Songs in Catalan II

Here's the second part of the post! :)

Blaumut - "Pa amb oli i sal"

This is a more recent song, one I used to hate last year when I lived in Catalonia. Distance has made me appreciate it, and now I really like it, especially the lyrics! :)

"Pa amb oli i sal" Fes una foto del terrat, que des d'aquí es pot veure Mart. La roba estesa, el meu agost,  un camp d'espigues i cargols. Esperarem que passi el fred i sota l'arbre parlarem de tot. Un bioritme elemental, un mar d'antenes i animals. (chorus) Els astronautes volen baix, els núvols passen com qui no diu res. Amb les butxaques a les mans,  caminarem les passes d'altres peus. Esmorzarem pa amb oli i sal, ho vestirem amb unes copes de vi. Deixant de banda la ciutat, la tarda és llarga, i potser més,  molt més, la nit. Un altre lloc, un altre temps, on parlarem amb altres déus. El meu secret subtitulat,  camins d'arròs, camins de blat. Esperarem que baixi el sol, i sota l'arbre parlarem del temps. Un bioritme elemental, un tros de vida artificial. (chorus)

"Bread with (olive) oil and salt" Take a photograph from the roof deck, because you can see Mars from here. Hanging clothes, my August, a field of cereal ears and snails. We'll wait until the cold is gone and under the tree we'll talk about everything. An elemental biorhythm, a sea of antennae and animals. (chorus) The astronauts fly low, the clouds pass by offhandedly. Pockets in hands, we'll walk other feet's steps. We'll breakfast on bread with oil and salt, we'll dress it up with glasses of wine. Leaving the city aside, the afternoon is long, and maybe  the night more, much more so. Some other place, some other time, where we'll talk to other gods. My subtitled secret, paths of rice, paths of wheat. We'll wait until the sun comes down, and under the tree we'll talk about the weather. An elemental biorhythm, a piece of artificial life. (chorus)

Antònia Font - "Alegria"

This is the only one of all the songs here that is in a different dialect of Catalan than my own, so apologies if the translation is a bit wobbly! In case you're curious, I speak a variety called "central Catalan", and this song is in Balearic Catalan: here, have a look. Again, I love this song because of the lyrics, you'll see what I mean.

"Alegria" Cau es sol de s'horabaixa dins s'horitzó damunt sa mar arrissada es avions. Cau es sol de s'horabaixa vermell i calent, me sala i m'arengada sa pell. Es penya-segat i una pluja suau de pols estel·lar. Cau es sol de s'horabaixa i plàcidament, sa gent de dutxa i omple es carrers. Cau es sol de s'horabaixa dins es meu cor, tothom s'estima i jo estim tothom. Falla sa corrent ses fireres no vendran cacauets. I alegria, ses velles se xapen de riure, es dies s'acaben i es fars il·luminen ses góndoles entre ses cases. I alegria, ses òrbites en sincronia, i es ovnis se pinyen i deixen un cràter per sempre dins sa meva vida. I alegria. Cau es sol de s'horabaixa dins s'horitzó damunt sa mar arrissada es avions. Cau es sol de s'horabaixa vermell i calent, me sala i m'arengada sa pell. Es municipals, és evident, fan aparcar bé sa gent. I alegria, ses velles se xapen de riure, es dies s'acaben i es fars il·luminen ses góndoles entre ses cases. I alegria, ses òrbites en sincronia, i es ovnis se pinyen i deixen un cràter per sempre dins sa meva vida. I alegria, ses velles se xapen de riure, es dies s'acaben i es fars il·luminen ses góndoles entre ses cases.

"Happiness" The evening sun goes down into the horizon, over the choppy sea, the planes. The evening sun goes down, red and hot, it salts and sardinizes my skin. (*1) The cliff and a soft rain of stardust. The evening sun goes down, and placidly, people shower and fill up the streets. The evening sun goes down inside my heart, everyone loves one another and I love everyone. There's a power cut, the fair stall ladies won't sell any peanuts. (*2) And happiness, the old women are in stitches, the days are ending and the lighthouses shed light on the gondolas in between the houses. And happiness, orbits in synchrony, and UFOs crash and leave a crater forever in my life. And happiness. The evening sun goes down into the horizon, over the choppy sea, the planes. The evening sun goes down red and hot, it salts and sardinizes my skin. The municipal (police), it's obvious, make people park properly. And happiness, the old women are in stitches, the days are ending and the lighthouses shed light on the gondolas in between the houses. And happiness, orbits in synchrony, the UFOs crash and leave a crater  forever in my life. And happiness, the old women are in stitches, the days are ending and the lighthouses light the gondolas in between the houses.

Translation notes

1 - I obviously invented the word "sardinize", haha, but just because the songwriter invented the Catalan equivalent too! A more elaborate explanation would be "The sea turns my skin into that of a sardine preserved in salt" ('arengada'). 

2 - The relationship between the power cut and not selling any peanuts might be a mystery for non Catalan speakers (unless you think it's because it's dark and people can't see the stalls). I rather think it's because those peanuts are "garrapinyades". This is a traditional Catalan way of preparing any kind of nuts (with a crusty coat of browned sugar), and it's typically sold from fair stalls. These fair stalls usually prepare the nuts on site with a special (electric) machine, which is why they won't be able to sell any if there's no electricity.

"Quan somrius"

This is a song recorded for a record called "Altres cançons de Nadal" (other Christmas songs), and several Catalan musicians have a part in it. It's one of my favourite Christmas songs ever (though be warned for cheesiness, as in all Christmas songs.)

"Quan somrius" Ara que la nit s'ha fet més llarga, ara que les fulles ballen danses al racó, ara que els carrers estan de festa, avui la fred duu tants records... Ara que sobren les paraules, ara que el vent bufa tan fort, avui que no em fa falta veure't ni tan sols parlar, per saber que estàs al meu costat. (chorus) És Nadal al meu cor, quan somrius content de veure'm, quan la nit es fa més freda, quan t'abraces al meu cos. I les llums de colors  m'il·luminen nit i dia les encens amb el somriure quan em parles amb el cor. És el buit que deixes quan t'aixeques, és el buit que es fa a casa quan no hi ha ningú. Són petits detalls tot el que em queda, com queda al jersei un cabell llarg. Vas dir que mai més tornaries, el temps pacient ha anat passant. Qui havia de dir que avui estaries esperant que ens trobéssim junts al teu costat? (modified chorus) És Nadal al teu cor, quan somric content de veure't, quan la nit es fa més neta, quan m'abraço al teu cos. I les llums de colors  m'il·luminen nit i dia les encèn el teu somriure quan et parlo amb el cor.

"When you smile" Now that nights are longer, now that leaves dance in the corner, now that streets are decorated for a party, today that the cold brings back many memories... Now that words are unnecessary, now that the wind blows with so much strength, today that I don't need to see you or even talk, to know that you are by my side. (chorus) It's Christmas in my heart, when you smile, happy to see me, when nights become colder, when you cuddle up to me. And the colourful lights shed light on me night and day you light them up with your smile when you talk to me with your heart. It's the emptiness you leave when you wake up, it's the emptiness that takes the house when there's no one there. It's just little details all I have left, like a long hair on a jumper. You said you'd never come back, time has gone by patiently. Who would've said that today, you'd be waiting for us to meet by your side? (modified chorus) It's Christmas in your heart, when I smile happy to see you, when nights become fresher, when I cuddle up to you. And the colourful lights shed light on me night and day, your smile lights them up when I talk to you with my heart.

I hope you liked the songs, the music and the translations, and that you go on to listen to some music in Catalan. Again, if you have any recommendations, both in Catalan or in any other language, they'll be more than welcome! :)

Songs in Catalan I

After my post about Catalan literature, it dawned on me that probably most of you don't know very much about Catalan music... So here are some songs in Catalan that I like, and a translation of the lyrics! :) Of course, this is a personal selection, and I don't mean to offend anyone by leaving their own or their favourite songs out. Also, all of these are all very mainstream pop/rock songs, so if you have any recommendations, go ahead! :)

Sau - "Boig per tu"

This is a rock ballad that has become a classic love song for Catalan speakers. It became even more of a hit after the singer (Carles Sabater) died from a heart attack, aged 36, right after a concert. The song has recently become the center of a minor "polemic" because Shakira has recorded a cover of it, in Catalan. Some people said things like "she shouldn't be singing in Catalan, she's appropriating our culture!", I think she has done a pretty good job of her cover but, as they say, haters gonna hate.

"Boig per tu" En la terra humida escric "Nena, estic boig per tu". Em passo els dies esperant la nit. Com et puc estimar si de mi estàs tan lluny? Servil i acabat, boig per tu. (chorus) Sé molt bé que des d'aquest bar jo no puc arribar on ets tu. Però dins la meva copa veig reflexada la teva llum. Me la beuré. Servil i acabat, boig per tu. Quan no hi siguis al matí les llàgrimes es perdran entre la pluja  que caurà avui. Em quedaré atrapat, ebri d'aquesta llum. Servil i acabat, boig per tu. (chorus) x 2

"Crazy about you" In the wet sand I write "Baby, I'm crazy about you". I spend my days waiting for the night. How can I love you if you're so far away from me? Servile and done with, crazy about you. (chorus) I know very well that from this bar I cannot get to where you are. But inside of my glass I see a reflection of your light. I'll drink it. Servile and done with, crazy about you. When you're not there in the morning, my tears will be lost in the rain that will fall down today. I'll become trapped, drunk on this light. Servile and done with, crazy about you. (chorus) x 2

Sopa de Cabra - "L'Empordà"

This one is, again, a classic of Catalan rock ("rock català", very popular in the 90s). I was obsessed over this band when I was a teenager, and though this is probably not my favourite song by them, it's their most popular. I think most Catalan people have drunkenly sung this at least once... haha. I chose this video because it's full of pictures of the shire in Catalonia the song is named after. (Sorry about the cheesy square transitions between photographs, though) This is a live recording, you can hear the audience singing along and the singer at the beginning of the video saying "Teniu ganes de seguir cantant, o què?" (Do you fancy singing some more, or what?). The audience obviously answers "Sí!" (Yes). :)

"L'Empordà" Nascut entre Blanes i Cadaqués, molt tocat per la tramuntana. D'una sola cosa en pots estar segur, quant més vell més tocat de l'ala. (chorus) Sempre deia que a la matinada es mataria, però cap al migdia anava ben torrat. Somriu i diu que no té pressa, "Ningú m'espera allà dalt, i anar a l'infern no m'interessa, és molt més bonic l'Empordà". I varen passar ampolles i anys, i en Siset encara aguantava. Dormint la mona a la vora del Ter, però ell mai no s'hi tirava. (chorus) x2 "I quan veig la llum de l'alba se'm treuen les ganes de marxar. Potser que avui no em suïcidi, potser ho deixi fins demà." Fins demà... Fins demà...

"The 'Empordà'" (*1) Born in between Blanes and Cadaqués (*2) very much "touched" by the North wind. (*3) You can be sure of only one thing, the older the crazier. (chorus) He always said he'd kill himself in the small hours, but by midday he was out of his face drunk. He smiles and says there's no hurry: "No one is waiting for me up there, and going to Hell doesn't appeal to me, the Empordà is much more beautiful". Bottles and years went by, and Siset still hung in there. (*4) Sleeping it off by the river Ter, (*5) but never throwing himself in it. (chorus) x 2 "And when I see the light of dawn I don't fancy going away anymore. Maybe I shouldn't kill myself today, I'll put it off until tomorrow." Until tomorrow... Until tomorrow...

Translation notes:

1 - The 'Empordà' is a shire in North-East Catalonia, currently divided in two: l'Alt i el Baix Empordà (High and Low Empordà)
2 - Blanes and Cadaqués are two towns in the coastline, they broadly encompass the Empordà coastline.
3 - "Touched" in Catalan has the same nuances as in English: if someone is defined as "touched", that means they are crazy.
4 - "Siset" is an endearing nickname for someone called "Narcís" (lit. Narcissus), a very traditional and old-fashioned Catalan first name.
5 - The river Ter has its spring at the Pyrenees, it goes through Girona and ends at the Mediterranean sea at L'Estartit, in the Low Empordà.

Dani Flaco - "Que tinguem sort"

This is a cover version of a song by Lluís Llach, a very famous Catalan singer-songwriter. I chose Dani Flaco's cover because I just like it better!

"Que tinguem sort" Si em dius adéu, vull que el dia sigui net i clar. Que cap ocell trenqui l'harmonia del seu cant. Que tinguis sort, i que trobis el que t'ha mancat  amb mi. Si em dius "et vull", que el sol faci el dia molt més llarg. I així robar temps al temps d'un rellotge aturat. Que tinguem sort, que trobem tot el que ens va mancar  ahir. (chorus) I així pren, i així pren, tot el fruit que et pugui donar. El camí que poc a poc  escrius per demà. Que demà, que demà, mancarà el fruit a cada pas. Per això malgrat la boira cal caminar. Si véns amb mi, no demanis un camí planer. Ni estels d'argent, ni un demà ple de promeses, sols un poc de sort i que la vida ens doni un camí ben llarg. (chorus) x2

"May we be lucky" If you say goodbye to me, I want the day to be neat and clear. May no bird break the harmony of its singing. May you be lucky, and may you find what you've lacked with me. If you say "I want you", may the sun make the day much longer. So we can steal time from a stopped clock's time. May we be lucky, and may we find all we lacked yesterday. (chorus) So take, so take all the fruit it can give you. The path you, little by little, write for tomorrow. Because tomorrow, because tomorrow, the fruit will be lacking at every step. That's why, fog and all, we must keep walking. If you come with me, don't ask for a smooth path. Nor for silver stars, or a tomorrow full of promises, just a bit of luck and may life give us a very long path. (chorus) x 2

I wanted to include some more songs, but the post is getting too long, so more of this tomorrow! :)

Catalan literature in English translation

Hi there! Once again, I've managed not to write a post for almost a month... Lots of things have happened (to start with, my trip to London), but today I'm going to tell you about something else.

Come September, I'm going to join a book group here in Glasgow (organised by this other blogger). She asked us to name 5 books so that we could benefit from everyone's suggestions. I wanted to include something originally in Catalan... How innocent I still am.

My first thought was El mecanoscrit del segon origen ("Typescript of the Second Origin"), by Manuel de Pedrolo, a brilliant sci-fi novel that most Catalan teenagers read in high school. I've read somewhere that it plays the same role for Catalan youngsters as The Catcher in the Rye does for English-speaking readers, in the sense it's a kind of "coming of age novel" (for both the characters and the reader)... and I agree. However, I hadn't thought it possible that there would be no English translation... But that is the case!!! So I settled for La plaça del diamant (The Time of the Doves in its English translation) by Mercè Rodoreda. It's not my favourite piece of Catalan literature, but I didn't have much choice!

It's really a shame that I can't share some of my favourite books with my English-speaking friends. Then again, I know how little is translated into English from other languages, not just Catalan. If there is no market for it, it will never happen... So here I am, trying to tell you a bit about Catalan literature, to get readers interested and to try and get the publishing houses' attention, with any luck.

Some background info first:

Catalonia is (legally) an "autonomous community" ("comunitat autònoma") in Spain, with some 7.5 million people living there. Its capital is Barcelona. Catalonia is divided into four provinces, named after their capital cities: Barcelona, Girona, Tarragona and Lleida. Because of its history, culture, and language (Catalan), many people consider Catalonia to be a nation in its own right, but this is not legally recognised by the Spanish Constitution. The current Catalan government is trying to establish the terms of  a referendum about independence (it'll possibly take place in October 2014, probably without the Spanish government's approval). For historical reasons, the Catalan language is spoken not only in Catalonia, but also in areas of Aragon, Valencia, Murcia and also in a part of Southern France (which is actually called in Catalan "North Catalonia"), as well as in Andorra (a little country in the Pyrenees, in between Catalonia and France), the Balearic Islands (Majorca, Minorca and Ibiza are the biggest in the archipelago) and a little town in the Italian island of Sardinia called Alghero ("L'Alguer" in Catalan). All in all, about 11 million people have some degree of linguistic competence in Catalan. Because of the geographical extension of the Catalan language, some people call the group of territories where Catalan is spoken "the Catalan countries" ("països catalans"). That term has political nuances, though, so it's best to avoid it so as not to hurt anyone's sensibilities. There's a bit of Catalonia, the shire of Vall d'Aran, where they speak another language, the Aranese variant of Occitan ("aranès" in Catalan, "aranés" in Aranese).

Here's a map for you:

Instead of going on about Catalan literature, its history and its landmark works, I'll leave you with a few links:

- Blog post about Catalan lit in English translation (some debatable or wrong background info, but the list is good)

- Institut Ramon Llull's page on Catalan lit

- British Library exhibition

- Dalkey Archive Press's Catalan literature series

To finish off, I'll translate one of my favourite poems in Catalan (and one of the most famous in this language), "Corrandes d'exili" by Pere Quart (taken from here).

"Corrandes d'exili" (1947) Una nit de lluna plena tramuntàrem la carena, lentament, sense dir re. Si la lluna feia el ple, també el féu la nostra pena. L'estimada m'acompanya de pell bruna i aire greu (com una marededéu que han trobat a la muntanya). Perquè ens perdoni la guerra, que l'ensagna, que l'esguerra, abans de passar la ratlla, m'ajec i beso la terra i l'acarono amb l'espatlla. A Catalunya deixí el dia de ma partida mitja vida condormida; l'altra meitat vingué amb mi per no deixar-me sens vida. Avui en terres de França i demà més lluny potser, no em moriré d'enyorança, ans d'enyorança viuré. En ma terra del Vallès tres turons fan una serra, quatre pins un bosc espès, cinc quarteres massa terra. "Com el Vallès no hi ha res". Que els pins cenyeixin la cala, l'ermita dalt del pujol; i a la platja un tenderol que bategui com una ala. Una esperança desfeta, una recança infinita. I una pàtria tan petita que la somio completa.

"Exile songs" (*1) On a full moon night we walked over the mountains' edge slowly, saying nothing. The moon was going full and so was our sorrow. My beloved goes with me with her brown skin and grave air (like an image of the Virgin Mary that they've found in the mountain). (*2) So as to make it forgive us for the war, that stains it with blood and ruins it, before going over the line, (*3) I bend down and kiss the earth and I caress it with my shoulder. In Catalonia I left on the day of my departure half a life in slumber; the other half came with me so as not to leave me lifeless. Today in French land and tomorrow maybe further away, I won't die of homesickness, rather I'll live on it.  In my land of the Vallès (*4) three hills make a mountain chain, four pine trees a thick forest, and five fields too much land. (*5) "There is nothing quite like the Vallès" May the pine trees cling to the cove, the chapel on top of the mound; and on the beach a little tent that flaps like a wing. An undone hope, an infinite regret. And a homeland so small that I dream it complete.

Here's a video of Pere Quart himself reciting the poem in Catalan, in 1970:

*Translation notes:

(1) Many Spanish artists, writers, and dissenters had to resort to exile after the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) led to almost 40 years of fascist military dictatorship.
(2) This is a reference to the most famous image of the Virgin Mary in Catalonia - fondly nicknamed "la Moreneta" ("the little dark-skinned (Virgin Mary)").
(3) The border between Spain and France.
(4) The Vallès (loosely translatable as "Valley land") is a shire in Catalonia (incidentally, that's where I'm from too!).
(5) I've used the word "fields", but the original actually indicates five measures of land (impossible to determine because they are not described in terms of surface, but in terms of harvest production - but it's clearly a really small amount of land).


I hope you've enjoyed the post, the rant, and that you go on to read something translated from the Catalan! :)