"Alizée en Concert" - Translation Project 2020

[joebanana]

We are working on the best possible translation "Alizée en Concert" and we started with song Gourmandise.
Any suggestion, help, opinion ... is welcome.


When you think of me,
You, the wolf of the Steppes,
Down deep inside of you
Do you feel ecstasy?
"I'm yearning so much for you"
You say it without cease,
"And take care of me"
Tell me if that hurts.
Oh wolf, are you there for me?
You made the promise,
And if I offer myself to you,
It's as thousands of tender kisses.

There are the kisses
The first
Taste like sea spray
Taste like melancholy,
There are the kisses stolen
In the trains of Tsarinas.
The kisses of a summer
Where the hand is led forward
But the kisses of Alizée
Are the true delicacies

When I think of you,
You, the wolf of the Steppes
I am not afraid of you,
Does that worry you?
"Take that path there,"
You say it without cease
"Oh! Bed down near to me
And devour me with your eyes, my princess!"

For the kisses
The first
Taste like sea spray
Taste like melancholy
For the kisses stolen
In the trains of Tsarinas.
The kisses of a summer
Where the hand is led forward
But the kisses of Alizée
Are the true delicacies.

Oh wolf, are you there...
Oh wolf, are you there...
Oh wolf, are you there...
Oh wolf, are you there...
Oh wolf, are you there...
Oh wolf, are you there...
Oh wolf, are you there...

There are the kisses
The first
Taste like sea spray
Taste like melancholy,
There are the kisses stolen
In the trains of Tsarinas.
The kisses of a summer
Where the hand is led forward
But the kisses of Alizée
Are the true delicacies

There are the kisses
The first
Taste like sea spray
Taste like melancholy,
There are the kisses stolen
In the trains of Tsarinas.
The kisses of a summer
Where the hand is led forward
But the kisses of Alizée
Are the true delicacies

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MshULZzbpc0

[Bamagirl]

We are working on the best possible translation "Alizée en Concert" and we started with song Gourmandise.
Any suggestion, help, opinion ... is welcome.


I met with my translator today, and he had some pretty interesting things to say about the lyrics.
Below, I will type out the translation that he wrote. He explained that the word "spleen" in this translates to "sorrow" or "melancholy." He said it is similar to the way in English we will say something like "I feel it in my gut" but we aren't literally referring to our "guts."
He said the term was created by a poet named Charles Baudelaire, and he said he can tell there is influence by that poet throughout the lyrics. There is also a Russian theme. Not only the part with the tsarinas (the meaning of which he said is a bit obscure, even in the French) but also the part about the wolf of the Steppes. That, he said, refers to Russian vegetation.

He isn't sure about the whole "train" thing--he is going to actually listen to the song itself (I just gave him the typed out lyrics) and let me know if he thinks it means something else. But so far he thinks it means a literal train, as opposed to part of a dress. He said he can't see any idioms that it would refer to (like with "spleen"). He said he wasn't sure if "Tsarinas" was supposed to be plural or possessive (as in "Tsarina's").

The part about the "sea spray" translates more into "essence." There is not a term for this in English, but it is talking about how the person's essence is like a spray that comes outward from them. It has nothing to do with the actual sea. That is just the literal translation for something we don't have a word for in English

"Taste" is more just the meaning of "experience" rather than tasting as a flavor on your tongue.

He said he does not find that there is an overtly graphic sexual message--it is more one of want and love and need. The "wolf" represents a strong person who needs Alizée and who she needs and wants to protect her and take care of her.

All in all, it seems like I’m some places these lyrics are like what happens with a lot of poetry and song lyrics in English, too— parts are kind of hard to decipher. But I think he did a decent job with his translation.


Greediness

When you think about me
You the wolf of the Steppes
Deep inside of you
Do you feel intoxicated?
I am starving for you
You say it without end
And take care of me
Tell me if that hurts
Oh wolf, are you there for me?
You make the promise
And, if I offer myself to you
It is in thousands of tender kisses.

There are the kisses
The first taste of your essence
Taste of sorrow
There are stolen kisses
In the train of the Tsarinas
A summer of kisses
Where the hand travels
But Alizee's kisses
Are really delighful

[Silencio]

but also the part about the wolf of the Steppes. That, he said, refers to Russian vegetation.
It is reference to the novel "Steppenwolf" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steppenwolf_(novel)) ("The wolf of the Steppes") by Herman Hesse.

You can read more about this song here:
http://alizeeamerica.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1563

[Mr Coucou]

It is reference to the novel "Steppenwolf" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steppenwolf_(novel)) ("The wolf of the Steppes") by Herman Hesse.

You can read more about this song here:
http://alizeeamerica.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1563

:thumb:

We should create an "index" of all the older analysis of Gour and MCE.

[Bamagirl]

It is reference to the novel "Steppenwolf" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steppenwolf_(novel)) ("The wolf of the Steppes") by Herman Hesse.

You can read more about this song here:
http://alizeeamerica.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1563

Oh, that is very cool! Thank you.

[joebanana]

Great help from your friend Bamagirl, lots of material to think about.

[Scruffydog777]

Quite a few years back, I hooked up with a young lady to do some translations for me such as the ones for Dals and Saga and a few interviews. She grew up in Paris and was a couple of years younger than Alizee, then moved to this country and got married.

I also had her do translations for the songs Alcaline and K.O. which I added to the two videos I made. There were two lines that I couldn't quite figure out a good translation for and I asked her a few times about it and she told me sometimes the singers make a compromise of writing lyrics that may not make a lot of sense, for something that sounds good.

[Mr Coucou]

There were two lines that I couldn't quite figure out a good translation for and I asked her a few times about it and she told me sometimes the singers make a compromise of writing lyrics that may not make a lot of sense, for something that sounds good.

That's a good point. From making up their own idioms, to abstract gibberish.

Speaking of abstract gibberish:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4PZadLP9QM

[joebanana]

When you think about me
You the wolf of the Steppes
Deep inside of you

or


When you think of me
You the wolf of the Steppes
Deep inside of you

What is better option for start?

[Scruffydog777]

That's a good point. From making up their own idioms, to abstract gibberish.

Speaking of abstract gibberish:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4PZadLP9QM

Interesting song.....go cart Mozart!

I should have said when I mentioned that some artists will put in lines for rhyme than for reason, that I didn't think this was the case with Gourmandises.

Edit:

When you think about me
You the wolf of the Steppes
Deep inside of you

or


When you think of me
You the wolf of the Steppes
Deep inside of you

What is better option for start?

I first want to mention when you bring something up like this in the forum, you may have 10 different people offer opinions and all of them might be different, which makes it tough. In the end, it's your project and you have to figure out what best fits what you are trying to do.

For me, when adding subs, I try my best with the subs I add to match the syllable count of the song as long as I don't compromise meaning.

So for that first line it's

Quand tu penses a moi, which looks to be six syllables but to me in the song, only sounds like five so because of that, I'd go with "When you think of me"

[Mr Coucou]

When you think about me

or

When you think of me


"Think of me" and "Think about me" have the same meaning.

I like "Think of me", because it has the fewest syllables. It sounds more "direct."

[Aragorn97]

Given that...
"Think of me" and "Think about me" have the same meaning.


..., I prefer "think of me". If you sing the lyrics in English, "of" fits better than "about".

[joebanana]

I think it's best to go with what most people think is right.

When you think of me
You the wolf of the Steppes
Deep inside of you
--------------------------------------------Done

I have some suggestions to continue:

1)
Feel the intoxication
I yearn so much for you
Is what you say without end

2)
Do you feel intoxicated?
I am starving for you
You say it without end

3)
Do you feel ecstasy?
"I'm yearning so much for you"
You say it without cease

4)
your solution

[Scruffydog777]

I think it's best to go with what most people think is right.

When you think of me
You the wolf of the Steppes
Deep inside of you
--------------------------------------------Done

I have some suggestions to continue:

1)
Feel the intoxication
I yearn so much for you
Is what you say without end

2)
Do you feel intoxicated?
I am starving for you
You say it without end

3)
Do you feel ecstasy?
"I'm yearning so much for you"
You say it without cease

4)
your solution

Maybe ecstasy is closer in sound to what is being said, but I think I would go with #1. The reason being is I think the way Alizee would pronounce the end of intoxication would be fairly similar to the way she pronounced the end of 'passion' in ACC and that's a beautiful sound. It's kind of an off the wall reason, but still one that makes me want to choose it over ecstasy.

https://youtu.be/H3Ioxh3OTSU

In fact there are a few lines in that verse that end in ion...…….


https://youtu.be/H3Ioxh3OTSU?t=144

[joebanana]

Do i miss anything related to her 2003/04 concert? this is what i have.


https://drive.google.com/file/d/1giChnI8lx6k3yg0IWTbfanP8AQsQ8obX/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zNlHlYa7upbGrbyqE6RGg8CdfdiDMhDn/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nXJ6hTmz1TFyZm2C5Q_u7mGUWU0JsKYU/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-s4oA3P2uy40xVcZ8HWts_aySISddNfO/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18_0jB6ItR0v639WrAeZkgj4C0p5rP0s3/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YtYhE0Dg3Xx6f6gEojOikxdPG29TE3zm/view?usp=sharing


There are also some videos from the audience


https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ciGcSQpqSQk__ZVqpSzs7yK9ws-6Uekl/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LkX53jZ-9MMNRjO7bk6e-AeC_OpuTaBA/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y4HZ594-hdVtcxwuIMyXqqEOhtPBSFfz/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/147gG6uiomaOqioFXuknf9dCgL2j5_iET/view?usp=sharing


I also know about audio recordings

http://www.mylenelive.com/menu.html

[Bamagirl]

For me, when adding subs, I try my best with the subs I add to match the syllable count of the song as long as I don't compromise meaning.

Scruffydog, you have hit on the universal problem encountered when translating poetry. There can be an exceedingly accurate translation as far as meaning goes, but then there is the issue of making the verse sound good and be "poetic." That is in a whole other realm of creativity, and it certainly requires a lot more thought and effort than a straightforward translation. A purely literal translation is usually not ideal because, as we are seeing, there are so many words and phrases that are used to express something other than their actual definitions. But to work to get the spirit of the verse, as well as make it melodic, is definitely a complicated project!

[joebanana]

When i mix all the suggestions we get this



https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tbw7fq4_Pvg4AIuoj7mXAS4Lqj_m676e/view?usp=sharing

[joebanana]

A-Contre-Courant

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FyEt1qUtDWzSvM9ajiN-pAtuHLeXnwgD/view?usp=sharing

[Scruffydog777]

When i mix all the suggestions we get this



https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tbw7fq4_Pvg4AIuoj7mXAS4Lqj_m676e/view?usp=sharing

That's pretty good joebanana, but there is one simple thing I think needs correction. That is the parts where she's singing "to, to, to".

You're providing an English translation and that word is mostly used as a preposition that doesn't seem to fit the song.

Now there's a small possibility that what she is saying is "tu,tu,tu", which would mean you,you,you which would fit I think in most cases what is being said in the song.

But I think this is just meant to be a pleasant sounding filler for the song, much in the way when she sings "ba da da da da bum" in J'en ai marre and for that reason, I'd just drop adding the translations to that section.

[joebanana]

I was thinking about it.
The reason why I added it ,is that it somehow connects subtitles and singing,
but I'm not too happy with that either.
I’ll probably delete that

[joebanana]

A-Contre-Courant

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FyEt1qUtDWzSvM9ajiN-pAtuHLeXnwgD/view?usp=sharing



These are the original subtitles from the video I used

Our universe
Against the current
All upside down...
Not for long!
When you are on Earth
Keep me informed
So I imagine...
Our fusions.
We desire each other
Under high tension
But no power…
sockets, I win...
...your smiles
And my electrons
A ball of life
Ball of balloons
Nothing ordinary
Nothing but good times
Head is upside-down...
Not for long.
When you are on Earth
Keep me informed
So I guess...
The intentions.
We electrify each other
Maximal tension
The body currents...
Of two lovers
We illuminate each other
Instinctive light
The school of the...
...electromagnet.

Rediscover the meaning
Of life, I think
Go through the boredom
When you, you are gone
Rediscover the directions
Moments that are insolent
Processions of fingers,
Of my desire for you.
When the current passes, also the threat
Of the time that flies, the time which separates us
And the current passes, I have in me the audacity
Of the magnetic field, and that is great!

Our universe
Against the current
Return to Earth
And for good
When you long for me
Keep me informed
So I envision...
A rebellion
We remain static
When I say no to him
No more than six...
Speeches
He makes me panic
Of electrocution
My insulator
It's passion


And this is one interesting solution for possible improvement


Our universes
Against the current
All upside down...
But not for long!
When you’re grounded.....................(When you are on Earth)
Plug me to the current...................(Keep me informed)
And I will imagine...
Our fusions
We desire each other
Under high voltage
No plugs or sockets Of nerves.
I concilidate your laughs
And my electrons
A dance of life
A dance of balloons
Nothing ordinary
Nothing but good times
Head is upside-down...
Not for too long.
When you’re grounded
Plug me to the current
And I will foretell...
Your intentions.
We electrify each other........................(We charge up)
Maximal tension
The body currents..............................(Body circuits)
Of two lovers
We illuminate each other.......................(We brighten up)
Instinctive light..............................(Wild light)
The school of ...
Electromagnet.

To find the direction......................................... ....(Rediscover the meaning)
Of life, is what I think..........................................(Of life, I think)
(The courrent) Passes through the boredom..............(Go through the boredom)
When you are gone
To find the way
Moments that are insolent
Of the march of fingers,
Of my desire for you.
When the current passes,
also the threat
Of the time that flies,
the time which separates us
And the current passes,
I have in me the audacity
Of the magnetic field,
and that is great!

Our universes
Against the current
Come grounded again
And for good
When you wait for me
Plug me to the current
And I plan...
A rebellion
Static is made
When I tell him no,
No more than six..
announcements
It panics me
With electrocution
My insulator
It's passion

What do you think?

[Scruffydog777]

Here is what I suggest for ACC and it's far from perfect so I invite others to add some input......

Here are my thoughts on this song. I added changes to the right of what I think needed change.

Our universe
Against the current
All upside down...
Not for long!........................But not for long
When you are on Earth........When you're on Earth
Keep me informed...............Keep me current
So I imageine.................... ...So I can imagine
Our fusions.
We desire each other
Under high tension
================================================== ==============
In the next three lines I think most of us know, they broke up the word concilie (to reconcile)
They had the con as the last word of "De nerfs, je con"
and they had cilie as the first word of the line ,"cilie tes rires".
The word prises, when used with the word "electrique" following it means
electrical outlets which would seem to fit the theme of the song. It would also have somewhat of a Freudian meaning to it which is right up Mylene's alley.
So though I think
outlets was a hidden meaning, I think the other meaning works here.
For the three lines, I'd put
"No catches
of nerves, I recon................cile, the laughter"
That combines the last two lines which I think would better show in the English
subtitles, what is going on.
It uses c twice in reconcile (recconcile), but I think that will work out okay
================================================== =====================
And my electrons
A dance of life
A dance of balloons


Nothing ordinary
Nothing but good times
Head is upside-down...........Head's upside down
Not for long..........................but not for long
When you are on Earth..........When you're on Earth
Keep me informed.................keep me current.
So I guess................................so I can guess
The intentions........................your intentions
We electrify each other...........We elect
Maximal tension.......................maximum tension
The body currents.....................the body circuits
Of two lovers
We illuminate each other...........We light up
Instinctive light...........................an animal light (I'm tempted to put "an animalistic light" here which I think would fit the story well but I think it is too long)
The school of the...
...electromagnet.......................... The school of...........electromagnatism
================================================== =============================

Going through these last lines, you really have to figure out what the entire verse is trying
to say and in doing that, I came up with these changes.
Rediscover the meaning
Of life, I think
Go through the boredom......................................Going through boredome
When you, you are gone........................................when you had left
Rediscover the directions.......................................R egaining the senses (from???)
Moments that are insolent
Processions of fingers........................................... ..fingerprints (thus evidence)
Of my desire for you.
When the current passes, also the threat................. menace should be used in place of threat
Of the time that flies, the time which separates us
And the current passes, I have in me the audacity
Of the magnetic field, and that is great! Here I'm tempted to use magnifique. I think most people would know the meaning of it.

[joebanana]

I'm not saying this is correct but Google says it is plural. "Our universes"

Nos univers-Our universes
Notre univers-Our univers

[Scruffydog777]

I'm not saying this is correct but Google says it is plural. "Our universes"

Nos univers-Our universes
Notre univers-Our univers

Well I think that's a relatively minor point. Either way would work, but it seems to me when she's singing it, it sounds like "universe".

https://youtu.be/wrBGegJTJlE?t=20

https://youtu.be/OBMVFSit4gE?t=17

[joebanana]

like I said, it's just Google,but I noticed that a lot of people translate it as "Our universes"
I found some analysis of the song A contre-courant,maybe it can help with the translation.

http://alizeeamerica.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1678

[Scruffydog777]

like I said, it's just Google,but I noticed that a lot of people translate it as "Our universes"
I found some analysis of the song A contre-courant,maybe it can help with the translation.

http://alizeeamerica.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1678

Here's a picture of some of those analysis along with some notes......

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yahnZvRPlStkhyU8KJQW0eEpPjRgcrf_/view?usp=sharing

The translation is a help, but it's a translation to fully explain the song. It's intent is not to find an English translation of the lyrics that will sound good in place of the French lyrics. To do that, compromises need to be made.
Another thing you have to realize is if 3 different people try to explain this, they'll probably will have 3 different interpretations and in some cases very different interpretations. I'm sure RMJ of Alizee Art has interpretations of all these songs and though I'm sure he put a lot of time and effort into them. he is originally from Finland.
I still like my version. Just taking a quick look of the interpretation you posted a link to, here are some notes.

1: Again I prefer "So I can imagine".

2: "............Under high voltage". In this country, high tension lines are the usually the large power lines that are high up on a tower, running in between cities that carry thousands of volts of electricity. Under high tension, I think sounds better than under high voltage and it's what she is saying in the song.

3: "But no takes..... of nerfs.....". Nerfs is not an English word that applies here imo.

4 : It's my experience that I have not heard the word maximal used in this way very often. It is the correct use, but I think maximum is used more often and I think it's easier to understand.

That's as far as I went with this. I still like my version. With coming up with the English lyrics, sometimes you have to sacrifice 'some' meaning for sound and sometimes you have to sacrifice "some' sound for meaning.

[Scruffydog777]

I think the

Mais pas de prises...
De nerfs, je con...
...cilie tes rires

needs something better.

[joebanana]

Here is what I suggest for ACC and it's far from perfect so I invite others to add some input......

Here are my thoughts on this song. I added changes to the right of what I think needed change.

Our universe
Against the current
All upside down...
Not for long!........................But not for long
When you are on Earth........When you're on Earth
Keep me informed...............Keep me current
So I imageine.................... ...So I can imagine
Our fusions.
We desire each other
Under high tension
================================================== ==============
In the next three lines I think most of us know, they broke up the word concilie (to reconcile)
They had the con as the last word of "De nerfs, je con"
and they had cilie as the first word of the line ,"cilie tes rires".
The word prises, when used with the word "electrique" following it means
electrical outlets which would seem to fit the theme of the song. It would also have somewhat of a Freudian meaning to it which is right up Mylene's alley.
So though I think
outlets was a hidden meaning, I think the other meaning works here.
For the three lines, I'd put
"No catches
of nerves, I recon................cile, the laughter"
That combines the last two lines which I think would better show in the English
subtitles, what is going on.
It uses c twice in reconcile (recconcile), but I think that will work out okay
================================================== =====================
And my electrons
A dance of life
A dance of balloons


Nothing ordinary
Nothing but good times
Head is upside-down...........Head's upside down
Not for long..........................but not for long
When you are on Earth..........When you're on Earth
Keep me informed.................keep me current.
So I guess................................so I can guess
The intentions........................your intentions
We electrify each other...........We elect
Maximal tension.......................maximum tension
The body currents.....................the body circuits
Of two lovers
We illuminate each other...........We light up
Instinctive light...........................an animal light (I'm tempted to put "an animalistic light" here which I think would fit the story well but I think it is too long)
The school of the...
...electromagnet.......................... The school of...........electromagnatism
================================================== =============================

Going through these last lines, you really have to figure out what the entire verse is trying
to say and in doing that, I came up with these changes.
Rediscover the meaning
Of life, I think
Go through the boredom......................................Going through boredome
When you, you are gone........................................when you had left
Rediscover the directions.......................................R egaining the senses (from???)
Moments that are insolent
Processions of fingers........................................... ..fingerprints (thus evidence)
Of my desire for you.
When the current passes, also the threat................. menace should be used in place of threat
Of the time that flies, the time which separates us
And the current passes, I have in me the audacity
Of the magnetic field, and that is great! Here I'm tempted to use magnifique. I think most people would know the meaning of it.

what do you think about this one?

Our universe
Against the current
Return to Earth
And for good
When you long for me
Keep me informed
So I envision...
A rebellion
We remain static
When I say no to him
No more than six...
Speeches
He makes me panic
Of electrocution
My insulator
It's passion

[Scruffydog777]

I wish others would chip in and add their opinions because I'm no expert on this subject.

In my opinion,
"Return to earth
and for good", in the words of Curly, you are moidering the king's English!

https://youtu.be/9SFQf_mc68M?t=42

That doesn't sound good in a sentence and it doesn't sound good in a song.

I think it should be,
"Return to Earth,
this time for good."

As far as the line,
"Mets-moi au courant",
this line was used in the first verse in the song.
I'm not sure how familiar you are with the English language,
but imo, you can not come up with a better translation of this
line than "Keep me current".

From a Google search;
English → English - keep current
remain updated, be aware of current events

From Google translate, the French courant, means the English current.

Current sounds very much like courant, which is perfect for what you want with a translation of a song.

"Keep me current" is what it should be.

As far as the line "Pas plus de six...Allocutions"
I think this is a line that maybe had a double entendre.
We have to figure out what MF was trying to say.
Maybe one of the interpretations out there might give us an idea of what is meant, but for now, I guess we can leave it as is.

In those last 4 lines, the interpretation I've seen before that seems to fit the song very well is,
In my panic
of electrocution
my insulation
is passion or is the passion probably sounds better.

insulator sounds terrible

The end of insulation rhymes with the end of passion which works well here.

I hope this was a help to you.

[joebanana]

Alizée en Concert- L'Alize with English subtitles


https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_Myk1g_Y8uGZfR0GlpVC6hG5sgpUwRzN/view?usp=sharing

[joebanana]

Alizee Moi Lolita official video with English subtitles

I made a Croatian version of this video and would like to put it on YouTube, but I think the English version would be better for Alizee's popularity.
So I made an English version that probably needs a little bit more refinement by a person who speaks more natural English.
The first major problem you'll notice is probably the part where the angry mom yells at Alizee.
"Did cat eat your tongue" It's a phrase in my language "why are you silent" or "say something" and is a great connecting detail for later text (When I throw my tongue at cats)
But I never heard that expression in English so maybe it should be replaced, I don't know ...
Another possible problem is with "It's Not My fault"

It's not my fault
And when i give up
I see others
All ready to jump on me
It's not fault of...Me--------(when you watch the video it goes well with "Me" in the end...)

Here is the video

https://drive.google.com/file/d/13Be6Gt0x4FcmH7RWoJPcjSqpQvJcLNYI/view?usp=sharing

[24Shepherd24]

Alizee Moi Lolita official video with English subtitles

I made a Croatian version of this video and would like to put it on YouTube, but I think the English version would be better for Alizee's popularity.
So I made an English version that probably needs a little bit more refinement by a person who speaks more natural English.
The first major problem you'll notice is probably the part where the angry mom yells at Alizee.
"Did cat eat your tongue" It's a phrase in my language "why are you silent" or "say something" and is a great connecting detail for later text (When I throw my tongue at cats)
But I never heard that expression in English so maybe it should be replaced, I don't know ...
Another possible problem is with "It's Not My fault"

It's not my fault
And when i give up
I see others
All ready to jump on me
It's not fault of...Me--------(when you watch the video it goes well with "Me" in the end...)

Here is the video

https://drive.google.com/file/d/13Be6Gt0x4FcmH7RWoJPcjSqpQvJcLNYI/view?usp=sharing



I've seen this video a million times, but this is the first with an English translation. Now, I think I'll watch it for another million. Thanks Joebanana.

[joebanana]

I've seen this video a million times, but this is the first with an English translation. Now, I think I'll watch it for another million. Thanks Joebanana.

Without some constructive help, this is the best I can do.

[Scruffydog777]

Without some constructive help, this is the best I can do.

I think there is room for a lot of improvement and I and I'm sure others would gladly help you.

[Mr Coucou]

Alizee Moi Lolita official video with English subtitles

I made a Croatian version of this video and would like to put it on YouTube, but I think the English version would be better for Alizee's popularity.
So I made an English version that probably needs a little bit more refinement by a person who speaks more natural English.
The first major problem you'll notice is probably the part where the angry mom yells at Alizee.
"Did cat eat your tongue" It's a phrase in my language "why are you silent" or "say something" and is a great connecting detail for later text (When I throw my tongue at cats)

Yes--- "cat got your tongue" has a similar meaning in English.

For the captions, the mother could say to Alizee:
"Has the cat got your tongue?"


I've often wondered about that lyric:
Et quand je donne ma langue aux chats

If there was a song with an English lyric "When I give my tongue to the cat", then I might interpret that to mean "When I choose to be silent."

?

Edit:

Forget what I said about choosing to be silent...

This explains it:

"On the other hand, to give your tongue to the cat symbolizes failure. If you give your tongue to the cat you give the animal a lot of power, increasing the notion that the cat has more knowledge and wisdom than you."

To Give One’s Tongue to the Cat or a Month of French Idioms from A to Z

https://evelyneholingue.com/2015/04/04/to-give-ones-tongue-to-the-cat-or-a-month-of-french-idioms-from-a-to-z/

[joebanana]

These are the subtitles I used and this makes it easier to fix


They call me Lo-lita
Lo or just Lola
That's the same

They call me Lo-lita
When I dream of wolves
It's Lola who bleeds
When I make a slip of the tongue
So much for laughing like crazy
I almost look like a phenomenon

They call me Lo-lita
Lo of life, Lo of Abundant love-----------(this part can always be made better)

It's not my fault
And when i give up
I see others
All ready to jump on me
It's not fault of...Me----------------( what is better, this way or "It's not my fault")
If I hear all around me
LOLITA
Me...Lolita!

They call me Lo-lita
Hot tempered and not
I'm half-cotton, half-wool
Quiet and with a mouth that doesn't speak
Mum that I'm a phenomenon------------------------(maybe "to mum")

They call me Lo-lita
Lo of life, Lo of Abundant love
--------------------------------------------------------
Yellow subtitles

(I hope because of the ugly words that you all realize that this is just acting)

Wait!
Wait... Wait!
Wait!
Wait!
I'd like to know...
I'd like to know...Do...
Do you love me?
I love you...And...
Do you have 200 francs?-----------------(That sounds too formal to me, maybe the same question in another more relaxed way)
Yes!
Thanks!
I'll give it back to you.
No, it's okay...Keep it...

Ah...I got tired a lot --------------(Ah...I'm tired a little.)

[Scruffydog777]

Maybe now that we have some more people posting, others will add their input because I've said before, my French is very, very limited.

Here is what I'd say for Alizee's lines in the song. As far as what the woman says who is yelling at her, I'm not even going to touch those lines.

Me I'm called Lolita
Lo or well Lola
It's all the same to me
Me I'm called Lolita
When I dream of wolves
It's Lola who bleeds
When I have a slip of the tongue, I have
a laugh that's crazy for one whose a phenom
I am called Lolita
Lo of life, Lo of a diluvial love
(As you mentioned, this part can be made better. Abundance isn't bad, but diluvial means a flood, in this case a flood of love, so I think it might be best to stick with diluvial, though it's a word I seldom hear)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It's not my fault
And when i give my tongue to the cats
(We've had a lot of discussion on this line before. I'm sure it has a double entendre that MF is noted for. I've heard there is a French saying that this line represents, but I also think it means something else which is pretty close to how I spelled it out and I can't say anything more in public. So maybe we're better off looking for the other meaning of it)
I see the others
All ready to jump on me
It's not my fault
If I hear all around me
L.O.L.I.T.A. (You had just put Lolita, but she does spell it out though the pronunciation of some of the letters might vary a little bit from the real thing)
My Lolita ( This I'm sure is the wolves talking to her)
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Me I'm called Lolita
Student below, stockings of methylene blue (I had always thought of it as jeans of methylene blue but maybe stockings of that color are something a lolita is more likely to wear)
Me I'm called Lolita
Hot tempered and not
Half-cotton, half-wool
Quiet and with a mouth that doesn't tell,
mum that I'm a phenomenon (Here the comma after tell and the small m at the start of mum are needed to show it's a continuation of the first line)
They call me Lolita
Lo of life, Lo of a diluvial love

[joebanana]

Maybe now that we have some more people posting, others will add their input because I've said before, my French is very, very limited.

Here is what I'd say for Alizee's lines in the song. As far as what the woman says who is yelling at her, I'm not even going to touch those lines.

Me I'm called Lolita
Lo or well Lola
It's all the same to me
Me I'm called Lolita
When I dream of wolves
It's Lola who bleeds
When I have a slip of the tongue, I have
a laugh that's crazy for one whose a phenom
I am called Lolita
Lo of life, Lo of a diluvial love
(As you mentioned, this part can be made better. Abundance isn't bad, but diluvial means a flood, in this case a flood of love, so I think it might be best to stick with diluvial, though it's a word I seldom hear)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It's not my fault
And when i give my tongue to the cats
(We've had a lot of discussion on this line before. I'm sure it has a double entendre that MF is noted for. I've heard there is a French saying that this line represents, but I also think it means something else which is pretty close to how I spelled it out and I can't say anything more in public. So maybe we're better off looking for the other meaning of it)
I see the others
All ready to jump on me
It's not my fault
If I hear all around me
L.O.L.I.T.A. (You had just put Lolita, but she does spell it out though the pronunciation of some of the letters might vary a little bit from the real thing)
My Lolita ( This I'm sure is the wolves talking to her)
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Me I'm called Lolita
Student below, stockings of methylene blue (I had always thought of it as jeans of methylene blue but maybe stockings of that color are something a lolita is more likely to wear)
Me I'm called Lolita
Hot tempered and not
Half-cotton, half-wool
Quiet and with a mouth that doesn't tell,
mum that I'm a phenomenon (Here the comma after tell and the small m at the start of mum are needed to show it's a continuation of the first line)
They call me Lolita
Lo of life, Lo of a diluvial love
I don't see any particular reason why we wouldn't translate angry Lolita's moms language.
It's Lolita, the character.It’s not real life Alizee,
otherwise I would be the first to defend her.

This is her most popular song and she is very proud of it, so we should pay a little more attention to translate it properly.
I will mark with numbers places where I see possible problems and explain below

Me I'm called Lolita
Lo or well Lola
It's all the same to me
Me I'm called Lolita
When I dream of wolves-----(1)
It's Lola who bleeds
When I have a slip of the tongue, I have
a laugh that's crazy for one whose a phenom
I am called Lolita
Lo of life, Lo of a diluvial love--------(2)

It's not my fault
And when i give my tongue to the cats-------(3)
I see the others
All ready to jump on me
It's not my fault
If I hear all around me
L.O.L.I.T.A--------------(4)
My Lolita---------------(5)

Me I'm called Lolita
Student below, stockings of methylene blue------(6)
Me I'm called Lolita
Hot tempered and not
Half-cotton, half-wool
Quiet and with a mouth that doesn't tell,
mum that I'm a phenomenon
They call me Lolita
Lo of life, Lo of a diluvial love
--------------------------------------------

-1
"When I dream of wolves"
(When I consider my mistakes)
like all of us, I did some research on the internet and found the possible true meaning of that line.
So if it fits, I would make a double line and add that explanation with a different subtitle color.

-2
"diluvial"
I don't know that word, but if it means flood of love it fits perfectly.

-3
"And when i give my tongue to the cats"
(And when i give up)
Similar to No. 1 We all know roughly what that line means, but if we go with a direct translation, someone who watching it for the first time won't find much sense in it.
so I would also do a double line there and add "(And when i give up)" with a different color, or some similar expression.

-4
L.O.L.I.T.A.
I didn't understand best what you meant to do here. The same way I did, but with a dot at the end of letters or something completely different?

-5
"My Lolita"
"My Lolita" or "Me Lolita"?
I like this, but I'm not really sure that it's the right way.
The name of the song is "Moi Lolita" and Lolita talks about herself in it, so it is "me Lolita" or "Me I'm Lolita"
I don't see why that change here, unless i miss something depending on the context in french that "moi" can be interpreted as "my".

-6
"Student below, stockings of methylene blue"
Because of that line I have brain damage.
What is right, a student below stockings of methylene blue or a student below tight blue jeans?
I searched the internet to find the answer to that question and found arguments for both ways of translating.
These are some of the answers to that:

"bleus de méthylène: literally “methylene blue.” This is a bit confusing; usually the term “bleu de méthylène” is used only to describe the chemical compound (thank you Wikipedia), but in this song the lyric is “bleus de méthylène” in the plural. “Bleus” is a slang term for blue jeans, and “les bleus méthylène” are a type of very tight blue jeans. I’ve even seen them being described as more like leggings. So Alizée is talking about her tight blue jeans, not her love of chemistry"

Of course there are different solutions:

"I think you are wrong about the jeans in the translation.
She says ” collegienne aux bas bleus de methylene”, which means literally “college girl with blue stockings” – see, college is different in France and you could translate it as schoolgirl too, but the word “bleus” was related directly to the stockings of the school uniform – les bas – which is naturally a plural."

After that, I thought about what to do next and decided to look at what school uniforms in France actually looked like when Moi Lolita was written, which would probably be late 90's.
Wikipedia says this:

France
Since 1968, uniforms have not been enforced in French schools, a few exceptions (such as Maison d'éducation de la Légion d'honneur, les Écoles TUNON, and Vatel). Xavier Darcos, a former teacher and Minister of Education from 2007 to 2009, is an advocate of the reintroduction of uniforms: "This is not outrageous. This removes the visible differences in social status or wealth. This is an additional factor of integration".[13]
Since March 2012, the students of the Boarding School of Excellence Sourdun wear a uniform with the insignia of their establishment.
Les lycées de la défense, formerly known as military schools, require their students to wear uniforms. At some universities, the academic dress is becoming popular.[citation needed]
In the French Antilles (Martinique and Guadeloupe), as well as French Guiana, a uniform has been required since September 2008.


So, there are no school uniforms in France in the late 90's, another dead end.
After that i tried to solve this problem with logic (live long and prosper :) ) and ask myself some questions.

Alizee almost always performed in costumes when collaborating with MF, have you ever seen her in blue stockings?
-No!
Did you see her perform Moi Lolita in tight blue jeans?
-Actually yes!
Coincidence???

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ix7SRQDXPjM

[Scruffydog777]

................Here is what I'd say for Alizee's lines in the song. As far as what the woman says who is yelling at her, I'm not even going to touch those lines.



I don't see any particular reason why we wouldn't translate angry Lolita's moms language.
It's Lolita, the character.It’s not real life Alizee,
otherwise I would be the first to defend her.....................]

Well I made a very important distinction in my post by saying "I'm".

Even though I'm rather low on the hierarchy here, I have a lot to say about what goes on here and talk to the higher ups on many occasions. With what was said in the ML video, even though it was just a role for her, it bothered me to see that language directed at her.

If I thought it was wrong for the forum, I would've said either "We" need to remove it or discussed it with the mods about whether we should remove it, in fact, I did bring it up with the mods, but because it looked to be what she actually said, I told them, we should "let it ride", but that doesn't mean I have to participate in something that bothers me.

Feel free to discuss it with others in here, but as far as me participating in that discussion, you can count me out..........K.O.!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGpl8Y_kiCE

[joebanana]

My intention was just to make decent subtitles for the video, but it looks like it's all going in the wrong direction, and I feel a bad vibe, so my will to continue working on that translation goes down. As far as I'm concerned, I'm done with that.

[Scruffydog777]

I don't see why you're saying it's "all' going in the wrong direction. You've done a lot of great work here with your translations for Alizee fans and I think you should continue that, but there's a very small part of something, I wanted no part of. I'm not sacrificing my values or is it views, not even for Alizee.

[Mr Coucou]

My intention was just to make decent subtitles for the video, but it looks like it's all going in the wrong direction, and I feel a bad vibe, so my will to continue working on that translation goes down. As far as I'm concerned, I'm done with that.

Joe, I don't think you've done anything wrong. Scruffy is being very prudish--- I think Scruffy is the only one here who is bothered by this thread.

Edit:


When I dream of wolves-----(1)
It's Lola who bleeds

[...]

-1
"When I dream of wolves"
(When I consider my mistakes)
like all of us, I did some research on the internet and found the possible true meaning of that line.
So if it fits, I would make a double line and add that explanation with a different subtitle color.


I have many questions.

Let me start with the "when I dream of wolves" lines:

When I dream of wolves
Its Lola who bleeds

You mentioned that you were reading discussions on the meanings of the lyrics. Do you have links for those discussions? I'm curious to read them.

I'm puzzled by your translation "When I consider my mistakes".

I thought "wolf" was a reference to the French story of a young girl losing her virginity. (I.e. "She met the wolf.") The "wolf" refers to a man (or boy) who takes away the girl's virginity.

So "When I dream of wolves" might be translated as:
"When I dream of losing my virginity."
"When I dream of my virginity being taken away."
"When I dream of sex."
"When I dream of men pursuing me."
"When I dream of men."
etc.

I'm really puzzled by the meaning of the second line, "Its Lola who bleeds." (But for now, let's focus on the "when I dream of wolves" line.)

[Scruffydog777]

I don't think I'm being prudish but that's subject to opinion. I just didn't want to be part of a conversation where certain words were being used to describe a character she portrayed, even if those words were very accurate.

As far as "When I dream of wolves, it's Lola who bleeds which I feel is a very accurate interpretation, I feel by wolves she is talking about older men and it doesn't have to be old, old men, just men who are older than someone who should be pursuing her.

and as far as it's Lola who bleeds, that is in reference to the fact that some females, when they have sex for the first time bleed.

There is a line after that, which because of an interpretation I saw I feel has more of a sexual meaning than most people think and fits MF's modus operandi that I won't discuss in here because it could be wrong, but I will discuss it in private.

[Mr Coucou]

As far as "When I dream of wolves, it's Lola who bleeds which I feel is a very accurate interpretation, I feel by wolves she is talking about older men and it doesn't have to be old, old men, just men who are older than someone who should be pursuing her.
.

Yes, that makes sense. I agree.

I think for "subtitle" purposes, "When I dream of wolves, it's Lola who bleeds" is good enough.

I'm still curious as to the exact meaning of this line. (See below.)

Edit:

and as far as it's Lola who bleeds, that is in reference to the fact that some females, when they have sex for the first time bleed.


That makes sense.

But in the case of "bleed", there are two other possible meanings:

(1) being harmed
(2) feeling sympathy on behalf of another person.

In the case of (1):

"Its Lola who bleeds" ==> "It's Lola who is harmed".

In the case of (2):

"It's Lola who bleeds" ==> "its Lola whose heart aches with sympathy."

(Also (2) can be sarcastic. Such as "my heart bleeds for you" which means "I have no sympathy for you.")

My question, is what is the purpose of the line "It's Lola who bleeds"?
In the wolf metaphor, it would be Lola (i.e. not the wolf) who bleeds--- so why does this need to be stated? Is it just for emphasis?

Edit:


There is a line after that, which because of an interpretation I saw I feel has more of a sexual meaning than most people think and fits MF's modus operandi that I won't discuss in here because it could be wrong, but I will discuss it in private.

Was this talked about previously on the forum? Do you have a link to the thread?

[Scruffydog777]

"My question, is what is the purpose of the line "It's Lola who bleeds"?"

Well I thought that was explained in my last post. When the wolves come around, it's Lola who bleeds. I'm sure that is in reference to the fact that when a wolf comes around, it's a lolita, a young lady who hasn't had sex before, bleeds.

In the song, of course the character could bleed only once, so it's in reference to other lolitas.

The line that I think is most questioned, most controversial is "Et quand je donne ma langue aux chats".

[joebanana]

I don't see why you're saying it's "all' going in the wrong direction. You've done a lot of great work here with your translations for Alizee fans and I think you should continue that, but there's a very small part of something, I wanted no part of. I'm not sacrificing my values or is it views, not even for Alizee.

You don't want to be a part of something is more than okay.
I respect that and I understand.
What i don't understand is why you feel attacked (which is not at all) If I'm trying to separate Alizee from a real life and Lolita character.I think we both do the same thing, protect Alizee, so can we stop this ridiculus argue.

[Aragorn97]

My question, is what is the purpose of the line "It's Lola who bleeds"?
In the wolf metaphor, it would be Lola (i.e. not the wolf) who bleeds--- so why does this need to be stated? Is it just for emphasis?


I think that is related to this part of Nabokov's novel:

She was Lo, plain Lo, in the morning, standing four feet ten in one sock. She was Lola in slacks. She was Dolly at school. She was Dolores on the dotted line. But in my arms she was always Lolita.

It is as though this girl has multiple personalities, in the sense that she was a kind of masked hero: she is a normal girl but, when she wears those clothes and starts to act in a certain way, she becomes Lolita, a completely different person. And whatever she does wearing this "mask", it's always Lolita to do it.
So when she dreams of wolves, she's Lolita, not the ordinary girl. That's why you can call her Lolita, Lo, Lola...

Does it make any sense?

[joebanana]

Joe, I don't think you've done anything wrong. Scruffy is being very prudish--- I think Scruffy is the only one here who is bothered by this thread.

Edit:



I have many questions.

Let me start with the "when I dream of wolves" lines:

When I dream of wolves
Its Lola who bleeds

You mentioned that you were reading discussions on the meanings of the lyrics. Do you have links for those discussions? I'm curious to read them.

I'm puzzled by your translation "When I consider my mistakes".

I thought "wolf" was a reference to the French story of a young girl losing her virginity. (I.e. "She met the wolf.") The "wolf" refers to a man (or boy) who takes away the girl's virginity.

So "When I dream of wolves" might be translated as:
"When I dream of losing my virginity."
"When I dream of my virginity being taken away."
"When I dream of sex."
"When I dream of men pursuing me."
"When I dream of men."
etc.

I'm really puzzled by the meaning of the second line, "Its Lola who bleeds." (But for now, let's focus on the "when I dream of wolves" line.)
I'ma also puzzled with "When I consider my mistakes", unfortunately i don't have a link that explains it. I've noticed that some people translate it on that way, so I brought it here to discuss. Here is one of the links.

https://www.frenchlyricstranslations.com/moi-lolita-alizee/

"When I dream of wolves"
"Its Lola who bleeds."
I think these two lines are closely related and have more than one meaning.

If you do some things-------------------------The consequences of that
(Or you make mistakes)---------------------(When you bleed, you pay the ultimate price)
"When I dream of wolves" ---------------------"Its Lola who bleeds."
For example:
If you play with a knife--------------------you will cut yourself and bleed
If you play with wolves--------------------they can bite you and you will bleed

It's all used as camouflage for the main thing, which is very obvious.
losing of virginity and bleeding as the consequences of that.
In the video that line did not cross anywhere to directly mention sexuality.
It is up to the listener to interpret how he wants.
so i don't think we should cross it either.
"When I dream of wolves" it works fine, but if we replace that line with "When I consider my mistakes" we lose background sexual context.
I think it should be
"When I dream of wolves" , or together only with different color

"When I dream of wolves"
("When I consider my mistakes")

Edit:

I think that is related to this part of Nabokov's novel:



It is as though this girl has multiple personalities, in the sense that she was a kind of masked hero: she is a normal girl but, when she wears those clothes and starts to act in a certain way, she becomes Lolita, a completely different person. And whatever she does wearing this "mask", it's always Lolita to do it.
So when she dreams of wolves, she's Lolita, not the ordinary girl. That's why you can call her Lolita, Lo, Lola...

Does it make any sense?

I'm curious, if you read that book, did you find anything related to methylene blue socks in Lolita outfit description?

[Aragorn97]

No, I have never read it. I know something about it because of Alizée: it intrigues me to know what is the origin of the song, so I made some research. But, honestly, I don't think it's a book I would read.

[Mr Coucou]

It is as though this girl has multiple personalities, in the sense that she was a kind of masked hero: she is a normal girl but, when she wears those clothes and starts to act in a certain way, she becomes Lolita, a completely different person. And whatever she does wearing this "mask", it's always Lolita to do it.
So when she dreams of wolves, she's Lolita, not the ordinary girl. That's why you can call her Lolita, Lo, Lola...

Does it make any sense?

Yes, that does make sense. That explains it very well; thanks!

[joebanana]

If anyone is interested

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov Summary

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7SrAMtT5lo

[Scruffydog777]

His life is an interesting story. From Wikipedia; "Nabokov was born on 22 April 1899 (10 April 1899 Old Style), in Saint Petersburg,[a] to a wealthy and prominent family of the Russian nobility that traced its roots to the 14th-century Tatar prince Nabok Murza, who entered into the service of the Tsars, and from whom the family name is derived.[8][9]:16[10] His father was the liberal lawyer, statesman, and journalist Vladimir Dmitrievich Nabokov (1870–1922) and his mother was the heiress Yelena Ivanovna née Rukavishnikova, the granddaughter of a millionaire gold-mine owner.....................After the October Revolution, the family was forced to flee the city for Crimea,"

So after fleeing one frying pan, he eventually wound up in another frying pan, Germany.

While in Berlin;'.............In March 1922, Nabokov's father was fatally shot in Berlin by the Russian monarchist Pyotr Shabelsky-Bork as he was trying to shield the real target, Pavel Milyukov, a leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party-in-exile. .....................In 1936, Véra lost her job because of the increasingly anti-Semitic environment; also in that year the assassin of Nabokov's father was appointed second-in-command of the Russian émigré group..................... In 1937, he left Germany for France........"

He was actually living in Oregon (USA) when he wrote Lolita, but apparently it was published in France. I'm guessing no publisher would touch it in this country at the time because of it's controversial nature.

He was an accomplished writer, a poet and a professor.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Nabokov

Wikipedia also gives a more detailed look at the book.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lolita

3029

[joebanana]

The book was published in France in 1955. So it was written before 1955.
I'm puzzled with this in the book:

"Humbert reports to his position at Beardsley College, and enrolls Lolita in high school"

Does anyone know anything about girls school uniforms from that time?
I'm looking for something about methylene blue socks. Something MF would be inspired by when writing her Lolita.

[RedRafe]

I'm looking for something about methylene blue socks. Something MF would be inspired by when writing her Lolita.

Okkkkk…

“Stockings of methylene blue”… :confused:

They used the dye “Methylene Blue” to actually dye “stockings”, back in the 18th century… ;)

Check out the historical references to “Bluestocking Circle”, and “The Bluestockings”...

Very basically, very early “activists”, for “female equality” and “female rights”… ;)

Hmm, were they implying or inferring to Lolita being a “feminist”, possibly, as in her “exhibiting female equality”, as in her right to express her “intellect”, and, “sensuality” as a woman, in a way that she saw fit, contrary to the “dictat” and “regard” of the rest of society, who would most likely “frown” upon her actions…

As in going to a Nightclub, “shaking her tail about”, (and, emmmm, the rest), and just generally “making an exhibition of herself”, as my “Granny” would have put it.. :)))

Case in point, the “assertions” and “reaction” of her mother, at the start of the video… ;)

You have to remember that MF (Little Miss “Liberated”, who just about “lets it all hang out”, at the “drop of a hat”) and LB (whom I can’t really help but associate the term “dysfunctional” with) are responsible for this “gem”…

Both of whom are “supremely” intelligent, sophisticated, talented, and, are “grandmasters” of the French “martial art” of the “double entendre”…

So, sometimes, as we are all aware, they are not, “saying what they mean”, or are “saying what they are saying”, or “we think they are saying”…

Or are they? :confused:

If you know what I mean… :))) ;)

No!? :D

[Scruffydog777]

Okkkkk…

“Stockings of methylene blue”… :confused:

They used the dye “Methylene Blue” to actually dye “stockings”, back in the 18th century… ;)

Check out the historical references to “Bluestocking Circle”, and “The Bluestockings”...

Very basically, very early “activists”, for “female equality” and “female rights”… ;)

Hmm, were they implying or inferring to Lolita being a “feminist”, possibly, as in her “exhibiting female equality”, as in her right to express her “intellect”, and, “sensuality” as a woman, in a way that she saw fit, contrary to the “dictat” and “regard” of the rest of society, who would most likely “frown” upon her actions…

As in going to a Nightclub, “shaking her tail about”, (and, emmmm, the rest), and just generally “making an exhibition of herself”, as my “Granny” would have put it.. :)))

Case in point, the “assertions” and “reaction” of her mother, at the start of the video… ;)

You have to remember that MF (Little Miss “Liberated”, who just about “lets it all hang out”, at the “drop of a hat”) and LB (whom I can’t really help but associate the term “dysfunctional” with) are responsible for this “gem”…

Both of whom are “supremely” intelligent, sophisticated, talented, and, are “grandmasters” of the French “martial art” of the “double entendre”…

So, sometimes, as we are all aware, they are not, “saying what they mean”, or are “saying what they are saying”, or “we think they are saying”…

Or are they? :confused:

If you know what I mean… :))) ;)

No!? :D

That's a great bit of info RedRafe. Of course for the song, MF was looking for something that fit in well, that rhymed. But to be aware of blue methylene being used in stockings and to be aware of the 'Blue Stocking Circle' shows a a very good state of knowledge. She went to college with Laurant Boutanant which shows a good sense of education but more importantly, she is the most successful recording artist in France's history which shows an exceptional knowledge for what she does. It's no surprise that she should choose words that rhyme, but also reflect her knowledge of history.

[joebanana]

LOLI GOT YOU?

Nothing in that song seems to be without reason, even the smallest little thing I just discovered.
This is a quote I just read:

"During the musical bridge, Alizée repeats "LO- LI-TA "in a loop, as if to symbolize the enchantment of the lolita on boys. We can also understand "Loli t'a ...": "I got you, now I'm obsessed with you".

I used Google translate for the word "Loli t'a" and the result is "Loli got you" :)

[Aragorn97]

And that's how the legendary quote was born:
"What is Alizée? She is the pink apostrophe between the words Loli t'a".





Edit:

(actually I've just seen that the original quote doesn't work the same way in English. I don't know if what I wrote makes sense for you xD)

[joebanana]

And that's how the legendary quote was born:
"What is Alizée? She is the pink apostrophe between the words Loli t'a".





Edit:

(actually I've just seen that the original quote doesn't work the same way in English. I don't know if what I wrote makes sense for you xD)

I'm getting a headache.
Instead of solving the mystery of methylene blue, now I have to solve the pink one too. :)
I'm kidding, and I'm glad you're actively helping here, because any help or just opinion is more than welcome.

[Mr Coucou]

LOLI GOT YOU?

Nothing in that song seems to be without reason, even the smallest little thing I just discovered.
This is a quote I just read:

"During the musical bridge, Alizée repeats "LO- LI-TA "in a loop, as if to symbolize the enchantment of the lolita on boys. We can also understand "Loli t'a ...": "I got you, now I'm obsessed with you".

I used Google translate for the word "Loli t'a" and the result is "Loli got you" :)

I think you're right about the "TA" in Moi Lolita. I've heard that French speakers use "TA" as a contraction for "tu as" ("you have.")

I'm not sure of the specific meaning. I was thinking it meant: "Loli, you got it!"

But you're saying it means "Loli got you."

Hmm.... I'll have to think about it some more.

I have the impression that the lyrics to Moi Lolita is just the girl talking to herself. And so the "LO LI TA" line, is just the girl saying to herself "Loli, you got it!"

Edit:

And that's how the legendary quote was born:
"What is Alizée? She is the pink apostrophe between the words Loli t'a".


Edit:

(actually I've just seen that the original quote doesn't work the same way in English. I don't know if what I wrote makes sense for you xD)

I don't understand it. Could you explain?

[Aragorn97]

I think you're right about the "TA" in Moi Lolita. I've heard that French speakers use "TA" as a contraction for "tu as" ("you have.")

I'm not sure of the specific meaning. I was thinking it meant: "Loli, you got it!"

But you're saying it means "Loli got you."

Hmm.... I'll have to think about it some more.

I have the impression that the lyrics to Moi Lolita is just the girl talking to herself. And so the "LO LI TA" line, is just the girl saying to herself "Loli, you got it!"


Loli should be the subject and a is the third person of the present simple of the verb "to have". My doubts are about " t' ": if it works as in italian and it means you, what JoeBanana said may be correct.
It may be the same thing we see in "Je t'aime" (I love you). So it is possible that "Loli t'a" means "Loli has got you". I don't know if the English translation is correct but the phrase should mean that you are now "at the mercy of Loli": she controls you with her charm, you can't resist her.

So I tend to think that it is a kind of subliminal message. Lolita has full power on you and you don't even realize that.
But everything I wrote may be wrong because I don't know if that " t'" is what i think.

Edit:




I don't understand it. Could you explain?

It's just a (bad) joke I made that has nothing to do with Alizée and Moi... Lolita.
There is this famous quote from a play called Cyrano de Bergerac:
Et qu'est-ce qu'un baiser? Une apostrophe rose entre les mots je t'aime.

It is literally translated as: what is a kiss? It is a pink apostrophe between the words "I love you" (Je t'aime).
Obviously it doesn't work this way in English. I've found out that in English it is: What is a kiss? It is the pink exclamation mark that comes after "I love you!".

So that's why I said that you might not get it.

[joebanana]

This is an analysis of Moi Lolita originally in French that I translated using Google.
Some parts may not make sense, but it's pretty readable. I'll leave the website link below.

My name is Lolita, Lo or Lola, similar to the same "
The" me "marks the navel side of adolescence. The way Lolita has to say her name is very childish. In addition, she marks a pause by pronouncing her first name (LO-LITA): "Be careful, I'm not only Lo the little girl, but Lolita and it's not the same"

Excerpt from Nabokov's book: "She was Lo in the morning, Lo very short , one meter forty eight in socks, standing on one foot. She was Lola in pants. She was Dolly at school. She was Dolores on the dotted lines of the forms. But in my arms, it was always Lolita "

The real first name is Dolores, but we attribute several diminutives to it: Lo, Lola, Dolly, Lolita, which each correspond to a part of her personality: Lo and Lola for the simple and innocent girl, Dolly for the classmates and Lolita for lovers. It seems that in this text, Mylene emphasizes the relationship of Dolores therefore d'Alizée with the men since the phrase "Me I am called Lolita" is often repeated: Here Dolores is Lolita. "My name is Lolita,
when I dream of wolves it's Lola who bleeds"
Translation: when I dream of men, part of me (the little girl) hurts, refuses. Lola is bleeding: the blood of human defloration (wolves). Lolita dreams of wolves, she has no lovers, many boys please her. For Lolita as much as for Lola, men are threatening (wolves), she does not know them well, for her there is no man in particular, it would rather be a "pack" of man. It is important to note that Lolita dreams of wolves, for now men are still in the realm of fantasy, it is a dream that she has not realized because men have a scary side for her.

"When I fork my tongue, I have a giggle as crazy as a phenomenon"
"fork my tongue": two-way: speaking (pronouncing one word in place of another) or kissing a boy. Take the second possibility, Lolita kisses the boys (a priori made mature) but when she does not succeed it makes her laugh: Lolita is light, this is all a game, she does not take it seriously (it's lola which is still in it). Lolita dares, does things, but when it crashes she becomes Lola again.

"My name is Lolita, Lo de vie Lo with Dilluvian loves"
Lolita is "Lo of life": in two senses: Lo the girl full of life or the water of life. Let us take the second possibility: Lolita is brandy, it intoxicates men and makes them happy as wine does. Worse, just like alcohol, Lolita can become a vice you can't live without. Lo has a lot of friends, it varies, a real little libertine but beware it's LO and not LOLITA so we deduce that the "Dilluvian loves" are practically platonic. Second verse:

"My name is Lolita, college girl with blue methylene stockings"
Here we have the famous fantasy of men: the little college girl who seems very wise in her uniform but in fact who is not at all .. .
"I'm called Lolita,
With Lolita, it has to move, but always as she wants because she is angry! We can also understand in "mid-wool" the first name Mylene: and yes Alizée (alias Lolita) is not the "mini mylene" as some have nicknamed but it is Alizée in short.

"Motus and mouth that does not tell mom that I am a phenomenon"
Motus and mouth sewn! Mom must not know that I am a phenomenon ". This sentence underlines the childish side of Lolita, on the one hand with the expression of the beginning then also by the fear of the mother." I am a phenomenon "=" I am a lolita, an enticing teenager, I play big "but mom must not be aware. Choru

" It's not my fault "
Self-defense phrase, it seems that Lolita feels the need to justify herself as if she had done something stupid! Lolita teases men and she knows it ("I'm a phenomenon") but apparently she doesn't do it on purpose. Beyond her control? Lolita knows what she is doing but it seems that she does not control everything so with this infantile prase, she hides behind Lola to remind her that she is not yet an adult. This sentence can be intended for men as well (she feels lost compared to what she caused in them) or for her mother.

"And when I give my tongue to the cats I see the others ready to pounce on me"
It is in my opinion the most daring prase that Mylene has written in her entire career. First interpretation: "when I no longer know what to do and that I have gone too far, the others realize that I was only playing and blame me". We can understand this only by listening because we can see that "cats" is in the plural. From there we can understand: "when I kiss men, other men would like me to do the same with them" or then "when I kiss men, I know that my mother / my parents will yell "or again and this interpretation only engages me" when I practice fellatio (and not always with the same boy) I know that others want me to do the same "."It's not my fault, if I hear everything around me LOLITA, Me Lolita"
"Hello Helli you're ahhhh!" : "hi lolita, you are super pretty" to say the least.
"Hello Helli you're mine Lolita": everyone would like lolita to belong to her, whether it's the boys where her mom (who doesn't want her to grow)

NB: during the musical bridge, Alizée repeats "LO- LI-TA "in a loop, as if to symbolize the enchantment of the lolita on boys. We can also understand "Loli t'a ...": "I got you, now I'm obsessed with you".

https://ventdecorse.skyrock.com/678222204-Explications-texte-de-moi-lolita.html