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 masterpieces. Recommended popular songs (41–50)

Olé GuapaALFRED HAUSE

Tango – Ole Guapa – Alfred Hause

Olé GuapaALFRED HAUSE

It’s a well-known classic of Continental tango that you often hear.

The title is also sometimes given as “Ole Guapa.” In Spanish, “Olé” is a cheer or shout of encouragement, and “Guapa” means “pretty.” Put together, it’s roughly like saying, “Hey there, gorgeous!”

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Black Eyes (Ojos Negros)Vicente Greco

Miguel, Villas-Boas Quintet #9-★

Black Eyes (Ojos Negros)Vicente Greco

There’s also a Russian song with the same Japanese title, but this one is a tango from Spain composed by Vicente Greco.

It does have lyrics, yet it’s most often performed as an instrumental.

It seems perfect for a small ensemble playing in the corner of a bar, where you can lean back and listen while slowly sipping your drink.

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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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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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Farewell, My Friend (Adios Muchachos)Julio César Sanders

ADIOS MUCHACHOS LOS PANCHOS

Farewell, My Friend (Adios Muchachos)Julio César Sanders

The “Muchacho” in the title is a Spanish word meaning “boy” or “young man.” It’s a famous tango piece, but in the rendition by the trio Los Panchos introduced here, the arrangement uses a non-tango rhythm, making this performance somewhat unusual for the piece.

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