Un Veneno Lyrics in English by C. Tangana, Niño de Elche
Toreando is the present participle of the verb torear, which literally means "to fight a bull". It's a word deeply rooted in Spanish culture, evoking the image of a matador skillfully confronting and dodging a bull in the ring.
In "Un Veneno", C. Tangana uses this verb in a powerful metaphor: "Toreando recuerdos que arden" (Fighting off/dodging memories that burn). He's not in a bullring; he's describing the act of skillfully evading his own painful memories, treating them like a dangerous, fiery beast. This creative and culturally rich use of language is what makes the word so enticing to learn.
Have you ever wanted something so badly it felt like a poison? That's the whole idea behind this song. C. Tangana tells us his "ambición desmedida / Por las mujeres, la pasta y los focos" (excessive ambition / for women, money, and the spotlight) is slowly killing him. He even jokes that the press asks him how he gets all of Spain to listen "Sin cantar ni afinar" (without singing or being in tune). But this ambition isn't just for fame's sake. He says it's a "veneno que llevo dentro" (a poison I carry inside) that will kill him, and he repeats over and over again who it's for: "Lo hice por ti" (I did it for you).
He claims he used to be a bohemian, but the desire for someone's love changed him. Now he wants to "triunfar y ganar / Y salir en la tele y la radio" (succeed and win / and be on TV and the radio), all to get this one person to look at him. He remembers being a hungry kid that nobody paid attention to, and now he's famous, but he's just partying all the time, trying to escape the memories of the person he did it all for. It's a classic story of chasing success for love, only to find that the success itself is a trap.
