Hi, everyone--
I thought it would be fun to open a thread for song lyrics in Spanish that we English-speakers can't understand. I listen to a lot of Spanish music, but often hear a phrase that I can't translate, either because it's slang or because it's a culture-specific reference. Of course, I can't think of any at the moment, but thought it would be worthwhile to invite others to post some.

And it's only fair if we English-speakers would return the favor if any of our Spanish members are puzzled by English lyrics, right?

Tara

Is THIS heaven or what?! "Km.0", in RealAudio (43 seconds), by Ismael Serrano . <-Find lyrics in both English and Spanish.

Thanks, C.!

How are we supposed to post lyrics if we don't know what they are.

Here are some lyrics I can't understand:


Please let me know if anyone knows what they mean.

Graciñas...

Calibasco -

Ha ha ha ha!! I laughed so hard at your "song lyrics" that I started to cry!!

Ha ha ha!!

Cali, I meant lyrics we can't translate! But I suppose it would be possible to post something along the lines of "I can't understand the chorus of ___________" or "Can someone translate the first two lines of __________?"

Okay, I have one. In a song by Ella Baila Sola, they refer to a "mujer florero" (everybody sing along if y ou klnow it -"quiero ser tu florero, con mi cinturancha, muy contenta cuando me das el beso de la semana"). From the context of the song, I assume it to mean a "housewife," but does anyone know for sure. I haven't heard that expression anywhere else.

Hi Nicole --

I checked with my hubby..I knew that "florero" is flower vase, but also knew that there was a more "artistic" meaning to the line.

First, the correct line is:

"quiero ser tu mujer florero, con mi cintura ancha, muy contenta cuando me das el beso de la mañana"

This song pokes fun at the "traditional" woman in Spain. The woman who is merely the man´s adornment (mujer florero). The proverbial "fat" housewife, or "permanently pregnant" (cintura ancha).

Those are the interpretations given by my husband. Any other interpretations out there??

Saludos,
Chica

oops. Yeah, the concept of the song is quite clear, but I wasn't sure about the expression "mujer florero." I guess it is a culturally relevant example of "trophy wife," - one with a big ole belly.

Yup, like the "in the kitchen, barefoot and pregnant" idea we have in English.

Thanks for the new vocab!!

Would someone translate the first verse of "Divina" by Radio Futura for me? Many thanks!

Hi,

I'm not sure if you want the translation or just the lyrics (keep in mind that they don´t always make much sense...). Just in case:


Divina, estás programada para el baile
y en la brillante nave te deslizarás
En tus manos de metal hay reflejos de rosas
y viento y coches, gentes del ayer.
Mimosa, te diré, cuando cante la luna
y tu cara será una estrella sobre mi pedestal

Suavemente abrazada a tu robot impasible,
bailaremos toda la vida en los bailes de Marte.

Tú hablas de la luz, y yo hablo de la noche
cuando los monstruos tienen nombre de mujer.
David Bowie lo sabe y tu mami también,
hay cosas en la noche que es mejor no ver.

Te veo bailar con pegatinas en el culo
y mueves con tu ritmo la cara de tus fans.
Eres una bruja de oro, eres un pequeño cáncer,
estuviste con KaKa de Luxe, pero no te oi cantar.

Just a little note on the 'mujer florero' subject. We use that expression and also 'mujer objeto' to refer to some girl/woman who does nothing appart from looking good. So, it's got nothing to do with housewives really, there are 'mujeres florero' in some offices or other work places, in politics, and some are homemakers.

In politics, it wouldn't be so much that they are good-looking; but that they get jobs at whatever political organization and THAT is what it's supposed to look good(to the public, etc...)

It's a pretty 'machista' expression if you ask me(specially speaking of housewifes, the ones I know work non-stop!). OK, they do exist, but there're such a minority!, and I think nowadays there are also 'hombres florero'.

'Ella baila sola''s lyrics in that song describe some women we call 'marujas'or 'maris'(more machista terms).

[ 02-04-2002: Message edited by: pim ]

Francisco, thanks for the lyrics--I think I understand most of them (there were a few words in Spanish I hadn't figured out), at least as much as a person can understand strange lyrics like that!!

pim:
Let me be the first to say, as an "hombre florero", that I have no problem with mujeres being "floreras"...

Oh, really? So you are an 'hombre objeto'? You'll have to post a pic of yourself for all the female MMan's population to see(and judge) then.

saludos,

p

Yeah, CaliBasco, when're you going to set up Cali-cam? :p

Saludos,
Tara

As soon as we all go blind, the Cali-Cam will be safe for humanity...and will go online. King Lear seems to think I'm handsome...

OK: Here's another. At Karaoke the other night near Barcelona, on came the Hombres G song "Devuelveme a mi chica". The Karaoke video is awesome, with the singer as Rambo, el pijo as Ken, and la chica as Barbie. One question: What are polvos pica-pica? The complete lyrics are below.

Estoy llorando en mi habitacion
todo se nubla a mi alrededor
ella se fue con un niño rico
en un Ford-fiesta blanco
y un jersey amarillo

Por el parque les veo pasar
cuando se besan la paso fatal
voy a vengarme de ese marica
voy a llenarle el cuello
de polvos pica-pica

CORO
Sufre mamon
devuelveme a mi chica
o te retorceras
entre polvos pica-pica

Sufre mamon
devuelveme a mi chica
o te retorceras
entre polvos pica-pica

Le he quemado su jersey
se ha comprado el pijo seis
voy a destrozarle el coche
lo tengo preparado
voy a ir esta noche

No te reiras nunca mas de mi
lo siento nene vas a morir
tu me quitaste lo que mas queria
y volvera conmigo
volvera algun dia....

Sufre mamon
devuelveme a mi chica
o te retorceras
entre polvos pica-pica

I'm going out on a limb here, but since its a threat that he hasen't carried out yet, and says that he'll put it on the guys sweater, it means itching powder. (give me back my girl, or I'll lace your sweater with itching powder). His girlfriend has run off with a guy with money (car, nice clothes...) 'polvo' means dust.. it has another meaning, but its kind of complicated to explain (translate) but basically it means sex. But pica means to itch, so this song the guy is going to play one heck of a joke on his competition! (better on his sweater than on the guys pants! :o )

Could someone tell me what calaito means? It's the focal word in a song I like.

Gracias

It comes from calado->caladito->calaito, participle of the verb calar, probably it would be a metaphore with the first meaning, the water getting deep in a permeable object.

calar.
(Del lat. chal&#257;re, bajar, descender, y este del gr. &#967;&#945;&#955;&#945;&#785;&#957;).
1. tr. Dicho de un líquido: Penetrar en un cuerpo permeable.
2. tr. Dicho de un instrumento, como una espada o una barrena: Atravesar otro cuerpo de una parte a otra.
3. tr. Agujerear tela, papel, metal o cualquier otra materia en hojas, de forma que resulte un dibujo parecido al de la randa (&#449; encaje).
4. tr. Cortar de un melón o de otras frutas un pedazo con el fin de probarlas.
5. tr. Ponerse una gorra, un sombrero, etc., haciéndolos entrar mucho en la cabeza. U. t. c. prnl.
6. tr. armar (&#449; la bayoneta).
7. tr. Medir una cuba con una vara o regla, para saber la cantidad que contiene y pagar los derechos.
8. tr. Inclinar un arma hacia adelante en disposición de herir. Calar la pica, la bayoneta.
9. tr. coloq. Conocer las cualidades o intenciones de alguien.
10. tr. coloq. Penetrar, comprender el motivo, razón o secreto de algo.
11. tr. coloq. Entrarse, introducirse en alguna parte. U. m. c. prnl.
12. tr. Mar. Arriar o bajar un objeto resbalando sobre otro, como un mastelero, una verga, etc., sirviéndose de un aro u otro medio adecuado para guiar su movimiento.
13. tr. Mar. Disponer en el agua debidamente un arte para pescar.
14. tr. Col. Apabullar, cachifollar.
15. tr. germ. Meter la mano en un bolso para hurtar lo que hay dentro.
16. intr. Dicho de un material o un objeto: Permitir que un líquido pase a través de él. Este impermeable cala.
17. intr. Mar. Dicho de un buque: Alcanzar en el agua determinada profundidad por la parte más baja de su casco.
18. prnl. Dicho de una persona: Mojarse hasta que el agua u otro líquido, penetrando la ropa, llegue al cuerpo.
19. prnl. Dicho de un ave: Abalanzarse sobre algo para hacer presa en ello.

MAM - What is the song?

Thanks for all of that Miguelito. The song is called Calaito. Its Paco Ortega. I first heard his stuff on the "Sobrevivire" soundtrack (A Spanish movie in case you didn't know. I haven't seen it though)

MAM, you have to see "Sobreviviré"! I love that movie.

I can't find it at any video stores around Boston, but I'll have to look here in New York. Do you have any other Spanish films to recommend? I'm always looking. -MAM

¡Hola, MAM!

I wonder if you like Spanish movies or movies in Spanish... Cause there's this Argentinian movie, a recent one, which is just great: 'Nueve Reinas'. Imagine when a thief meets and associates to another one to try to sell some rare postage stamps to a third guy. And this is just the beginning...

There is another argentinian movie I liked very much: El hijo de la novia. It is sometimes hilarious, and at times tragic. Great movie indeed.

Fernando