Ojos Rojos

Fito Páez's song "Ojos Rojos" paints a vivid and melancholic portrait of a young woman navigating the complexities of life. The lyrics open with a scene in Leblon, a neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, where the protagonist, a beautiful yet troubled girl, is described with red eyes from smoking. Páez uses a series of metaphors and cultural references to iconic women like Carmen, Rita, Marilyn, and Gilda to illustrate her multifaceted personality and allure. These references not only highlight her physical beauty but also hint at her inner turmoil and the pain she carries, symbolized by the 'dolor de Natasha' and the 'voz de Dolores'.

The song delves deeper into her chaotic lifestyle, marked by drug use and fleeting relationships. The imagery of her mixing pills and feeding her pain with laughter and substances paints a picture of someone trying to escape reality. Her background is revealed as she comes from a broken home in Flores, a neighborhood in Buenos Aires, which adds a layer of tragedy to her story. The line 'la vida empezó' signifies a turning point where she is forced to fend for herself, leading to a life of instability and constant change.

In the latter part of the song, Páez introduces a specific moment in February 2001, where she meets a man in Rio who offers her a ride and promises of love, only to exploit her youth and beauty. This encounter underscores her vulnerability and the predatory nature of those around her. Despite her struggles, there is a sense of poetic beauty in her existence, as she dreams of Argentina and the people she loves. The recurring phrase 'Tudo vai brilhando' (Everything is shining) juxtaposes her harsh reality with a glimmer of hope and resilience. The song concludes with a poignant reflection on her emotional state, oscillating between singing and crying, capturing the essence of her bittersweet journey.