Mudanzas

I recently discovered that a song in Spanish by the name of Mudanzas, popularized in the 80's by the Mexican singer Lupita D'Alessio, and covered by more artists in the last decade, was actually first recorded in Portuguese by the Brazilian Vanusa.

It was interesting to see that the translation to Spanish is almost identical to the Portuguese original, a linguistic freedom allowed with two closely related languages. One significant difference, however, is that the Portuguese song uses the verb mudar (to change) continuously as an alliteration to the song's title, Mudanças, delving into a metaphor concerning the actions of moving from an old house into a new one, and "moving" on in life, changing one's present. While the Spanish equivalent, Mudanzas, carries the same meaning as in Portuguese, the verb cambiar takes the places of mudar in practically all instances. Mudar does exist in Spanish, but its connotations differ from its Portuguese counterpart. Thus, in the Spanish translation of the song, we see no trace of mudar; and although the same metaphor is felt in both languages through the song title and the key verb (Mudanças/mudar, Mudanzas/cambiar), ultimately, we can apply the old saying here: some thing is "lost in translation".

Below is a comparison of the part that is spoken by each artist, about halfway through the song, showing the similarities (and differences) between the versions.

Portuguese Hoje eu preciso e vou mudar Dividir no tempo E somar no vento Todas as coisas Que um dia sonhei conquistar Porque sou mulher Como qualquer uma Com dúvidas e soluções Com erros e acertos Amor e desamor. Suave como a gaivota E ferina como a leoa Tranqüila e pacificadora Mas ao mesmo tempo Irreverente e revolucionária. Feliz e infeliz Realista e sonhadora Submissa por condição Mas independente por opinião Porque sou mulher Com todas as incoerências Que fazem de nós Um forte sexo fraco.

Spanish Hoy quiero Y debo cambiar. Dividirle al tiempo Y sumarle al viento Todas las cosas Que un día soñé conquistar Porque soy mujer Como cualquiera Con dudas y soluciones Con defectos y virtudes Con amor y desamor. Suave como gaviota Pero felina como una leona Tranquila y pacificadora Pero al mismo tiempo Irreverente y revolucionaria. Feliz e infeliz Realista y soñadora Sumisa por condición Más independiente por opinión. Porque soy mujer Con todas las incoherencias Que nacen de mí. Fuerte el sexo debil.