A century of tango, one year at a time
Each square opens its year: what was recorded, who sang, what happened, and what dancers dance from it today. The Golden Age years are shaded.
Tune in by yearTurn the dial to a year and hear recordings from it, one after another.Turn the dial →The eras
From estribillo to cantor: the blue bar is how much of a typical recording with a singer is sung, measured on the audio we hold.
Before 1935
Guardia Vieja and Guardia Nueva
About 17% sung: the singer comes in for a chorus, the estribillo.
1935–1954
The Golden Age
About 38% sung: the orchestra’s singer becomes a star of the band.
After 1955
The singer becomes the song
About 51% sung, and the voice comes in early.
