Earlier, the Pokémon Company posted a new song featuring Pikachu! (See above). It seems to be a spiritual sequel of sorts to Mimikyu’s song (which I also translated here).
The Japanese title is: “PIKARAPがはじまるYO” (Lit: “Pikarap is beginning yo!”) I translated it to “Here Comes the PIKARAP Yo!”
Like before, I translated the lyrics (literally) below. It is meant to be a rap, so I eventually really want to work on a version that works rhythmically too, and that keeps a rhyme as well as some puns. But as that will take a bit longer, I give the literal translation for those curious and want it faster. If you want to take a tackle at making it fit the rhythm and rhyme, please feel free!
The original Japanese lyrics can be found in the vid itself, but I re-wrote them below (both in kana and romaji for your convenience).
I assume there will be an official English translation that comes out… but that remains to be seen.
This is a song translation request from a reader. It is a little late, considering they made the request back in October 2016, but I only got around to working on it now!
It is a song from the 80s by Tatsuro Yamashita that apparently had no translation, so I tried my hand at it. It has been awhile since I have done a song. They can be notoriously difficult to translate too, especially the more poetic ones such as this.
So I provide a literal translation only. I hope you enjoy! The song can be heard from the video above!
Regarding the title:
あまく危険な香り
Literally: “Sweet dangerous scent”
So “sweet” and “dangerous” are at odds with each other. It basically implies the scene is alluring, yet has a fatal downside to it. So “bewitching” I felt was a great way to go with it as it has a love implication to it.
Today I wanted to make a quick post talking about song translation and the difficulties/challenges people face when actually localizing it (officially or not). For reference, what I mean is beyond the simple translation, a way that works in the spirit of the original while still applying to the target audience/medium.
I felt it was a perfect opportunity to talk about after posting several different versions of the Mimikyu Song
I post every version in order below with some brief comments describing the step by step. A big thanks to aria and Alisha Lyn for doing the rhyming & rhythm fitting respectively. : )
And now, a reader on twitter named Alisha Lyn came along and did the last step: The rhythmically flowing version! So not only does the song stick to the original meaning, but it rhymes and flows in line with the music. Try singing along in English to the song above, it should work.
I’m not Pikachu, I’m Mimikyu, you know?
The lonely and friendless Mimikyu, you know?
Sunlight and brightness is all that I fear,
So shade and darkness is where I’ll appear.
Lonely and sad, I just want some friends,
And that’s why I chose this look: to pretend.
A Pikachu disguise, doesn’t it look good?
I made it myself, were you nearly fooled?
But don’t take it off, oh no don’t even try,
You could get cursed, or worse, could even die!
I’m not Pikachu, I’m Mimikyu, you know?
I’m not a monster, I’m Mimikyu, you know?
My claws will protect you from any sort of danger,
My thunderbolt will always help my kind and friendly trainer.
A loyal Pokemon that will follow ’till the end,
So come right over here and make me your friend.
I’m not Pikachu, I’m Mimikyu, you know?
Let’s all be friends, I’m Mimikyu, you know?
I’m not Pikachu, I’m Mimikyu, you know?
The lonely and friendless Mimikyu, you know?
I’m not Pikachu, I’m Mimikyu, you know?
I’m not a monster, I’m Mimikyu, you know?
I’m not Pikachu, I’m Mimikyu, you know?
So let’s all be friends, I’m Mimikyu, you know!
They did a great job huh? : ) I would’ve thought it was an official write up. A big thank you to them!
Please feel free to use these lyrics for your own purposes, whether it be for singing or what have you. All I ask is you link back here to give the proper people credit : )
I posted a literal translation of the Mimikyu Song earlier. Then a reader named aria came along and took up my challenge of making it rhyme and flow like a song should in English while keeping to the original meaning.
Pikachu? Nope, I’m Mimikyu
The lonely and friendless Mimikyu
Sunlight and brightness is what I fear
Shade and darkness is where I’ll appear
Lonely and sad, I just want to have friends
And that’s why I choose to pretend
A Pikachu disguise, does it look good?
I made it myself, weren’t you nearly fooled?
But don’t take it off, oh no, don’t try!
You could get cursed, or worse, even die!
Pikachu? Nope, I’m Mimikyu
A monster? No, I’m just Mimikyu
My claws will protect you from any danger
My thunderbolt will always help my trainer
A loyal Pokemon that will follow you to the end
Come on now, won’t you be my friend?
Pikachu? Nope, I’m Mimikyu
Let’s be friends, I’m Mimikyu!
Pikachu? Nope, it’s Mimikyu
The lonely and friendless Mimikyu
Pikachu? Nope, I’m Mimikyu
A monster? No, I’m just Mimikyu
Pikachu? Nope, I’m Mimikyu
Let’s be friends, I’m Mimikyu!
They did a great job huh? : ) I would’ve thought it was an official write up. A big thank you to them!
If anyone else out there wants to give a shot at making the above rhyme while keeping to the meaning, by all means please do! I would love to see what you could come up with.
(Or even sing the above lyrics! That would be so awesome).
Earlier, the Pokémon Company posted a new song featuring Mimikyu (from Sun/Moon).
Like with the Koiking song, I translated the lyrics (literally) below. It is meant to be a rap, so I eventually really want to work on a version that works rhythmically too, and that keeps a few puns. But as that will take a bit longer, I give the literal translation for those curious and want it faster.
Earlier, the Pokémon Company posted a new song much like the Slopoke/Yadon song. This time, it features Magikarp. See it above!
I translated the lyrics (literally) below. I really want to work on a version that works rhythmically too, and that keeps a few puns. But as that will take a bit longer, I give the literal translation for those curious.
I assume there will be an official English translation that comes out… but that remains to be seen.
Helpless and pathetic
Famous for being incredibly weak
Was it extremely powerful in ancient times? There are legends that say so, but
Today it’s extremely weak. So weak that it makes you cry!
The weak Pokémon Magikarp, the weakest of them all
The weak Pokémon Magikarp, so shockingly weak
Splashing about, always splashing
It can splash and splash up and through entire mountains
Why does it splash? Splashing for no reason, splashing even in battle with no purpose
Splashing in rhythm, on and on, and sometimes getting caught by a Pidgeotto!
The splashing Pokémon Magikarp, splashing the most of them all
The splashing Pokémon Magikarp, always jumping with a “flop flop!”
You can first encounter it anywhere
Using an old rod will make you fish out way too many
The sea, river, or even a dirty puddle –It will be found swimming in any body of water
It paddles along regardless of if the river is calm or flowing
If you manage to catch one: “Catch and release?” will probably cross your mind soon
If you manage to catch one: “Catch and eat?” What nonsense!
Even when it is shiny, with a golden color
It is still exactly the same on the inside
When it evolves into Gyarados, it becomes super strong. But waiting until then is really tough!
That old guy sold it for 500P! And with no refunds!
The unfortunate Pokémon Magikarp, it gets booed even when trying to help people
The unfortunate Pokémon Magikarp, nowhere near the top ranks
My Pokémon Magikarp, the one I’ll still continue to raise!
My Pokémon Magikarp, I’ll raise a party of six and fight with them!
The Magikarp we love, the one we love most in the world
The Magikarp I love, I dedicate this love song to you!
Notes:
By literal, I mean the overall meaning is literally translated. So it will not sing in rhythm, but just give a meaning.
Despite the literal meaning, however, I still translated Koiking to the name “Magikarp.” Likewise, I translated instances of “haneru (hop)” to “splash.” Even if that is not entirely accurate, it will ease the meaning for Pokemon fans.
I translated “yen” to “PokeDollars” as they were in Gen I as well.
Today’s post are the lyrics for “Lost in Thoughts All Alone” (the theme song to Fire Emblem Fates) as they appear in the official translation. The lyrics are vastly different than the Japanese lyrics that I translated back in July, so it will be interesting to compare them later on!
Update: I updated the above video for the full song!
It is notably missing the second verse of the song (which equates to Conquest/Nohr). As such, the song is incomplete, but will be updated to include the full song when it becomes available. UPDATE: We now have the second verse lyrics! Thanks to reader JL Brown for the link! Updated the lyrics below! Thanks to reader JL Brown for the link!
This was all done on my free time, and so took a while. It was certainly a lot of work, but I do hope you enjoy! Please consider donating if you like the work I do. : )
Note this is not an official transcript, but all by ear, though there are not many words that can be misunderstood.
UPDATE 2: [Feb 9th] I updated the song to iron out some rough edges. I hope you like this version better! I will be uploading the localized lyrics later on and hopefully compare them too. The officially translated lyrics for the English version (“Lost in Thoughts All Alone”) can be found here. .Though, they are vastly different as it is a “localization” rather than a translation.
UPDATE: The officially localized title for this song is “Lost in Thoughts All Alone.” The preview lyrics (shown in the final Smash Bros announcement video on Dec. 15 2015) already shows significant differences between the songs, but I will wait for an official lyrics release or transcription before comparing them!
This was all done on my free time, and so took a while. It was certainly a lot of work, but I do hope you enjoy! I am unemployed… so please considerdonatingif you like the work I do. : )
UPDATE 2: This is just based on the trailer. The full lyrics have sinced been released, and I translated them in full HERE.
UPDATE: It has been revealed that the name of the singer is Aqua. The official song’s name is “if – hitori omou”, or “One’s thoughts.” The below is still based on the trailer, but when the official song comes out, I’ll update it with the official lyrics.
A user onserenesforest.netkindly pointed out that a Japanese 2ch user uploaded potential lyrics for the song. So I translated them best I could. Please note that the translation is based on their interpretation of what they heard and transcribed, so if any errors arise, that is one possible reason.
I am still working on ironing out the translation. The song in question is during the first half of the trailer below:
tsutau mizu suji sono te ga hiraku asu wa hikari e te o nobasu kegare naki kin no tsurugi madoromi omoi o tachigitte tsutau seihitsu denshou yawaku hikari chitte yami wa sariyuku akatsuki hitori omou
From a vague lineage Comes a hand that will reach toward a light Opening a path to tomorrow The un-corruptable golden sword Will slash those hopes from their slumber And lead to prosperity That soft light will scatter And chase the darkness away Like a one man sunrise
—
There are still some things to work on, as 伝う水筋 can mean “along the river bank” or “from a watery lineage(?)” which itself can be taken to mean from a “vague lineage”, or “unknown linage.” In a way this can fit the theme of the game with Kamui being born in Hoshido and raised in Nohr, and so I went with “vague lineage.” The woman is singing on the edge of water though, so perhaps it is a pun?
“Slashing hopes from their slumber” implies awakening the hopes that were once lost, rather than crushing them as some may interpret it as.
With the new name Aqua, the watery image may work better. Also, “hitori omou” is the very last lyric of the song, so it can mean dawning on one’s thoughts rather than being a substitute for a metaphor.
kantopia 