Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Misunderstood Ranchera Lyrics
Ever been listening to the radio and felt your head snap around to an unexpected and improbable lyric?
It’s bad enough in English, but you should try it in another language sometime…
OK, let me just say: sometimes I listen to ranchera music on the radio. For those not familiar with the style, ranchera is sort of an upbeat polka (though that name does little to describe it, as it bears little resemblance to the German style most people associate with ‘polka’), features accordions, rarely enters minor keys, and is usually about love, lost love, or unrequited love (making it very similar to country music, I suppose). And, of course, ranchera music is sung in Spanish.
Unfortunately, my command of Spanish is somewhat… imperfect. This has led, on my part, to some curiously funny misunderstandings of ranchera lyrics (pardon my Spanish spelling. I never did manage to get better than a ‘B’ in Sra. Solis’ class, which might also explain these messed up words):
“No te voy a robar”
My translation: “I am not going to rob you.”
“Eres mi pan”
My translation: “You are my bread.”
“Mi gusta bailar, mi gusta las cartas, mi gusta las plantas”
My translation: “I like to dance, I like the cards, I like the plants.”
And, my favorite:
“Llore, llore, cuando fuiste con mis vitaminas”
My translation: “I cried, I cried, when you left with my vitamins.”
It’s bad enough in English, but you should try it in another language sometime…
OK, let me just say: sometimes I listen to ranchera music on the radio. For those not familiar with the style, ranchera is sort of an upbeat polka (though that name does little to describe it, as it bears little resemblance to the German style most people associate with ‘polka’), features accordions, rarely enters minor keys, and is usually about love, lost love, or unrequited love (making it very similar to country music, I suppose). And, of course, ranchera music is sung in Spanish.
Unfortunately, my command of Spanish is somewhat… imperfect. This has led, on my part, to some curiously funny misunderstandings of ranchera lyrics (pardon my Spanish spelling. I never did manage to get better than a ‘B’ in Sra. Solis’ class, which might also explain these messed up words):
“No te voy a robar”
My translation: “I am not going to rob you.”
“Eres mi pan”
My translation: “You are my bread.”
“Mi gusta bailar, mi gusta las cartas, mi gusta las plantas”
My translation: “I like to dance, I like the cards, I like the plants.”
And, my favorite:
“Llore, llore, cuando fuiste con mis vitaminas”
My translation: “I cried, I cried, when you left with my vitamins.”
R.T. Lemur 7:13 AM
2 Comments:
The vitamins one is my favorite too! As a child, I sang Aye, Yaye, Yaye, Yaye, Canta y no llores as "Aye, Yaye, Yaye, Yaye - Oh my sombrero!" Because it was the only other spanish word I knew besided zapatos.
ranchera song are cool but shows like que buena tv make it seem trashy
, at 11:53 AM