Here are the winners of the German Pluricentric D-A-CH Translation Challenge!
NR. 1 - FÜR DEUTSCHLAND (D): CLUESO - SAG' MIR WAS DU WILLST
In joint first place for the translation of Clueso's song:
Takara Allum & Zoë Ring
Takara's and Zoe's translations both manage to translate the colloquial tone of the original very well. They are great examples for excellent translations that can be either closer to the original (Takara's) or a little freer in its use of idiomatic language. Both translate that feeling of being put to the test by your life to find "a meaning in it all" into English with great skill!
TAKARA ALLUM's translation :
Tell me what you want, tell me what you want
Tell me what you really want
Come on, spit it out, just get it out
Come on, tell me what's up (oh yeah)
Everyone says, "Hey, it’s cool what you have achieved"
They Take photos, shake my hand and then go on
My mood: cloudy to cheerful
It is easier to live with an empty head
Looking in the mirror, what has actually changed?
Other than more appointments in the calendar?
Searching for a lower denominator
ZOË RING's translation:
Tell me what you want, tell me, what you want
Tell me what you really want
Go on, spit it out, just get it out
Tell me, what’s going on
Y’all say hey it’s cool what you’ve done here
Take photos, handshakes and move on,
I’m feeling a bit under the weather
No worries, head as light as a feather
Lookin’ in the mirror, what’s really changed?
Apart from more things arranged
I’m looking for a deeper meaning
Nr. 2 FÜR ÖSTERREICH (A): SEILER & SPEER - STOPP' DOCH DIE ZEIT
Winner of first place for Seiler & Speer's song:
Zoë Ring
ZOË RING's translation really captures this atmosphere of pure hedonism, 'the perfect moment', when all feels 'just right' and you want to stay in the moment for a while, let go of all worries and enjoy life.
I drink a beer with a friend
And the sun shines outside
And the barbeque is glowing
And the flowers they are blooming
There’s no shouting from the boss
And for miles around no stress
No-one here to bother me ‘cause I just really don’t care
Please can someone just stop the time
‘Cause everything’s good n’ it makes me happy
How it is right now,
Can it stay like this forever?
NR. 3 FÜR DIE SCHWEIZ (CH): LO & LEDUC - ALL DIE BÜCHER
Winner of first place for Lo & Leduc's song:
Giulia Porfido
GIULIA PORFIDO's translation manages to convey that 'lässige' (=relaxed) attitude of the singers in this love song by staying close to the syntax of the original in Swiss standard German. There was some serious decoding going on, well done!
An honorary shout-out goes to the runner-up in this category, Zoe Ring!
Lo & Leduc: All the books
I could describe you now
With I don’t know what images.
Look, I could compare you to books and songs; you are so much more.
I couldn’t find the words, and I could never sing them
I could get lost somewhere; you are so much more.
All the books, that I have never read yet
and you are all the places I’ve never been to
You are all the songs I have never written yet
You remain, you remain, you remain my imagination.
Congratulations to all three winners of this challenge!
A little prize is on its way.
...for more challenges for translators and writers!
Coming soon!
