I’ve decided to try my hand at translating some old pop culture stuff that just floats around in my head normally - because then at least when it surfaces I’ll be getting a bit of practice done. First one I’m trying is to translate the theme of the 1990s show Captain Planet. I plan to update this with my progress, and would love to hear any thoughts or advice!
I’ll be posting Saesneg lines first, then Cymraeg.
The first two parts were pretty easy because the characters are just listing off their magic powers:
Earth! Fire! Wind! Water! Heart!
Dear! Tân! Gwynt! Dŵr! Calon!
Go Planet!
Ewch Planed!
By your powers combined, I am Captain Planet!
I figured the most straightforward way to make it work was to change it to “When you combine your powers, I am Captain Planet,” because that’s basically what they’re trying to get across.
*Pan i chi cyunaf pŵerau, Capten Planed dw i!
I’m nearly caught up listening in SSIW to where I left off a few years ago, and so still quite foggy on how to talk about we and they, so would especially love feedback on this one.
I’m hoping to get 2 sentences done a day. And when I finish this, I think I’ll tackle the old He-Man theme song; should be plenty of good beginner sentences there because most of the lyrics are speech with the main character saying, “My name is ___ and these other characters are ___ and here are my cool accessories you can ask your mother to buy you for Christmas.”
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A guy I know has done this for a few songs recently for fun. I hope this helps you with inspiration on your project.
Pokémon Theme (Gotta Catch 'Em All!) - Welsh Cover/Fersiwn Gymraeg (Rhaid Ni Ddal Pob Un!) - YouTube
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I am still at work on this project. It has simply grown larger. and it has merged with my writing and reenactment projects. I’m also designing an experimental ‘aeolian crwth,’ despite not having built a musical instrument before. When I walked out of the local violin shop with a cello, I felt like a raccoon that a pizzeria employee keeps letting in the back door.
I’m learning the harp and crwth right now, along with learning about the skills, history, and culture needed to portray a late 12th century Welsh bard. As I’ve continued to think about this project in the context of everything I’m learning, I’ve recognized that I want to strip the lyrics and musical pieces for parts, and then use historical techniques to create a song that would have fit in the courts of Gwynedd. My eventual goal with all this is to pick places in the local parks and downtown areas to perform as my historical persona. I’m learning bardcore songs as well, and also sea shanties. (Side note: I learned that Bryn Terfyl made a sea shanties album! It’s wonderful to sing along with.)
I’ve expanded this project to include music that I think sound promising for a medieval Welsh interpretation. First up is Queen’s ‘Princes of the Universe.’ I’m doing a straight translation first, then I’ll use that to develop the finished song in medieval Welsh. Princes of the Universe feels much more straightforward than some of the other things I want to do, so this is my test piece. (And also my entryway into trying to write my own poetry and music again.)
Twysogion Y Bydysawd | Princes of the Universe
Intro
1. Yma ein ni, geni i bod brenhinoedd.
Here we are, born to be kings.
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Ni yw’r Twysogion y Bydysawd.
We’re the princes of the universe
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Dyma dyn ni, yn ymladd goroesaf.
Here we belong, fighting to survive
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Mewn byd gyda’r pŵeroedd tywyllwch, hei!
In a world with the darkest powers, hey!
Verse 1
1. Geni i fod yn frenhinoedd, Twysogion y bydysawd
And here we are, we’re the princes of the universe
What I like most and also find frustrating about translation is how each language has its own unique words that can overlap with one another, but which are still distinct. Like the different meanings of ‘belong,’ and what is the best word to convey ‘survival’?
Here are some other songs that I working out how to pluck the harp, and plan to transform them:
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Music from 1980s action franchises: He-man, She-ra, Thundercats
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Super Sentai music: The Power Rangers and its Japenese predecessors. This presents an opportunity to learn more about the popularity of Welsh poetry in Japan. I’ve read about it, but not about how that developed.
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Hair metal: I’ve been learning what the techniques are called, and I am excited to apply them to the harp!
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Appalachian music and union organizing music. I can’t think Welsh labor and organizing without also thinking about Appalachia. I don’t come from the poorer parts of Appalachia, but I was raised with a Disneyfied understanding and deep appreciation for the history and culture.
— Particularly, I feel like ‘West Virginia Coal Mining Disaster.’ The narrator of the song never gives any clues about where this particular disaster happened, so it stands in for all of them.
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Ghost Riders in the Sky. This is specifically something I want to do for the aeolian crwth I’m designing is supposed to give an impression of what it is like to stand in the middle of the wild hunt, where you’re not being chased or doing the chasing, you’re just observing. I’m in the process of gathering parts and figuring out what sounds I can get with materials that are easy to access.
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80s and 90s Sandi Patty music. I’m not religious, so my inspiration just the maximum! excitement! of these songs. They aren’t dripping with pathos, they are perpetually submerged in it.
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Amazing! Hope to see you play somewhere, sometime