French vs english

[lyceus]

This is my very first post.

I live in usa. And a friend showed me alizèe video for all the wrong reasons if you know what I mean. I was blown away by her looks, voice and dancing. I have since purchased both cds and love to listen to them eventhough I don't understand them. Funny thing is I got to wondering just what the heck was being said, so I looked up english words to the songs as well as a couple of videos where alizèe herself sings in english and I have to tell you to me they were just not as good in english. I found the french version sooo much sexier and fun to listen to than the english version. Is this just me?

I know that she is coming out with a new cd soon and I am dreading it if it comes out in english.

any thoughts from anyone?

[garçoncanadien]

warm welcome to you lyceus! why not tell us more about you

I found the french version sooo much sexier and fun to listen to than the english version. Is this just me?

amen to that! le français est la plus belle langue du monde

yes it is better for her to sing in French it is much more artistic

[Zack -Alizee Lover-]

I think we all agree we love french songs.

[LiquidC]

Welcome to our forums!

Yes, I'm pretty sure that everyone agrees that the french version is way better. The english versions were first in french and got translated and everyone knows that you can't really translate a song into another language and have it still keep its rimes, meaning, word play etc.

[Luc]

Hi lyceus, thank you for your introduction and welcome to the forum !
I agree the French songs sound better than the English versions. French is a beautiful language and I think Alizée sings better and with more emotion in her native language.

[aditya8617]

Welcome to the forums. I think the reason we like French versions better because we listen to english all day long. A little bit of French lightens the day up.

[WindReaver]

I think her songs would be great in English *IF* they were written for the English language. The only translated songs of hers I really like are Amelie and Youpidoo. The others just seem to have "slapped-on" lyrics to me.

[Deepwaters]

Actually, they aren't translated. Not really. The meanings become quite different between the two language versions. But I agree that in every case the French song is better.

I've seen an interview in which Alizée was talking about how gratifying it was that she could sing in French for foreign audiences, but she also thought she shouldn't get "greedy" and at some point would need to cross over the language line. So we should expect more of her in the future in other languages, and that means mostly English. If she can find someone to write good English lyrics that won't be bad, there's nothing wrong with her singing in the language.

[RMJ]

Originally Posted by WindReaver

The only translated songs of hers I really like are Amelie and Youpidoo.

They are not translated.

For example, the English and French version of Youpidou has nothing in common.

The other songs shares the same theme but they are not translations. Not at all.

[WindReaver]

Right. I should not have used the word "translated". I'm aware that the French and English versions are two completely different songs and have totally different lyrics.

But come on, Okie-dokie and boogie-woogie? The problem is not that I dislike the English versions. The problem is that I can see English speakers who have never heard the French version think that Alizée is not a good singer because her songwriter did not put enough effort into the lyrics.

Her songwriter did an excellent job on Amelie and Youpidoo though. I listen to those two songs in English as often or more as the French version.