Original: "Chiquitita" (ABBA) [1979] (1)

"Chiquitita", which is in Spanish a term of endearment for a woman meaning "little one", was released in 1979 by the Swedish pop group ABBA. Many prelimitary versions of "Chiquitita" exist, amongst them In the arms of Rosalita. (Source)

But I think we can all agree that the final version "Chiquitita" is the best English version, isn't it?

Original: Chiquitita (ABBA) [1979], Lyrics: Benny Anderson, Björn Ulvaeus

Happy Independence Day to India and Pakistan!

I want to celebrate this day with a Hindi-Urdu coverversion of "Chiquitita", an ABBA song from 1979. Actually in 1981, they released a whole cassette with ABBA songs in Hindi-Urdu, sung by Salma & Sabina Agha: "Salma & Sabina Sing the Hits of ABBA in Hindi".

"Chiquitita" is called "Abhilasha" and this is the first song I present to you.

Cover: Abhilasha (Salma & Sabina Agha) [1981], Lyrics: Amit Khanna

Quoted from the liner notes of the 1981 release Salma & Sabina Sing the Hits of ABBA in Hindi:

"This cassette contains the Hindi versions of the melodies of the World's number one pop group - ABBA. Their melodies are magic and their reproduction in any other language is a challenge which only the most talented and versatile musicians and singers can accept. This challenge was accepted by a group of people from the Indian Sub-continent and Europe. Amit Khanna, the writer of numerous Indian hits is the author of the Hindi lyrics on this cassette. He has not only managed to totally preserve the feel and atmosphere of ABBA but also given a new "Indo dimension" to the lyrics which are undoubtly the most beautiful songs ever written..." (Source)

Chiquitita ("Little one”)	Abhilasha (Desire)
Chiquitita, tell me what’s wrong? You’re enchained by your own sorrow. In your eyes, there is no hope for tomorrow. How I hate to see you like this. There is no way you can deny it. I can see that you’re oh so sad, so quiet.	Abhilasha hai yeh meri (This is what I desire) Teri hi main ban kay rahoon (That I devote myself to you) Yeh janam hai kam sanam (One life is not enough, my love) Har janam teray sang rahoon (Every rebirth I want to be with you) Jigyaasa hai yeh meri (This is my unusual wish) Pyaasi ban kay teri main mitoon (That I perish in your thirst) Har umang tarang ho sang (Every hope, every wish, I want with you) Har rang teray rang rahoon (And to colour myself with your colours)
Chiquitita, tell me the truth. I’m a shoulder you can cry on. Your best friend, I’m the one you must rely on. You were always sure of yourself. Now I see you’ve broken a feather. I hope we can patch it up together.	Abhilasha hai yeh meri Teri hi main ban kay rahoon Yeh janam hai kam sanam Har janam teray sang rahoon Aik hi aasha hai yeh meri (This is all I hope for) Teray sanchay main mein dhaloon (I mould myself just like you) Yeh umar ho yoon basar (I want to spend my lifetime) Hamsafar har safar main rahoon (As your companion for every journey)
Chiquitita, you and I know, how the heartaches come and they go and the scars they’re leaving. You’ll be dancing once again and the pain will end, you will have no time for grieving.	Preetam yeh waada raha (This is my promise, my love) Sangam ab sadiyon kay premiyon kay prem ka ho ga yahan (Here will reunite lovers of centuries) Na mittein gay yeh nishan (These marks will never perish) Mit jaey chahay yeh khayal aur yeh dastan (Even if these thoughts, this legend perishes)
Chiquitita, you and I cry, but the sun is still in the sky and shining above you. Let me hear you sing once more like you did before, sing a new song, Chiquitita. Try once more like you did before, sing a new song, Chiquitita.	Preetam yeh waada raha (This is my promise, my love) Sangam ab sadiyon kay premiyon kay prem ka ho ga yahan (Here will reunite lovers of centuries) Milain gay zameen o aasman (The sky, the earth will meet) Ruk jaey ga phir yeh waqt ka karwan (And the caravane of time will stop) Hai yaqeen poora humko (I have complete faith) Hogi poori Abhilasha (My desire will be fulfilled)
So the walls came tumbling down and your love’s a blown out candle. All is gone and it seems too hard to handle. Chiquitita, tell me the truth, there is no way you can deny it. I can see that you’re oh so sad, so quiet.	Abhilasha hai yeh meri Teri hi main ban kay rahoon Yeh janam hai kam sanam Har janam teray sang rahoon Jigyaasa hai yeh meri Pyaasi ban kay teri main mitoon Har umang tarang ho sang Har rang teray rang rahoon
Chiquitita, you and I know, how the heartaches come and they go and the scars they’re leaving. You’ll be dancing once again and the pain will end, you will have no time for grieving.	Preetam yeh waada raha Sangam ab sadiyon kay premiyon kay prem ka ho ga yahan Na mittein gay yeh nishan Mit jaey chahay yeh khayal aur yeh dastan
Chiquitita, you and I cry, but the sun is still in the sky and shining above you. Let me hear you sing once more like you did before, sing a new song, Chiquitita. Try once more like you did before, sing a new song, Chiquitita. Try once more like you did before, sing a new song, Chiquitita.	Preetam yeh waada raha Sangam ab sadiyon kay premiyon kay prem ka ho ga yahan Milain gay zameen o aasman Ruk jaey ga phir yeh waqt ka karwan Hai yaqeen poora humko Hogi poori Abhilasha Hai yaqeen poora humko Hogi poori Abhilasha

Looking at the English translation, Amit Khanna chose the words very intelligently. My focus is especially on the word "Abhilasha" what simply means "desire" but if you didn't know the meaning of the word, you would think - at least, I thought so as an European - it is a girl's name. It ends on "-a", like "Chiquitita", which could be a girl's name too but isn't.

Many thanks to Sabine Shah who helped me with the transliteration and the translation of the song.

What do you think of this version of "Chiquitita"? How does it sound to you?

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... to be continued