2 years, 1 month ago
about Nikki Yanofsky I Believe
Translation check: the French version of Nikki Yanofsky I believe, J'Imagine.
I had some doubts about parts of the translation given in the video, so I modified it myself a bit
Please check the French translation of J'imagine and suggest improvements.
* Ils me faut marcher seul(e)
* (I must walk alone)
* Faire face à la musique
* (I must face the music)
* De ce parcours que j'ai choisi,
* (Of this path I've chosen)
* Le travail d'une vie.
* (The work of an entire life)
* Mais quelque fois quand j'en ai assez,
* (But sometimes when I'm tired of that)
* Que je songe à tout abandonner
* (When I think to give up everything)
* Tu veux que je sois ce que je suis.
* (You want me to be what I am)
* Je fonce alors je vie.
* (I do it and I feel great)
* J'imagine une force invincible,
* (I imagine an invicible force)
* La beauté d'un monde unie.
* (The beauty of a united world)
* J'imagine que l'on peut voler,
* (I imagine that we will fly)
* J'imagine de cette force une réalité.
* (I imagine this force a reality)
* Ce moment important
* (This important moment)
* Dont je rêve depuis toujours
* (That I always dreamed of)
* Marquera tout un changement
* (Will be a big change)
* À cet unique parcours
* (Of this unique path)
* J'ai au fond de moi la certitude
* (Inside I am certain of that)
* Que la terre entière m'ouvre les bras
* (That the whole world opens the arms)
* Elle qui m'encourage du nord au sud
* (The world that encourages me from the north to the south)
* Rien ne marrâtera .
* (Nothing will stop me)
* J'imagine une force invincible
* La beauté d'un monde unie
* J'imagine que l'on peut voler
* Ji'magine de cette force une réalité
* J'imagine que le temps est né
* (I imagine the time is born)
* D'être fier pour le monde entier.
* (To be proud for the whole world)
* J'imagine que l'on volera
* (I imagine that we will fly)
* J'imagine cette force nous ralliant toi et moi.
* (I imagine this force rallying you and me)
* J'imagine cette force nous ralliant toi et moi.
* J'imagine, j'imagine, j'imagine
* J'imagine le meilleur en moi.
* (I imagine the best in me)
* J'imagine, j'imagine, j'imagine
* J'imagine le meilleur en toi.
* (I imagine the best in you)
* {repeated}
* {second part repeated}
Please check the French translation of J'imagine and suggest improvements.
* Ils me faut marcher seul(e)
* (I must walk alone)
* Faire face à la musique
* (I must face the music)
* De ce parcours que j'ai choisi,
* (Of this path I've chosen)
* Le travail d'une vie.
* (The work of an entire life)
* Mais quelque fois quand j'en ai assez,
* (But sometimes when I'm tired of that)
* Que je songe à tout abandonner
* (When I think to give up everything)
* Tu veux que je sois ce que je suis.
* (You want me to be what I am)
* Je fonce alors je vie.
* (I do it and I feel great)
* J'imagine une force invincible,
* (I imagine an invicible force)
* La beauté d'un monde unie.
* (The beauty of a united world)
* J'imagine que l'on peut voler,
* (I imagine that we will fly)
* J'imagine de cette force une réalité.
* (I imagine this force a reality)
* Ce moment important
* (This important moment)
* Dont je rêve depuis toujours
* (That I always dreamed of)
* Marquera tout un changement
* (Will be a big change)
* À cet unique parcours
* (Of this unique path)
* J'ai au fond de moi la certitude
* (Inside I am certain of that)
* Que la terre entière m'ouvre les bras
* (That the whole world opens the arms)
* Elle qui m'encourage du nord au sud
* (The world that encourages me from the north to the south)
* Rien ne marrâtera .
* (Nothing will stop me)
* J'imagine une force invincible
* La beauté d'un monde unie
* J'imagine que l'on peut voler
* Ji'magine de cette force une réalité
* J'imagine que le temps est né
* (I imagine the time is born)
* D'être fier pour le monde entier.
* (To be proud for the whole world)
* J'imagine que l'on volera
* (I imagine that we will fly)
* J'imagine cette force nous ralliant toi et moi.
* (I imagine this force rallying you and me)
* J'imagine cette force nous ralliant toi et moi.
* J'imagine, j'imagine, j'imagine
* J'imagine le meilleur en moi.
* (I imagine the best in me)
* J'imagine, j'imagine, j'imagine
* J'imagine le meilleur en toi.
* (I imagine the best in you)
* {repeated}
* {second part repeated}
videos:
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M$1 Answer
Here are a few suggestions I made. I'm not a native, so anyone is welcome to correct me. :)
Ils me faut marcher seul(e)
- I must walk alone
Faire face à la musique
- To face the music (Note: There is no "must" in this sentence, it is just a continuation of the first line, I think.)
De ce parcours que j'ai choisi,
- Of this course/path/route I've chosen
Le travail d'une vie.
- The work of a lifetime (Note: The word "entire" is not present, just "life" - "lifetime" flows a bit better in English though, I think.)
Mais quelque fois quand j'en ai assez,
- But sometimes when I've had enough (Note: I think "I've had enough" translates a little better than "I'm tired of that," though both I think work fine.)
Que je songe à tout abandonner
- When I think of giving up everything (Note: "To give up" works, but "giving up" flows a little nicer in English.)
Tu veux que je sois ce que je suis.
- You want me to be what I am (Note: I'm tempted to use "You want that I were what I am," just to show that the singer is using the subjonctif here, but it doesn't work at all. How you have it is, I think, the only way a native English speaker would ever say it.)
Je fonce alors je vie.
- I keep on going, and so I live. (Note: "Foncer" can be a few different things, but considering the singer is unhappy, I think "to keep on going" or "to keep on keepin' on" or something like that would work. Also, "je vie" is "I live" - not "I feel great." The meaning behind this line is that the singer just keeps living the way she is, bears her burdens, and lives - but doesn't enjoy it.)
J'imagine une force invincible,
- I imagine an invicible force
La beauté d'un monde unie.
- The beauty of a united world
J'imagine que l'on peut voler,
- I imagine that we will fly (Note: I think "on" works as "we" in this case, but I'm not sure. I was taught that it's "one," but "we" works better.)
J'imagine de cette force une réalité.
- I dream a reality from this strength (Note: This is rather poetic license, I think. While "I imagine this force a reality" literally works, it doesn't make sense. I think the subject is placed at the end to give emphasis, meaning the actual lyric should be "J'imagine une réalité de cette force," which is "I imagine a reality from this force" or I think a better way to say it in English is "I dream a reality from this strength")
Ce moment important
- This important moment
Dont je rêve depuis toujours
- That I always dreamed of (Note: "Depuis toujours" is "since forever" - I want to say there is an English phrase that would fit that translation nicely, but "always" works as well.)
Marquera tout un changement
- It will mark everything a change (Note: You missed the verb "marquer" in your translation, "to mark." Also, this translation is awkward until you read the second line - then it flows together a little better.)
À cet unique parcours
- To this unique path
J'ai au fond de moi la certitude
- Inside I am certain of that (Note: A bit free of a translation, something more literal would be "I have certainty deep within me" or something, but both work.)
Que la terre entière m'ouvre les bras
- That the whole world opens its arms to me (Note: Your translation just said "opens the arms" - you must include the "m'" at the beginning - "to me" - and "the arms" sounds strange in English, I believe you can be liberal and say "its arms.")
Elle qui m'encourage du nord au sud
- The world that encourages me from north to south (Note: "The" is not needed for these directions in this case.)
Rien ne marrâtera .
- Nothing will stop me (Note: I assume the "ne" in this case refers to the "ne...pas" structure, reinforcing how absolutely nothing will stop... the world? me? There isn't a pronoun here, so I'm uncertain how best to translate this.)
J'imagine une force invincible
La beauté d'un monde unie
J'imagine que l'on peut voler
Ji'magine de cette force une réalité
J'imagine que le temps est né
- I imagine the time is born
D'être fier pour le monde entier.
- To be proud for the whole world
J'imagine que l'on volera
- I imagine that we will fly
J'imagine cette force nous ralliant toi et moi.
- I imagine this force rallying us, you and me (Note: Interesting wording, I would add in the "nous/we" as well as "you and me" just to keep it more faithful to the original - again though, it depends on how literal you want to be with your translation.)
J'imagine cette force nous ralliant toi et moi.
J'imagine, j'imagine, j'imagine
J'imagine le meilleur en moi.
- I imagine the best in me
J'imagine, j'imagine, j'imagine
J'imagine le meilleur en toi.
- I imagine the best in you
Ils me faut marcher seul(e)
- I must walk alone
Faire face à la musique
- To face the music (Note: There is no "must" in this sentence, it is just a continuation of the first line, I think.)
De ce parcours que j'ai choisi,
- Of this course/path/route I've chosen
Le travail d'une vie.
- The work of a lifetime (Note: The word "entire" is not present, just "life" - "lifetime" flows a bit better in English though, I think.)
Mais quelque fois quand j'en ai assez,
- But sometimes when I've had enough (Note: I think "I've had enough" translates a little better than "I'm tired of that," though both I think work fine.)
Que je songe à tout abandonner
- When I think of giving up everything (Note: "To give up" works, but "giving up" flows a little nicer in English.)
Tu veux que je sois ce que je suis.
- You want me to be what I am (Note: I'm tempted to use "You want that I were what I am," just to show that the singer is using the subjonctif here, but it doesn't work at all. How you have it is, I think, the only way a native English speaker would ever say it.)
Je fonce alors je vie.
- I keep on going, and so I live. (Note: "Foncer" can be a few different things, but considering the singer is unhappy, I think "to keep on going" or "to keep on keepin' on" or something like that would work. Also, "je vie" is "I live" - not "I feel great." The meaning behind this line is that the singer just keeps living the way she is, bears her burdens, and lives - but doesn't enjoy it.)
J'imagine une force invincible,
- I imagine an invicible force
La beauté d'un monde unie.
- The beauty of a united world
J'imagine que l'on peut voler,
- I imagine that we will fly (Note: I think "on" works as "we" in this case, but I'm not sure. I was taught that it's "one," but "we" works better.)
J'imagine de cette force une réalité.
- I dream a reality from this strength (Note: This is rather poetic license, I think. While "I imagine this force a reality" literally works, it doesn't make sense. I think the subject is placed at the end to give emphasis, meaning the actual lyric should be "J'imagine une réalité de cette force," which is "I imagine a reality from this force" or I think a better way to say it in English is "I dream a reality from this strength")
Ce moment important
- This important moment
Dont je rêve depuis toujours
- That I always dreamed of (Note: "Depuis toujours" is "since forever" - I want to say there is an English phrase that would fit that translation nicely, but "always" works as well.)
Marquera tout un changement
- It will mark everything a change (Note: You missed the verb "marquer" in your translation, "to mark." Also, this translation is awkward until you read the second line - then it flows together a little better.)
À cet unique parcours
- To this unique path
J'ai au fond de moi la certitude
- Inside I am certain of that (Note: A bit free of a translation, something more literal would be "I have certainty deep within me" or something, but both work.)
Que la terre entière m'ouvre les bras
- That the whole world opens its arms to me (Note: Your translation just said "opens the arms" - you must include the "m'" at the beginning - "to me" - and "the arms" sounds strange in English, I believe you can be liberal and say "its arms.")
Elle qui m'encourage du nord au sud
- The world that encourages me from north to south (Note: "The" is not needed for these directions in this case.)
Rien ne marrâtera .
- Nothing will stop me (Note: I assume the "ne" in this case refers to the "ne...pas" structure, reinforcing how absolutely nothing will stop... the world? me? There isn't a pronoun here, so I'm uncertain how best to translate this.)
J'imagine une force invincible
La beauté d'un monde unie
J'imagine que l'on peut voler
Ji'magine de cette force une réalité
J'imagine que le temps est né
- I imagine the time is born
D'être fier pour le monde entier.
- To be proud for the whole world
J'imagine que l'on volera
- I imagine that we will fly
J'imagine cette force nous ralliant toi et moi.
- I imagine this force rallying us, you and me (Note: Interesting wording, I would add in the "nous/we" as well as "you and me" just to keep it more faithful to the original - again though, it depends on how literal you want to be with your translation.)
J'imagine cette force nous ralliant toi et moi.
J'imagine, j'imagine, j'imagine
J'imagine le meilleur en moi.
- I imagine the best in me
J'imagine, j'imagine, j'imagine
J'imagine le meilleur en toi.
- I imagine the best in you
source(s):
Took French for three years, studied Italian for seven - most of my French has left me, but my "romance language understanding" is still there. Some help from WordReference. Again, anyone is welcome to correct me.
Took French for three years, studied Italian for seven - most of my French has left me, but my "romance language understanding" is still there. Some help from WordReference. Again, anyone is welcome to correct me.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
I modified the translation in the song page by adding many of your corrections.
I think it's better to give a more literal sense in this case.
Your answer is amazing.
*Ils me faut marcher seul(e),
*(I must walk alone,)
*Faire face à la musique
*( Face the music)
---> I think faire here is a subjunctive that follows other subjunctive-so I delimited it by a comma.
*De ce parcours que j'ai choisi,
*(Of this path I've chosen)
*Le travail d'une vie.
*(The work of a lifetime)
*Mais quelque fois quand j'en ai assez,
*(But sometimes when I had enough.)
*Que je songe à tout abandonner-
*(When I think of giving up everything-)
*Tu veux que je sois ce que je suis.
*(You want me to be what I am)
*Je fonce alors je vie.
*(I keep on going, and so I live.)
*J'imagine une force invincible,
*(I imagine an invicible force,)
*La beauté d'un monde unie.
*(The beauty of a united world.)
*J'imagine que l'on peut voler,
*(I imagine one could fly,)
*J'imagine de cette force une réalité.
*(I imagine a reality from this force.)
---> I think force is good, strength is too earthy for the sense we have here.
*Ce moment important
*(This important moment)
*Dont je rêve depuis toujours
*(That I always dreamed of)
*Marquera tout un changement
*(Will mark everything a change)
--->It's only "will" because the sentence has already a subject: "this moment"
*À cet unique parcours.
*(On this unique path.)
---> I think we need to use "on" here
*J'ai au fond de moi la certitude
*(Deep inside I am certain)
---> au fond de moi I think means deep inside. Besides I had to remove a repeating "that".
*Que la terre entière m'ouvre les bras.
*(That the world opens its arms to me.)
*Elle qui m'encourage du nord au sud
*(The world that encourages me from north to south)
*Rien ne m'arrâtera !
*(Nothing will stop me !)
---I added exclamation point.
*J'imagine une force invincible
*La beauté d'un monde unie
*J'imagine que l'on peut voler
*J'imagine de cette force une réalité
*J'imagine que le temps est né
*(I imagine the time is reborn)
--->I think reborn is better because the time is already born.
*D'être fier pour le monde entier.
*(To be proud for the whole world)
*J'imagine que l'on volera
*(I imagine one could fly)
*J'imagine cette force nous ralliant toi et moi.
*(I imagine this force rallying us, you and me.)
---> yeah, interesting choice.
*J'imagine cette force nous ralliant toi et moi.
Is this version good?
it deserved a tip
Oh, it's "m'arrêtera" - I didn't catch that, thank you!
Not much to add to the initial very good translation and relevant comments you made.
Just 2 things:
- Rien ne m'arrêtera >> Nothing will stop me (this is the basic structure with ne...pas, so not other more complex emphasis behind).
- J'imagine que l'on peut voler >> I imagine one could fly (this is the meaning, maybe there's a more peotic way to say it).
I think that's a really good combination of our translations. One more suggestion, looking at "J'imagine que le temps est né" again, I'm thinking that might be the equivalent of "I imagine that the time has come," instead of "time is (re)born." Perhaps that would be a good translation of that line. Still, I think we've come up with some great stuff here. :)
Yes, "time has come" sounds better
Awww, haha - thank you! :)