Japanese Song Titles

[Billy Rees]

I love how different languages translate and I've been looking at the titles of songs, and how they translate from Japanese (via Google) to English... There's been a few surprises!

All Of Me To You = All Of My Life
Tear Ticket = Ticket To Ride
Sleepless Night = Eve
I Stopped Singing = Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing

Prelude to Love = We've Only Just Begun
Harukaaru Shadow = Close To You
Good-bye, Good-bye = I'll Never Fall In Love Again
Love Continuing = I Kept On Loving You

Small Love Wish = It's Going To Take Sometime
Poems of Animals And Children = Bless The Beasts And Children
Love In A Dream = I Won't Last A Day Without You
Journey To Tomorrow = Road Ode

Love Is The Color Of The Rainbow = Desperado
Love Like a Tree Leaf = Love Me For What I Am

Staring At Love = There's A Kind Of Hush
Fountain Of Smile = Can't Smile Without You
Sparkle Of Youth = I Need To Be In Love
Love Candle Light = I Have You
Sad Love = Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

Let Me Alone = B'wana She No Home
Two Love Songs = All You Get From Love is a Love Song
Goodbye To My Memories = I Just Fall In Love Again
That Day, That Time = Two Sides
Love Strength = Man Smart, Woman Smarter
Love In The Starry Sky = Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft

Distant Memory = Those Good Old Dreams
Wonderful Life = When You've Got What It Takes
The Color Of The Tears = When It's Gone (It's Just Gone)

I Am Too Happy = You're Enough
Distant First Love = Make Believe It's Your First Time
Memories Of Two People = Two Lives
Love Forever = Look To Your Dreams

The Future Of Love = Where Do I Go From Here
Remembrance Of Love = Remember When Lovin' Took All Night
If You Are All = You're The One

That Guy Alone = Nowhere Man

 

[Geographer]

I love how different languages translate and I've been looking at the titles of songs, and how they translate from Japanese (via Google) to English... There's been a few surprises!

All Of Me To You = All Of My Life
Tear Ticket = Ticket To Ride
Sleepless Night = Eve
I Stopped Singing = Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing

Prelude to Love = We've Only Just Begun
Harukaaru Shadow = Close To You
Good-bye, Good-bye = I'll Never Fall In Love Again
Love Continuing = I Kept On Loving You

Small Love Wish = It's Going To Take Sometime
Poems of Animals And Children = Bless The Beasts And Children
Love In A Dream = I Won't Last A Day Without You
Journey To Tomorrow = Road Ode

Love Is The Color Of The Rainbow = Desperado
Love Like a Tree Leaf = Love Me For What I Am

Staring At Love = There's A Kind Of Hush
Fountain Of Smile = Can't Smile Without You
Sparkle Of Youth = I Need To Be In Love
Love Candle Light = I Have You
Sad Love = Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

Let Me Alone = B'wana She No Home
Two Love Songs = All You Get From Love is a Love Song
Goodbye To My Memories = I Just Fall In Love Again
That Day, That Time = Two Sides
Love Strength = Man Smart, Woman Smarter
Love In The Starry Sky = Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft

Distant Memory = Those Good Old Dreams
Wonderful Life = When You've Got What It Takes
The Color Of The Tears = When It's Gone (It's Just Gone)

I Am Too Happy = You're Enough
Distant First Love = Make Believe It's Your First Time
Memories Of Two People = Two Lives
Love Forever = Look To Your Dreams

The Future Of Love = Where Do I Go From Here
Remembrance Of Love = Remember When Lovin' Took All Night
If You Are All = You're The One

That Guy Alone = Nowhere Man

^^^ Some of those translations could be song title's themselves to an inspiring songwriter (not me).

 

[CARPENTERS-COLLECTOR]

love some of those translations, but I have to question, how the hell you get from `Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft` to `Love In The Starry Sky`

 

[tomswift2002]

Here’s another

Burning Eyes = The Night Has A Thousand Eyes

 

[lotus]

Hello, Billy and everybody.
I will tell you some truth about "mysterious" Japan.

English is not an official language in Japan.
So, most Japanese do not understand the English lyrics.
Every Japanese has to learn English in school,
But, they are not good at hearing English.
That is why Japanese LP/CD has an English lyrics card with Japanese translation.

Imagine that you are a sales manager in Japanese record company. What will you do?
You are going to sell an English song to the people who cannot understand the English...
You will have to make a "catchy" title in Japanese words.
The words must be very attractive & very simple.
So, you are going to choose the Japanese words like "Ai(Love)", "Namida(Tear)", "Yume(Dream)", "Hoshizora(Starry Sky)"...
Even if they have nothing to do with the original title...

This is the story that how "unique" Japanese titles were born.
Because it is unique, the translated words by Google are different from the original US titles.

Sometimes, a sales manager made a very good & poetic titles.
If Richard could see that, another beautiful songs may be born.
(just like "Goodbye To Love" was born).

Nowadays, times have changed, Japanese people have changed.
Most people think that it is weird to make a "unique" Japanese titles.
They prefer the titles in direct Japanese translation, or the Katakana expression.
"Katakana expression" is a Japanese way to express a pronunciation of a foreign language.

By the way, "Haruka-naru" is a Japanese adjective that means "Distant".
So, the meaning of the Japanese title for "Close To you" is "Distant Shadow".
This title "Haruka-naru Kage" was made by Mr. Osamu Kanbai in King record company.
You might think "Distant Shadow" is not romantic anyway.
But, the Japanese words "Haruka-naru Kage" is very romantic.

When you translate a prose, Google translation is OK.
But, when you translate a poem, you need a good poet.

If you see Japanese LPs, they have a gorgeous jacket & a booklet & a poster.
It's because, Japanese record company has an interest in not only making money,
but also, making a good product for the musicians & their fans.

Thanks for reading (& sorry for my poor English).

 

[John Adam]

Thanks for reading (& sorry for my poor English)

You did fine! Thank you for sharing this with us.
It is very interesting, @lotus and understanding "why" words are translated in this manner.

 

[Mark-T]

Thank you,@ lotus! And your English is wonderful! Welcome to the discussion boards!

 

[Geographer]

Hello, Billy and everybody.
I will tell you some truth about "mysterious" Japan.

English is not an official language in Japan.
So, most Japanese do not understand the English lyrics.
Every Japanese has to learn English in school,
But, they are not good at hearing English.
That is why Japanese LP/CD has an English lyrics card with Japanese translation.

Imagine that you are a sales manager in Japanese record company. What will you do?
You are going to sell an English song to the people who cannot understand the English...
You will have to make a "catchy" title in Japanese words.
The words must be very attractive & very simple.
So, you are going to choose the Japanese words like "Ai(Love)", "Namida(Tear)", "Yume(Dream)", "Hoshizora(Starry Sky)"...
Even if they have nothing to do with the original title...

This is the story that how "unique" Japanese titles were born.
Because it is unique, the translated words by Google are different from the original US titles.

Sometimes, a sales manager made a very good & poetic titles.
If Richard could see that, another beautiful songs may be born.
(just like "Goodbye To Love" was born).

Nowadays, times have changed, Japanese people have changed.
Most people think that it is weird to make a "unique" Japanese titles.
They prefer the titles in direct Japanese translation, or the Katakana expression.
"Katakana expression" is a Japanese way to express a pronunciation of a foreign language.

By the way, "Haruka-naru" is a Japanese adjective that means "Distant".
So, the meaning of the Japanese title for "Close To you" is "Distant Shadow".
This title "Haruka-naru Kage" was made by Mr. Osamu Kanbai in King record company.
You might think "Distant Shadow" is not romantic anyway.
But, the Japanese words "Haruka-naru Kage" is very romantic.

When you translate a prose, Google translation is OK.
But, when you translate a poem, you need a good poet.

If you see Japanese LPs, they have a gorgeous jacket & a booklet & a poster.
It's because, Japanese record company has an interest in not only making money,
but also, making a good product for the musicians & their fans.

Thanks for reading (& sorry for my poor English).

This is a fantastic explanation! Thank you for this. I enjoyed reading it very much. I have been to Japan twice and it is one of my favorite countries to visit. The people are very polite and go out of their way, as you just did, to be patient and help others.

 

[CARPENTERS-COLLECTOR]

If you see Japanese LPs, they have a gorgeous jacket & a booklet & a poster.
It's because, Japanese record company has an interest in not only making money,
but also, making a good product for the musicians & their fans.

This is why I love the Japanese albums. the care and effort put into them, is night and day compared to U.S & European albums!

apologies if I caused offence by my earlier comment, it certainly wasn't meant to sir