September 30 is International Translation Day!

Today is International Translation Day!

Thanks to all the translators and lyricists who give us joy with cover versions!

Today, on International Translation Day, I ask you:

What is your #FavoriteForeignLanguageCoverVersion? Tell me on Twitter and help me spreading this hashtag. At best with the corresponding YouTube video.

One of my favorite foreign-language cover versions is "El Lilady" by Amr Diab, the Arabic cover version of "Quién Será", originally by Pablo Beltrán Ruiz, and, I guess, better known in the English cover version "Sway", sung by Dean Martin.

So this is Spanish into Arabic (English).

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Original: "Despacito" (Luis Fonsi feat. Daddy Yankee) [2017] (1)

Nobody can get past this year's summer hit "Despacito" by Luis Fonsi feat. Daddy Yankee, and even more so I, because there are so many cover versions on YouTube, it doesn't make sense to count them. However, before I present you cover versions with lyrics other than Spanish, I would like to show you my favorite instrumental covers of "Despacito." There are really some great ones out there.

But, here once again, the original version (for comparison)

Despacito (Luis Fonsi feat. Daddy Yankee) [2017], Lyrics + Melody: Luis Fonsi, Erika Ender, Ramon Ayala

1. "Despacito" in the cello version by 2Cellos

2. "Despacito" played with mandolin, piano, cello and cajón by Brooklyn Duo

and finally,

3. "Despacito" in five different versions (piano by Peter Buka, saxophone by Zygimantas, acoustic guitar by Andrew Foy, violin by Jose Asuncion, electric guitar by Kfir Ochaion), put together by Zephyr's Tune

Do you like the instrumental versions? Do you have a favorite amongst them or do you like another instrumental version on YouTube? Let me know.

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Original: "Vivo per lei" (O.R.O.) [1995] (2)

Original (Italian): Vivo per lei (O.R.O) [1995], M/T: Valerio Zelli, Mauro Mengali, Mario Manzani

Cover (Greek): Σε θέλω εδώ (Se thelo edo) (Dimitra Galani & Giorgos Karadimos) [2007], T: Nikos Moraitis

In March 2007, Giorgos Karadimos released his album "Fos Kai Bgaino" which included the hit single duet with Dimitra Galani titled "Se thelo edo" (a Greek version of Andrea Bocelli's song "Vivo per lei". (Source) But if it is really a cover version of Andrea Bocelli's song, you can judge for yourself in one of my next blogpost's.

While the Italian title translates as "I live for her", the Greek title means "I want you here". Here you can find the English translation of the song, just to get an idea what they sing. And as you will notice, the original version is a little bit longer.

Vivo per lei e non ho più Battiti regolari al cuore Solo una febbre che va su Fino a quaranta e più d'amore Non mi vergogno a dirlo sai Che da Natale scorso in poi Vivo per lei la notte e il giorno	Σε θέλω εδώ για να μπορώ Se thelo edo gia na boro Όλα όσα ζω να ‘ναι δικά μου Ola osa zo na’ nai dika mou Να ‘σαι πληγή απ’ την πληγή Na’ sai pligi ap’ tin pligi Να ‘σαι χαρά απ’ τη χαρά μου Na’ sai hara ap’ti hara mou Να ‘σαι εδώ γιατί η ζωή Na’ sai edo giati i zoi Με ένα σώμα δεν αρκεί Me ena soma den arkei Σε θέλω εδώ για να υπάρχω Se thelo edo gia na iparho
Vivo per lei le sere che Studia e combatte con il sonno Poi si addormenta accanto a me Col libro aperto per inganno Io non esisto per i suoi Anche se sanno tutto ormai Sanno che canto, sogno E vivo per lei	Σε θέλω εδώ για να μπορώ Se thelo edo gia na boro Να ‘χω έναν άνθρωπο δικό μου Na’ ho enan anthropo diko mou Με τη σιωπή να του μιλώ Me ti siopi na tou milo Όπως μιλάω στον εαυτό μου Opos milao ston eauto mou Και να μοιράζομαι στα δυο Kai na moirazomai sta dio Τ’ άστρα το χρώμα το λεπτό T’ astra to hroma to lepto Ό,τι κι αν γίνει καρδιά μου Oti ki an ginei kardia mou Εσύ να ‘σαι εδώ Esi na’ sai edo
Quante notti al pianoforte Dopo mille sere storte Da finire giù per strada Gridando alla luna Io vivo per lei	Να μπορώ να σ’ αγαπήσω Na boro na s’agapiso Να μπορώ να σε μισήσω Na boro na se misiso Με το βλέμμα να σου δείξω Me to vlemma na sou deikso Χωρίς να μιλήσω Horis na miliso Τι θέλω να πω Ti thelo na po
Vivo con lei ma la realtà È fare due conti in fondo al mese Poche lezioni e il piano bar Ci bastano solo per le spese	Σε θέλω εδώ να σε κοιτώ Se thelo edo na se koito Να σε ξυπνώ να σε κοιμίζω Na se ksipno na se koimizo Σε θέλω εδώ για να μπορώ Se thelo edo gia na boro Κάτι από αγάπη να θυμίζω Kati apo apagi na thimizo
Vivo per lei adesso che Sento un amore dentro me Forte gridare al mondo Io vivo	Να ‘σαι εδώ γιατί η ζωή Na’ sai edo giati i zoi Με ένα σώμα δεν αρκεί Me ena soma den arkei Ό,τι κι αν γίνει καρδιά μου Oti ki an ginei kardia mou Εσύ να ‘σαι εδώ Esi na’ sai edo
Come un fiume verso il mare [Vivo per lei adesso che] Acqua dolce contro il sale [Vive l'amore dentro me]	Να μπορώ να σ’ αγαπήσω Na boro na s’agapiso [Σε θέλω εδώ για να μπορώ] [Se thelo edo gia na boro] Να μπορώ να σε μισήσω Na boro na se misiso  [Σε θέλω εδώ για να μπορώ] [Se thelo edo gia na boro]
Siamo corpi in un abbraccio, due fette Di pane, d'amore	Με το βλέμμα να σου δείξω χωρίς να Me to vlemma na sou deikso horis na Μιλήσω, τι νιώθω Miliso, ti niotho
Vivi di lei adesso che Vive l'amore dentro te Libera il cuore e grida Io vivo Io vivo per lei Sì, io vivo per lei	Σε θέλω εδώ γιατί η ζωή Se thelo edo giati i zoi Με ένα σώμα δεν αρκεί Me ena soma den arkei Ό,τι κι αν γίνει σε θέλω Oti ki an ginei se thelo Σε θέλω εδώ, σε θέλω εδώ Se thelo edo, se thelo edo Σε θέλω εδώ Se thelo edo
Lei è l'anima del sole [Vivo per lei adesso che] Una luce in pieno amore [Vive l'amore dentro me]	Να μπορώ να σ’ αγαπήσω Na boro na s’agapiso [Σε θέλω εδώ για να μπορώ] [Se thelo edo gia na boro] Να μπορώ να σε μισήσω Na boro na se misiso [Σε θέλω εδώ για να μπορώ] [Se thelo edo gia na boro]
Col respiro suo più interno Mi scioglie l'inverno E vivo per lei	Με το βλέμμα να σου δείξω χωρίς να Me to vlemma na sou deikso horis na Μιλήσω, τι θέλω να πω Miliso, ti thelo na po Σε θέλω εδώ Se thelo edo Σε θέλω εδώ Se thelo edo
Vivi una storia insieme a lei, E poi quando meno te l'aspetti Sei innamorato perso ormai Dei suoi dolcissimi difetti
Se questo grande amore c'è Tu lascialo scorrere da sé Non vergognarti a dirle Io vivo Io vivo per te [Vivo per lei adesso che] Sì, io vivo per lei [Vive l'amore dentro me] Io vivo

How do you like this cover version?

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