Por una cabeza
| "Por una cabeza" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Song by Carlos Gardel | |
| Language | Spanish |
| Written | 1935 |
| Genre | Tango |
| Length | 2:34 |
| Label | RCA Victor |
| Composer | Carlos Gardel |
| Lyricist | Alfredo Le Pera |
"Por una cabeza" (pronounced [poɾ ˈuna kaˈβesa]) is a tango song composed by Carlos Gardel with lyrics by Alfredo Le Pera[1] for the film Tango Bar (1935).
The title of the song is a Spanish horse-racing phrase meaning "by a head", which refers to a horse winning (or losing) a race narrowly – by just the length of its head. The lyrics speak of a compulsive horse-track gambler who compares his addiction for horse racing with his attraction to women.[2]
Versions
[edit]- Marcelo Ezquiaga and Kevin Johansen (2016).
- Andrea Bocelli on his album Cinema (2015).
- Il Divo, the male vocal quartet—along with multi-Latino Grammy Award-winning Colombian producer Julio Reyes Copello, recorded the song for Il Divo’s album Amor & Pasión (2015).
- Mauro Calderón’s 2018 album Entre Amigos.
- Diego el Cigala on his album Romance de la luna tucumana (2013).
- Aída Cuevas for the album De corazón a corazón... Mariachi Tango a fusion of mariachi and tango (2010).
- James Seymour Brett in the Spanish animated film Planet 51 (2009).
- Jerry Rivera on his compilation Caribe Gardel (2007).
- Andrés Calamaro on his album Tinta roja (2006).
- Itzhak Perlman and John Williams. Violin adaptation for the album Cinema Serenade (1997), used in the film Scent of a Woman (1992).
- The punk-rock argentine band Cadena Perpetua for their debut album Cadena Perpetua (1995).
- Los Pericos, on their album Yerba Buena (1996).
- Victor Hugo Díaz.
- Ricardo Iorio, of Almafuerte, recorded an acoustic version.
- Carlos Aguirre with the Alfredo De Angelis Orchestra (1976).
- Alejandro Cossavella has a version in the international language Esperanto, titled “Pro nur unu kapo”.
- Cazzu performed a live version on the argentine show La peña de Morfi on May 25, 2025.
Notable uses
[edit]"Por una cabeza" is featured in a famous tango scene in Martin Brest's film Scent of a Woman (1992), in the opening scene of Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List (1993), and in James Cameron's True Lies (1994).[3][4]
Copyright
[edit]Le Pera and Gardel died together in an aeroplane crash in Medellín, Colombia, on June 24, 1935[2]. After the 70-year period required by Argentine law[5] had elapsed, as of January 1, 2006, “Por una cabeza”—its music and lyrics—as well as all the joint works by both authors, entered the public domain[6].
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Por una Cabeza". Todo Tango (in Spanish). Retrieved July 29, 2014.
- ^ a b Clavell, Mario (1996). "Biografía". Los Mejores Tangos de Carlos Gardel. California: Alfred Publ. Van Nuys.
- ^ Schickler, David (2013). The Dark Path. Riverhead Books. ISBN 978-1594486456.
...an instrumental recording of Por una Cabeza used in the films Scent of a Woman and True Lies. The original version of the song, a hit from the 1930s by Carlos Gardel and Alfredo La Pera...
- ^ Thompson, Robert (2005). Tango: The Art History of Love. Vintage Books. p. 21. ISBN 978-1400095797.
Finally, in Steven Spielburg's Schindler's List (1993), Liam Neeson dances, once again, to 'Por una cabeza.'
- ^ "Ley 11". servicios.infoleg.gob.ar. Archived from the original on 2026-02-25. Retrieved 2026-03-30.
- ^ "Category:Carlos Gardel and Alfredo Le Pera Por una Cabeza - Wikimedia Commons". commons.wikimedia.org. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
External links
[edit]- Por una cabeza: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
- Por una cabeza's Lyrics, music, scores, versions
- English translation
- Performed by Itzhak Perlman on YouTube
- Arranged and performed by Augustin Hadelich for violin on YouTube
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