Alexandru Andries: Your beauty’s gone

I started with Andries and I can’t help but continue with the same. I translated the previous song about two years ago; now I’m hungry for more. Here’s a song that kind of resonates with me because…well, that’s how I feel every morning (I should internalize the message of the last stanza more, huh?). I found this not at all difficult to translate, I’m not sure why…I guess I know my Andries inside out? I also haven’t committed any major linguistic treasons on this one…just a few minor ones, for good measure…

Frumuseţea ta s-a dus by Alexandru Andries E dimineaţa mai rău ca un cazan, Trupul tău e primul tău duşman: Pulpe prea groase, kilograme-n plus, Pantalonii buni – unde i-oi fi pus? Obrajii, uite-i: rotunzi-rotunzi-rotunzi, Şi Doamne, unde, cum să te ascunzi? Oglinda-ţi spune "Ţine fruntea sus!" Cînd vezi deja că frumuseţea ta s-a dus… Frumuseţea ta s-a dus Frumuseţea ta s-a dus Frumuseţea ta s-a dus Frumuseţea ta… Oricine ştie ce trebuie să faci, Ce mîncare fără şi exerciţii-n draci, Verificări la sînge, zi de zi, Ţinta supremă: zero calorii! Dieta zice ca azi să posteşti, Vecinul zice că arăţi ca-n poveşti… Cîntarul zice că nu-i nimic în plus, Da’ tu ştii bine: frumuseţea ta s-a dus ! Frumuseţea ta s-a dus Frumuseţea ta s-a dus Frumuseţea ta s-a dus Frumuseţea ta… Poţi să alergi, poţi să faci sărituri, Poţi să înoţi, chiar şi cu figuri, Poţi să încerci şi băi, da, băi cu ozon, Poţi să te înscrii şi la maraton, Poţi să dansezi tot timpul, mereu, Poţi să dansezi tot timpul pe cîntecul meu, Ăsta-i un cîntec cum altele nu-s: Îţi spune clar că frumuseţea ta s-a dus, pa! Frumuseţea ta s-a dus Frumuseţea ta s-a dus Frumuseţea ta s-a dus Frumuseţea ta… De ce e aşa? Fiindcă nu asta era Frumuseţea ta… Uuuuuuu…

Your beauty is gone by Alexandru Andries translated by: Cristina Hanganu-Bresch The morning is a cauldron when you know Your body is your first and bitter foe; Your thighs are thick, you’ve gained another pound, Those good pants are nowhere to be found. Those cheeks—just look—so chubby, chubby, chubby, There’s no way you can hide the fact you’re tubby The mirror says “Chin up!” and “Let’s march on!” When you can plainly see your beauty’s gone. Your beauty’s clearly gone, Your beauty’s clearly gone, Your beauty’s clearly gone, Your beauty’s gone. Everybody knows what you should do, More exercise, no food at all for you, Everyday you practice strict control And zero calories should be your goal! Your diet says again that you are fasting Your neighbor says again you look fantastic The scales tell you that you’ve put nothing on, But you know better, though: your beauty’s gone! Your beauty’s clearly gone, Your beauty’s clearly gone, Your beauty’s clearly gone, Your beauty’s gone. You can run, and bounce, and ski, and jump, You can swim and skate and shake your rump, You can try a spa, or possibly mud wraps, Run a marathon, laps after laps, You can twist and shout all day long, You can dance all you want to my song, This song’s conclusion is long foregone: It tells you clearly that your beauty’s gone–bye! Your beauty’s clearly gone, Your beauty’s clearly gone, Your beauty’s clearly gone, Your beauty’s gone. Why should you think so? Because this wasn’t Your beauty, though… Uuuuuu…..