The samba and tango are very unique styles of music that developed in Brazil and Argentina respectively. Despite their similar origins and evolutions, these music styles still have their differences, and are as different as they countries whose culture and history they now greatly represent. The following examines the similarities and differences of the samba and tango. As stated above, the samba and tango basically have the same Orleans.
The two music styles are the products of the mixture of the European polka, the Cuban Hibernia, and African rhythms. Furthermore, the origins of these now sophisticated styles were very humble, due to the fact that both originated in the lower classes. Specifically, the tango’s major development occurred in the brothels In the slums and lower class areas of Buenos Aries. Before these two were widely accepted amongst its middle and upper classes, the music styles first had to travel abroad. Not until he music styles became popular in Europe did they become domestically popular as well.
As time progressed, samba and tango progressed almost Identically. Both eventually mixed with other types of music, due to the creative and experimental nature of composers and musicians. Specifically, samba and tango became mixed with Jazz music, creating newer types of music. For the tango, Astor Piazza first experimented with tango and Jazz, creating what was called “new Jazz”, while the mix of samba and Jazz became known as boost nova, a music genre featuring hits such s “The Girl from Panama. Even today, both styles continue to mix with other music genres, such as tango and electronic, and samba with reggae, showing the compatibility and flexibility of the two. However, the two differ greatly, In regards to the characteristics of the music. Looking at tempo, samba is very lively, quick and upbeat, compared to tango, which is more solemn, nostalgic and slower in speed. Furthermore, it seems samba borrows primarily from African music in terms of using Its rhythm and syncopation.
Tango, on the other hand, borrowed more from African dance (such as the Malone) rather than African music specifically. Whereas samba is primarily Just music, tango encompasses both song and dance, and it was the dance aspect of tango that African culture affected most. Looking at the lyrics as well, tango music has the common theme of women being unfaithful, unloving, and the men being hurt from such behavior. Yet, samba has no common lyrical theme: it simply consists of cheerfulness and happiness.
Most pressing as well is the difference in women involvement in both styles of music. Once again, tango lyrics contained very masculine themes and were from the perspective of a man. This is why men were almost always the singers of tango. For instance, the most famous singer of tango, and Argentine idol, was Carols Garden. 1 OFF accepted and very prominent in samba, due to the music’s lack of gender-specific themes. Carmen Miranda, one of the most famous samba singers in the music’s history, evidences women’s prominence in samba.
In conclusion, both samba and tango evolved from the same music, and continue to evolve similarly today, by combining with other established styles of music. However, samba’s tempo is faster and livelier, compared to the nostalgic tango. Also, besides being upbeat, samba has no common lyrical theme as most tango does. Finally, tango was for the longest time, a mostly masculine music, whereas samba was popularized by both men and women. Similar and different at the same time, both styles of music are extremely important to the identity of their originating countries.