Beautiful translations

Created by 게스트 on 03 Oct 2019
Beautiful translations

Translations is what LT is all about. Surely among these thousands of attempts at dispelling the curse of Babel there are a few that struck you as especially beautiful?
Maybe it was a nice matching pun? Or a creative way of conveying an idea? Or a new angle that broadened your vision of the song?
Now is the time to share these experiences. Of course this is all very subjective, but who cares? You can never say enough nice things about beautiful things.

Rules of the game:
- no more than three songs per user, in order to leave room for diverse opinions. You can change your mind and ask for an entry to be replaced, though.
- add a little explanation of your choice to be added as comment. This is all about sharing experiences.

공유하다

The English version was written by a poet and I suppose it very neatly summarizes the original.
This version is more literal and the French, though beautiful, slightly unusual. Yet it sends shivers down my spine.
I don't speak Romanian and most likely never will, but this translation allows me to imagine what a native speaker must feel of this poem's strength and beauty.

언어:  루마니아어 → 프랑스어

Created by Nora_D on Monday, April 30, 2012

I would have thought no translation could ever convey the beautiful, subtle feel of the original. Yet Vera did it, with deceptively simple words and slightly different images. A very fine job indeed.

언어:  러시아어 → 독일어

You can either just read the translation and burst into bitter laughter, or dwell on the erudite footnotes and get a fine idea of the original. The best of both worlds.

언어:  프랑스어 → 영어

Created by michealt on Wednesday, December 10, 2014

From [@Sophie78rus] - translated from Russian
This translation is a special memory for me. The band has difficulty lyrics with puns and obscure metaphors. It was an interesting joint effort of native speakers of both languages, with a rather nice result

언어:  러시아어 → 영어

From [@Sophie78rus] - translated from Russian
The song is one of my Piknik's favourites. I use to sing it in Russian. This translation had me immediately doing the same in English.

언어:  러시아어 → 영어

Created by St. Sol on Friday, November 25, 2016

From [@Sophie78rus] - translated from Russian
This is the most famous poem of Ukrainian classic Ivan Franko. The translation is impressive, matching faithfully the style of the original.

언어:  우크라이나어 → 러시아어

Created by Alexander Laskavtsev on Monday, February 22, 2016

from [@Ivan U7n]
A rather picturesque collaborative translation from a language I have no knowledge of.

언어:  프랑스어 → 러시아어

Created by Ivan U7n on Friday, November 3, 2017

from [@Ivan U7n]
Another collaboration from over two years ago. It seems I’m rather a linguistic pervert who likes to put his nose into unfamiliar languages: they include Czech, French, Latvian, Slovene, Ukrainian… and last recently Macedonian was added to the list.

언어:  프랑스어 → 러시아어

Created by Ivan U7n on Sunday, October 15, 2017

from [@Ivan U7n]
A singable translation to English I thought was impossible, because the text isn’t simple even for native to fully comprehend. But here comes Nadia and proves me wrong!

언어:  러시아어 → 영어

Created by sandring on Friday, June 17, 2016

from [@BlackSea4Ever]
Fluid language almost begs music.

언어:  체코어 → 러시아어

Created by viadiva on Thursday, November 2, 2017

from [@Vladimir4757]
Gruppa Krovi, at least English translation 8 is quite beautiful to me for reimagining how the Russian-Afghani war was to them. Tsoi was anti-war, and this song captures that. I found it to be similar to the American Vietnam War protest songs.
The thing that really captures it to me is the line
"Blood type - on the sleeve
My serial number - on the sleeve,"
There is no sign of humanity here, just a blood type and a number. No rank, no name, nothing.

Furthermore, the subtle references to the USSR add to this complexity, something American songs I don't think captured :
"But the star high in the sky is calling me."
The star is almost certainly referring to the Red Star (which has been the universal symbol of the Soviet Military. Ever hat badge has a hammer and sickle plastered into a red star. I know this because I own at least one of almost every type of Soviet Military Hat Badge since the 1930's).
Honestly, all nine translations could use some polishing, but this one, it just got me in the feels that is for certain. I thought it was beautiful for capturing the meaning of the song and capturing really how bad Afghanistan was for Russia (especially because America was giving weapons to the people Russia was fighting who, as it turns out, would become terrorists. Woops.)

언어:  러시아어 → 영어

Created by biorox on Sunday, June 3, 2012

From [@Historia]
A beautiful Finnish translation of l'Italiano:
It's a very successful translation that gained great popularity in Finland, and few Finns know that it's originally Italian.

언어:  핀란드어 → 영어

Created by sándor on Monday, February 2, 2015

From [@BlackSea4ever]
Reading this translation is like playing a movie in your head: you hear music, feel the breeze, see the stars - pure magic!
Hope Bernie comes back soon.

언어:  나폴리어 → 영어

Created by Berny Devlin on Sunday, September 3, 2017

From [@BlackSea4ever]
Life, life is a novel,
which never gets you bored.

언어:  폴란드어 → 영어

Created by Aldefina on Monday, November 5, 2018

From [@Irula]
This one really impressed me as such a perfect reflection of the spirit of the original! I was smiling from the beginning to the end.

언어:  영어 → 러시아어

Created by Pinchus on Monday, March 16, 2020

From [@Irula] (and [@Sophie78rus])
I think this does not need special comments. Just read it aloud.

언어:  러시아어 → 영어

Created by shined on Wednesday, July 1, 2020

코멘트
Sophia_Sophia_
   金, 18/10/2019 - 06:46

1. Зимовье зверей- A ticket to the past (Довоенный билет)

Это, пожалуй самый дорогой для меня перевод. Очень люблю эту песню.У зимовья довольно сложные тексты, там и тут игра слов, непонятные метафоры. Было интересно с тобой и Гевином работать над переводом, и результат, как мне кажется, стоил усилий :)

2. Piknik -Shaman's Got Three Hands

3. Иван Франко - Каменяры

silencedsilenced    金, 18/10/2019 - 10:55

What about comments for the other translations?

Sophia_Sophia_
   金, 18/10/2019 - 06:50

Переводы можно предлагать только из тех, что сделаны LT-юзерами?
Предполагаю, что копированные из других источниках и опубликованные здесь, не подойдут, но на всякий случай уточню.

silencedsilenced    金, 18/10/2019 - 10:56

Any translation will do.

Sophia_Sophia_
   金, 18/10/2019 - 11:04

Ммм.. Я думала о песнях Брассенса в переводе Александра Аванесова, но как-то это другое совсем... профессиональное.
А мы-то тут по большей части дилетанты

silencedsilenced    金, 18/10/2019 - 11:08

This is just a collection of subjective opinions. If people prefer pro translations they are free to say so.

Ivan U7nIvan U7n    金, 18/10/2019 - 11:23

А мне пока в голову приходит только колаборация про Сильви, Жака и других. Получился как мне кажется достаточно колоритный перевод с языка, которым вообще не владею. :)

Но и не могу обойти стороной ещё одну колаборацию: казалось бы, вчера я делал это перевод, а оказывается прошло уже больше двух лет. Видимо вот такой я лингвистический извращенец, что люблю влезать своими шаловливыми ручками в языки, которых не знаю: тут и чешский, и латвийский, и словенский, и украинский… вот и македонский недавно добавился.

Ну и третий кандидат от меня, это Надин песенный перевод «Неба славян», потому что думал, что эту песню нереально так перевести на Английский, но Надя смогла!

silencedsilenced    金, 18/10/2019 - 11:28

Haha yes this was fun. Would you PM me an English version of your comments or shall I try to translate them?

Ivan U7nIvan U7n    金, 18/10/2019 - 11:42

Damn, I should have written in English from the start. Because I now have no idea how to make my comments don't sound silly in English. Oh well, I'll try.

A rather picturesque collaborative translation from a language I have no knowledge of.

Another collaboration from over two years ago. It seems I’m rather a linguistic pervert who likes to put his nose into unfamiliar languages: they include Czech, French, Latvian, Slovene, Ukrainian… and just recently Macedonian was added to the list.

A singable translation to English I thought was impossible, because the text isn’t simple even for a native to fully comprehend. But here comes Nadia and proves me wrong!

silencedsilenced    金, 18/10/2019 - 11:50

Right, here we go!

Sophia_Sophia_
   金, 18/10/2019 - 20:32

[Edit] misunderstood a phrase "translated from Russian" in this context :)

Ivan U7nIvan U7n    金, 18/10/2019 - 13:26

Если я правильно понимаю о чём речь, то в данном случае это означает, что описание почему перевод «Beautiful», переведено с русского.

Sophia_Sophia_
   金, 18/10/2019 - 13:32

А,похоже вы правильно поняли, а я была невнимательна :) спасибо

Vladimir4757Vladimir4757    金, 18/10/2019 - 18:02

https://lyricstranslate.com/en/gruppa-krovi-gruppa-krovi-blood-type.html...

Gruppa Krovi, at least English translation 8 is quite beautiful to me for reimagining how the Russian-Afghani war was to them. Tsoi was anti-war, and this song captures that. I found it to be similar to the American Vietnam War protest songs.

The thing that really captures it to me is the line
"Blood type - on the sleeve
My serial number - on the sleeve,"
There is no sign of humanity here, just a blood type and a number. No rank, no name, nothing.

Furthermore, the subtle references to the USSR add to this complexity, something American songs I don't think captured :

"But the star high in the sky is calling me."

The star is almost certainly referring to the Red Star (which has been the universal symbol of the Soviet Military. Ever hat badge has a hammer and sickle plastered into a red star. I know this because I own at least one of almost every type of Soviet Military Hat Badge since the 1930's).

Honestly, all nine translations could use some polishing, but this one, it just got me in the feels that is for certain. I thought it was beautiful for capturing the meaning of the song and capturing really how bad Afghanistan was for Russia (especially because America was giving weapons to the people Russia was fighting who, as it turns out, would become terrorists. Woops.)

silencedsilenced    水, 23/10/2019 - 17:25

Thanks, added.

BlackSea4everBlackSea4ever    月, 04/11/2019 - 12:33

Pierre, get better soon! Meanwhile, can I get a special dispensation to add more than 3 items? I struggle because some translations are by Guest, some by Jadis, some by Sol, some by Ww, some by Sandring, Metodies, Azalea, ...and more. So, I'd like to have the permission, in my third entry, to add multiple mentions. That's how I beat 100 limit in my Moody collection.
You know I'm jesting - trying to occupy you to give your body time to heal! Get well and come back soon.
Love,
D

silencedsilenced    土, 18/07/2020 - 11:38

Oops. That collection had slipped my mind.
I'd rather leave room for other people. Diversity is what I'm hoping for. But please, go ahead with the mentions.

IremiaIremia
   土, 18/07/2020 - 13:22

You can add this one from my name. I loved it too.

silencedsilenced    土, 18/07/2020 - 16:29

Not yet. There is still room for more.

silencedsilenced    日, 19/07/2020 - 00:43

I'll add it with pleasure if someone with some wishes left picks it, with a nice comment to boot.
Any taker?

BlackSea4everBlackSea4ever    日, 19/07/2020 - 00:54

Thomas, i need your help! Pierre needs someone other than me to vote this as a beautiful translation - would you do it?
[@Thomas222]. Of course, if you like others, you have three to add.
Thanks

Thomas222Thomas222
   日, 19/07/2020 - 01:20

Wait, wait, wait! What do I need to do? How do I do it?

Will this be considered as one of my three choices?

Thomas222Thomas222
   日, 19/07/2020 - 02:31

Question please!

Should my choices be only translations of languages that I understand (Hebrew into English and vice versa)?
This way, I am able to understand the choices and interpretations the translator has made, and praise them for it.

That is unlike the other translations I spot, of languages I do not understand (Any language into English), and find them beautiful, simply because they were well-written and poetic in my eyes, with no further knowledge.

BlackSea4everBlackSea4ever    日, 19/07/2020 - 02:36

Pierre can answer conclusively, but I think a beautiful translation, like the one we both found, is of your choice.

silencedsilenced    日, 19/07/2020 - 09:28

Anything goes, as long as you say why you like them. My idea was mainly to have different people say nice things about our common hobby.