Cacho Castaña developed an interest in music during his early years, and by age fourteen, he was a piano teacher. Raised in modest circumstances in the Flores neighborhood, he worked with his father, a shoe cobbler, until age 16. He began his career in music in his teens as a pianist in Oscar Espósito's orquesta típica, one of numerous such groups that performed tango music at the time, and also performed in the Chamamé folk genre.
Castaña became famous as a bolero singer during the 1970s, performing on Argentine television programs such as Tiempo Final and Un Cortado, among others. He authored numerous hits, including Me gusta, me gusta ("I like it, I like it"), Lo llaman el matador ("He's Nicknamed the Killer") and Hay que encontrar al ladrón ("The Thief Must be Found"), and his signature bolero: Para vivir un gran amor ("To Live a Great Love"). His lyrics became known for their extemporaneous and often autobiographical style, which he described as "writing as I would speak."
He is much better known, however, for his contributions to tango music: some of his compositions are considered classics by his fans, including Qué tango hay que cantar ("What Tango Must One Sing", with Rubén Juárez), Garganta con Arena ("Throat full of sand", an homage to Roberto Goyeneche, his mentor), "Tita de Buenos Aires", (Tita de Buenos Aires, dedicated to Tita Merello), A dónde vas? Quedate en Buenos Aires ("Where are you going? Stay in Buenos Aires"), and his ode to the Flores neighborhood: Café la Humedad. Castaña composed around 2,500 songs, of which 500 have been recorded. He produced 44 records, of which fifteen became gold records (over 20,000 sold, per CAPIF ratings), and ten, platinum (over 40,000 sold).
Castaña also starred in thirteen Argentine films, including two for which he wrote the score, El mundo que inventamos ("The World We Created", 1973) and Los hijos de López ("López's Sons", 1980); numerous picaresque comedies; and in Felicidades (2000). A confirmed bachelor for much of his life, his numerous relationships included one with Susana Giménez during the 1970s (Giménez would later become a top-rated talk show hostess in Argentina). He ultimately married Andrea Sblano, the 27-year-old daughter of a close friend, in 2006; among his other close friends was former President Carlos Menem. His television appearances in later years included a cameo on the popular Argentine telenovela, Los Roldán. He earned a Konex Award in 2005 for his work as songwriter, and his tango album released that year, Espalda con espalda ("Shoulder to Shoulder") earned a Gardel Prize.He was invited to perform "with all the other monsters" in Leopoldo Federico's series, Selección Nacional de Tango Argentino (an event he considered "the happiest day of my life"), and was inducted into the National Academy of Tango in 2007.
Castaña's career declined during the 1990s, but rebounded after 2003, and he became active in Argentina's stage and festival circuit. He headlined numerous Corrientes Avenue shows, and was a regular performer in the National Peña Festival, in Villa María. A heavy smoker, he developed emphysema in later years, and was twice hospitalized as he prepared to appear in shows. He and his wife opened a children's clothing boutique, Las Castañitas.[8] Their marriage suffered, however, and they separated in 2011. He was again hospitalized following the separation, and made a speedy recovery.
After two weeks hospitalized, Cacho Castaña died on October 15, 2019.
Cara de tramposo
Cacho Castaña Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
CON EL PELO LARGO Y LA LENGUA PICANTE
DEJO LA ARGENTINA BUSCANDO HORIZONTES
EN UN VIEJO BARCO FUE DE POLIZONTE
EN TIERRAS LEJANAS BUSCANDO FORTUNA
PENSABA ARGENTINA COMO VOS NINGUNA
CON EL PELO LARGO Y LA LENGUA PICANTE
CUANDO EN LA DISTANCIA ESCUCHABA UN TANGO
CUANTAS MADRUGADAS DESPERTO LLORANDO
EXTRAÑO EL IDIOMA LAS RUEDAS DE AMIGOS
NOCHES DE GUITARRA CON ASADO Y VINO
CARA DE TRAMPOSO Y OJOS DE ATORRANTE
CON EL PELO LARGO Y LA LENGUA PICANTE
DE UNA FRANCESITA QUEDO ENAMORADO
Y HABLABA SIEMPRE DEL PAIS LEJANO
PREPARO EL REGRESO, LA TRAJO A SU LADO
Y A SU VIEJA PATRIA LE TRAJO UN SOLDADO
CARA DE TRAMPOSO Y OJOS DE ATORRANTE
CON EL PELO LARGO Y LA LENGUA PICANTE
DEJO LA ARGENTINA BUSCANDO HORIZONTES
EN UN VIEJO BARCO FUE DE POLIZONTE
EN TIERRAS LEJANAS BUSCANDO FORTUNA
PENSABA ARGENTINA COMO VOS NINGUNA
CARA DE TRAMPOSO Y OJOS DE ATORRANTE
CON EL PELO LARGO Y LA LENGUA PICANTE
The lyrics to Cacho Castaña's song "Cara de Tramposo" tell the story of a man with a sneaky face and lazy eyes, who set out from Argentina in search of fortune. He stowed away on an old ship and traveled to distant lands, dreaming of the opportunities he could find outside his homeland. However, he soon realizes how much he misses his native country, particularly the music (represented by tango), language, friends, and traditions. Despite falling in love with a French woman and bringing her back to Argentina, his heart still longs for his beloved homeland.
The lyrics express a sense of homesickness and longing for one's roots, even when pursuing dreams and new experiences. The singer may appear to be a trickster or schemer, but his vulnerabilities and nostalgia make him a sympathetic figure. The tango music adds a melancholy and romantic mood to the song, further emphasizing the emotional depth of the story.
Line by Line Meaning
CARA DE TRAMPOSO Y OJOS DE ATORRANTE
He has a deceitful face and mischievous eyes
CON EL PELO LARGO Y LA LENGUA PICANTE
He has long hair and a sharp tongue
DEJO LA ARGENTINA BUSCANDO HORIZONTES
He left Argentina to seek new opportunities
EN UN VIEJO BARCO FUE DE POLIZONTE
He stowed away on an old ship
EN TIERRAS LEJANAS BUSCANDO FORTUNA
He went to distant lands in search of fortune
PENSABA ARGENTINA COMO VOS NINGUNA
He thought no one loved and missed Argentina as much as he did
CUANDO EN LA DISTANCIA ESCUCHABA UN TANGO
When he heard a tango from far away
CUANTAS MADRUGADAS DESPERTO LLORANDO
He woke up crying so many early mornings
EXTRAÑO EL IDIOMA LAS RUEDAS DE AMIGOS
He missed the language and the circles of friends
NOCHES DE GUITARRA CON ASADO Y VINO
The nights with guitars, barbecues, and wine
DE UNA FRANCESITA QUEDO ENAMORADO
He fell in love with a French woman
Y HABLABA SIEMPRE DEL PAIS LEJANO
He always talked about the distant country
PREPARO EL REGRESO, LA TRAJO A SU LADO
He prepared to return and brought her with him
Y A SU VIEJA PATRIA LE TRAJO UN SOLDADO
And he brought a soldier back to his homeland
Writer(s): Humberto Vicente Castagna
Contributed by Ryan P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@rodrimdb6296
Letra:
Cara de tramposo y ojos de atorrante
Ojos de atorrante, ojos de atorrante
Con el pelo largo y la lengua picante
La lengua picante, la lengua picante
Dejo la Argentina buscando horizontes
En un viejo barco fue de polizonte
En tierras lejanas buscando fortuna
Pensaba Argentina como vos ninguna
Cara de tramposo y ojos de atorrante
Ojos de atorrante, ojos de atorrante
Con el pelo largo y la lengua picante
La lengua picante, la lengua picante
Cuando en la distancia escuchaba un tango
Cuantas madrugadas desperto llorando
Extraño el idioma, las ruedas de amigos
Noches de guitarra con asado y vino
Cara de tramposo y ojos de atorrante
Ojos de atorrante, ojos de atorrante
Con el pelo largo y la lengua picante
La lengua picante, la lengua picante
De una francesita quedo enamorado
Y hablaba siempre del país lejano
Preparo el regreso, la trajo a su lado
Y a su vieja patria le trajo un soldado
Cara de tramposo y ojos de atorrante
Ojos de atorrante, ojos de atorrante
Con el pelo largo y la lengua picante
La lengua picante, la lengua picante
Dejo la Argentina buscando horizontes
En un viejo barco fue de polizonte
En tierras lejanas buscando fortuna
Pensaba Argentina como vos ninguna
Cara de tramposo y ojos de atorrante
Ojos de atorrante, ojos de atorrante
@nutriadivina260
Esta cancion se la canto siempre a mi gatito
@elpanamiguel9
Que bellos recuerdos cachito, yendo al rio parana a pescar, en el rio, picada sobre la mesa, el truco en el quincho, un vaso de coca-cola sobre la silla, el asado sobre la parrila y obviamente las cañas esperando a dar su llamado por los pescados en la noche con estrellas sobre el cielo, escuchando tu musica en la grabadora, tus exitos mas grandes en el rio junto a tus canciones, ahora que no estas habra un vacio al escuchar tus exitos sobre el muelle en el rio, que en paz descanse Cacho Castaña. (1942 - 2019)
@alejandrorubenvargas66
desde México este hombre es fantástico, sus canciones son lo mejor!!!
@MDL3
QEPD gran atorrante.
Gracias por tanto...
Por siempre Cacho de Bs As.
@guadalupereviglio5222
Voy a llorar. Estaba haciendo la tarea del Cole sobre la dictadura, había elegido esta canción porque estaba cacho castaña y cuando la escuché me hizo acordar a mi abuelo que la escuchaba cuando estaba vivo
@ignaciocaparrosdelgado8696
yo también vine por una tarea de la dictadura
@valentinorimmele2120
Mal, amigo estan re gedes con las tareas, QDEP Un saludo
@danibenitez3392
Del 1 al 10, ¿cuánto te adoctrinaron con ese tema? Seguro te hacen buscar la mitad de la historia, como siempre.
@danibenitez3392
@Guadalupe Reviglio Tranquila, baja las pulsaciones por minuto, que no se te suba la presión, solo te digo que la mayoría de las veces (por no decir todas) te hacen investigar/buscar una sola parte de la historia completa de los 70s. Por ejemplo, todo empieza el 24 del 76' pero omiten la historia adicional anterior a esa fecha.
@cajamisteriosa12
VOS TAMBIEN ?