RangerSteve
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Argentine folk music is alive and well in Argentina, following a parallel and different path along the century. The tango is a product of the urban culture, specifically of Buenos Aires, and folklore remains the main popular expression in the provinces and many places of the big city too. Tango is more cosmopolitan and sophisticated, and has reached the cultural centers of the world much more easily. It is something similar to U.S.Folk vs. Jazz.

In the origins, some folk expressions in the suburban areas evolved to form the MILONGA taking rythms from the remainings of the black music of the Río de la Plata, including Montevideo in the Uruguay Republic. The early tango, born in the brothels, was very similar, but was strongly developed by great musicians who enriched it to become a class by itself.

If you see some early photos of Carlos Gardel, our finest popular singer, you will see him dressed as a GAUCHO (country hero like the cowboy) singing ESTILOS, MILONGAS, TRISTES. But his most popular image was that of the suburban singer of TANGOS, dressed as a COMPADRITO (sentimental, generous and "cool" kind of pimp), and later sing TANGO-CANCION as an international artist conquering Paris, New York and the whole world.

Please tell me if you want some links to Argentine country folk.

Un abrazo - Andrés