Fútbol is life

When it's about more than a superstition...

I always tell my students that if you want to make a melody sound like tango, you have to exaggerate all of the contrasts, which makes everything sound more intense. You have to go “all in.” And this is the key to understanding the Argentinian approach to everything: it’s about commitment, intensity, and taking nothing lightly.

One of the best ways to observe this intensity is through the lens of soccer. And it’s been particularly intense here for the past month as teams from Canada all the way down the Chile have been competing in the Copa América. The European Cup has been going on simultaneously, meaning that the fervor surrounding “the beautiful game” has been captivating the entire globe.

The only ones likely to have missed the fuss are we, the citizens of the United States of America. Just as we continue to deny ourselves the obvious benefits of the metric system, we remain oblivious to the magic of the world’s favorite sport. Dani Rojas, the lovable character from the show

Futbol is life

Lasso, put it best: “football is life.”

And if it’s a big deal everywhere else, of course fútbol is taken very seriously in Argentina. Here, you’re born into being a fan, usually of your dad’s team, and choosing any other is considered a betrayal. 

You become a paying member of that club in order to purchase tickets. Is any fan a member of the New York Yankees?  

Futbol is life

Ever since I was introduced to the bizarre, extreme culture of Argentine fandom, I’ve seen sights that would be impossible to imagine where I come from:

• city buses rerouted in order to take groups of rowdy fans (hanging out of the doors, drinking beer and chanting) directly to the stadium

• seating divided into sections for home and away fans

• projectiles (sometimes on fire) thrown between fans and onto the field, the creative and hostile taunts

• the entertaining, clever songs set to pop melodies, full of hilarious insults and chanted in unison by tens of thousands…

  And of course there’s a darker side: corruption at the clubs involving leadership and organized gangs of delinquent fans. For years now, because of violence, only home fans are permitted at games.

Years ago in New York I would take in a Mets game with a hot dog and peacefully watch the sun go down over the outfield. The first time I went to see soccer in Buenos Aires I quickly learned that the experience was anything but easygoing. For starters, I was told I couldn’t go alone. As we walked to the stadium I felt an ominous energy as police separated rival fans towards separate entrances. We watched the game from the popular section, where you stand the whole time and get pushed down the steps when your team scores. 

I gave you all of this context for a reason: Soccer is the showcase for one of Argentina’s most curious cultural traits. I’m talking about cábala, which means “a superstition based on a good-luck charm or a ritual.” And like everything here, what makes the practice so unique is how seriously people take it. So, imagine superstition, and then take it up 10 notches.

If you’ve ever watched a game with Argentines you may have seen some of the following examples of cábala. If someone goes to the bathroom and their team scores a goal, that person has to remain in the bathroom. If you wear the team’s jersey for the first game and they win, you have to wear it for every remaining game. Some will even insist that you can’t wash it. 

In 2022 I posted a video on Instagram as Argentina played in the World Cup. I was wearing the national jersey and I played a quick version of a tango whose lyrics are about soccer. Argentina won. From that point I was locked in: I had to post a video, on each game day, with the same jersey, the same guitar, and a soccer tango. In the comments Argentinians said things like “don’t stop posting these! You are our cábala!” Now, I’m not going to say that thanks to my videos Argentina are 2022 World Champions, but 🤭 I’m not not going to say it. 

Most Argentines will tell you they have superstitious practices but they can’t share them. These might involve everything from taking school exams with the same pencil for years to wearing a lucky article of clothing to an important meeting. These rituals are practiced faithfully but not confessed. Even Lionel Messi, after describing one of his cábalas, told an interviewer that “yes, I have others, but I’ll keep them to myself.” 

According to my wife (who is Argentine) most people have cábalas but are embarrassed to talk about them. Soccer just happens to be the place where intensity, and intense superstition, are on display. 

So, do you have a lucky charm or a superstitious practice? How close does it come to a cábala? I’d love to hear about it in the comments. 

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I’m on a constant search to continue developing as a musician. Part of that search involves reading books and articles in a genre I’m going to call “the philosophy of practicing.” There’s been a lot said about the topic, and some of the most interesting thinking comes from jazz musicians. David Berkman’s book “The Jazz Musician’s Guide to Creative Practicing”  provides tons of utilitarian material, but in addition offers pages upon pages of “tips” which are more conceptual or dare I say existential.

I was struck by this tip, which I’ll paraphrase: “Students usually try to take something which is outside of themselves and bring it in; instead, they need to try to bring something which is inside of themselves out… you should be looking for the next interesting thing that will engage you.” What I get from this is: stop trying to sound like your heroes or follow the “correct” method, and start identifying preferences and developing your voice. I believe this concept applies to just about anything: composing music, planning a trip, or cooking a meal. 

Speaking of cooking, tomorrow we’re taking the night off to sit in a bar in downtown Buenos Aires and watch Argentina in the final game of the Copa América. Wait…I ordered delivery for all of the previous games. Do me a favor: 🤫don’t share this info with any Argentinian if they end up losing….

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♫♪𝄞⨾𓍢ִ໋ of the week

Las Orillas del Tiempo - Arco & Aire

This Washington D.C.-based bandoneon and cello duo have just released a super ambitious record with 8 tracks, 100% of which are new compositions. This beautiful piece is by Exequiel Mantega, a contemporary tango composer to keep an eye on. Go ahead and listen to the whole album, and see if you can also find the piece I composed for them.

Pobre Gallo Bataraz - Quinteto Real

 Horacio Salgán was one of the greatest and most original tango musicians. His Quinteto Real sounds like none other, and I love the rendition they did of this folkloric piece by Carlos Gardel. It’s so imaginative and packed with information.Remember when I was talking about intensity? It doesn’t get much more intense that this!

3 Dances: No. 2 Country Dance - (John Lenehan plays) John Ireland

I think of my mom every day. I inherited all of her beautiful piano scores, some of which she inherited from her uncle Charles. I’ve been putting the pieces they both loved into a playlist called “Charles and Jane.” When I hear this one, I see my mom at the piano, reading from the Ireland collection and bringing out the simple, rocking lullaby of the melody, joyful, grateful, connecting with the music.