The tanguero Rubén Juarez (1947 – 2010) was an unusual star in that he was as accomplished a singer as he was a bandoneonista, regaled by his millions of fans worldwide for both. In this video of him onstage, you’ll sense how intensely his audience is listening to him. (Note: Print this piece out, so that you’ll have the lyrics before you as you watch the video.)
The tango “Pasional” is very famous, beyond ardent in its telling of passionate, threatened love. (The man may have driven himself mad worrying about it.) The lyrics will be over the top for many, but certainly are typical in the enormous history of Argentine tango. For my money, Juarez’s rendition of this madness, in his voice and in his playing, is nonpareil.
“Pasional” (Translation of lyrics by Terence Clarke)
You won’t know… you’ll never know
What it is to die a thousand deaths from this deep worry.
You won’t be able…will never understand
What it is to love and go mad.
The kisses that burn…your lips that make me drunk
and torture my reason.
I know that nevermore
will I be able to drag this love from my heart.
So devoted to you… I feel you in the fiery
beating of my temples.
I adore you when you’re here and love you even more
when you are far from me.
I fear losing you….
To think that I haven’t seen you!
Why this brutal doubt?
Why must I bleed,
if with every kiss I feel you losing heart?
Nonetheless I torment myself
because in my blood I carry you.
And in every instant…weakened and in love,
I wish to kiss your lips.
(Bandoneon solo)
I fear losing you….
To think that I haven’t seen you!
Why this brutal doubt?
Why must I bleed,
if with every kiss I feel you losing heart?
Nonetheless I torment myself
because in my blood I carry you.
And in every instant…weakened and in love
I wish to kiss your lips.
I love you always in this way…my devotion to you
is like a dagger in my flesh.
And burning passionate…shaken with worry…
I wish to die in your arms.
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