El Esquinazo: The Tango That Was Too Loud for the Law In the early 1900s, the streets of Buenos Aires were alive with the birth of a new musical movement. Amidst this cultural explosion, one particular tango titled became so infamous it was actually banned from certain venues for being a public nuisance. The Meaning Behind the Name
Despite its rowdy reputation, "El Esquinazo" became a cornerstone of the Guardia Vieja (Old Guard) era of tango.
The song is instantly recognisable by its signature opening: four sharp, rhythmic knocks. These were intended to mimic a frustrated young man stomping his feet on a street corner. El Esquinazo
However, this beat proved to be too contagious for its own good:
Composed in 1902 by the legendary Ángel Villoldo , "El Esquinazo" translates to "The Dodge" or, more literally in turn-of-the-century slang, "being stood up". The term comes from esquina (corner); if a date didn't show up at the agreed-upon corner, you were "hit by the corner". A Destructive Rhythm El Esquinazo: The Tango That Was Too Loud
The song was famously prohibited at the popular café "Lo de Hansen".
Today, "El Esquinazo" remains a staple of Argentine Tango history , remembered as much for the broken plates of 1903 as for its enduring, infectious beat. EL ESQUINAZO - Tango North The song is instantly recognisable by its signature
While written as a comic tango, it has been recorded by numerous icons, including Juan D'Arienzo and Francisco Canaro.
El Esquinazo: The Tango That Was Too Loud for the Law In the early 1900s, the streets of Buenos Aires were alive with the birth of a new musical movement. Amidst this cultural explosion, one particular tango titled became so infamous it was actually banned from certain venues for being a public nuisance. The Meaning Behind the Name
Despite its rowdy reputation, "El Esquinazo" became a cornerstone of the Guardia Vieja (Old Guard) era of tango.
The song is instantly recognisable by its signature opening: four sharp, rhythmic knocks. These were intended to mimic a frustrated young man stomping his feet on a street corner.
However, this beat proved to be too contagious for its own good:
Composed in 1902 by the legendary Ángel Villoldo , "El Esquinazo" translates to "The Dodge" or, more literally in turn-of-the-century slang, "being stood up". The term comes from esquina (corner); if a date didn't show up at the agreed-upon corner, you were "hit by the corner". A Destructive Rhythm
The song was famously prohibited at the popular café "Lo de Hansen".
Today, "El Esquinazo" remains a staple of Argentine Tango history , remembered as much for the broken plates of 1903 as for its enduring, infectious beat. EL ESQUINAZO - Tango North
While written as a comic tango, it has been recorded by numerous icons, including Juan D'Arienzo and Francisco Canaro.