They formed in 1999. Their first release was Vuelvo Al Sur/El Capitalismo Foráneo in 2000, followed by the album La Revancha del Tango in 2001. Their music is clearly tango, but also uses electronic elements such as samples, beats and breaks.
Live material was broadcast on Gilles Peterson's world music show Worldwide on BBC one in May 2004. Philippe Cohen Solal has also released a DJ set: Inspiracion, Espiracion (P. Cohen Solal DJ Mix) (2004). This album is a compilation of classic tangos from the likes of Anibal Troilo and Astor Piazzolla and Gotan Project remixes. The album also includes a bonus CD with the track La Cruz del Sur - which was meant to be included on La Revancha del Tango, but didn't make the cut in 2001.
Their last album Tango 3.0 was released on April 19, 2010.
The name of the trio comes from a form of wordplay very common in Rioplatense Spanish's argot named vesre. This wordplay involves the reversal of syllables. Thus, the word 'Tan-go' becomes 'Go-tan', the name the trio have chosen for their project.
La Cumparsita
Gotan Project Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yo soy el tango que llega por las calles del recuerdo,
Donde nací ni me acuerdo
En una esquina cualquiera una luna arrabalera y un bandoneón son testigos
Yo soy el tango argentino, donde guste y cuando quiera!
Por la calle El Porteñito
Entre El Choclo y La Payanca
Al compás de un organito
Y a la luz de un farolito
Escondido entre glicinas
En el atrio de una esquina
Una noche de verano
Me apadrinó El Entrerriano
Con La Morocha Argentina...!
Soy tribuna popular
Que ante el empate, se agranda,
Y soy lujo a cuatro bandas
Sobre el paño del billar
Soy grito de: "No vá más..."
Que en la "Rula" nos conmueve...
Y soy ese "Ancar de nueve"
Que hasta los "secos" miramos
Y soy Jara y Leguisamo
Peleando un bandera verde...!
Soy guitarra milonguera
Y Corrientes y Esmeralda
Soy luna sobre la espalda
Encorvada, del linyera,
Soy mantel de Nochebuena,
Y baile de Carnaval
Soy silencio de yerbal
Bajo el cielo Misionero,
Soy silbido de boyero
Y asfalto de diagonal...!
Tengo esa dulce tristeza
De todos los que sentimos
Por eso... el Tango Argentino
Es un canto de terneza
Que se baila... con pereza...
Y se escucha... recordando
Mientras llega acariciando
Las puertas del corazón
El gemir del bandoneón
De Pichuco, rezongando...!
Soy columna mercurial
De la emoción ciudadana
Soy Avenida Quintana
Y baldío de arrabal
Nockaut en el Luna Park
Penal en el travesaño
Soy La París y el estaño
Soy bandoneón y organito
Soy dibujo de Lotito
Gorrión de plaza y canario...!
Señores...me llamo Tango!
Yo soy el tango que llega por las calles del recuerdo,
Donde nací ni me acuerdo
En una esquina cualquiera una luna arrabalera y un bandoneón son testigos
Yo soy el tango argentino, donde guste y cuando quiera!
The lyrics to Gotan Project's song "La Cumparsita" speak to the essence and richness of tango, which is described as a part of the streets and the collective memory of Argentina. The singer, who personifies the genre, claims to have been born in a forgotten corner, where the moonlight and the sound of the bandoneón bear witness to its roots. The song emphasizes the cultural significance of tango, which can be felt both in sorrow and in celebration, and can be appreciated by anyone, anywhere.
The words also serve as a love letter to the city of Buenos Aires, where tango originated and thrived. The singer mentions iconic landmarks, such as El Porteñito, Corrientes, and Esmeralda, as well as famous figures in tango history. The song paints a vivid picture of the city and its different faces and moods, from the luxury of Quintana Avenue to the rough streets of the arrabal. Ultimately, the song portrays tango as a powerful expression of emotion and identity, one that can move and inspire people of all walks of life.
Line by Line Meaning
¡Con permiso... soy el Tango...!
With your permission, I introduce myself as Tango. I am the Argentine tango that arrives through the streets of memories. I was born so long ago that I cannot recall where or when, but a moonlight night and the sound of a bandoneón in any corner could bear witness to my birth. I exist wherever and whenever anyone wishes to dance to me.
Por la calle El Porteñito
I can be found on El Porteñito Street.
Entre El Choclo y La Payanca
In the alley between El Choclo and La Payanca, there is a place for me.
Un servidor se abrió cancha
I am a service that clears the way for those who wish to dance.
Al compás de un organito
The rhythm of an organito helps me move.
Y a la luz de un farolito
The light of a small lantern casts a soft glow on me.
Escondido entre glicinas
Hidden among the sweet aroma of wisterias,
En el atrio de una esquina
I belong in the corner balconies.
Una noche de verano
On a warm summer night,
Me apadrinó El Entrerriano
I was blessed by El Entrerriano.
Con La Morocha Argentina...!
And La Morocha Argentina danced with me.
Soy tribuna popular
I am the voice of the people in the stands.
Que ante el empate, se agranda,
When the game is tied, my passion grows stronger.
Y soy lujo a cuatro bandas
I am a luxury that spans four corners of the billiard table.
Soy grito de: "No vá más..."
I am the cry of "no more bets" that shakes us at the roulette table.
Que en la "Rula" nos conmueve...
My presence moves us at the "Rula".
Y soy ese "Ancar de nueve"
I am the "Ancar" of nine that we cannot ignore.
Que hasta los "secos" miramos
Even the indifferent ones can't help but notice me.
Y soy Jara y Leguisamo
I am the champions Jara and Leguisamo fighting for our thirst for victory.
Peleando un bandera verde...!
We fight for the green flag!
Soy guitarra milonguera
I am the guitar that sings milongas.
Y Corrientes y Esmeralda
I live on Corrientes and Esmeralda streets.
Soy luna sobre la espalda
I am the moon over your back, making you dance till morning.
Encorvada, del linyera,
I am humbled and broken like the homeless.
Soy mantel de Nochebuena,
I am the tablecloth of Christmas Eve dinners.
Y baile de Carnaval
I am the dance of Carnival.
Soy silencio de yerbal
I am the quietness of the Yerba Mate plantations.
Bajo el cielo Misionero,
Under the Misiones sky,
Soy silbido de boyero
I am the whistle of the cattle drovers.
Y asfalto de diagonal...!
And the diagonal asphalt streets of Buenos Aires.
Tengo esa dulce tristeza
I am the sweet sadness in your heart.
De todos los que sentimos
I am the feeling of everyone who knows me.
Por eso... el Tango Argentino
That's why the Argentine tango is
Es un canto de terneza
A song of tenderness.
Que se baila... con pereza...
A dance that begs to be swayed with such sloth.
Y se escucha... recordando
A music that hears your memories.
Mientras llega acariciando
And caresses your heart with its arrival.
Las puertas del corazón
The doors of your heart open wide.
El gemir del bandoneón
To the sound of the bandoneón's moan,
De Pichuco, rezongando...!
Played by Pichuco, with all his soul!
Soy columna mercurial
I am the mercurial column that holds up the city.
De la emoción ciudadana
I embody the emotions of the city's people.
Soy Avenida Quintana
I am Quintana Avenue.
Y baldío de arrabal
And the empty lots in the suburbs.
Nockaut en el Luna Park
I am the ring at Luna Park, and the knockout punch that makes you gasp.
Penal en el travesaño
I'm the penalty that hits crossbar.
Soy La París y el estaño
I'm La Paris and the tin can, the proud and the meek.
Soy bandoneón y organito
I am the bandoneón and the organito.
Soy dibujo de Lotito
I am the artwork of Lotito.
Gorrión de plaza y canario...!
And the sparrows of the plazas, and the canaries of the windowsills.
Señores... me llamo Tango!
Dear Sirs, call me Tango.
Contributed by Sebastian R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@zoresca
DIOSSS!!! pensé que nunca más volvería a escuchar esto!!!!! gracias!!!!!!
@andreabecquer8626
No encuentro ya la completa :'( jaja
@Marco110981
tango, canconita se de Los Tanos
@ebam97
que desastre!!!!! primero que nada la cumparsita no es argentina, pa empezar y el resto sin comentarios