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] Famous Tango Songs: Recommended Popular Tracks (31–40)

La CumparsitaGerardo Matos Rodríguez

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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CaminitoALFRED HAUSE

ALFRED HAUSE – Caminito (Kaminīto)

CaminitoALFRED HAUSE

Alfred Hause, who enjoys great popularity as a leading figure in Continental Tango.

Hause studied as a violinist at the Weimar Conservatory, and in his compositions he sometimes employs instruments active in classical orchestras, such as the oboe and English horn, which is why his style is also called symphonic tango.

This piece, Caminito, is also characterized by a symphonic performance.

The elegance of the strings and the inclusion of the harp add a wonderful sense of richness!

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Azure Sky (Blauer Himmel)Barnabas von Geczy

Mantovani – Blue Sky (Blauer Himmel)

Azure Sky (Blauer Himmel)Barnabas von Geczy

This is Mantovani’s “Blue Sky (Blue Skies),” which has an easy-listening lightness distinct from the Hawse Orchestra.

The Getz Orchestra’s performance is also well known.

The mood changes dramatically between the opening melody and the latter half, evoking a vivid image of clouds parting to reveal a clear blue sky.

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Nostalgic (Nostálgico)Julian Plaza

Nostálgico

Nostalgic (Nostálgico)Julian Plaza

If you’ve listened to all the pieces introduced so far, you might already have a sense of Julián Plaza’s style.

This piece, “Nostálgico,” also features the characteristically free progressions typical of Plaza.

In the middle of the piece, the mood shifts dramatically—just when it becomes intense, it transforms in the latter half into a brilliant and elegant melody.

It’s a fascinating work.

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When the Milonga Sobs (Cuando Llora La Milonga)Juan de Dios Filiberto

Cuando llora la milonga – Luis Mario | Orq. Juan de Dios Filiberto

When the Milonga Sobs (Cuando Llora La Milonga)Juan de Dios Filiberto

Composed in 1927 by Juan de Dios Filiberto with lyrics by Luis Mario, “Cuando Llora La Milonga” features quite a deep theme: an elderly woman regretting the sins she has committed.

With its provocative lyrics, it’s an exceptionally compelling listen.

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[Tango] Famous tango masterpieces. Recommended popular songs (41–50)

FeliciaEnrique Saborido

Felicia for Violin and Piano, composed by Enrique Saborido, arranged by Masaki Iida, performed by Kyoko Kikumoto and Mari Okumura

FeliciaEnrique Saborido

Among the many compositions by Enrique Saborido, “Felicia” is his most famous.

It has a classic, easy-to-dance, upbeat tempo.

For those who love that quintessentially Argentine tango sound—passionate and irresistibly danceable—this track is spot on.

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PayadoraJulian Plaza

Payadora

PayadoraJulian Plaza

Pajadora, which is characteristically marked by the freely expressive, wistful style typical of Argentine bandoneon player Julián Plaza, features the weighty melodies emblematic of Argentine tango appearing from time to time, yet maintains an overall bright tone.

Among Plaza’s works, it has an especially catchy groove, earning strong support in Spanish-speaking regions.

The latter half of the piece was used in figure skater Mao Asada’s exhibition program during the 2008–2009 season, so many figure skating fans are likely familiar with it.

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