Malena is a famous Tango by Lucio Demare with words by Homero Manzi. Much of this piece comes from Tanguito, Argentine Tango Academy, https://www.tanguito.co.uk
The story
Some feel that Manzi was motivated to write the song by Malena de Toledo, who he saw perform in Brazil. However, others feel the song refers to Nelly Omar (another famous Tango singer), his lover of many years.
This tango, written in 1941, marks the era from the 1940’s during which women were often portrayed as idealized, slightly ethereal beings, free from any of the faults usually attributed to women in earlier tangos, as shown by this verse: “With the murmur of your tangos, Malena, I feel you are better, much better than me.”
Very nostalgic, Malena also contains poetic references to Buenos Aires suburbs, where tango originally came from. The verse “Her voice smells of slum weed” is marked by the longing for the old times.
The lyrics
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Malena canta el tango como ninguna y en cada verso pone su corazón. A yuyo del suburbio su voz perfuma, Malena tiene pena de bandoneón. Tal vez allá en la infancia su voz de alondra tomó ese tono oscuro de callejón, o acaso aquel romance que sólo nombra cuando se pone triste con el alcohol. Malena canta el tango con voz de sombra, Malena tiene pena de bandoneón. Tu canción Tus ojos son oscuros como el olvido, |
Malena sings the tango as no other Pouring out her heart in every verse. Her voice, a scent of slum weeds, Her sorrow, that of the bandoneón. Perhaps, back as a child, her lark’s voice Took on the tinge of dark back-alleys, Or yet the love affair she never mentions Unless she’s being maudlin from drink. Malena sings the tango with the voice of a shadow, Malena’s sorrow is that of the bandoneón. Your song Your eyes are dark as oblivion, |