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.
Mi Viejo El Italiano
Cacho Castaña Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Vino de un puerto lejano
Con un montón de ilusiones
Y un pasaporte en la mano
En un papel mal escrito
La dirección de un paisano
Así llegó a Buenos Aires
Italiano
¿Qué misterio hay en tus manos
Que cuando tocas la tierra
Florecen los verdes campos?
Italiano
Gladiador de sangre ardiente
Esta tierra se enriquece
Con el sudor de tu frente
En esta tierra bendita
Encontró paz y trabajo
Y le fue tan bien la cosa
Que hasta a mi abuelo se trajo
Después, conoció a mi madre
Formó un hogar bien de tanos
Y allá, en el barrio de Flores
Nacimos los tres hermanos
Italiano
¿Qué misterio hay en tus manos
Que cuando tocas la tierra
Florecen los verdes campos?
Italiano
Gladiador de sangre ardiente
Esta tierra se enriquece
Con el sudor de tu frente
Italiano
¿Qué misterio hay en tus manos
Que cuando tocas la tierra
Florecen los verdes campos?
Italiano
Gladiador de sangre ardiente
Esta tierra se enriquece
Con el sudor de tu frente
Italiano
¿Qué misterio hay en tus manos
Que cuando tocas la tierra
Florecen los verdes campos?
Italiano
Gladiador de sangre ardiente
Esta tierra se enriquece
Con el sudor de tu frente
The lyrics to "Mi Viejo El Italiano" by Cacho Castaña tell the story of an Italian immigrant who came to Buenos Aires in the 1920s. Despite the challenges and difficulties he faced, he brought with him a lot of hope and dreams, holding a passport in his hand. The lyrics highlight the mysterious power and impact that this Italian man has on the land he touches. It is described that when he sets foot on the soil, the green fields flourish. The song celebrates the hard work and determination of the Italian immigrants who played a significant role in the development and enrichment of Argentina.
The lyrics also reveal that this Italian man found peace and employment in the blessed land of Argentina. His success was such that he even brought his son-in-law, the singer's grandfather, to join him. The Italian man then meets the singer's mother, and they form a happy Italian household. The three siblings, including the singer, are born and raised in the neighborhood of Flores. The lyrics continue to highlight the mysterious and empowering nature of the Italian immigrant by emphasizing how his touch on the land makes it prosper, symbolized by the flourishing green fields. It acknowledges the hard work and sweat that has contributed to the enrichment of the country.
Overall, the song praises the Italian immigrants who, despite their humble beginnings, brought prosperity and growth to Argentina through their dedication and hard work.
Line by Line Meaning
Allá, por el año 20
In that distant time, around the 1920s
Vino de un puerto lejano
He came from a faraway port
Con un montón de ilusiones
Carrying a bunch of hopes and dreams
Y un pasaporte en la mano
And a passport in his hand
En un papel mal escrito
On a poorly written paper
La dirección de un paisano
The address of a countryman
Así llegó a Buenos Aires
That's how he arrived in Buenos Aires
Un viejo que era italiano
An old man who was Italian
Italiano
Italian
¿Qué misterio hay en tus manos
What mystery lies in your hands
Que cuando tocas la tierra
That when you touch the land
Florecen los verdes campos?
Green fields bloom?
Gladiador de sangre ardiente
Fiery-blooded gladiator
Esta tierra se enriquece
This land becomes enriched
Con el sudor de tu frente
With the sweat of your brow
En esta tierra bendita
In this blessed land
Encontró paz y trabajo
He found peace and work
Y le fue tan bien la cosa
And things went so well for him
Que hasta a mi abuelo se trajo
That he even brought my grandfather here
Después, conoció a mi madre
Later, he met my mother
Formó un hogar bien de tanos
He formed a proper 'tano' home
Y allá, en el barrio de Flores
And there, in the neighborhood of Flores
Nacimos los tres hermanos
The three siblings were born
Contributed by Sophia O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Maria domenica Bozzari
Bellissimo video e'un piacere sentire l'orgoglio che questi emigrati Hanno per essere Italiani😍
Hernán VT
Mis abuelos vinieron de catanzaro en el 49. Mi abuelo estuvo 4 años en la guerra: Grecia, Hungría, Alemania, Polonia y Rusia. Fue prisionero de guerra cuando los rusos ocuparon Berlín. Estaba a 7 km de la Cancillería cuando termino la guerra. Estuvo casi un año antes de volver a Italia.
Lamentablemente partió el año pasado. Pero rehizo su vida. Una vida durisima. A veces comparó a esa generación que lo hizo todo y lo comparo con esta que ni siquiera puede decidir si son hombres o mujeres.
Francisco Stagno
Allá por el año 1952 , vine de san Calogero , pcia de Catanzaro .,.con 6 años recién cumplidos , vine con el trasatlántico Conté Grande ...18 días de navegación , tengo 75 años y estoy muy agradecido a esta tierra ...pero cuando veo a estos sinvergüenza k en el gobierno me das mucha bronca por su deshonestidad y llevar tanto dolor al pueblo Argentino ..,vinimos a ganarnos nuestro futuro con el sudor de todo nuestro cuerpo y no a mendogãr nada ....
Carlos Capristo
Que coinsidencia mifamilia vino en el mismo barco venia de calabria
Mario
Grande Francisco!
Fernanda Roman
Gracias por recordar a nuestros mayores que vinieron sin nada .y nos enseñaron a trabajar y amar
nobrubend
El himno de los italianos en Argentina, no debería faltar en cada reunión de la colectividad , ¡Gracias Cachito!
CLARA ROSA DIANA
EMOCIONANTE HOMENAJE A TODOS NUESTROS GRINGOS QUE DEJARON SU PATRIA, PARA ENGRANDECER A LA ARGENTINA.
aromoa
No soy Italiano, pero igual se me enchina la piel de escuchar este hìmno para todos los italianos, felicidades por tan hermoso video, desde mexico, angel
Luis Enrique Marrelli
Mi abuelo llegó al puerto de Buenos Aires desde Nicosia - Catania, de la provincia de Ettna. Luego vino al Paraguay, donde conoció a otra siciliana con quien se casó en Asunción. La chispa chistosa, el gritar para hacerse entender, las manos laburadoras, el emprendurismo familiar, el amor y defensa de la familia; todo lo mencionado quien lo posee? El Italiano!!!!!!!