Winter in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Dear friends,
We have been busy translating La Habanera into English.
It´s ready! Päivi has also started to translate
our Brazilian tourist guide book into Spanish.
It takes more time and will be published later.
The Pätölä satire (in Finnish only, sorry) has
now been wholly released.
We had a Japanese style party with karaoke a few weeks ago.
Then we have played some computer games, listened
to music, and read books. We have a great mp3 collection
of over 3000 songs and this week we will receive 5000 more.
To solve our wear out t-shirt situation we made ourselves
new Che Guevara -style t-shirts. There is a picture of them
in our photo album among other new pictures.
The t-shirt pictures are also available on-line at http://www.esnips.com/web/tshirtgraphics in case you want to view or use them.
So, everything is fine on this side of the Earth although the
Argentinian winter is terribly severe, 10-25 degrees Celsius.
The following song is summarizing something
essential about Argentina: the mother and son
relationship. Watch the following Pieza en forma de tango.
Pieza en forma de tango in English
By Mario Abraham Kortzklap
(a.k.a. Les Luthiers, 1971) Op. 11 (Miserere)
I
When I arrive at the flat that you left
That afternoon of drinks and words
I remember the love you swore to me
And the kisses you gave me at night
In hours of rumination and sadness
I wonder if your affection was true
And although I search among women there is none
Who loves me as a child.
Why have you left… mum…
…with that nasty fool?
Why have you left… mummy…
…leaving me in pain?
Why have you left… mum…
…with that old gentleman?
Why have you left… mamma?
What does he have, that I don’t?
II
Some incoherent Buenos Aires slang –lunfardo-
idioms and tango-like expressions ...
Why have you left… mum?
You washed few of my clothes…
Why have you left… mummy…
I rarely hit you
Why have you left… mum…
Why mum is no more?
As here is only one mother…
You leave me alone…
If you don’t give more money…
I’m going to live with dad.
The same in Spanish.
Pieza en forma de tango in Spanish
By Mario Abraham Kortzklap
(a.k.a. Les Luthiers, 1971) Op. 11 (Miserere)
I
Cuando llego al bulín que vos dejaste
esa tarde de copas y palabras
rememoro el amor que me juraste
y los besos que a la noche vos me dabas.
En las horas de escabio y amargura
me pregunto si fue cierto tu cariño
y aunque busco en el hembraje no hay ninguna
que como vos, me quiera como a un niño.
¿Por qué te fuiste... mamá,
con ese gil antipático?
¿Por qué te fuiste mamita,
dejándome en mi dolor?
¿Por qué te fuiste mamá...
con ese señor mayor?
¿Por qué te fuiste, viejita?
¿Qué tiene él que yo no?
II
En la esquina del herrero la percanta
mano a mano con la seda y el percal
mira al músculo que ni una vez descansa
el romance octario araca, vil metal.
Metejón, taimado, taita guapo,
cafetines, suburbios, arrabales,
conventillo, Pompeya, esquina y tango,
ilusión de gígolos sentimentales.
¿Por qué te fuiste, mamá?
Poca ropa me lavabas...
¿Por qué te fuiste, mamita?
Raras veces te pegaba...
¿Por qué te fuiste, viejita?
¿Por qué ya no está mamá?
Como madre hay una sola...
amurado me largás...
Si no me pasas más guita...
me viá vivir con papá.
Special thanks to Guillermo for the words,
the English translation, making the mp3, and
for allowing us to add it to our blog.
We have recently been wondering why nobody has not taken
Mr. George W. Bush to the International Court of
war crimes. He lied about weapons of
mass destruction, invaded a sovereign country, and
committed a genocide killing thousands of human
beings because of their oil, religion, and political
opinions.
Take care and be happy,
Päivi & Santeri
Country: ArgentinaKeywords: winter, Buenos Aires, Argentina, La Habanera, Pätölä, mother and son relationship, Pieza en forma de tango, Guillermo, George W. Bush, genocide, oil.
