"Alizée en Concert" - Translation Project 2020

[Aragorn97]

Given that...

Originally Posted by Mr Coucou

"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".

[Scruffydog777]

Originally Posted by Mr Coucou

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

Speaking of abstract gibberish:

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:

Originally Posted by 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?

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"

[Bamagirl]

Originally Posted by Scruffydog777

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/1tbw...ew?usp=sharing

[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]

Originally Posted by joebanana

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]

Originally Posted by 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

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

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yah...ew?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.

[joebanana]

Originally Posted by 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.

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