Getting tired poring over my textbook, I decided to do some alternative studying and tried to translate the lyrics to "Guadalajara" from Fun In Acapulco. Turned out that move wasn't too good for my self-confidence.
The first two lines I translated to something like "You have the provincial soul, you smell like a fresh early rose." But from there it went downhill with incomprehensible lines such as "to green woods, fresh from the river" and "thousand doves and your farm."
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapka1WEVEvDUH43UXYEPPpHGV3zhOhgIjKsnDRaF5BmwdUlZxaYfi6s-jB0u7QydjyeRYi6X7TND3kTxSr4E-PwI4SFrn73Uy1C_6BBD4blxIMGxrLQrcFuhpuHgHxOUfcEukBoi-GBFc/s200/funinacapulco.jpg)
Can't have been easy for Elvis learning the song, either. A couple of years ago, when I proudly played it for my father-in-law he just laughed at it, and said he preferred "Don’t Be Cruel."
At the time I couldn't judge Elvis performance from a Spanish point of view, but hearing it now and reading the lyrics at the same time, even to me it's pretty obvious the pronounciation leaves a lot to be desired.
For example, the Spanish word "Sabes" (meaning "You know") sounds like "Some piece" which is a bit off the mark. But it's like someone commented on YouTube (in Spanish) where you can watch Elvis performance. "I'm very much Latin, and I think Elvis sings this Mexican song very professional. I take my hat off for Elvis Presley."
Speaking of hats, the scene where Elvis sings "Guadalajara" must hold the record for most sombreros seen at the same time in a movie. And when they are all thrown in the air at the end it looks like Kelloggs Froot Loops!
1 comment:
That is comical. I wondered how well he did at other languages too. I would like to know how "Wooden Heart" compares as far as him being fluent when signing foreign words. Good for you for trying to decipher it yourself, and I guess it only goes to show how human and how much like "us" that Elvis really was. ;)
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