Of Ukrainian grandparents, El Chango had a strong Polka music influence from his early days; Eastern European musical influences were also already present in the chamamé music of the region. He had his first accordion at age 12, which he played at parties, weddings and other events with his father and uncle.
A musical-talent TV show that travelled around small towns opened the door for Spasiuk to perform at provincial festivals. When he finished high school, he went to Posadas, capital of Misiones, to study anthropology, but soon after dropped out. Nevertheless, there he was exposed to other musical genres, and met pianist Norberto Ramos, who convinced him to go to Buenos Aires to study with him. Spasiuk then played in small places in Buenos Aires as well as in some festivals around the country, and even received an invitation to participate of the Eurolatina festival in the Netherlands.
In 1989 El Chango was invited to play in Cosquín, perhaps the most important folkloric music festival in Argentina, where he received the "Consecration" prize. After Cosquín he moved to Buenos Aires, where he recorded his first album, eponymously named Chango Spasiuk.
Spasiuk gained some popularity not only among folk and world music audiences but, given his modern style, also with rock and pop fans. He worked as a guest musician with bands like Divididos and Cienfuegos, but continued recording his own material. Favourable reviews of the "La Ponzoña" album reached Canada, and El Chango was invited to play at the Montreal International Jazz Festival.
In 2000 he returned to his roots recording Polcas de mi tierra live at parties and weddings in the small towns of Misiones with his accordion. Since then he has being touring around the world with the Chango Spasiuk Orchestra, and has edited an international recompilation of his work in 2003.
Spasiuk has been championed in Europe by world music journalists, for many of whom chamamé is a previously unknown form of music. BBC radio presenter Charlie Gillett is a prominent fan in the United Kingdom and has included El Chango's tracks on his compilations and playlists.
Discography
Chango Spasiuk (1989)
Contrastes (1990)
Bailemos y... (1992)
La ponzoña (1996)
Polcas de mi tierra (1999)
Chamamé crudo (2001)
The Charm of chamamé (2003 recompilation, Germany)
Tarefero de mis Pagos (2004)
Chamame Crudo (2007)
La Ponza (2007)
Serie Ano (2007)
Pynandi (Los Descalzos) (2009)
Tarefero De Mis Pagos/Alla En El Yerbal
Chango Spasiuk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Allá en el yerbal
Ponderando el filo de tu machete en un sapukay,
Lindo de más.
La esperanza verde que la tijera pone a tus pies
Es reflejo fiel
De la tierra roja fecunda y hermosa
Que te vio nacer.
Empapado de sudor
O tiritando de frío
Cargás el baita raido
Del sino que Dios te dió.
En tu día mi canción
Quiere llenarte de halagos
Tarefero de mis pagos
Orgullo de mi región.
I
Terminó la zafra y nada ha cambiado seguís igual,
Con tu karaya
Reviro y cocido hasta la carpida de un mandiocal
O algún maizal.
Cuan campito seco prendés de nuevo otra ilusión
En algún galpón
Y su llama ardiente será confidente
De tú corazón.
II
Que fácil te acomodás
Con lonadas y pellones
En el galpón de los peones
O al calor del barbacuá.
En tu día mi canción
Quiere llenarte de halagos
Tarefero de mis pagos
Orgullo de mi región,
Tarefero de mis pagos
Orgullo de mi región...
The lyrics of Chango Spasiuk's song "Tarefero de Mis Pagos/Allá en el Yerbal" talk about the life of a tarefero, a person who works in the yerba mate plantations of Argentina. The song describes the tarefero's daily routine during the harvest season, where he wakes up early in the morning, goes to the fields, and uses his machete to cut the yerba mate leaves. The hope of a good harvest and a better future is something that keeps the tarefero going. The lyrics also focus on the tarefero's pride in his work, region, and identity.
The second verse talks about the tough conditions that the tarefero has to endure while working. The extreme climate, the physical labor, and the hard work are part of his daily life. However, the tarefero keeps his spirits high and works tirelessly to provide for his family. The lyrics also mention the tarefero's sense of community and the importance of recognizing and celebrating his contribution to society.
Overall, "Tarefero de Mis Pagos/Allá en el Yerbal" is a tribute to the courage, resilience, and strength of the tarefero community in Argentina.
Line by Line Meaning
Empezó la zafra y la madrugada te ha de encontrar,
The harvesting season began and the morning will find you working in the yerba mate fields.
Allá en el yerbal
There in the yerba mate fields.
Ponderando el filo de tu machete en un sapukay,
Sharpening your machete's edge in a sapukay rhythm, beautiful enough to move one's soul.
Lindo de más.
It's just too beautiful.
La esperanza verde que la tijera pone a tus pies
The green hope that lies at your feet after the scissors' work.
Es reflejo fiel
A faithful reflection
De la tierra roja fecunda y hermosa
Of the fertile and beautiful red soil
Que te vio nacer.
That saw you being born.
Terminó la zafra y nada ha cambiado seguís igual,
The harvest season ended but nothing has changed, you remain the same.
Con tu karaya
With your mate gourd.
Reviro y cocido hasta la carpida de un mandiocal
Enjoying a reviro and a cocido soup, until the corn or cassava fields.
O algún maizal.
Or some cornfields.
Cuan campito seco prendés de nuevo otra ilusión
When you light up another hope in a dry little field.
En algún galpón
In some shed.
Y su llama ardiente será confidente
And its blazing flame will keep your heart's secrets.
De tú corazón.
Of your heart.
Que fácil te acomodás
How easily you adapt
Con lonadas y pellones
With blankets and skins
En el galpón de los peones
In the workers' shed
O al calor del barbacuá.
Or by the warmth of the barbecue.
En tu día mi canción
On your day, my song
Quiere llenarte de halagos
Wants to fill you with praises
Tarefero de mis pagos
Yerba mate harvester of my homeland
Orgullo de mi región.
Pride of my region.
Tarefero de mis pagos
Yerba mate harvester of my homeland
Orgullo de mi región...
Pride of my region...
Writer(s): Chango Spasiuk
Contributed by Adeline P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
yolanda Blanco
¡¡¡ FELICES 53 AÑOS !!! GRACIAS CHANGO, EL MEJOR !!
Clara Rios
El mas grande.!!!
Emmanuel Poitevin
Gracias por subirlo.
Rafa Insaurralde
terra chaco