Tango

I was born originally in Medellin, all my family comes from this beautiful city in Colombia, also called the city of the eternal spring, the city of Tango. Actually the most recent survey on the global status of the Smart Cities by Indra Sistemas catalogs Medellín as one of the best cities to live in South America, sharing the first place with Santiago de Chile, and alongside Barcelona and Lisbon in Europe. Medellín won the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize 2016. The award seeks to recognize and celebrate efforts in furthering innovation in urban solutions and sustainable urban development. My best memories from childhood come from my family gatherings in the outskirts of Medellin, with grandparents and extended family sitting around a table sharing ´frijoles, arepas y arroz´ (beans, corn tortillas and rice), and there would be always music in the background. Hence, my love for music, I guess. The music repertoire will always include a compilation of Tango.

When Carlos Gardel, a famous tango singer, died in an airplane crash in 1935 while touring Colombia, he left the city with a legacy and a goal—to continue his love and passion for tango. The city has kept that memory alive and celebrates it on street corners, in annual festivals and in monuments around the city. Indeed, in my parents house there has always been tango and every time I listen tango, I go back to my homeland, and I recall how important it is to honour our roots, our origins.

Documentary Cafe de los Maestros, produced by Gustavo Santa Olalla, reminds me of my roots and inspires me with his beautiful rhythms. I still use some tunes in the yoga practices and they bring a scent of southamerican freshness, it feels warm and good in the body and in the soul.

Here some favs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXJwX2gKtoM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_nqZbdW28A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hitNO3BaFI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riuF_Ur3unc