| Topic: |
Sociology > Depression |
| User: |
"neoholistic" |
| Date: |
31 Dec 2003 10:49:39 AM |
| Object: |
Happy Grapes Night!! :) [sp: lyrics, music, traditions] |
There's a neat tradition in Spain (actually I've learnt just a couple days ago that it also applies for many latin american countries) of having twelve grapes while listening to the 12 chimes of the tower clock at La Puerta del Sol (Sun's Gate) in Madrid; one grape for each strike.
As you can imagine, it's not that simple to put yet another grape in a full mouth (you hardly have time to chew and swallow the former when the clock strikes the next chime), so many people lag behind and try desperately to swallow a mouthfull of triturated grapes before the clock finishes striking the hour - sometimes with the result of spilling the mess all over the person closer to you.
This particular tradition is well established, indeed many people have them AT Plaza del Sol square - breaking new records every year (it always surpasses a million people, and it isn't a large square). Those who don't follow the whole thing on TV.
So, for us a year isn't really over until we've had our grapes. That's what makes it 'real'. There's also something nostalgic in it.
Anyway, here's a classic from the late '80s - it's a cliche over here in New Year's Eve, but not many of you have heard it and it makes a nice exercise in translation.
(Personally I would have chosen a different band, but I happen to have many songs from this one in my hard drive, already compressed in mp3 format, from a compilation I did for my mother - so I'm being lazy).
Professional translators (and I'm certainly not one) always translate /into/, instead of /from/, their own native tongue. I'm doing the opposite thing, so don't hold your breath.
http://www.neoholistic.org/audio/un_anyo_mas.mp3
Size: 4.3 MB (ouch!)
Style: soft pop, female voice
Language: (castilian) spanish
Un Año Más (Nacho Cano, 1988) One More Year
En La Puerta del Sol At La Puerta del Sol
como el año que fue like the year that was
otra vez el champán y las uvas again the champagne, the grapes
y el alquitrán, de alfombra están. and the tar, for a carpet are.
Los petardos que borran sonidos de ayer The fireworks deleting the sounds of yesterday
y acaloran el ánimo and heating up the spirits
para aceptar que ya pasó uno más. to accept that one more passed by.
Y en el reloj de antaño And in the clock of yore
como de año en año just like every year
cinco minutos más para la cuenta atrás it's five minutes yet to countdown
hacemos el balance de lo bueno y malo we take stock of the good and bad things
cinco minutos antes five minutes before
de la cuenta atrás. countdown.
Marineros, soldados, solteros, casados, Sailors, soldiers, bachelors, married ones,
amantes, andantes y alguno que otro lovers, walkers and an odd
cura despistao out of touch priest or two
Entre gritos y pitos los españolitos Among shouts and whistles we the poor little Spanish
enormes, bajitos, hacemos por una vez, huge, small, do for once
algo a la vez. something at the same time.
Y en el reloj de antaño And in the clock of yore
como de año en año just like every year
cinco minutos más para la cuenta atrás it's five minutes yet to countdown
hacemos el balance de lo bueno y malo we take stock of the good and bad things
cinco minutos antes five minutes before
de la cuenta atrás. countdown.
Y aunque para las uvas hay algunos nuevos And although there are some new ones for the grapes
a los que ya no están echaremos de menos to those who are no more we shall miss
y a ver si espabilamos los que estamos vivos let's get a move on, those of us still alive,
y en el año que viene nos reimos so we'll be able to laugh next year
1, 2, 3 y 4 y empieza otra vez 1, 2, 3 and 4 and start all over
que la quinta es la una for the fifth is the first
y la sexta es la dos y así el siete es tres. and the sixth is the second and thus seven is three
Y decimos adiós, y pedimos a Dios And we say farewell, and we pray God
que en el año que viene for next year
a ver si en vez de un millón instead of a million
pueden ser dos. to be two.
En La Puerta del Sol At La Puerta del Sol
como el año que fue like the year that was
otra vez el champán y las uvas again the champagne and the grapes
y el alquitrán, de alfombra están. and the tar, for a carpet are.
--
To reach me by email: transform my account name like IBM -> HAL.
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