Tarde de Otoño En Platería
El Consorcio
A Nostalgic Autumn Afternoon in Madrid
El Consorcio's song "Tarde de Otoño En Platería" is a nostalgic and romantic reflection on a specific moment in time, set against the backdrop of Madrid in the late 19th century. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of an autumn afternoon in the Platerías café, where the narrator experiences a profound emotional connection upon seeing a beautiful woman in a gray dress. This encounter is filled with a sense of immediacy and tenderness, as the narrator is moved to declare his love, trembling with emotion.
The song is rich with historical and cultural references, such as the mention of Alfonso XII returning from the bullfights and the famous tenor Julián Gayarre singing at the Teatro Real. These details ground the song in a specific era, evoking a sense of longing for a bygone time. The use of imagery, like the dying afternoon reflected in mirrors and the growing gas lights as night falls, enhances the melancholic and dreamlike quality of the narrative.
The recurring theme of time passing and the fleeting nature of moments is central to the song. The narrator reminisces about the autumn afternoon filled with sunlight and dreams, only to be left waiting and ultimately departing the café with a heavy heart. This sense of unfulfilled love and the passage of time is encapsulated in the line, "Ay, 1800, qué lejos ya estás de mí," highlighting the distance between the past and the present. The song captures the essence of a poignant, ephemeral moment that lingers in memory, underscoring the universal experience of love and loss.