Por Una Cabeza - What's it mean?

Mark

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Jun 27, 2002, 1:57:37 AM6/27/02

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I'm teaching myself Finale 2003 by entering a friend's transcription of "Por Una Cabeza" by Carlos Gardel (the tango music from "Scent of a Woman").

Does anyone know what the title really means?

http://babelfish.altavista.com says it means "By a Head". It must mean something else...

TIA,

Mark

José García

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Jun 27, 2002, 2:52:02 AM6/27/02

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It does mean "By a Head". It's about the ephemeral nature of both horse
racing and love.

See a translation at http://www.planet-tango.com/lyrics/porunaca.htm

Cheers,
José

Mark wrote:

> I'm teaching myself Finale 2003 by entering a friend's transcription of
> "Por Una Cabeza" by Carlos Gardel (the tango music from "Scent of a Woman").
>
>
>
> Does anyone know what the title really means?
>
>
>

> http://babelfish.altavista.com <http://www.babelfish.com> says it means

Mark

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Jun 27, 2002, 8:30:15 AM6/27/02

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Jose,

Many thanks!

Mark

"José García" <no...@here.com> wrote in message
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José García

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Jun 27, 2002, 8:59:02 AM6/27/02

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Not many people outside of the River Plate are aware of Gardel's passion
for horse racing. In fact not many people outside of Spanish-speaking
America are aware of Gardel, but that's another issue. :-) Here's a link
to another song about horse racing. It was written by Papavero for their
mutual friend, the unbeatable Uruguayan jockey of the 20's and 30's
Irineo Leguisamo.

http://www.todotango.com/spanish/download/play.aspid=1314&f=wax&amkyw=gardel

http://www.todotango.com/audio/wax/1316.wax

Cheers,
José

José García

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Jun 27, 2002, 9:03:54 AM6/27/02

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Oops! The first link will not work, but the second will. If you're
interested in more information about Gardel, including many of his most
famous songs, go to http://www.todotango.com/
and follow the links to Carlos Gardel.

Cheers,
José

José García

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Jun 27, 2002, 9:19:12 AM6/27/02

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Apropos "Por una Cabeza" as played in "Scent of a Woman", I remember the
first time my father heard it. "They may be playing all the notes", he
said, "but they're not playing a tango."

Cheers,
José

Mark wrote:

> I'm teaching myself Finale 2003 by entering a friend's transcription of
> "Por Una Cabeza" by Carlos Gardel (the tango music from "Scent of a Woman").
>
>
>
> Does anyone know what the title really means?
>
>
>

> http://babelfish.altavista.com <http://www.babelfish.com> says it means

José García

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Jul 3, 2002, 8:49:44 AM7/3/02

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> Mark wrote:
>
>> I'm teaching myself Finale 2003 by entering a friend's transcription
>> of "Por Una Cabeza" by Carlos Gardel (the tango music from "Scent of
>> a Woman").
>>
>> Does anyone know what the title really means?
>>
>> http://babelfish.altavista.com <http://www.babelfish.com> says it
>> means "By a Head". It must mean something else...

Hi again Mark,

Rummaging around the TodoTango site again today, I found the original as
recorded by Gardel himself. This tango first featured in the movie
"Tango Bar" shot in 1935, which (from memory now) tells the story of a
young tango singer who attempts to "make it" in Europe, opens a "Tango
Bar" but fails.

You can hear it at
http://www.todotango.com/audio/wax/679.wax

You can also view the original sheet music at
http://www.todotango.com/spanish/biblioteca/partituras/partitura.asp?id=224

Incidentally, I would love to see your friend's transcription when you
have it ready. Would that be possible?

Cheers,
José

kg4lxc

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Jul 4, 2002, 9:20:23 PM7/4/02

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The correct translation is "By just one head!"

He sings about the mixture of feelings and excitement in a horse race when
crossing the final line as well as the addiction of gambling and life.

Mrwindex

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