Por una cabeza
| "Por una cabeza" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Carlos Gardel | |
| Language | Spanish |
| Written | 1935 |
| Genre | Tango |
| Length | 2:34 |
| Label | RCA Victor |
| Composer | Carlos Gardel |
| Lyricist | Alfredo Le Pera |
"Por una cabeza" (pronounced [poɾ ˈuna kaˈβesa]) is a tango song written in 1935 with music by Carlos Gardel and lyrics by Alfredo Le Pera.[1]
Le Pera and Gardel died together in an aeroplane crash in Medellín, Colombia, on June 24, 1935.[2]
Composition and lyrics
[edit]The title of the song is a Spanish horse-racing phrase meaning "by a head", which refers to a horse winning (or losing) a race narrowly – by just the length of its head. The lyrics speak of a compulsive horse-track gambler who compares his addiction for horses with his attraction to women.[2]
Notable uses
[edit]"Por una cabeza" is featured in a famous tango scene in Martin Brest's film Scent of a Woman (1992), in the opening scene of Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List (1993), and in James Cameron's True Lies (1994).[3][4]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Por una Cabeza". Todo Tango (in Spanish). Retrieved July 29, 2014.
- ^ a b Clavell, Mario (1996). "Biografía". Los Mejores Tangos de Carlos Gardel. California: Alfred Publ. Van Nuys.
- ^ Schickler, David (2013). The Dark Path. Riverhead Books. ISBN 978-1594486456.
...an instrumental recording of Por una Cabeza used in the films Scent of a Woman and True Lies. The original version of the song, a hit from the 1930s by Carlos Gardel and Alfredo La Pera...
- ^ Thompson, Robert (2005). Tango: The Art History of Love. Vintage Books. p. 21. ISBN 978-1400095797.
Finally, in Steven Spielburg's Schindler's List (1993), Liam Neeson dances, once again, to 'Por una cabeza.'
External links
[edit]- Por una cabeza: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
- Por una cabeza's Lyrics, music, scores, versions
- English translation
- Performed by Itzhak Perlman on YouTube
- Arranged and performed by Augustin Hadelich for violin on YouTube
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
