Many of you have no doubt heard this popular milonga song - Se Dice de Mi . Se Dice de Mi was written (music and lyrics) by Francisco Canaro and Ivo Pelay in 1943. Although the mood of this song is obvious, even without comprehending the words, knowing what this song is about enhances the enjoyment of dancing to it.  The English translation below is by Alberto Paz and sourced from Letras de Tango I enjoy the way this song reflects with mischief the times it was written in, such as "that I look like (the jockey) Leguisamo" or "puffing like a Ford"! It's Said About Me (Se Dice de Mi) It’s said about me, Its’ said that I’m ugly, that I walk like a quarrelsome person, that I’m bowlegged and that I move with a conceited attitude, that I look like (jockey Ireneo) Leguisamo, my nose is pointy, the silhouette doesn’t help and my mouth is like a mail box. "Se dice de mi, Se dice de mi,  que camino a lo malevo, que soy chueca y que me muevo con un aire compadrón, que parezco Leguisamo, mi nariz es puntiaguda, la figura no me ayuda y mi boca es un buzón. If I chat with Luis, with Pedro or with Juan, the men are talking about me. They criticize if I already my waistline is gone, they check if I go, if I come or if I left. Si charlo con Luis, con Pedro o con Juan, hablando de mi los hombres están. Critican si ya, la línea perdí, se fijan si voy, si vengo o si fui. Many things are said but the shape doesn’t matter, because they lose their head concerning themselves about me. I know that many snub with lies and sigh for me and die when they think of my love. And more than one melts if I sigh and if I look at them, they’re puffing like a Ford.  mas si el bulto no interesa, porque pierden la cabeza ocupándose de mi. Yo se que muchos que desprecian con mentiras y suspiran y se mueren cuando piensan en mi amor. Y mas de uno se derrite si suspiro y se quedan si los miro resoplando como un Ford. If I’m ugly, let’s say it’s so, though I’m not aware of that, when it comes to love, all I know, that I left stranded more than one fool. Si fea soy, pongámosle, que de eso aun no me entere, en el amor, yo solo se, que a mas de un gil, deje de a pie. They might say, they might talk, and gossip and bray, but the ugliness that God gave me many women envied it and they won’t say that I deceived myself because I always was modest. I am this way. Podrán decir, podrán hablar, y murmurar, y rebuznar, mas la fealdad que dios me dio, mucha mujer me la envidio y no dirán que me engrupi porque modesta siempre fui. Yo soy así  they hide that I have, some dreamy eyes besides other charms that produce sensation. If I’m ugly, I know that instead, I have the skin of a doll, those who say I’m bowlegged, have not seen me in a nightgown. The men criticize my voice, the way I move, the appearance, ahem, the cough. Y ocultan de mi, ocultan que yo tengo, unos ojos soñadores, además otros primores que producen sensación. Si soy fiera se que en cambio, tengo un cutis de muñeca, los que dicen que soy chueca, no me han visto en camisón. Los hombres de mi. critican la voz, el modo de andar, la pinta, ehe!, la tos. They criticize if I already my waistline is gone, they check if I go, if I come or if I left. Many things are said but the shape doesn’t matter, because they lose their head concerning themselves about me. Critican si ya la línea perdí, se fijan si voy, si vengo, o si fui. Se dicen muchas cosas, mas si el bulto no interesa, porque pierden la cabeza ocupándose de mi. I know that many snub the company I keep and sigh for me and die when they think of my love. And more than one melts if I sigh and if I look at them, they gasp like they score a Ford. Yo se que hay muchos me desprecian compañía, y suspiran y se mueren cuando piensan en mi amor. Y mas de uno se derrite si suspiro y se quedan si los miro resoplando como un Ford. If I’m ugly, let’s say it’s so, though I’m not aware of that, when it comes to love, all I know, that I left stranded more than one fool.  pongámosle, que de eso aun no me entere, en el amor, yo solo se, que a mas de un gil, deje de a pie. They might say, they might talk, and gossip and bray, but the ugliness that God gave me many women envied it and they won’t say that I deceived myself because I always was modest. I am this way. Podrán decir, podrán hablar, y murmurar, y rebuznar, mas la fealdad que dios me dio, mucha mujer me la envidio, y no dirán que me engrupi porque modesta siempre fui. Yo soy así" **To see footage of the amazing Tita singing this song in the movie Mercado de Abasto, click here: It's Said About Me** Notes: Related article: It's Said About Me Images trom top to bottom top: Tita - sourced from fundacionvidarte centre: Tita sourced from diasdehistoria.com.ar centre Tita - sourced from articulo.mercadolibre centre: Tita - sourced from todotango.com bottom sourced from pinterest |
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