Masterpieces of tango. Recommended popular songs.
Tango captivates with its crisp, distinctive rhythm and wistful melodies.
It’s a genre that has long been popular in Japan as well.
While it’s often thought to have originated in Argentina in South America, it actually began as a type of dance music on the Iberian Peninsula in the 18th century.
Broadly speaking, there are two main styles of tango: Argentine tango and Continental tango, each with its own unique flavor.
The passionate resonance of the bandoneon, the deeply expressive vocals—
Please enjoy the enchanting world of tango.
Tango masterpieces: Recommended popular songs (1–10)
LibertangoAstor Piazzolla
It’s Piazzolla’s extremely famous “Libertango.” With an aggressive intensity far removed from the style of traditional Argentine tango and continental tango, yet with a compelling power that convinces you it is undeniably still tango, it leaves you unable to move once it reaches your ears.
Por Una CabezaCarlos Gardel
Among Argentine tangos, it’s no exaggeration to call “Por Una Cabeza” the most famous piece.
Its passionate melody weaves a supreme expression of romance that’s not to be missed.
It drew attention when the great flamenco singer from Spain, Diego El Cigala, added lyrics and covered it.
Pearl Diver’s Tango (Perlenfischer Tango)Georges Bizet / Alfred Hause Orchestra
The original piece is the aria “Je crois entendre encore (Nadir’s Romance)” from Bizet’s opera The Pearl Fishers, arranged by Alfred Hause.
The aria, with its beautiful melody, is still sung today, but full productions of the opera are relatively rare; in fact, this tango arrangement may be more widely known.
Adiós NoninoAstor Piazzolla
This is a piece that Piazzolla composed and dedicated to his father after receiving news of his father’s death while on tour.
The title, “Nonino,” means “grandpa” in Italian and was his father’s nickname.
It’s like saying, “Goodbye, grandpa.” A very beautiful, heart-wrenching piece.
JealousyJacob Gade
This piece was composed by Jacob Gade, who began his career as a violinist.
It is said that the massive success of this song led him to devote himself exclusively to composition thereafter.
Moreover, after his death, the royalties were reportedly used to fund the development of young musicians—attesting to just how big a hit it was.
Winter in Buenos AiresAstor Piazzolla
The weighty melody, true to its title, evokes winter in Buenos Aires.
Astor Piazzolla’s Argentine tango broke with previous conventions and embraced a freer form of expression, so it was not well received at first.
Gradually, his musicality came to be recognized, and today it is regarded as a masterpiece of Argentine tango.
La CumparsitaGerardo Matos Rodríguez
It’s a famous Argentine tango, but Continental orchestras also perform it frequently.
When you think of tango, this is the song that comes to mind.
Among Japanese tango singers, Yoichi Sugawara has an extensive tango repertoire and delivers emotionally rich performances in both the original language and in Japanese.