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Just saw this on youtube...Karen's voice in Spanish
My guess is that the master tape had issues in those regions. As someone who also speaks Spanish, I always thought that the lyrics were too literal, in the sense that, in order to fit all the syllables that need to be accentuated, Karen really had to cram together sounds (cant’ una canción, cantá ‘n voz alta), and that section was no exception. And in other parts, Karen actually accentuates the wrong syllable (canta de cosás buenas, que no sea tan buená). In other parts, pronunciation just seems a little off (pera que dure).This came up a couple of years ago. As I recall, Billy Rees had a copy of the 45 and shared it with us, and I remember lifting the "new" Spanish section from his copy and inserting it into the cleaner FROM THE TOP version. His single was mono and I had to fold down the stereo FROM THE TOP version to make things match up better. His version was way better than the one on YouTube.
I had two thought as to the "why" it was altered for FROM THE TOP. Either there was damage to the actual master tape that was irretrievable in that section, or perhaps the Spanish wasn't quite perfect or proper there. A Spanish speaker could confirm or deny the latter.
As things sometimes happen, I'd been searching for this single for years and just a week or so ago it showed up in one of my want lists. The 45 arrived today and I've cleaned it up the best I can and have uploaded it to YouTube.
The single is in mono, which might explain something regarding the replaced line. It might be damaged on Richard's stereo master and he opted to substitute the English line. Then to match it, he replaced it twice for consistency.
As things sometimes happen, I'd been searching for this single for years and just a week or so ago it showed up in one of my want lists. The 45 arrived today and I've cleaned it up the best I can and have uploaded it to YouTube.
The single is in mono, which might explain something regarding the replaced line. It might be damaged on Richard's stereo master and he opted to substitute the English line. Then to match it, he replaced it twice for consistency.
I’ve wondered if they ever sang it in any other language like German? I know that back in the 60’s Capitol had both the Beatles and Beach Boys record German versions of one of their songs in order to try to break into the mainland Europe scene. I wonder if there’s a German versing of “Sing” in the vaults?Sounds amazing! Thanks for uploading it!
Carpenters were not ABBA doing spanish songs for sure. The later group nailed every spanish recording they released in ORO (Gold)
I agree with Cuyler. Lyrics were too literal and pronunciation therefore is a little, well, pretty off. But still so lovely they had decided to record this song in spanish. As a spanish native speaker it made me really happy the first time I heard it in "From the Top." Very likely it was a rush job, otherwise whoever was doing the translation could have found the right words to fit better with the melody. But still a lovely piece. I don't know about Sing in Japanese... I have jokingly sang that to some japanese people I have met, and they wondered where did I learn that song. LOL.
If they ever practiced to do the song in German, the perfect opportunity to perform it would have been at the White House dinner for the West German Chancellor.I’ve wondered if they ever sang it in any other language like German? I know that back in the 60’s Capitol had both the Beatles and Beach Boys record German versions of one of their songs in order to try to break into the mainland Europe scene. I wonder if there’s a German versing of “Sing” in the vaults?
As someone who is not fluent in Japanese but grew up hearing Japanese (and I've studied it formally for years without becoming fluent LOL), the Japanese version to me sounds more like ABBA singing in Spanish. The translation is not literal, so it doesn't sound forced. For example, English "sing" is pretty vague (it's an imperative--but who is being told to sing?) -- Spanish "canta" is a tú command, so it's very specifically telling you, the listener, to sing a song. The Japanese translation for this line is 歌おう (utaou), which means "let's sing" (which actually matches the Japanese culture a lot more tbh--it's about the collective more than the individual).I don't know about Sing in Japanese... I have jokingly sang that to some japanese people I have met, and they wondered where did I learn that song. LOL.
True, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be able to analyze the music.There will always be differences in meanings between languages and cultures, and it's fun to have these alternate versions available for us to hear.
As things sometimes happen, I'd been searching for this single for years and just a week or so ago it showed up in one of my want lists. The 45 arrived today and I've cleaned it up the best I can and have uploaded it to YouTube.
The single is in mono, which might explain something regarding the replaced line. It might be damaged on Richard's stereo master and he opted to substitute the English line. Then to match it, he replaced it twice for consistency.
In Japanese I have to wonder what “Ole King Cole” has to do with ‘Sing’.As someone who is not fluent in Japanese but grew up hearing Japanese (and I've studied it formally for years without becoming fluent LOL), the Japanese version to me sounds more like ABBA singing in Spanish. The translation is not literal, so it doesn't sound forced. For example, English "sing" is pretty vague (it's an imperative--but who is being told to sing?) -- Spanish "canta" is a tú command, so it's very specifically telling you, the listener, to sing a song. The Japanese translation for this line is 歌おう (utaou), which means "let's sing" (which actually matches the Japanese culture a lot more tbh--it's about the collective more than the individual).
The next line, in English "sing out loud, sing out strong," and in Spanish "canta en voz alta, canta fuerte" (a literal translation here too), takes a totally different turn in Japanese: 声を合わせ (koe-wo awase). Literally, all it means is "voices joining" or "voices together" or "voices united" (I wrote "wo" because that's the standard romanization, but it's pronounced "o" like Karen sings.)
The only thing Karen does across languages that outs her as a native American English speaker is that she uses diphthongs, whether it's "awase(i)" or "tame(i)" in Japanese "Sing," or "alegre(i)" or "triste(i)" in Spanish "Sing," or "ave(i)" or "ple(i)na" or "te(i)cum" in "Ave Maria." I spoke with a Spanish speaker about this in length--Americans don't hear just how much we use diphthongs in English, so when we speak in other languages, this phenomenon spills over unintentionally.
I don't know what you're referring to, sorry.In Japanese I have to wonder what “Ole King Cole” has to do with ‘Sing’.
Ohhh, I think you're referring to the line she sings "ookina koe-wo dashi" (大きな声を出し), which I'm having a hard time translating literally. Literally it's something like "big voice(s) leaving," but a more normal translation would be something like "singing loudly" or "producing big voices." The next part, "hazukashi garazu" (恥ずかしがらず) means "without being shy" or "donʻt be shy" (Cat Stevens!).At one point Karen sings a line that sounds like she’s saying ‘Ole King Cole’!
As things sometimes happen, I'd been searching for this single for years and just a week or so ago it showed up in one of my want lists. The 45 arrived today and I've cleaned it up the best I can and have uploaded it to YouTube.
The single is in mono, which might explain something regarding the replaced line. It might be damaged on Richard's stereo master and he opted to substitute the English line. Then to match it, he replaced it twice for consistency.