Music of a wonderful world

[Tango] Famous Tango Songs: Recommended Popular Tracks

Representative, Elysion Philharmonic Orchestrasai-kisaragi
Heisei College of Music, Composition Course. Studied composition and conducting under Keizo Ideta, piano under Chinami Kira, and arts management under Takuma Konishi. With a focus on community and music, I work to revitalize my hometown of Saga Prefecture. While performing as a double bassist with wind ensembles and orchestras across Kyushu, I participated on double bass in the “Orchestra Without Borders” orchestra camp of the professional game and anime music ensemble Eminence Orchestra, held in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture in September 2012. During CAPCOM’s Kyushu Tour in 2016, I not only performed as an orchestra member but also served on the production staff. I currently serve as the managing representative for the game and anime performance groups Elysion Philharmonic Orchestra (Saga Prefecture) and Fukuoka Game Music Wind Orchestra (Fukuoka Prefecture), and handle conducting, arranging, and public relations.
Piano-playing singer-songwriter / Executive Committee Member, Special Music Festival in Rinku OsakaHousui Sachiyo
I learned to hit the keys on a toy piano, started Electone lessons at six, and began piano at ten. I loved the piano so much that I declared, “I want to go to a music college!” and from junior high I studied vocal music, ear training, and music theory (though I never even took the entrance exam in the end). In my childhood, my saxophone-playing father introduced me to jazz, and my mother to rockabilly. I was utterly obsessed with classical music in junior high. In high school, my grandmother took me to hear live tango performances, and before I knew it I’d become an eclectic listener. Lately, influenced by my high-school-aged daughter, I’ve been listening to koto music and nagauta. I hold the rather rare qualification of ‘Music Proficiency Test Level 3, Western Music track.’

A tango whose passionate rhythm and wistful melodies stir the heart.

Born on the street corners of Argentina, this music is now loved all around the world.

Have you ever felt a strange nostalgia or a flutter in your heart just by hearing the poignant tone of the bandoneon? Perhaps you’ve heard that memorable phrase in a movie or commercial and found yourself wanting to dive deeper into the world of tango.

In this article, we’ll introduce a wide range of classic and famous tango pieces.

Whether you’re listening for the first time or already familiar with tango, you’re sure to discover something new.

We hope you’ll find a new favorite track!

[Tango] Tango Masterpieces: Recommended Popular Songs (21–30)

JealousyJacob Gade

Jacob Gade – Jalousie

JealousyJacob Gade

This piece was composed by Jacob Gade, who began his career as a violinist.

It is said that the massive success of this song led him to devote himself exclusively to composition thereafter.

Moreover, after his death, the royalties were reportedly used to fund the development of young musicians—attesting to just how big a hit it was.

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Adiós NoninoÁstor Piazzolla

André Rieu – Adiós Nonino (Farewell father)

Adiós NoninoÁstor Piazzolla

This is a piece that Piazzolla composed and dedicated to his father after receiving news of his father’s death while on tour.

The title, “Nonino,” means “grandpa” in Italian and was his father’s nickname.

It’s like saying, “Goodbye, grandpa.” A very beautiful, heart-wrenching piece.

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Roxanne’s Tango (El Tango de Roxanne)Gianni Ferrio

Tango – Roxanne

Roxanne's Tango (El Tango de Roxanne)Gianni Ferrio

This is “El Tango de Roxanne,” used as a musical number in the 2001 film Moulin Rouge.

In fact, it’s an arrangement of Sting’s classic song “Roxanne.” The original “Roxanne” was composed with tango in mind, so this arrangement feels very natural.

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La CumparsitaGerardo Matos Rodríguez

Yoichi Sugawara - La Cumparsita

La CumparsitaGerardo Matos Rodríguez

It’s a famous Argentine tango, but Continental orchestras also perform it frequently.

When you think of tango, this is the song that comes to mind.

Among Japanese tango singers, Yoichi Sugawara has an extensive tango repertoire and delivers emotionally rich performances in both the original language and in Japanese.

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Orchids Beneath the MoonVincent Youmans

MALANDO – Orchids in the Moonlight: Orchids Blooming in the Moon’s Shadow

Orchids Beneath the MoonVincent Youmans

This song was created as an insert song for the musical film “Flying Down to Rio.” Along with the theme song “Carioca,” it became a popular tune, and today “Orchid in the Moonlight” has become a standard number in continental tango.

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El ChocloÁngel Villoldo

Ikuko Kawai: El Choclo

El ChocloÁngel Villoldo

It has lyrics and numerous vocal and instrumental performances, but it’s also a piece that is often played without vocals.

Many ensembles perform it.

The video introduced here is a mix version where you can listen to El Choclo by multiple ensembles at once.

The title means “corn” in Spanish, but its connection to the lyrics is unclear.

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Melancholic (Melancólico)Julian Plaza

Melancólico

Melancholic (Melancólico)Julian Plaza

While featuring a quintessentially Argentine tango melody, Julián Plaza—who has produced numerous hits across the Spanish-speaking world—delivers with “Melancólico” a piece marked by stark contrasts between its intense and quiet sections, offering not only a passionate atmosphere but also superb dynamic nuance.

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