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 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.
kantopia 