Wednesday, November 03, 2010

Beatriz: more amazing Brazilian music for you (English Translation too!)

At the end of nearly every Portuguese class I teach we listen to a Brazilian song whose subject is related to what we just studied. I am passionate about Brazilian popular music (MPB: Música Popular Brasileira) and I want to share that passion with the students.

Of course more often than not, the students just listen to the songs as a curiosity, but last week I think they were moved by one of my many favorites, Beatriz, a song by the amazingly talented songwriter/lyricist/novelist/singer (he's not the best singer, but he sings OK) Chico Buarque in a partnership with Edu Lobo. The best interpretation of the song is by another amazing Brazilian singer, Milton Nascimento.

After my students seemed so touched by the song I went to research a little bit more about it and found out that it is part of a ballet called O Grande Circo Místico. The spectacle first took place in 1982, but the CD was not released until last year. The ballet has a great website (in Portuguese) which is where I learned what it is all about --  it's fascinating!

The inspiration came from a really crazy poem by Jorge de Lima which, in turn, was loosely based on a real story! The story of how the Knie Circus (nowadays, Switzerland's "national circus" -- site in German) and how this Austrian medical student fell in love with an equestrian acrobat (Agnes in real life, Beatriz in the ballet). If you're interested I can give more information in the comments (translating some of the circus' story from Portuguese). For now, I just want you to listen to this song... it's beyond lovely, I should include the lyrics and translation in the future too. Last see. I hope you like it!

Note: the slide show is really cheesy, so you don't have to look at it. ;-)



Spanish subtitles only:


Edited to add (on 3/22/2011):
Someone found this post Googling for the English translation of Beatriz and he emailed me to ask for a translation. Here is is:
Edited to correct the translation, see comment below (07/07/2014) -- thanks Jules!

Beatriz
(Edu Lobo/ Chico Buarque)

Look
I wonder,* is she a virgin?
I wonder, is she sad?
I wonder, is it the contrary?
I wonder, is it a painting?
The actress’ face
If she dances in the seventh heaven
If she believes it is another country
And what if she only memorizes her role
And what if I could enter her life
Look
I wonder, is it made of porcelain [or china]?
I wonder, is it made of ether?
I wonder, is it madness?
I wonder, is it a set decoration?
The actress’ house
If she lives in a sky-scraper
And what** if the walls are made of chalk
And what if what she cries in a hotel room
And what if I could enter her life
Yes, take me forever, Beatriz
Teach me not to walk with feet on the ground***
Forever is always by a thread
There, tell me how many disasters are there in my hand
Tell me if it is dangerous for us to be happy
Look
I wonder, is it a star?
I wonder, is it a lie?
I wonder, is it comedy?
I wonder, is it divine?
The actress’ life
If she one day falls from the sky
And what if the costumers [payers] demand an encore
And what if the archangel passes the hat around
And what if I could enter her life.

* Será means “will be,” but será que ela é cannot be readily conveyed in English. I have decided to use “I wonder” in spite of the fact that Será que is impersonal.
** I had originally translated "E se" literally as "And if..." but decided to add "what" because I think it makes more sense in English and makes the "wondering" of the narrator stronger. I made this change on 6/24/12
***she was a tight-rope walker on the play

5 comments:

Joy Mars said...

Thank you so much for your English translation of Beatriz. It's very good.

I wish you'd do all my favorites!

L said...

Thanks, Joy Mars!
Which ones are your favorites? Maybe I could translate some other ones!

viNndictive said...

I was doing my revision for an upcoming test and I had the classical station on. That was when I heard this sad melody and decided to do a google on it. Thanks for the translation for this beautiful song and even more splendid lyrics, albeit a little sad!

BRG said...

A colleague gave me a CD compilation of Beatriz played and sung by various artists but while I appreciated the music, I could not understand the song.

Thank you for sharing the background of the song and as a bonus - the translation.

Beatriz - this is my real name. :)

Unknown said...

I couldn't stop noticing that there are some mistranslated parts here. They are: (my corrections in CAPS)

Look
I wonder, is IT made of porcelain [or china]?
I wonder, is IT made of ether?
I wonder, is it madness?
I wonder, is it a set decoration?
The actress’ house**

** In this verse all four questions are about the actress' house.

Look
I wonder, is IT a star?
I wonder, is IT a lie?
I wonder, is IT comedy?
I WONDER, IS IT DIVINE?
The actress’ life

All four questions are about the actress' life, and that last one I think you just forgot to put in.

I think that's it. Cheers!