.
It is also essential to attend one of the many milongas, a venue where locals
dance the tango (and take pity on a rhythm-less Englishman with two left feet).
By the start
of the 21st century, there may have been a perception that tango music was
old-fashioned, too traditional, too rigidly tied to its roots. An Argentine guitarist
Eduardo Makaroff, and two Europeans in Paris formed Gotan Project (gotan is an
anagram of tango). Their mission was to revitalise tango, with a new style to
reflect the new era. They would retain the original instruments and styling,
but supplemented by electronic beats and samples to create something new and
exciting.
" Santa Maria (del Buen Ayre)"
is the most famous track from their debut album, "La Revancha Del
Tango". It is a joyful dance track, with repetitive motif and few lyrics.
The typical tango staccato chords
are joined by the relaxed beat and sampled phrases. It is airy and atmospheric,
conjuring views of Buenos Aires streets and exotic dancers. The frequent
reiteration of "Buenos Aires" and "Argentina" acknowledging
its heritage but also its future.
With
my excellent Argentine Spanish skills, I can explain the few female breathless lyrics.
"Hay milonga de amor" - it is a dance of
love, with the self referencing "a tremor of Gotan" and "este
tango es para vos" - this tango is for you. The title is taken from the city's
original full name - Real de Nuestra Señora Santa María del Buen Ayre.
Purists may
have been appalled, but Gotan Project were successful and gave the Argentine
youth something of their own in the modern dance clubs.
If " Santa Maria" sounds familiar,
then it has been frequently used in TV and advertisements, or maybe you saw
Jennifer Lopez / Richard Gere's
"Shall we Dance?".
It is hard to
describe it further, best just to enjoy with a steak and some wine from Mendoza.
Hear Now - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQusfSWFt6M
Hear Next -
"La Revancha Del Tango" remains the best introduction.
