Talk:Por una Cabeza

Untitled
Yes, but who actually wrote the song? The composer? —Preceding unsigned comment added by BernieD (talk • contribs) 01:39, 7 May 2006
 * Just in case anyone else would ask: Of course the composer. Composers write music - that's what "composing" means. But in 2006 (when the question was asked), this was actually totally unclear from the WP page, I admit ... --User:Haraldmmueller 15:14, 17 October 2017 (UTC)

Copyright Status
Does anybody know the copyright status of this work? Was it ever copyrighted? Given how long the authors have been dead, has it since entered the public domain? 108.202.199.60 (talk) 19:12, 30 March 2013 (UTC)
 * And just in case someone also would ask this: You do not "copyright" a song - the copyright is automatically assigned to the creator(s), without her or him or them doing anything. And yes, in all legislatures that respect copyright treaties (not all do), this has been in public domain since Jan.1st 200, i.e. since the year starting 70 years after the last death of one of the creators. --User:Haraldmmueller 15:18, 17 October 2017 (UTC)

Usage in films
Can this composition be used in a films outside US? Will it cause copyright violations? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2409:4060:15:6408:946C:5295:DF6A:5C14 (talk) 08:26, 12 October 2020 (UTC)

Popular Culture section?
The last paragraph is a bit lengthy without much structure. It seems like it might be better to make a bulleted list of the various films etc. in which this song can be heard. I am not sure how to do this within Wikipedia's standards, so I will leave it to someone else. 108.202.199.60 (talk) 19:15, 30 March 2013 (UTC)


 * I agree, I will do it now --rjcuk (talk) 23:00, 29 December 2013 (UTC)


 * It is done. --rjcuk (talk) 01:12, 30 December 2013 (UTC)

It's missing to mention the appearence in the movie Easy Virtue (2008). Colin Firth and Jessica Biel - Easy Virtue - Tango Scene - Por una cabeza https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMUV8gfBHM8 — Preceding unsigned comment added by 200.2.121.77 (talk • contribs)
 * Per WP:IPCV, you'd need to provide a source that's discussed the appearance in the film. Cheers. DonIago (talk) 03:35, 14 January 2023 (UTC)

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 * Carlos Gardel, Argentine tango singer, portrait.jpg

A Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for deletion
The following Wikimedia Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for deletion: Participate in the deletion discussion at the nomination page. —Community Tech bot (talk) 05:54, 1 May 2023 (UTC)
 * Por una cabeza carlos gardel.ogg

Losing, not winning?
The article suggests that the phrase "por una cabeza" refers to a horse winning "by a head" - but isn't it about losing by that amount? I think the sense is "I nearly made it, but lost by just a head". Similar to the phrase "pipped at the post". Which makes so much more sense given the lyrics of the song. 60.240.221.224 (talk) 01:26, 14 February 2024 (UTC)


 * The article is saying that the name of the song is a reference that phrase, not that the song itself is about the gambler winning. But, it wouldn't hurt to clarify that. DonIago (talk) 04:28, 14 February 2024 (UTC)
 * I think this has a much stronger cultural reference. Buenos Aires of the 1930s had a strong horse racing culture. Like many similar cities during the depression years those less well off souls spent many of their out of work hours at the racetrack. As with all gambling, the majority didn't do so well. Many conversations would have been along the lines of "How did you go?" a shake of the head and "por una cabeza" - a term describing the plight of so many - nearly, but not there. So the term is used in the song precisely because it's not about winning but about a yearning for success which is so often thwarted, strive as you might. And because racing related idiom was so embedded in the culture. 60.240.221.224 (talk) 09:42, 14 February 2024 (UTC)
 * I'm not opposed to the article being rewritten to clarify that, as long as it's supported by sources. DonIago (talk) 14:59, 14 February 2024 (UTC)

"Por una cabeza" (literally, "by a head") is the Spanish equivalence of "by a nose" in English. It can mean either win or lose. But verses 3 & 4 say that the horse slacks just before the finish line, so it's losing by a head in this case. Eni2dad (talk) 19:10, 28 February 2024 (UTC)