Viewing entries tagged
difficult translation

My Heart Shook Inside My Soul | The Weekly Letra

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My Heart Shook Inside My Soul | The Weekly Letra

One more Canastera for you to watch, María Terremoto. I can't stop listening to it, especially this coletilla she frames everything with (From Paco de Lucia's Almonte ... I love this chorus so much that I've included two other video versions following hers for you to check out.)

En la marisma con la candela…
Cantan por Huelva y a la Pastora los almonteños
y el corazón se me estremeció en el alma

cogí la manta la eche en el suelo

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Be Careful | The Weekly Letra

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Be Careful | The Weekly Letra

Today's letra(s) comes from Cuatro Soneto de Amor by Rafael de León. This is the second part, which you can see Mayte Martín sing live (Ten Cuidao) in the video below.

Me avisaron a tiempo: ten cuidado,
mira que miente más que parpadea,
que no le va a tu modo su ralea,
que es de lo peorcito del mercado.

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Sevillanas You'll Love | The Weekly Letra

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Sevillanas You'll Love | The Weekly Letra

You're going to LOVE the video below of the Makarines performing sevillanas live. The third copla they sing is an excerpt from this sevillanas and it has to do with the Rocío pilgrimage. Here it is:

Sevillanas (De: Porque El Relente Le Daba)
José Miguel Évora/Isidro Muñoz*

Porque el relente le daba
Le puse mi chaquetilla

Le puse mi chaquetilla
Porque tiritaba y yo la veía, 
Ay!

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A Tangos For You | The Weekly Letra

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A Tangos For You | The Weekly Letra

Here's a tangos letra and a video (that you'll love) of La Lupi dancing to it. Enjoy!

Tangos de la Repompa
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En el cristal de mi copa
tu cara se reflejó,
y aquel poco de licor
que yo me llevé a la boca
de veneno me sirvió.
Mientes como hay Dios

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For Mom | The Weekly Letra

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For Mom | The Weekly Letra

This one is dedicated to all the beautiful mothers, Happy Mother's Day! (Thank you, Mom!)

Madre Hermosa (Copla)
Juanito Valderrama

Ay, mi mare!, 
como un rayito de luna
regüerto con azahares. 
Mare hermosa, 
vieja de pena por dentro, 
por fuera como una rosa. 
Mare buena, 
con los ojitos de novia
y la cara de azucena. 
¡Qué alegría cuando
le digo a la gente: 
qué guapa la mare mía! 

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Los ojos como las moras | The Weekly Letra

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Los ojos como las moras | The Weekly Letra

Yesterday I received an email from a reader, Max Herzog, a guitarist based in San Diego, who came across today's letra on my blog. (I originally posted it about four years ago. I struggled with the translation then, and I'm still struggling with it today.) Max had some great insights along with a smoother translation which I wanted to share with you. You'll find his translation below (with just a couple of small changes from me).

Fandangos
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Los ojos como las moras
y los dientes de marfil
y tu boca es una fuente
donde una noche bebí 
agua con ansias de muerte

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The things that happen in Cádiz | Viernes con una Letra

Here's an interpretation from Miguel Poveda of the popular Bulerías de Cádiz reflecting upon the current-day situation in Spain. Scroll down for an out-of-control amazing video of a live performance ¡que compás y gracia! with José Quevedo, Diego del Morao, El Londro, Luis Cantarote, and my (not real) boyfriend's real brother, Carlos Grilo.

Bulerías de Cai
¡Qué disparate!

Con el caray, caray, caray, 
éstas son las cosas que pasan en Cai,
que ni la hambre la vamos a sentir,
 
que mire usted que gracia tiene este país.

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I Want Nothing to do With You | Viernes con Una Letra

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I Want Nothing to do With You | Viernes con Una Letra

Don't worry, It's not you who I want nothing to do with. In fact, it's not anyone. It's just today's letra.

¿Y por qué?

Because this week has been all about bulerías,

And today shall be no different.

Here I am in Portland with Ricardo López, and he made my day when he suggested we do bulerías in one of the workshops. He then put the icing on the cake when he said we should dance to a tema by Joaquin el Zambo...

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