El Gato - Los Tangos de Delfina

[Editor's note: We got this dispatch from Buenos Aires from our agent there, Ricardo Monzina, who was sent there to research the tango band El Gato!. He came through with a first for Big And Tall Records, a set of 5 original Tangos from the group. After the successful recording sessions and the finalizing of the recordings, Ricardo was approached by El Gato himself about recording two more tangos before Ricardo came back to the U.S. Following is his extensive report that came with the audio files for the two new tangos!]

TO: Executives and all associates of Big And Tall Records
FROM: Ricardo Monzia, official associate and agent for Big And Tall Records
SUBJECT : New recordings by El Gato!

I know you've all been wondering why I extended my stay in Buenos Aires. No, it wasn't the fine weather, or the delicious food, it was an offer from El Gato! himself to record two more original tangos if we were interested. The recording sessions for their premiere album Canto El Tango went very well, and the group got along splendidly with the recording engineer on duty at the time. We got a picture of El Gato and his bandoneon player Mateo Onzario watching as Delfina Moretti recorded her song for the album. I was standing behind them and heard them talking about her, and how El Gato was in a relationship with her that has grown into a deep, passionate love. Mateo is encouraging him to let her know how he feels, that it is not just a fling between band members. Despite El Gato's aggressive singing style, he can be somewhat shy. So mateo tells him that he can tell her in the best way - through song! El Gato had been working on a romantic tango for Delfina, and Mateo suggested that he should talk to me about recording it. 

I interrupted their conversation, apologized for eavesdropping (El Gato is not a man to be rude to) His shyness can turn to anger very quickly!) and asked his flat out if the tango was finished to record. El Gato hesitated, but Mateo said that it was! I found out that Mateo is not only the senior member of the group, but a wise counselor with a lot of experience in music and life. So I got on the phone, set up another recording session with the same recording engineer, contacted the local lawyers for another agreement for the session. El Gato was pleased, and quite excited to record his tango for his beloved.

It was a few days until the agreement from the lawyers came, and when it came El Gato gathered the available band members to review it like the last agreement they had. As usual, all the band members deferred to El Gato's leadership, except one- Gonzalo Crexell, La Profesor.  El Gato insisted that the agreement be like the last, that we pay all expenses, but the band receive no money upfront. El Gato said this song was personal, and La Profesor , or as El Gato calls him Culo amargado - Grumpy ass, because he belly aches so much, told them without getting paid he wouldn't play! He said his pockets were empty from the first agreement, and he's not playing the piano for a hobby! And as usual, El Gato let him vent and bitch until he agreed. 

The meeting intentionally hadn't included Delfina, as the band wanted to keep it a surprise that they recorded a tango specially for her. But she walked in as the meeting was over, and wanted to know what was going on and why she was left out. Let's just say that she's a spirited woman , and really threw a fit! But El Gato changed her mood when he told her about it, and showed her the contract. She read it, and began to cry. She knows El Gato enough that to have him write and dedicate a tango to her was special. She told him her feelings for him have deepened as well, but she was afraid of scaring him off by being too serious. 

The recording session was the next day, and the band played about 20 minutes by themselves to warm up. The recording engineer talked to El Gato while the band played, and offered some suggestions they could do post recording to enhance the performance. El Gato was really pissed off at the suggestion, said they do not tricks and wizardry of a recording engineer added to their music! To his credit, the recording engineer handled El Gato's anger well, probably wasn't the first  artist that jumped down his throat.

The band ws in their groove, sounded great! El Gato joined them and did a sound check. His voice was still rough, but seemed to have a lighter quality here and there. When they got down to it, They recorded numerous takes of the song. El Gato listened, and picked the best one, then told the engineer that they had worked through enough material to have another whole song recorded. The recording engineer, again to his credit as the session's time was nearly over, agrees to give it a try. Luckily it was the last session of the day, so there was no need to wrap it up. I got the impression the engineer and El Gato liked each other. Despite their spirited discussion (the engineer barked back at El Gato a few times) It was obvious they respected each others ability. It was around 4:00 AM when they locked everything down,and there were two songs! The second one had been mostly improvised from parts of the first song and the endless material these players had in their heads after so many years of playing. 

I had gone back to my hotel after the first song, as it was already late. I knew they were going to try for another but hadn't heard any of it. So the following afternoon I accompanied Delfina and El Gato back to the studio to hear the results. Delfina was in tears through all of it, and El Gato smiled and stared as he listened. We listened a few times, El Gato asked me what I thought and all I could do was applaud him. The recording engineer then told el Gato that he had taken the liberty of adding a little something to the chorus of the 2nd song, and would like him to hear it. 

El Gato really earned his name then! His voice raised in to a  thunderous, growling, spitting tirade against the engineer, and got up to walk out. Delfina grabbed his hand and asked him to stay, she would like to hear it. I also added some encouragement, but it was mostly Delfina that calmed the hissing tomcat! The engineer offered no explanation or clue what was to come, he just began the track. Everything was the same with the second song until they came to the reprise at the end of the chorus section. I had provided extra funds to add a chorus to the songs, as well as a few extra players, mostly percussion. It took some coaxing to get El Gato to agree, but he liked  the result. At the repeat of the words 'canto mi corazon - I sing my heart out - He put a filter on the female voice that sings the words. I watched El Gato to see his reaction, for I knew if he didn't like it all hell would break loose. But he sat motionless, his gaze straight ahead, his eyes wide open and his mouth open. He didn't move or say a word through the rest of the song.

After some silence after the song, the engineer finally asked him what he thought. El Gato said that it was the haunting he felt of the love he feels for Delfina, that it is the inner voice that never lets him rest when he is not with her. He demanded that it be left in! El Gato can be a real surprise! 

Attached are the sound files for the songs, lyrics in Spanish and English are below. I know the song's  theme are the same, and there are other similarities, but I would advise to release them together, like the old days when records had an 'A' and a 'B' side. And I promise to get back as soon as I can and quit living high on the company dime! But you have to admit, we not only have a new artist aboard, and a tango band, but a trip that produced seven original songs! But tonight I'm going to celebrate and go to an Asado restaurant near the hotel! Chau, nos vemos!

Delfina En Tango

Delfina, te vi pasar con tu paso de salón
y yo, torpe de verdad, pisé tarde el corazón
Tengo manos de ladrón para el aire, para el hilo
pero al verte, mi canción se me quiebra sin escondite
 
Yo no sé girar contigo me tropiezo al respirar
si me acerco, pierdo el pulso si me alejo, duele más
Y aunque digan que es destino yo te miro y ya está
 
Delfina, mi voz te baila Delfina, mi voz te da
Yo no bailo el tango, amor pero te sé cantar
Delfina, mi voz te baila (Delfina) Delfina, mi voz te da (mi voz te da)
 
Tengo el pulso de un reloj que se cae al despertar
y tu risa, por favor, me enseña a no desafinar
No te ofrezco una esquina ni un compás para los pies
te ofrezco esta herida donde te nombro otra vez
 
Si la pista me perdona yo me quedo en el borde
con la pena en la garganta y tu nombre de norte
Que me vean tan sincero que me oigan temblar
 
Delfina, mi voz te baila Delfina, mi voz te da
Yo no bailo el tango, amor pero te sé cantar
Delfina, mi voz te baila (Delfina) Delfina, mi voz te da (mi voz te da)
 
Si la noche pide una vuelta yo la doy sin caminar
porque en cada nota abierta te me vuelvo a acercar
Y si nunca hay dos cuerpos marcando el mismo lugar
que mi pecho haga el baile que mis labios sepan dar
 
Delfina, mi voz te baila Delfina, mi voz te da
Yo no bailo el tango, amor pero te sé cantar
Delfina, mi voz te baila (Delfina) Delfina, mi voz te da (mi voz te da)
Delfina, quédate aquí en mi forma de cantar

Delfina's Tango

Delfina, I saw you pass by with your ballroom stride
and I—truly clumsy—stepped on my own heart too late
My hands are like a thief's when grasping at air or thread
but when I see you, my song breaks within me, with nowhere to hide
 
I don't know how to spin with you I stumble just to breathe
If I draw near, I lose my pulse If I pull away, it hurts even more
And though they say it's destiny I simply look at you, and that is all
 
Delfina, my voice dances for you Delfina, my voice gives itself to you
I don't dance the tango, love but I know how to sing for you
Delfina, my voice dances for you (Delfina) Delfina, my voice gives itself to you (my voice gives itself)
 
My pulse is like a clock that tumbles down upon waking
and your laughter—oh, please— teaches me how not to sing off-key
I don't offer you a street corner nor a rhythm for your feet
I offer you this wound where I speak your name once again
 
If the dance floor forgives me I'll stay right here on the edge
with sorrow lodged in my throat and your name as my guiding star
Let them see how sincere I am let them hear me tremble
 
Delfina, my voice dances for you Delfina, my voice gives itself to you
I don't dance the tango, love but I know how to sing for you
Delfina, my voice dances for you (Delfina) Delfina, my voice gives itself to you (my voice gives itself)
 
If the night calls for a turn I'll take it without moving my feet
for in every open note I draw close to you once more
And if two bodies never mark out the very same spot
then let my heart perform the dance that my lips know how to give
 
Delfina, my voice dances for you Delfina, my voice gives itself to you
I don't dance the tango, love but I know how to sing for you
Delfina, my... My voice dances for you (Delfina)
 Delfina, my voice gives itself to you (my voice gives itself to you)
Delfina, stay here within the way I sing

Delfina En Mi Boca

Delfina, mi querida, yo sé bailar muy mal.
Se me enredan los pasos como un perro al pasar.
Tú giras como el agua, yo caigo al pisar.
Y aun así, cuando te miro, me dan ganas de cantar.
 
No me pidas la cintura, ni el vuelo al cortar.
Yo tengo el alma torcida y los pies para tropezar.
Pero tengo esta garganta, tan fiel como el metal,
y si no te dan mis manos,mi voz te va a alcanzar.
 
Delfina, ay Delfina mi tango es para vos
Delfina, ay Delfina te nombro con amor
Yo nunca haré contigo la vuelta del salón
pero canto, Delfina, canto mi corazón
(Delfina)
(canto mi corazón)
 
La orquesta se hace vieja, la pista va a dormir.
Y yo sigo con mi torpeza sin poderme redimir.
Me piso el propio sueño, me río de mí.
Pero cuando dices "hola", se me ordena el porvenir.
 
Tu nombre me da coraje, me enseña a resistir.
Si mi cuerpo no te sigue, mi pecho sí va a ir.
 
No nací para la finta, ni para seducir.
Soy un hombre con zapatos que se quieren despedir.
Pero hay algo en tu mirada que me obliga a insistir,
y si el baile me derrota, mi voz te hace vivir.
 
Delfina, ay Delfina mi tango es para vos
Delfina, ay Delfina te nombro con amor
Yo nunca haré contigo la vuelta del salón
pero canto, Delfina, canto mi corazón
(Delfina)
(canto mi corazón)
 
Si me ves en un rincón con la sombra y el temor,
no te rías de mis pasos, ríete de mi dolor.
Que yo pierdo en la milonga, pero gano en la canción,
y en cada nota te acerco como un golpe de pasión.
 
Delfina, ay Delfina mi tango es para vos
Delfina, ay Delfina te nombro con amor
Yo nunca haré contigo la vuelta del salón
pero canto, Delfina, canto mi corazón
(Delfina)
(canto mi corazón)

Delfina My Darling

Delfina, my dear, I dance very poorly.
My steps get tangled up like a dog passing by.
You spin like water, while I stumble with every step.
And yet, when I look at you, I feel the urge to sing.
 
Don't ask me for a graceful waist, nor for a soaring flourish.
My soul is twisted, and my feet are made for tripping.
But I have this voice, as true as metal;
and if my hands cannot reach you, my voice surely will.
 
Delfina, oh Delfina, my tango is for you.
Delfina, oh Delfina, I speak your name with love.
I will never lead you around the dance floor,
but I sing, Delfina—I sing my heart out.
(Delfina)
(I sing my heart out)
 
The orchestra grows old, the dance floor drifts to sleep.
And I remain in my clumsiness, unable to redeem myself.
I trip over my own dreams; I laugh at myself.
But when you say "hello," my future falls into place.
 
Your name gives me courage; it teaches me to endure.
If my body cannot follow you, my heart surely will.
 
I wasn't born for fancy footwork, nor for seduction.
I am just a man in shoes that seem eager to walk away.
But there is something in your gaze that compels me to persist;
and if the dance defeats me, my voice will bring you to life.
 
Delfina, oh Delfina, my tango is for you.
Delfina, oh Delfina, I speak your name with love.
I will never lead you around the dance floor,
but I sing, Delfina— I sing my heart out.
(Delfina)
(I sing my heart out)
 
If you see me in a corner,amidst the shadows and the fear,
do not laugh at my steps— laugh, instead, at my pain.
Though I may lose on the dance floor, I win within the song;
and with every note, I draw you near like a sudden surge of passion.
 
Delfina—oh, Delfina—my tango is for you.
Delfina—oh, Delfina—I speak your name with love.
I will never take you for a turn around the floor;
but I sing, Delfina—I sing my heart to you.
(Delfina)
(I sing my heart out)

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