song: When I'm 64
language: Swedish
performer: Kent Adeborn
Kent Adeborn is the singer for a band called The Bertils, a 60's cover band made up of ex-Volvo engineers.
Friday, January 18, 2013
just mir zwe
song: Two of Us
language: Luxembourgish
performer: Lucy spillt um Späicher mit Däiwel
Lucy spillt um Späicher mit Däiwel's shtick seems to have two components: 1) covering Beatles songs in Luxembourgish (a German dialect, co-official in Luxembourg with German and French), and 2) performing in their underpants. Not the worst way to go through life.
language: Luxembourgish
performer: Lucy spillt um Späicher mit Däiwel
Lucy spillt um Späicher mit Däiwel's shtick seems to have two components: 1) covering Beatles songs in Luxembourgish (a German dialect, co-official in Luxembourg with German and French), and 2) performing in their underpants. Not the worst way to go through life.
quello che manca
song: Paperback Writer
language: Italian
performer: Augusto Righetti
Augusto Righetti has been recording and performing since 1959. In 1966 he released an album of Beatles covers, so there's more of him coming.
language: Italian
performer: Augusto Righetti
Augusto Righetti has been recording and performing since 1959. In 1966 he released an album of Beatles covers, so there's more of him coming.
pas de papier water
song: Paperback Writer
language: French
performer: Les Rolling Bidochons
Les Rolling Bidochons are a French parody group led by comedian Christian Binet. I'm guessing the title is supposed to mean "no toilet paper"?
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
буянаа-наран мандлаа
song: Here Comes the Sun
language: Mongolian
performer: Manlai Ganbaatar
I don't know anything about Manlai Ganbaatar beyond what's on his YouTube channel. He's got a handful of Beatles covers. Very nice version.
language: Mongolian
performer: Manlai Ganbaatar
I don't know anything about Manlai Ganbaatar beyond what's on his YouTube channel. He's got a handful of Beatles covers. Very nice version.
prudenjo
song: Dear Prudence
language: Esperanto
performer: Stefo
Surprised to find someone doing Beatles covers in Esperanto? I'm surprised I haven't found more (yet). Stephan Schneider (Stefo is either his stage name or his Esperanto name) sings Dear Prudence here in a live performance. They lyrics are given in the description.
language: Esperanto
performer: Stefo
Surprised to find someone doing Beatles covers in Esperanto? I'm surprised I haven't found more (yet). Stephan Schneider (Stefo is either his stage name or his Esperanto name) sings Dear Prudence here in a live performance. They lyrics are given in the description.
era mentira
song: Day Tripper
language: Spanish
performer: Los Yaki
Los Yaki were one of the biggest Mexican rock bands in the 60's. This is a garage-y yet faithful cover of Day Tripper.
language: Spanish
performer: Los Yaki
Los Yaki were one of the biggest Mexican rock bands in the 60's. This is a garage-y yet faithful cover of Day Tripper.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
michel[le]
song: Michelle
language: French
performers: Danielle Denin, Les Atomes, 18 Carats, Robert Demontigny, Bob Smart, Dominique
It's no surprise that there are lots of French covers of Michelle, what with the head start John & Paul gave the translators.
Let's start with Danielle Denin, whose recording of I'm Looking Through You was just posted the other day. This is the studio version, but there's an unembeddable live performance which is more interesting to watch, especially for the brief memory lapse at about 1:25. The translation she sings has a bit of a change: Michelle becomes Michel (Michael), and instead of "Michelle, ma belle, sont des mots qui vont très bien ensemble", we get "Michel et Danielle / sont deux noms qui vont très bien ensemble" ("Michael and Danielle / are two names that go together well").
Next up is Les Atomes from Saint-Jérome, Quebec:
Also from Quebec, a band called 18 Carats, who also change the gender to Michel:
Robert Demontigny, yet another Québécois, who mixes in some of the English lyrics here and there:
Bob Smart (whoever that is) also sings Danielle Denin's version (I guess it's better than "Michelle et Bob..."):
And finally, Dominique (a singer associated with Georges Jouvin), who also does the "Danielle" version:
language: French
performers: Danielle Denin, Les Atomes, 18 Carats, Robert Demontigny, Bob Smart, Dominique
It's no surprise that there are lots of French covers of Michelle, what with the head start John & Paul gave the translators.
Let's start with Danielle Denin, whose recording of I'm Looking Through You was just posted the other day. This is the studio version, but there's an unembeddable live performance which is more interesting to watch, especially for the brief memory lapse at about 1:25. The translation she sings has a bit of a change: Michelle becomes Michel (Michael), and instead of "Michelle, ma belle, sont des mots qui vont très bien ensemble", we get "Michel et Danielle / sont deux noms qui vont très bien ensemble" ("Michael and Danielle / are two names that go together well").
Next up is Les Atomes from Saint-Jérome, Quebec:
Also from Quebec, a band called 18 Carats, who also change the gender to Michel:
Robert Demontigny, yet another Québécois, who mixes in some of the English lyrics here and there:
Bob Smart (whoever that is) also sings Danielle Denin's version (I guess it's better than "Michelle et Bob..."):
And finally, Dominique (a singer associated with Georges Jouvin), who also does the "Danielle" version:
Monday, January 7, 2013
ring ring här är svensktoppsjuryn
song: Maxwell's Silver Hammer
language: Swedish
performer: The Hootenany Singers
The Hootenany Singers were a Swedish folk group that included Björn Ulvaeus (later of ABBA). They had several Swedish and a few international hits. This song is not a translation of Maxwell's but rather a parody of the Swedish hit countdown radio show Svensktoppen and the people who chose the songs that made it. (The anonymous jury must have been sufficiently shamed, as they put this song on the chart for 3 weeks. It's the only plausible explanation I can come up with.)
language: Swedish
performer: The Hootenany Singers
The Hootenany Singers were a Swedish folk group that included Björn Ulvaeus (later of ABBA). They had several Swedish and a few international hits. This song is not a translation of Maxwell's but rather a parody of the Swedish hit countdown radio show Svensktoppen and the people who chose the songs that made it. (The anonymous jury must have been sufficiently shamed, as they put this song on the chart for 3 weeks. It's the only plausible explanation I can come up with.)
פטישו של מקסוול
song: Maxwell's Silver Hammer
language: Hebrew
performers: It's Fun to Love (cast), C-van
Two Hebrew versions of Maxwell tonight. The first is from a musical production called "טוב לאהוב" which literally translates as "Good Love", but the soundtrack's English title is "It's Fun to Love". I don't know anything about the musical other than it was written and directed by noted Israeli playwright Dan Almagor (who uploaded the first video). There's another video montage for this recording that someone put up, using a cartoon depiction of the song in all its bloody glory (with original English lyrics as subtitles), if you're so inclined.
I've posted Israeli YouTuber cvanyihye (C-van)'s cover of Across the Universe previously, and I'll be posting the rest of her Hebrew Beatles covers in the future. Her translation seems (according to google) to follow the same basic gruesome storyline as the original, but with differences in the details to make the poetry work (the hammer becomes an axe, and Maxwell becomes Dr. Sammy).
language: Hebrew
performers: It's Fun to Love (cast), C-van
Two Hebrew versions of Maxwell tonight. The first is from a musical production called "טוב לאהוב" which literally translates as "Good Love", but the soundtrack's English title is "It's Fun to Love". I don't know anything about the musical other than it was written and directed by noted Israeli playwright Dan Almagor (who uploaded the first video). There's another video montage for this recording that someone put up, using a cartoon depiction of the song in all its bloody glory (with original English lyrics as subtitles), if you're so inclined.
I've posted Israeli YouTuber cvanyihye (C-van)'s cover of Across the Universe previously, and I'll be posting the rest of her Hebrew Beatles covers in the future. Her translation seems (according to google) to follow the same basic gruesome storyline as the original, but with differences in the details to make the poetry work (the hammer becomes an axe, and Maxwell becomes Dr. Sammy).
Sunday, January 6, 2013
белый день
songs: Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da, Lady Madonna, Hey Jude, Can't Buy Me Love, Let it Be, Yesterday
performer: White Day
White Day is a long-running group headed by accordionist Valery Semin. I can't find out much more than what's at their website, but these clips are simply amazing. I'm not sure what to call it - Cossack Swing? Certainly a blend of traditional Russian music (and instrumentation, with the balalaika and domra) and jazz, with maybe a bit of bluegrass in there as well.
Beyond the wonderful arrangements and musicianship, they are fun to watch; Semin is in a constant state of ecstasy while he plays, and shares loving expressions with his bandmates when they solo. The balalaika player always gets this "who me?" look on his face when Semin looks at him. The woman wearing her percussion is wild too. You almost don't notice the subdued bass player, except that he's apparently also a 4-star Brigadier Bellhop.
In this first clip (skip to 0:30 to avoid intro stuff), they do Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da, Lady Madonna, Hey Jude, and Can't Buy Me Love:
Next they do Let it Be and Yesterday:
And here's the first set again, in another live performance (with a different balalaika player); the baffled/delighted looks in the audience are priceless:
performer: White Day
White Day is a long-running group headed by accordionist Valery Semin. I can't find out much more than what's at their website, but these clips are simply amazing. I'm not sure what to call it - Cossack Swing? Certainly a blend of traditional Russian music (and instrumentation, with the balalaika and domra) and jazz, with maybe a bit of bluegrass in there as well.
Beyond the wonderful arrangements and musicianship, they are fun to watch; Semin is in a constant state of ecstasy while he plays, and shares loving expressions with his bandmates when they solo. The balalaika player always gets this "who me?" look on his face when Semin looks at him. The woman wearing her percussion is wild too. You almost don't notice the subdued bass player, except that he's apparently also a 4-star Brigadier Bellhop.
In this first clip (skip to 0:30 to avoid intro stuff), they do Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da, Lady Madonna, Hey Jude, and Can't Buy Me Love:
Next they do Let it Be and Yesterday:
And here's the first set again, in another live performance (with a different balalaika player); the baffled/delighted looks in the audience are priceless:
regresa
song: Get Back
language: Spanish
performers: Los Johnny Jets, Los Buitres
Mexican garage rock band Los Johnny Jets does a good cover of Get Back. Regresa is the "official" title translation (as seen on some Beatles releases in Spanish-speaking countries), but this translation is called Ven Ya ("come already").
Here's Que Va ("No Way!") by Venezuelan band Los Buitres:
language: Spanish
performers: Los Johnny Jets, Los Buitres
Mexican garage rock band Los Johnny Jets does a good cover of Get Back. Regresa is the "official" title translation (as seen on some Beatles releases in Spanish-speaking countries), but this translation is called Ven Ya ("come already").
Here's Que Va ("No Way!") by Venezuelan band Los Buitres:
je lis dans tes yeux
song: I'm Looking Through You
language: French
performer: Danielle Denin
Well I can't seem to find out anything about Danielle, which is odd because there are a bunch of her songs floating around on YouTube, but none of them give much in the way of clues. She seems to have released a few singles in the mid-60s and then vanished from the pop scene. Anyway, this is a nice version.
language: French
performer: Danielle Denin
Well I can't seem to find out anything about Danielle, which is odd because there are a bunch of her songs floating around on YouTube, but none of them give much in the way of clues. She seems to have released a few singles in the mid-60s and then vanished from the pop scene. Anyway, this is a nice version.
gestern noch
song: Yesterday
language: German
performers: Knut Kiesewetter, Judita Čeřovská
Knut Kiesewetter grew up in North Friesland in Germany and became a renowned jazz trombonist and composer. Notably he and his jazz band once shared the stage with the Beatles during their stint in Hamburg. He also delved into rock, blues, soul, gospel and folk, and recorded many songs in Frisian and Low German (none of them Beatles covers, unfortunately).
And here's a cover by Czech pop singer Judita Čeřovská:
language: German
performers: Knut Kiesewetter, Judita Čeřovská
Knut Kiesewetter grew up in North Friesland in Germany and became a renowned jazz trombonist and composer. Notably he and his jazz band once shared the stage with the Beatles during their stint in Hamburg. He also delved into rock, blues, soul, gospel and folk, and recorded many songs in Frisian and Low German (none of them Beatles covers, unfortunately).
And here's a cover by Czech pop singer Judita Čeřovská:
te adoro
song: I Need You
language: Portuguese
performer: Os Golden Boys
The Golden Boys were a Brazilian band made up of three brothers and a cousin who were popular in the late 50s and 60s.
language: Portuguese
performer: Os Golden Boys
The Golden Boys were a Brazilian band made up of three brothers and a cousin who were popular in the late 50s and 60s.
Friday, January 4, 2013
брангуртысь песянайёс
songs: Let it Be, Yesterday
language: Udmurt
performer: Buranovskiye Babushki
The "Buranovo Grannies" were the feel-good story of the 2012 Eurovision contest, where they finished 2nd with their song Party for Everybody. An actual group of singing grandmothers from Udmurtia (a republic in the Russian Federation), they're all over 70 and are now bona fide pop stars. Certainly the novelty of a bunch of elderly women singing in a language most people (Russians included) had never heard (nor heard of) is a component of their celebrity.
But listen to them; they sing beautifully, honestly, with none of the glitz that surrounds them on stage. It's obvious it comes from somewhere culturally deep and rich (which makes the contrast at Eurovision all the starker).
So, here they are singing Let it Be (accompanied by a group called Sappy), followed by Yesterday.
language: Udmurt
performer: Buranovskiye Babushki
The "Buranovo Grannies" were the feel-good story of the 2012 Eurovision contest, where they finished 2nd with their song Party for Everybody. An actual group of singing grandmothers from Udmurtia (a republic in the Russian Federation), they're all over 70 and are now bona fide pop stars. Certainly the novelty of a bunch of elderly women singing in a language most people (Russians included) had never heard (nor heard of) is a component of their celebrity.
But listen to them; they sing beautifully, honestly, with none of the glitz that surrounds them on stage. It's obvious it comes from somewhere culturally deep and rich (which makes the contrast at Eurovision all the starker).
So, here they are singing Let it Be (accompanied by a group called Sappy), followed by Yesterday.
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