Like some other lyrics of the 1940s penned by the great Enrique Cadícamo, these words for Juan Carlos Cobián’s tune “Shusheta” turn back to the characters, images, and themes of the early days of the tango, showing a tender irony along with a certain ambivalence. Such songs stir up a unique blend of emotions. They seem like comic tributes, evoking an almost wistful nostalgia which can’t help but smile sadly at itself, like a poignant cartoon. And the question of who was the real-life inspiration for the dashing figure in this tango remains a matter of debate, a mystery of origins it shares with the tango “Malena.”
Additionally, this particular song’s development has been somewhat obscured by rewritings. As with a few other tunes composed by Cobián in the 1920s, Cadícamo first added lyrics more than a decade later. The poet’s early version from around 1934 was never published or recorded. Those lyrics, however, used too much lunfardo to pass government censorship in the 1940s, and bandleader Angel D’Agostino asked him to pen a new set of words in 1944. With a change of title to “El aristocrata,” the new song became an instant hit for singer Angel Vargas the following year: the words he sang are the ones represented here. Cadícamo soon rewrote the lyrics in 1946, changing many iconic details—and that relatively unknown third version is ironically the one registered with the copyright agency. In any case, and by any name, and picturing whichever person, the song has been a classic ever since.
Playboy
(Tr. Jake Spatz)
YouTube: Angel Vargas (orq. Angel D’Agostino)
Everyone eyed him down Florida lane,
Sporting his gaiters, his top-hat, and cane…
They say he was, back in his young days of yore,
A grand Don Juan in Buenos Aires of old.
He hung around outside the Jockey Club door
And ever wore carnations in his lapel.
Everyone eyed him down Florida lane,
Sporting his gaiters, his top-hat and cane.
With a name of great distinction,
A gentleman among the gentry,
After ladykind he hankered,
And he conquered
Hearts aplenty.
And of an evening through Palermo
He would pass by in his town-car,
And by the giving of his greeting,
With hearts a-beating,
He conquered town.
Ah, those times of the Small Salon…
What a zany youthful thrill…
Ah, the times the show went on,
Champagne Tango at Armenonville.
It all sped by us like a fleeting
Instant filled with affection…
All that remains of your beating
Heart is a recollection…
Everyone eyed him down Florida lane,
Sporting his gaiters, his top-hat, and cane.
Shusheta (1944)
Music: Juan Carlos Cobián
Lyrics: Enrique Cadícamo
Toda la calle Florida lo vio
con sus polainas, galera y bastón…
Dicen que fue, allá por su juventud,
un gran Don Juan del Buenos Aires de ayer.
Engalanó la puerta del Jockey Club
y en el ojal siempre llevaba un clavel.
Toda la calle Florida lo vio
con sus polainas, galera y bastón.
Apellido distinguido,
gran señor en las reuniones,
por las damas suspiraba
y conquistaba
sus corazones.
Y en las tardes de Palermo
en su coche se paseaba
y en procura de un encuentro
iba el porteño
conquistador.
Ah, tiempos del Petit Salón…
Cuánta locura juvenil…
Ah, tiempo de la sección
Champán Tango del "Armenonville".
Todo pasó como un fugaz
instante lleno de emoción…
Hoy sólo quedan
recuerdos de tu corazón…
Toda la calle Florida lo vio
con sus polainas, galera y bastón.