Beautiful translations
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.
Språk: rumänska → franska
Created by Nora_D on måndag, 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.
Språk: ryska → tyska
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.
Språk: franska → engelska
Created by michealt on onsdag, 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
Språk: ryska → engelska
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.
Språk: ryska → engelska
Created by St. Sol on fredag, 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.
Språk: ukrainska → ryska
Created by Alexander Laskavtsev on måndag, February 22, 2016
from [@Ivan U7n]
A rather picturesque collaborative translation from a language I have no knowledge of.
Språk: franska → ryska
Created by Ivan U7n on fredag, 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.
Språk: franska → ryska
Created by Ivan U7n on söndag, 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!
Språk: ryska → engelska
Created by sandring on fredag, juni 17, 2016
from [@BlackSea4Ever]
Fluid language almost begs music.
Språk: tjeckiska → ryska
Created by viadiva on torsdag, 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.)
Språk: ryska → engelska
Created by biorox on söndag, juni 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.
Språk: finska → engelska
Created by sándor on måndag, 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.
Språk: napolitanska → engelska
Created by Berny Devlin on söndag, September 3, 2017
From [@BlackSea4ever]
Life, life is a novel,
which never gets you bored.
Språk: polska → engelska
Created by Aldefina on måndag, 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.
Språk: engelska → ryska
Created by Pinchus on måndag, March 16, 2020
From [@Irula] (and [@Sophie78rus])
I think this does not need special comments. Just read it aloud.
Språk: ryska → engelska
Created by shined on onsdag, juli 1, 2020
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!
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!
https://lyricstranslate.com/en/dlouhá-tenká-struna-длинная-тонкая-струна...
Fluid language almost begs music to make it into a song.
https://lyricstranslate.com/en/fontana-di-trevi-trevi-fountain.html
Fond memories. Plus, this translator made many others that I enjoyed - perhaps, this will add traffic to his work.
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.)
A beautiful Finnish translation of l'Italiano:
https://lyricstranslate.com/en/olen-suomalainen-i-am-finnish.html
It's a very successful translation that gained great popularity in Finland, and few Finns know that it's originally Italian.
Pierre, miss you!
Here is my 2nd entry: 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.
https://lyricstranslate.com/en/pianefforte-e-notte-piano-night.html
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
если бы я могла добавить еще, то я бы предложила этот перевод
https://lyricstranslate.com/en/v-bol%CA%B9nitse-hospital.html
Я уверена, нашим коллегам [@Almitra] [@vevvev] и PZ есть что предложить. Давайте их послушаем.
My 3rd entry
https://lyricstranslate.com/en/życie-jest-nowelą-life-novel.html
Life, life is a novel,
which never gets you bored.
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.
https://lyricstranslate.com/en/naming-cats-%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%B7%D1%8B%D0%B...
Hmm .. How am i not here ? :))
I really don’t like the limit - check this beautiful translation
https://lyricstranslate.com/en/ninfa-das-frescas-augas-nymphs-cool-water...
I'll add it with pleasure if someone with some wishes left picks it, with a nice comment to boot.
Any taker?
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
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.
Pierre can answer conclusively, but I think a beautiful translation, like the one we both found, is of your choice.
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