The Signature of Tango

Music lies at the heart of tango. Mediocre, unfamiliar, eccentric, or outlandish music has never inspired a beautiful dance. Truly exceptional tango is always performed to well-crafted, classic tango music—an indispensable source of inspiration that brings dancers’ skills to life. Great music electrifies the dancers, stirs their emotions, sparks creativity, builds synergy, and gives rise to what Argentinians call duende—a heightened state in which dancers transcend themselves. Without it, even the most gifted dancer is constrained.

Though there are tens of thousands of tango tracks available, only a small fraction are truly suitable for dancing. Most are either mediocre or composed for listening rather than dancing. CD producers understand this and often mix a few quality tracks into compilations to ensure sales. A typical 20-track album might contain only one or two truly danceable songs; the rest are filler. Argentinians, steeped in tango culture, know their music. They'll buy a CD for those one or two gems and disregard the rest. American tourists, however, often buy a CD and play every track, unaware of the musical nuances. Without a discerning ear, they collect tango music as indiscriminately as they collect tango steps—often favoring the novel, the obscure, or the exotic, regardless of danceability.

Experts agree: familiarity with music is essential to a vibrant tango experience. Argentinians only play time-honored classics in their milongas, avoiding even unfamiliar tango songs, let alone outlandish or alternative music. Playing such music undermines the dance—it lacks the richness and emotional depth of classic tango and turns the dance into a hybrid form tailored to foreign tastes. This, however, alienates the milongueros who are the lifeblood of the milonga. In Argentina, these seasoned dancers are held in high regard, honored with discounted admission, prime seating, and their favorite Golden Age music in the milongas.

Classic tango music is the signature of tango, developed in tandem with the dance and for it. People recognize and associate it with tango the moment they hear it. There is a deep emotional bond between the two. In essence, tango dance and classic tango music are two aspects of one thing called Argentine tango, inseparable as body and soul. While tango steps can be applied to other music, the essence is lost in translation. One could dance tango to the sounds of Beijing opera—but it would no longer be tango.

Music from other traditions lacks the rhythmic foundation and emotional complexity of classic tango. Classic tango is passionate, layered, dynamic, sentimental, moody, and rich in syncopation, inviting interpretation and improvisation (see The Characteristics of Classic Tango). Any music that shares these qualities can support tango. Music that lacks the intricate structure and emotional richness of tango is not the best music for tango dancing. It appeals mostly to novices with undeveloped taste, to those drawn to novelty for its own sake, or to individuals marketing to that audience for profit.

Those who love tango more than money can elevate the art in a simple yet powerful way. A three-hour milonga typically consists of about 15 tandas, or 60 songs. By curating a collection of the 600 best classic tango tracks and playing only them—just as the Argentinians do in the milongas of Buenos Aires—we can transform our tango culture and elevate the quality of our dance in ways we cannot yet fully imagine. After all, tango is intrinsically connected to its music. The better the music, the more enjoyable the dancing, the more fulfilled the dancers, and the more successful the milonga. (See My Two Cents on Music Selections.)