Category: Song translation

“Rondando Tu Esquina” by Enrique Cadícamo (sung by Julio Jaramillo), English translation of lyrics

“Scouting Your Corner”
Style: 1945 Tango
Countries: Argentina (Enrique), Ecuador (Julio)
Listen: Renditions by Julio Jaramillo at YouTube (my favorite) and Enrique Cadícamo at a tango site (original composer).

Translation:

Esta noche tengo ganas de buscarla,
De borrar lo que ha pasado y perdonarla.

This night I feel the urge to search for her,
To erase what happened and forgive her.

Ya no me importa el qué dirán
Ni de las cosas que hablarán…
¡Total la gente siempre habla!

It does not matter to me anymore what they will say
Nor the things they will talk about…
People always talk anyway!

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“Hu, Hu, Hu” by Natalia Lafourcade feat. Julieta Venegas, English translation

“Hu, Hu, Hu”
Album: Hu, Hu, Hu (2009)
Style: Light, airy, pop/rock. The singers control the song metric really well. They almost put me in a trance. I call the style “airy,” but that is more about the mood. The singing voices are quite strong.
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

Intro:
————————————————————–
Quiero regalarte las estrellas, [*regalar = lit. gift (verb)]
Sol, la luna entera,
Una hora extra para respirar.

I want to give you the stars,
The sun, the full moon,
An extra hour to breathe.

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“Lo Hecho Está Hecho” (What is Done is Done) by Shakira, English translation

“What is Done is Done” Lyrics
Album: She Wolf, 2009
Style: Energetic lusty pop. The music video for this song has really interesting choreography that takes elements of martial arts and maybe ballet. The guy in the video is Daniel “Cloud” Campos.
Country: Colombia
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

En la suite 16
Lo que empieza no termina.
Del mini bar al Edén
Y en muy mala compañía.

In suite 16
What starts does not end.
From the minibar to Eden
And in very bad company.

Hey!

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“Amor Libre” (Free Love) by Nach feat. Suga Wuga, English translation and notes

“Free Love” Lyrics Translation
Album: Poesía Difusa (Wordy Poetry), 2003
Style: Slow rap love song, similar to spoken word. This is an open love poem that declares how much their love means to them, and how it makes them feel free.
Country: Spain
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

Sigo siendo libre.
Nada es complicado a tu lado.
Tú me haces libre.

I keep being free.
Nothing is complicated by your side.
You make me free.

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“Estoy Aquí” (I Am Here) by Shakira, English translation of lyrics

“I Am Here” Song Translation
Album: Piez Descalzos (Bare Feet), 1995
Style: Rock, brunette Shakira, nostalgia about a past love with touches of obsession and sadness
Country: Colombia
Listen: YouTube, Amazon; Carla Morrison cover

Translation:

Ya sé que no vendrás.
Todo lo que fue,
El tiempo lo dejo atras.

I already know you won’t come.
Everything that was,
Time has left behind.

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“Sombra De Ti” (Shadow of You) by Shakira, English translation

“Shadow of You” Lyrics
Album: ¿Dondé Están Los Ladrones? (Where Are The Thieves?), 1998
Style: Late 90’s rock, melancholy song about post-breakup sadness. Very mellow, sort of haunting.
Country: Colombia
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

Voy a dejar
Que mi guitarra diga todo lo que yo
No sé decir por mí.

I am going to let
My guitar say everything that I
Cannot say for myself.

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“No Me Amenaces” by José Alfredo Jiménez, English translation of lyrics

“Do Not Threaten Me” Lyrics
Style: Ranchera, old heartbreak song. Poor José Alfredo is so heartbroken and the breakup is not even official yet.
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube, Amazon

Translation:

No me amenaces. No me amenaces.
Cuando estes decidida a buscar otra vida,
Pos agarra tu rumbo y vete.

Do not threaten me. Do not threaten me.
When you have decided to seek another life,
Well, take your path and go.

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“Interrogación” by Julio Jaramillo, English translation

“Question” Lyrics
Style: Pasillo, heartsickness
Country: Ecuador
Listen at YouTube. Julio Jaramillo would rather be stabbed in the gut than lied to about love. He just wants the truth. I love the lyrics. They are clear and concise but so poetic.

Translation:

Ya no creo en nada.
Hasta dudo de ti.
Siento desconfianza.
Ya no creo ni en mí.

I no longer believe in anything.
I doubt even you.
I feel distrust.
I no longer believe even in me.

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“Acción y Reacción” (Action and Reaction) by Thalía, English translation of lyrics

“Action and Reaction” Lyrics Translation
Album: Greatest Hits, 2004
Style: Electric pop, love song. This is a song about two people from different ethnicities and backgrounds in love. It does not matter that they are different; they are in love!
Country: Mexico
Listen: live version; pre-recorded album version;

Translation:

Que tú prefieras los Beatles
Y yo Juan Gabriel,
No importa que sea otro el ritmo
Pero aquí es cuestion de piel.

That you prefer The Beatles [*old, famous British band]
And me, Juan Gabriel, [*old, famous Mexican ranchera singer]
No matter the different rhythm [*lit. No matter that the rhythm be another]
(But here) it’s a matter of skin.

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“Loca” (Crazy) by Aleks Syntek, English translation of lyrics

“Crazy” (2009 single)
Style: Pop, quick pace, danceable. Weird song about a guy waking up in the wrong bed in the wrong house, totally confused and agitated. It’s a catchy song.
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

Intro:
——————————
Soy un caso singular
Que debiera analizar.
No sé que me dieron,
Ni lo que me hicieron,
Pero ya no soy normal.

I am an exceptional case
That you should analyze. [*formal “you”]
I do not know what they gave me,
Nor what they did to me,
But I am no longer normal.

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“Waka Waka Esto Es África” by Shakira, English translation of the Spanish version

“Waka Waka This is Africa”
Official song of 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa; June 11 – July 11
Album: Sale El Sol (The Sun Comes Out), 2010
Country: Colombia
Style: Upbeat, cheerful. Note that Shakira has an official English version called “Waka Waka This Time for Africa.” This, however, is the translation of the Spanish version. It’s interesting to compare how different parts of the world will think of the FIFA 2010 song, since the lyrics are not completely the same.
Listen: YouTube Spanish version

Translation:

Llego el momento,
Caen las murallas,
Va a comenzar
La única justa de la batallas.

The moment has come,
The walls fall,
It is going to begin,
The only one of the battles that is just.

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“El Problema” by Ricardo Arjona, English translation of lyrics

“The Problem” Lyrics Translation
Album: Santo Pecado (Blessed Sin), 2002
Style: Pop, romantica, foolish adoration. This guy adores a girl who is not serious about the relationship and he is leaving himself very vulnerable.
Country: Guatemala
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

El problema no fue hallarte,
El problema es olvidarte.
El problema no es tu ausencia,
El problema es que te espero.

The problem was not finding you,
The problem is forgetting you.
The problem is not your absence,
The problem is that I wait for you.

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