愛は勝つ / Love Always Wins

I received a rush job at the end of the last year to translate the lyrics to a song. When I heard it was Kan's Ai wa katsu I jumped at the chance. The song was released in the summer of 1990, just before I arrived in Japan, and was Kan's biggest hit. I was a big fan of his and I used to sing this song at karaoke often.
去年末に歌詞を翻訳する急ぎの依頼を受けました。その曲はKANの「愛は勝つ」と聞いて迷わず引き受けました。この曲は1990年夏、私が来日するちょうど前にリリースされて、KANにとって最大のヒットでした。私はKANの大ファンで 「愛は勝つ」をカラオケでよく歌っていました。

In the 90s, I sometimes attempted writing English lyrics to Japanese songs, but for some unknown reason it seems I had never attempted this one. I know the song backwards, so it was easier than working with a song I am unfamiliar with. As anyone who has ever tried writing English lyrics to Japanese songs knows,  Japanese melodies have many more notes than English ones, because the Japanese language doesn't really allow for contractions, such as "don't", "can't", "I'll" and so on. So I had to add to the imagery of the lyrics, which was difficult while maintaining the integrity of the original lyrics and melody. I only altered the melody in the second verse, which starts "Look up into the night...," giving the English lyrics the same melody as the first verse, "Don't you worry yourself..."
昔、大好きな邦楽の曲に英語歌詞を時々趣味としてつけたりしていましたが、この曲の英訳がメモ帳に残っていないということはきっと挑戦しませんでした。不思議です。馴染みのある曲なので、全然知らない曲より英語歌詞がよりつけやすかったです。しかし、英語歌詞を書く経験のある方がご存知の通り、邦楽は英語の曲よりメロディーが多いし、英語のように「don't」や「can't」、「I'll」の様な省略がないし、原曲の歌詞とメロディーにできるだけ忠実でありながら、英語に歌詞を増やす必要がありました。結局メロディーを変えたのが1カ所のみ。日本語歌詞に当たる「夜空に流星を...」の箇所を「心配ないからね...」と同じメロディーにしました。　

I finished the lyrics in three days and met my deadline, but they were never used in the planned TV show earlier this year. I thought it was a waste, so have posted them here.
三日に歌詞を仕上げて納期を間に合いましたが、予定通り今年1月に放送された番組に利用されませんでした。折角作ったのに勿体ないと思って、ここで掲載します。

Here is the version Kan recorded with other Japanese singers for Ganbaro Nippon to raise funds for the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.
以下は「愛は勝つ」の「かんばろうニッポン」バージョンです。

Love Always Wins (愛は勝つ)
Music & Original Lyrics: KAN
English Lyrics: George Bourdaniotis

Don’t you worry yourself
Someone out there feels your love
A new day will dawn for you
And together you’ll start anew
Whatever comes your way
Don’t you let it get you down
Though you want to hide away
You just need belief in yourself

Carry on, carry out
Love will bring pain
You feel you are chained
Waiting forever
Will seem in vain
Tender arms to give you some warmth Oh…Oh…
Through all you see
Remember your dream
Hold it to you
Remember the scenes
Memories of happiness Oh…

Look up into the night
If you see a falling star
Close your eyes and make a wish
You will sense a moment of bliss
Whatever comes your way
Don’t you let it get you down
Faith is all you really need
Have no doubt that love always wins in the end

Carry on, carry out
You’ll try too hard
And feel your heart break
You’ll be betrayed
It’s all give and take
Love takes time to bloom and to grow Oh…Oh…
You feel that day
Seems so faraway
When it’s in reach
You will find a way
Happiness takes hold of your heart Oh…

Don’t you worry yourself
Someone out there needs your strength
A new day will dawn for you
And together you’ll start anew
Whatever comes your way
Don’t you let it get you down
Faith is all you really need
Have no doubt that love always wins in the end
Faith is all you really need
Have no doubt that love always wins in the end

(c) English lyrics: George Bourdaniotis & Media Egg Communications

わくわくドキドキ/The Anticipation

今月楽しみにしているのが昔から大好きな歌手の最新リリース。2枚とも既に予約済み。一人は4年ぶり。もう一人はカバーアルバムから9年で、新曲を収録されたCDより26年ぶり！ 毎日首を長くして待っています。が、プレ・インターネット時代と比べたら、わくわく感が違います。当時シングルがリリースされて、 先行 2曲を毎日周りの人が飽きる程かけてアルバムを期待していました。今日だと曲がリークされ、色々なサイト上でプレビューされます。だからこそ、今回昔のどきどきを取り戻そうとしてSNSの投稿や試聴等を避けています。

This month I’m looking forward to 2 new releases from 2 of my favourite artists. I’ve already pre-ordered them. One singer’s last CD was four years ago. The other hasn’t released anything since her cover album, nine years ago. But this new release will be the first new material she has released in 26 years! I am eagerly awaiting both. But the excitement is different to what I felt in the pre-Internet days. Back then, a single was released (one song on either side), and I would play those two songs to death in anticipation. Today, songs are leaked, and albums previewed on various web sites. I’m avoiding all that hype and avoiding any posts or reviews on SNS sites and mailing lists to relive the anticipation I once felt.

The Japanese version first appeared in the May 2013 issue of the goodspeed monthly newsletter.
日本語バージョンはグッドスピードレター2013年5月号に掲載されました。

At the Top of Your Lungs – 大声で歌う

When I woke this morning, I was not bursting with energy nor was I sluggish. I was feeling normal. I had breakfast, put on a load of washing, brewed a cup of coffee and sat behind my desk to check e-mail. One thread on a particular mailing list was about one of my favourite songs, so I played it for the first time in how long. I was humming along while reading more e-mail, and before I knew it I was singing along. The song ended, but I wanted more. Hit play again. The first verse is quiet, but I pumped up the volume on the chorus and lost myself in the song. Then, silence. I sat back down – every nerve in my body tingling. I found my productivity had doubled. Maybe I will put on a different song every morning to get me in the mood to work.

今朝起きた時、 元気ではなく、怠くもな く、普通でした。 朝食後、洗濯して、コーヒーを入れて、机 に座ってメールチェック。あるメーリング リストには大好きな曲についての解説があ って、久々に聞きたくなりました。鼻歌を 歌いながらメールを読み続きましたが、 調子に乗っていつの間に大声で歌っていま した。終わって物足りませんでした。もう 一回再生しました。出だしは静かですが、サビから思い切り声を出して夢中。終りましたら、沈黙。ハイのまま机に座って意外に仕 事がより効率的にできました。これから毎朝作業する前に大声で歌いましょう。

The Japanese version appeared in the October 2012 issue of the goodspeed monthly newsletter. 日本語バージョンはグッドスピードレター2012年10月号に掲載されました。

A Local Rose Blooms

KS talks to Osaka-based Trinidadian, Alica Saldenha, about her debut album, Dance with the Sun, released in June. 

Saldenha left her native Trinidad to study in Cardiff, Wales, before coming to Japan over 10 years ago to conduct research. During her time at Osaka Gaidai, she joined the jazz circle and played clubs in Mino-o. But her studies left little time for her to concentrate on her material.

“I was doing standards everybody knew, because it takes time to form a band and arrange songs. I was frustrated for so long, because I had ideas and great songs no one was hearing. I was happy when I finished my Ph.D. in ethnomusicology and anthropology; I could focus on the songs I’d written. It took years to find musicians flexible enough to play my music. Ones who could accept who I was, because I’m not Japanese. After all that, I thought it was a shame to let that all go. Kansai is my home so I wanted to release my album from here.”

From a young age, Saldenha wrote ditties and entertained her mother and her friends, and she dreamed of a career on stage in musicals. Her influences span the genres – from opera and musical theatre to funk, calypso and jazz – so she was anxious about finding a local producer for her album, who could hear the sounds in her head as she did. Saldenha e-mailed several U.S. producers and found Andrew Felluss. “I didn’t expect him to reply, because he’d worked with Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey... Andrew had looked at my YouTube channel and was impressed with my songs, my voice and my stage presence.” Felluss found Saldenha “amazing musicians” to play on the album – Grammy-nominated pianist, Barney McAll; Mark Kelly, who worked with Meshell Ndegeocello; Chris Eddleton, who worked with Lizz Wright; Takuya Kuroda, who tours with Jose James; and Kaleta, previously of Fela Kuti's ensemble. The independently released Dance with the Sun was recorded during two visits to NYC, and all tracks, bar one, are self-penned. Saldenha describes her style as “funky soul with a twist of island sugar cane”.

Saldenha felt she received true recognition when Japanese nu-jazz instrumental combo, indigo jam unit, approached her to collaborate. “As an artist, I had many opportunities to work with people. Sometimes I wondered if I’d made the right decisions. I met a group I respected; I love their music. They respected what I was doing. Just being invited to do the album is a huge gift.” Saldenha’s resolve paid off; the collaboration album, Rose, won the Tokyo Jazz Notes Album of the Year, last year. “I wanted to do something I could be proud of. That was more important than fame or money. Though it’s not a commercial album, the way people reacted makes me feel everything I’ve sacrificed and all the time I put in was worthwhile. A dream come true.”

As part of the Rose tour, Alicia sang at Billboard Osaka. “I’ve stood on their stage as a guest, but it was overwhelming being the feature act – another of my dreams. I never wanted to get to these places doing something mediocre, because it was an easy ticket.”

“Billboard is a great place for networking; it’s the only place to meet great musicians.” Meeting R&B singer, Ledisi, at Billboard was a turning point. “I saw two shows back-to-back and was blown away. She put the same amount of energy into both shows. She sings out and doesn’t hold anything back.” Meeting her afterwards, Saldenha asked advice on performing without tiring or damaging her voice. “I was still finding my own voice. She gave me a lot of advice and recommended books. Those books helped change my approach to singing. I am really grateful, because I've met singers who are tired and just want to sign your stuff. She was definitely a major influence on my singing and the way I perform. Until then, I concentrated on singing correctly, pretty and safe. Afterwards I was a lot less reserved and started taking more risks.”

Alicia Saldenha Official Web Site
Dance with the Sun available in stores and on iTunes
Indigo Jam Unit 

Text: George Bourdaniotis Photos: Courtesy of Alicia Saldenha Originally published in Kansai Scene #146, July 2012.