Nostalgias

'Nostalgias' is a significant tango recording featuring music by Juan Cruz Cobián and lyrics by Enrique Cadícamo. It was composed in 1929 and quickly gained recognition as a quintessential track of the golden age of Argentine tango. The piece is heavily inspired by the American Prohibition era and the rise of speakeasies.

The song is known for its deeply expressive exploration of melancholy, remembrance, and the pain of a lost past. Enrique Cadícamo's lyrics describe a man drinking champagne to drown the memories of a lost love and his sorrowful youth. It perfectly captures the romanticized despair characteristic of the genre.

Composed in 1929, the lyrics specifically mention wanting an 'american drink' and reference the Prohibition-era United States, where people had to drink secretly in hidden cabarets. This reflects the massive cultural influence of American jazz and speakeasy culture on Buenos Aires during that decade. It makes the song a unique historical snapshot of the era.

While composed in the 1920s, the song was immortalized in the modern era by singer Roberto Goyeneche, whose raspy, emotional delivery became the definitive version. Carlos Gardel also performed an early, popular version. The song remains a staple in the repertoire of contemporary tango orchestras worldwide.